Wang Chunhua felt wronged, but dared not speak out in defense.
She wasn't a greedy person, nor was she someone who didn't know her limits. But her family was so large that she had always been accommodating and restrained. Today, she just wanted to get a little more hot soup for her child. How did she become the target of everyone's criticism?
Her lips trembled slightly, her eyes darted around, and she wanted to speak, but the surrounding voices made it hard for her to breathe.
Wang Chunhua's face was pale and her lips were trembling, but all around her were words praising Su Qingzhi and Shen Jinhe.
The sounds rose and fell, like the wind rushing into my ears, hot but without a trace of warmth.
Someone standing on a high place clapped their hands and said, "If it weren't for those two, we wouldn't even have seen a pheasant's feather!"
No sooner had these words been spoken than someone chimed in, "The fact that they're willing to share their meat with everyone is already a sign of kindness!"
His tone was full of gratitude and admiration, as if Su Qingzhi and Shen Jinhe were bodhisattvas who had saved people from suffering and brought them sweet rain from heaven.
Some people even shook their heads and said, "Look at him, he doesn't keep anything for himself, and he's thinking of the whole village!"
Praise rained down on them, elevating them to the heavens.
No one spoke a word of justice.
No one mentioned that "it's not easy for them to feed six people," nor did anyone ask whether Wang Chunhua's children had enough to eat.
The whole scene was very lively, but her silence seemed out of place.
Wang Chunhua was squeezed into a corner, leaning against the earthen wall at the edge of the threshing ground, her fingers unconsciously scratching at the rough surface of the wall.
She couldn't utter a single word; all she heard was flattery, which overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.
The tide was cold and surging, flooding her chest and choking her throat, almost suffocating her.
There wasn't much chicken, and with only a few dozen people in the village, Su Wanshan pondered for a long time before deciding to have a few aunties slaughter the pheasant, chop it up, throw in a few pieces of radish, set up a large pot in the threshing ground, and stew a whole pot of chicken and radish soup.
The firewood crackled and popped, and steam billowed from the edge of the pot lid. The aroma spread in circles with the wind, drawing the children to gather around the pot, their eyes fixed on the large iron pot, afraid of missing a single change.
Several aunties took turns stirring the soup pot, afraid that it would burn at the bottom and that the meat would be stewed too soft, affecting the portion size.
At lunchtime, each person received a piece of meat, a spoonful of soup, and two slices of radish, just enough for everyone.
Su Wanshan personally took charge of the ladle, scooping out bowl after bowl with nimble movements and a serious expression.
Each bowl contains roughly the same amount, no more and no less, striving for fairness.
People lined up to get their soup. Some held the rough porcelain bowls, sniffed them deeply, and looked blissfully happy. Others carefully blew on the hot soup, took a sip, squinted, nodded, and exclaimed "Delicious!" There were also children who couldn't wait to gnaw on chicken pieces, oil smearing their mouths, and smiling like it was New Year's.
Everyone ate until their mouths were glistening with oil, and the rice soaked in soup was so delicious that they wanted to lick the bowls clean.
The rice grains absorbed the flavor of the chicken broth, and the radish was stewed until soft and flavorful, making every bite unforgettable.
The way he looked at Su Qingzhi and Shen Jinhe was as hot as burning coals.
It was gratitude, admiration, and heartfelt respect.
Someone whispered, "These two girls are truly the lucky stars of our village."
Some people whispered among themselves, "If it were anyone else, they would have kept the pheasant at home and cooked it long ago. Why would they take it out to share?"
Su Qingzhi was also busy at noon, stewing chicken with mushrooms, while Su Yicen caught a blackfish from the river and made tomato fish soup.
I picked a cabbage from the backyard and stir-fried it into a tangy and sour dish.
The pots and pans on the stove clattered, and the firewood reflected in the firebox, giving people's faces a rosy glow.
Su Qingzhi, wearing a blue apron, deftly stir-fried the cabbage in the wok, the sound of the spatula scraping against the iron wok crisp and powerful; Su Yicen squatted by the well, scraping fish scales, the black fish gleaming silver under the clear water, exuding freshness; Shen Jinhe sat on a small stool tearing chicken into shreds, her fingertips drenched in sauce, occasionally sneaking a bite, only to stick out her tongue from the heat.
The two families sat down at the table, and before they even touched their chopsticks, the aroma alone made their mouths water.
An eight-immortal table was placed in the center of the main room, and dishes of food were served one by one, the steam rising and the aroma filling the entire courtyard.
Adults and children sat in a circle, their faces beaming with expectant smiles.
The old man slowly walked in, leaning on his cane, and his spirits lifted at the smell of the soup; the child stood on tiptoe, gazing longingly at the pot of golden, thick tomato fish soup, and whispered, "Mom, can I have a sip first?"
The atmosphere was already lively before the meal even started.
After a meal, my belly was round and full, and I felt at ease.
After the meal, everyone let out soft burps and leaned back in their chairs, too lazy to move.
The child patted his bulging belly and giggled; the adults chatted about this year's harvest, their tone much more relaxed than usual.
This meal was more than just filling our stomachs; it was like a small family reunion feast that warmed our hearts and brought us closer together.
Shen Jinhe wiped her mouth and exclaimed, "Sister-in-law, your cooking is truly delicious! My mom cooks like she's squeezing toothpaste, she's so stingy with every little bit."
She realized her mistake as soon as she finished speaking, and quickly looked up at Yin Hua. She saw her mother-in-law wiping chopsticks with a calm expression, but her heart skipped a beat. She felt that she had spoken too quickly and was too inconsiderate.
Su Qingzhi smiled, her eyes crinkling, showing no sign of unease: "Today we just happened to find a pheasant and catch some fish, and we thought we shouldn't waste them, so we went through all this trouble. If we did this every day, our family would probably have to sell our house and land."
Her tone was light, as if she were telling a joke, but her words also revealed the helplessness of reality.
We usually live frugally at home, so there's no reason for us to eat meat every day.
This sumptuous meal was all thanks to luck and skill; if we had a few more, we'd really be broke.
Upon hearing this, Shen Jinhe immediately realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly turned to apologize to Yin Hua: "Mom, I was just talking nonsense, please don't be angry."
She spoke urgently, her face slightly flushed, afraid of displeasing her elders.
Yin Hua glanced at her, his eyes twitching slightly, then waved his hand dismissively, saying, "This girl, she can't keep her mouth shut, I'm used to it."
His tone was calm yet doting, as if he had already seen through his daughter-in-law's straightforward personality.
She continued to fiddle with the bowls and chopsticks, a faint smile creeping onto her lips.
Zhu Xiuqin, however, was a little worried. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her tone betrayed a hint of unease: "Ningning, do you think Wang Chunhua and the others might hold a grudge against you for not sharing the meat? Think about it, we did this in public. If they go back empty-handed, they'll lose face, and they might be gossiping behind your back that you're stingy and pretentious. What if they cause you trouble someday? These people in the village are masters at backstabbing."
Su Qingzhi raised her head, looked calmly at her mother, and asked firmly, "Mom, even if we share the meat with them, will they be grateful? Will they really appreciate our kindness? Or will they take the benefits and then complain that we didn't give them enough, and gossip about us to others?"
Zhu Xiuqin was taken aback, opened her mouth, but couldn't answer for a moment.
Her initial worries were dispelled by a single sentence from her daughter.
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