A large pot of chicken, slightly yellow in color, was still bubbling and steaming. The spiciness of the chili peppers and the bitterness of the wild vegetables were intertwined, making your mouth water just looking at it.
Si Niu kept swallowing her saliva, her eyes fixed on the iron pot.
She would run out to check if her second brother had returned, and then sit on the stool, her bottom moving around as if it had springs in it.
Over there, Chen Erzhu still didn't quite understand what "lazy old man" meant.
Ever since my great-grandfather came to scold my father for not doing any work, sleeping all day and not doing any farm work, the two had a quarrel and haven't spoken to each other for over a year.
At Uncle Chen's house.
Uncle Chen sat on the doorstep, puffing on his pipe, and complained to his family.
"Old woman, you don't know, that rascal Xian is bewitched and insists on choosing a weak and helpless woman."
"Still a widow by marriage, she really thinks she's strong enough to suppress the fate of women."
"He wants two wives at once, look at how capable he is."
Zhou was picking vegetables in the yard, muttering to herself.
"Your good nephew probably only has other girls' faces and figures on his mind. Everyone has their own fate. He hides in his room all day, drinking and sleeping. He's probably ruined."
Uncle Chen's eyes widened, and he yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Old woman, what do you mean by 'good-for-nothing'? He's still perfectly fine. After all, Xian-ge'er is my own nephew. No matter how much of a scoundrel he is, he's still better than Zhang Daguang, the village's petty thief."
“Ugh, what a headache. It’s hard enough to support one jinx, and now he’s dragged a little girl into this mess. How is Brother Xian going to pay his taxes next year? Have the eldest brother send two jin of buckwheat noodles to Brother Xian’s house later.”
Zhou was dissatisfied and continued to mutter complaints in a low voice.
"There are so many people in the family, and there's not enough food for myself, yet I'm still bringing food to that brat. Have I become addicted to being scolded?"
“It’s been over a year, and your nephew hasn’t come to apologize. I’m afraid this relationship is over.”
Uncle Chen angrily flung his pipe aside, turned over, and lay back down on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Zhou pursed her lips; this had really hit a nerve with Uncle Chen.
“Give me a shout, boss, listen to your dad, go and deliver two pounds of cornmeal to Chen Xian’s house.”
Zhou muttered curses under his breath, treating it as if he had been fed to a dog.
No, when you feed the dog, you can hear it bark twice.
That's giving him credit.
"Grandpa, Grandma, are you home?"
Chen Erzhu, holding a large bowl in both hands, walked into the courtyard.
Zhou asked with some confusion, "Erzhu, is something the matter?"
They probably came here to borrow grain.
Hearing the noise, Uncle Chen quietly peeked out the window.
Chen Erzhu remained calm and said indifferently, "San Niu caught a pheasant on the mountain, and my father asked me to bring a bowl of it to Grandma."
Where is Grandpa?
Zhou was somewhat bewildered; the sun had risen in the west.
That guy even sent over meat; wouldn't it be better to keep it for himself?
Mrs. Zhou replied with a smile, "I'm lying in bed."
Uncle Chen was about to go out when he suddenly thought, "Wouldn't that make me look like a glutton?"
On his way here, Chen Erzhu thought about his lazy father, who was fearless and the only person in the family who could control him was his great-grandfather.
A while ago, my dad and my great-grandfather had a fight.
The relationship is strained; we need to ease the tension first.
Otherwise, if Dad goes crazy again, my older brother and I will probably get another beating.
“Grandpa, my dad said he was wrong and regrets it a lot. He shouldn’t have said those awful things to upset you. He’s been troubled these past few days, but he’s too proud to apologize. He told you not to take it to heart. He’s just a bastard, a beast.”
At first, Chen Erzhu struggled to tell lies, but the more he talked, the smoother it became. Later, he started swearing and got carried away, eventually revealing his true feelings.
Oops, I blurted out the truth.
Uncle Chen quickly got up and pretended to be relieved, saying, "Alright, Erzhu, your father is a scoundrel. As an elder, how could I keep arguing with him? I've long since stopped caring about it."
"In the entire Qingxia Village, who doesn't know that I have the greatest magnanimity?"
"Everyone says I'm a good person."
Zhou pursed her lips.
Uncle Chen looked at the chicken, which was steaming hot and had an enticing aroma. He took a deep breath; chicken was a precious commodity these days.
He waved his hand and said, "Take it back. A pheasant weighs at most three pounds. After plucking the feathers and removing the internal organs, it will weigh at most two pounds. That's not enough for a family."
Chen Erzhu put down his bowl and prepared to get up and leave.
Pushing and shoving is really not his forte.
Uncle Chen said angrily, "You child, don't go yet."
Seeing the child's sincerity, Uncle Chen went to the kitchen and scooped out two pounds of cornmeal.
Chen Erzhu hesitated for a moment, "This..."
Uncle Chen: "Take it."
Zhou asked doubtfully, "Could it be that this Xian-ge has really changed his nature?"
Uncle Chen snorted, "There isn't a single coward in my Chen family. Let's wait and see."
I'm home.
San Niu shouted, "Second Brother is back!"
Chen Xian: "Make the pancakes."
One buckwheat pancake for each person.
Chen Erzhu took his seat, and everyone started eating.
For a moment, the room was filled with the sounds of people gnawing on bones and swallowing chicken.
"Mmm, Dad, these chilies taste really good, they're delicious."
Wild onions and scrambled eggs were also served.
Chen Xian divided the dough into eight equal portions and gave one piece to each person using a shovel.
Looking at the tempting aroma of the eggs and the fresh scent of green onions, Su Shuangshuang's mouth watered. She picked up a piece and chewed it; the delicious flavor was simply amazing.
Su Liniang: "Give it to the children. There wasn't much to begin with."
Su Shuangshuang, who was eating, suddenly looked upset. "Sister, the way you're talking makes me feel like an idiot."
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