During this meal, Guan Yumei felt that she understood Su Ruyi's feelings from the past, because she often treated Su Ruyi this way.
As Guan Yumei watched her third brother and his wife slurping down corn porridge, taking big bites of steamed buns made from mixed flour, constantly reaching for pickled vegetables with their chopsticks, and slurping snails with gusto, eating with great relish, the sorghum flour bun in her hand became even more difficult to swallow.
She longs to go home, back to the home she shared with Su Dazhi.
In that home, at least she wouldn't be the one treated differently at the dinner table.
At this moment, she longed for the feeling of holding the power of life and death at the dinner table.
The seven children who emerged from her womb—how much they ate, and whether they were full—were entirely dependent on her decision.
It all depends on her own likes and dislikes.
This discordant but swiftly devoured dinner ended with all the bowls and plates completely empty.
Guan Yuzhu finally raised his head: "Big sister, is it that you can't get used to the simple food?"
Zhou Zhilan said, "That's not it! My eldest sister probably just doesn't like eating snails; she's afraid of the fishy smell!"
“Yes, I remember now. When we were little, my older sister would always give me the snails. So, she was afraid of the fishy smell!” Guan Yuzhu chuckled. “Older sister, that’s why you’ve become a city person. Your mouth is much more discerning than ours farmers!”
Guan Yumei listened to the couple's back-and-forth singing with a dark expression.
It wasn't until after 8 p.m. that Village Chief Wang arrived at Guan Yuzhu's house with the brigade leader and militia leader to read out the village and brigade's decision to him.
The villagers were in agreement because the brigade leader was his eldest son, and the militia leader was his youngest son.
The militia captain held the IOU in his hand and showed it to Guan Yuzhu a few times.
Upon seeing the added line, Guan Yuzhu was so angry that he broke a tooth.
After saying this smugly, Village Chief Wang turned and left.
I was penalized 4,000 work points and lost 300 jin of grain! (400 jin of grain in total, with coarse and fine grain counted as 2 jin per jin)
Guan Yuzhu counted on his fingers and realized it was roughly two years' worth of work points and rations.
Two years... how much work must he have done, sweating buckets?
In the past two years, he has not earned a single penny, and his family must be facing a huge financial crisis.
This family is doomed from now on!
Upon realizing this, his vision went black and he collapsed to the ground.
Zhou Zhilan immediately rushed over and shook him, her face turning pale and her limbs going weak.
Only Guan Yumei frowned and thought for a long time before she understood what was going on.
He gasped in shock.
Upon further thought, she felt dizzy and managed to stand up by holding onto the wall.
Zhou Zhilan's gaze swept across her face, clearly showing suspicion.
After a long pause, she raised her head and said fiercely:
"Well, Guan Yumei, I see now. You and your Su Dazhi are putting on an act, aren't you?"
What a charade!
Guan Yumei, Guan Yumei, I really didn't realize you had this brain!
"By the way, Su Dazhi kept you here to appease Yuzhu and me, right?"
"No, no, that's not it. Zhilan, it's not like that." Guan Yumei panicked.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she said to Zhou Zhilan with certainty, "This must be our sixth daughter's idea! I saw her and her father acting suspiciously this morning, I don't know what they were talking about!"
Zhou Zhilan frowned: "Sixth daughter? You mean that... jinx who almost couldn't give birth? Su Ruyi?"
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