Chapter 38: Bickering
In Suijin Town, Song Liyun chatted with Aunt Guo who came with her, while she deftly took the freshly steamed multi-grain buns out of the steamer.
Just then, Xiao An staggered in dragging a bundle of firewood.
Song Liyun quickly put down the steamer and carried the firewood bundle to the kitchen for him, saying casually, "Xiao An, from now on, if you need to get the firewood bundle, just call Sister Xu. You can't lift it."
Because Captain Luo was a common man picked up from other people, and there were many women among them.
In addition to Aunt Cui and Aunt Liu, who are both forty years old, two aunts in their thirties, there are actually three unmarried girls.
Among them, Song Liyun is the oldest, seventeen years old, and the rest are girls around fifteen or sixteen years old.
The work was divided among the people. Song Liyun usually followed Aunt Guo, who was responsible for steaming buns, and did the heavy work of carrying the steamer. The other two girls lit the fire in front of the stove and helped wash the dishes and vegetables.
Xiao An also helped to make the fire, but he was not strong enough and it was difficult for him to carry bundles of firewood, so naturally the two older children should do it.
Song Liyun also didn't want him to work too hard and affect his growth and development.
As soon as Song Liyun finished speaking, a man walked in from the cooking shed.
Xu Yan'er frowned and pouted, saying, "Song Liyun, you're not the cook, so why do you order me around?"
Song Liyun felt that she was an adult, so she didn't bother with a child. She smiled and said, "Xiao An can't lift such a heavy bundle of firewood, so I'll trouble Sister Yan'er to carry it for a while."
Xu Yan'er sneered, "A loser who can't even lift a bundle of firewood is coming here to eat. He has no shame."
Song Liyun's face darkened and she glared at her coldly: "Xu Yan'er, don't say anything nonsense. Everyone is watching. My brother doesn't eat as much as you, but he works as hard as you. You know who is the loser."
Xu Yaner's face flushed instantly: "You're talking nonsense. I haven't worked less. I'm just not like some people who like to save face and show off in front of others." As she said this, she glared at Xiao An who was hiding behind Song Liyun.
When the tasks were being assigned, she could hear clearly that everyone was here to perform labor service, except Song Zhenan who was here to get a free meal with his brothers and sisters.
It would be fine if he was just like other kids who only knew how to eat and play, but Xiao An was too hardworking. He never ran around and just worked diligently and honestly. Everyone who saw him praised him.
As a result, she, the real mistress, was scolded behind her back by several aunts, who said she was not even as good as a child.
Song Liyun held Xiao An's shoulders and pulled him out from behind her: "Xiao An, you are great. Don't be afraid. If you do well, you should let everyone see it."
Xiao An shrank back, didn't say anything, just lowered his head and rubbed his fingers vigorously.
Song Liyun touched his head and sighed in her heart: You have a timid mentality and are not used to being praised. You just have to take it slow!
Seeing that it was almost time for dinner and they would be busy soon, Song Liyun didn't want to argue with Xu Yaner in front of Xiao An and cause further psychological distress to the child.
Song Liyun glanced at Xu Yan'er and said, "The captain didn't say that Xiao'an couldn't eat. Sister Yan'er, you should stop worrying about it in the future."
Xu Yan'er bit her lip. Song Liyun was right. The people in the military camp really didn't care about having one more child eat for free.
Seeing that Xu Yan'er stopped talking, Song Liyun turned around and took a steamed bun from the steamer. Just as she was about to hand it to Xiao An, someone suddenly put his arm across to block her way.
Song Liyun looked up and saw that the man was about forty years old, with a scar at the corner of his mouth.
"Aunt Cui, what do you mean?"
"Song girl, what are you trying to do? Do you have any sense of propriety? The people working outside haven't eaten yet, so why are you taking it first?"
Is this ever going to end?
Song Liyun frowned and said impatiently, "Aunt Cui, the number of steamed buns for each person has been calculated. Xiao An ate first and only ate his portion. He didn't touch anyone else's. What's wrong with that?"
Aunt Cui slapped the steamer and said angrily, "You said you didn't take it, so who knows?
But I know that the army distributes food based on the number of people. This child's name is not on the list, so he has no food to eat.
Everyone was new here the past two days, and I, an old woman, am not a fussy person, so I didn't cause any trouble.
Now, look what happened: we've raised a freeloader who's ungrateful and is trying to steal the work from the people who work there."
These words were full of sarcasm and were even more serious than Xu Yan'er's.
Song Liyun's face instantly darkened. She could clearly feel Xiao An trembling behind her.
Freeloader, unlucky star, these words ran through his entire short life.
No matter how hard he worked, he was eating for free. He was scolded like this in Xiaoshi Village, and he is still scolded like this by strangers now.
Song Liyun was furious: she had all of Song Laoer's belongings in her space, so there was no need for her to bring Xiao An here to work and make a living.
Originally, I just wanted to use the large crowd and lively atmosphere to help Xiao An adapt to the environment.
But Xiao An tried hard to please others, but was still excluded. There was no need for him to continue working under grievance.
People can leave, but you can't let people say that.
Song Liyun raised the corner of her mouth and said sarcastically, "Aunt Cui said it well.
Xiao An's name is not on the roster, but he does more work than those whose names are on it.
Those who are alive shouldn't eat. Do you think those who eat under the name of "Xu Yan'er" should starve to death? Aunt Cui.
Xu Yan'er was none other than Aunt Cui's daughter.
Everyone had only been here for a few days, but Xu Yan'er, who was supposedly doing labor service, had been quite lazy.
However, Aunt Cui was the oldest and worked very efficiently. She was responsible for cooking, doing the work of two people at a time without being a burden to others. For her sake, the others did not say much.
Aunt Cui certainly knew her daughter's temper.
Because he had a bad relationship with his sister-in-law at home and the place where he was doing labor service was near his home, he was brought out to hone his skills. He didn't expect to be taken to such a far place.
But Xu Yaner's nature was hard to change. She would always slack off when working and even provoke others.
Now that Song Liyun directly said that her daughter was just here to eat for free, she couldn't hold back her face anymore and yelled, "So what? She got her own quota of food, and the food you brought is free food."
Hearing her eating one piece of food at a time for free, Aunt Guo beside her couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted, "How much can a child eat? Just let each of them eat one less bite. Besides, Xiao An also works..."
"That's easy for you to say. Why should I eat less? I wouldn't let a dog eat it for free. You can't break the rules!" Xu Yan'er blushed and interrupted her sarcastically.
"That's right. We can't break the rules. The general said that there is a fixed amount of food every day and no one can give more." Aunt Cui pressed down the steamer beside her, as if Song Liyun was about to grab it.
She was the oldest and had the most dealings with the military camp, so it was natural for her to become the kitchen lady.
"What are you arguing about? Let's eat."
The soldiers supervising outside the kitchen shed began to curse, and the laborers who had gone to work came back to eat.
Some people heard the quarrel in the kitchen and peeked in to watch the fun.
Seeing the soldiers coming, Aunt Cui said to the two of them: You two still feel ashamed, go to work.
He immediately went out with a smile and said, "Master, the meal is ready. I'll have someone bring it out right away!"
Song Liyun and Xu Yan'er glared at each other, held their breath and began to serve porridge and steamed buns to the laborers, and get down to business first.
Obviously, this matter is not over yet!
(End of this chapter)
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