During the meal, Wen Ruan could tell that the team leader's wife had done her best to prepare the best food in the house. Wen Ruan even thought that this might not be as good as the New Year. There was a bowl of pickled vegetables stir-fried with cured meat and a fish that had been pickled at some unknown time.
When the food was served, everyone began to eat. Wen Ruan noticed that the rice in her and Song Yan's bowls seemed to be drier than the rice in everyone else's bowls. Although it certainly didn't meet the standard of rice, the difference was still quite obvious when looking at the watery porridge that was almost reflected in the water of the people around them.
Secondly, regarding the fish, cured meat, and pickled vegetables on the table, none of the team leader's family members reached for the cured meat with their chopsticks. Even the team leader's youngest grandson, who was probably only six or seven years old, was sensible enough not to reach for it. He would just glance at it from time to time, swallow his saliva, pick up a piece of pickled vegetable, slurp up some porridge, and savor the pickled vegetable with the taste of meat in his mouth with a look of enjoyment.
Wen Ruan happened to witness this scene and felt very uncomfortable.
"Eat, eat more." The team leader's wife was very enthusiastic, urging Wen Ruan and Song Yan to eat more fish and meat. Considering that the two were both from the city, and that her daughter had told her that city people didn't usually share food with each other for fear of hygiene, she suggested using... yes! Serving chopsticks!
Our family wasn't particularly particular about such things before, but the two people in front of us—one a high-ranking official in the county, and the other his wife, a college graduate who had returned from studying abroad—were both highly educated. Their presence at our home meant they must value us; we had to make a good impression! The team leader's wife kept thinking to herself, and with that thought, she became even more enthusiastic.
While responding to the captain's wife's words, Wen Ruan nodded and reached out to pick up some food.
He reached out and picked up a piece of cured meat with his chopsticks, then turned and handed it to the little boy.
"Eat up, I haven't used the chopsticks yet," Wen Ruan said gently.
Song Yan watched Wen Ruan's actions without surprise. He smiled and nodded at the little boy, then picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks, removed the bones, and gave it to him: "Eat quickly."
Seeing what the two were doing, the little boy swallowed several times, staring at the fish and cured meat in his bowl, but he didn't touch his chopsticks. His eyes kept glancing at the brigade leader and his wife...
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