I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s-Chapter 16: Time to Split the Family

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

Wang Guizhi watched Shen Meng's appearance and couldn't refuse anymore. She put the money and the ticket into her pocket and laughed softly, "Alright, alright, mom knows you are filial. I'll keep the money for you. I won't spend it. If you run out of money, just come home and ask mom for it. Seeing you like this, mom knows there's nothing wrong with your health. Your dad and I will head back home now. If anything happens, just come home to us!"

Shen Meng felt a twinge of sourness in her heart and turned around to nod her head lightly.

"I know, mom. Wait until I'm better, I'll come home to see you after a while. The sun isn't too strong right now, so you and dad should head back early. Don't worry about me, I'm fine!"

Wang Guizhi took Shen Meng's hand and patted it, without saying anything else. Their child had grown up, how to live her life, she was aware. If they talked too much, it might annoy her. Right now, she and the old man were in good spirits. If Xiao Meng needed help with anything, they would be there to help.

After the old couple left, the four children took the opportunity to run away. They didn't want to stay with Shen Meng, especially seeing her condition, she probably wouldn't die any time soon.

Left alone at home, she took the chance to wander around in the brick house.

The brick house had three rooms with an additional central hall. The easternmost room was the largest, serving as the bedroom for Shen Meng and Lu Zhenping. On the western side, there were two rooms: one for the boys, and the other for Lu Mingfang. Besides that, there was an earthen kitchen, an earthen firewood room, and one vacant room. The courtyard was rather large, with a Chinese parasol tree that Shen Meng thought could be surrounded with a fence to grow some vegetables and fruits or could even be used to build a chicken coop.

Before, Lu Zhenping had thought that Lu Mingfang, being a grown girl, should have her own room. Although it was small, he built a set of cabinets for his daughter. The small room was tidy and clean. But ever since he left, Shen Meng moved all the children into one room. She kept all the good things locked in her own room, and stored the grains in a wardrobe with a lock. The children often went out hungry in search of something to eat.

Shen Meng was displeased whenever someone outside helped the children, feeling as if they were deliberately trying to make her look bad. She would often berate the acacia tree while scolding the children and sometimes even hit them.

As Shen Meng looked around the yard, she recalled the plot. When Lu Zhenping first wanted to build this house, Liu Sanjin vehemently disagreed. She thought of setting up a new earthen room in the old courtyard for the eldest son's family to live in. The saved money would be perfect to renovate the old courtyard and the remaining money should be in her hands.

Lu Zhenping didn't agree. Having served in the military for many years, the slightest change in his expression was enough to intimidate people. In the end, it was Lu Changzhu who gave the nod to build the house. However, it was agreed that the house could not be too far or too big, to prevent the other siblings from feeling uncomfortable.

Shen Meng didn't understand what there was to feel uncomfortable about. If they were capable, they could build their own houses.

There were grains in the house, but not a single vegetable. Yesterday, Tian Guihua brought some dried vegetables which she looked at—it was shepherd's purse, fern, portulaca and others harvested in the springtime. Currently, she was still in a "seriously ill" state to the outside world, and couldn't very well go out to pick vegetables with great vigor.

Although she had them in the space, she couldn't brazenly take them out!

Shen Meng was somewhat anxious.

Just as she thought about soaking some dried vegetables and having them with noodles for lunch, there was a sudden knock at the courtyard gate. Tian Guihua came over with a basket.

"Are Mingyang and Mingliang at home? Auntie's here, can I come in?"

"Please come in, elder sister-in-law, the door is unlocked. Mingyang and Mingliang are not at home, they have gone out," said Shen Meng, leaning on the doorframe and suddenly speaking weakly.

Tian Guihua hurried to the door as soon as she heard Shen Meng calling out, and upon seeing Shen Meng's sickly appearance, she quickly set down her basket on the ground.

"Lord, why are you out of bed? Aren't any of the children at home?"

"I'm fine, elder sister-in-law. I can already walk around. I've been taking the medicine Doctor Lu prescribed for me. I just have a headache. Why are you here now? Didn't you go out to work the fields?"

As Tian Guihua supported Shen Meng's arm, the two of them entered the hall together. After sitting down, Tian Guihua said, "Your mom was worried about you when she left, so she asked me to check on you. She even gave me one yuan. You see, my mother-in-law, she's such a thorough person. I'll leave this money here for you. I already said yesterday that you're like a little sister to me; I can't take your money. It just so happens that I didn't go out to work today. I was taking care of our own plot and thought that since you just moved back, there must be no vegetables at home, so I brought over a basket of cucumbers and green beans. There's plenty in the vegetable plot, and if it's not enough, you can have Mingyang go pick some more."

Tian Guihua is a straightforward person. Her brother-in-law said that they should foster a good relationship with Shen Meng for the sake of her son, and she quickly came over. Initially, it was indeed for her son, but now she truly developed a desire to make friends with Shen Meng.

"Thank you so much, elder sister-in-law. I just got up to walk around a bit. There really aren't any vegetables in my place at all, but why did you bring so much? This is enough for several days."

"There's nothing to it; everyone's vegetable plot has these, they're nothing rare. Just eat, and looking at your energy now, you're clearly doing much better than yesterday."

Shen Meng smiled and said, "Isn't that the truth? That's why they say Doctor Lu is the best doctor in our commune; his medical skills are truly great."

Following suit, Tian Guihua also praised Lu Changhong a few times. Meanwhile, Lu Changhong, who was reporting for work at the commune, sneezed three times in a row and, while rubbing his nose, felt like someone was talking about him.

Tian Guihua did not stay long, as there was plenty to do back in the fields. Before she left, she said to Shen Meng, "Sister, if there is any chore you can't manage, tell your elder sister-in-law, and I will help you out. You still need to recuperate. If the Lu Family won't let you come over for meals, have Mingyang cook something. Your family can make do with what you have, and if it really comes down to it, I can ask Wenxiu to come over and help you with cooking."

"It's alright, elder sister-in-law. Having meals isn't a big issue. The Lu Family probably won't refuse to feed me. Besides, haven't we separated? If they really don't provide meals, it's the perfect reason to part ways officially, and then my mom and I can just live our own lives behind closed doors, which is rather nice."

Tian Guihua was surprised and looked at Shen Meng. After thinking it over, she realized it made sense. Who wouldn't want to live quietly with their spouse? In her youth, that was also her dream, but now that her son was about to get married, she actually wished for the family to live together. Shaking her head, she knew she was not like Liu Sanjin, that biased mother-in-law.

"Well then, Xiao Meng, you rest at home. I'll head back first."

"Okay."

Tian Guihua brought quite a lot of vegetables that she put in the cabinet. The cabinet, as tall as a person, was quite empty; it only had a few bowls and chopsticks, which were taken from the Lu Family's kitchen by Wang Guizhi just yesterday, for which she received several glares from Liu Sanjin.

Shen Meng found a clean pot in the kitchen, filled it with two handfuls of handmade noodles, and prepared the toppings and soup base, all set aside in large bowls, ready to be cooked at home for lunch.

She was sure that the Lu Family wouldn't invite her over for a meal.