Chapter Forty-Three: Eating at a Small Stove

  Lian Wan'er and Wu Lang exchanged a glance, both feeling it was strange. They were working in the fields, although Zhou Shi and Lian Xiu'er were at home cooking, they usually waited for them to return before letting Zhang Shi and Zhao Shi cook, even if Zhou Shi took charge of cooking now, it was still a bit too early.

  Lian Wan'er's heart skipped a beat as she exchanged a glance with Wu Lang. The two of them remained silent, deliberately lightening their footsteps as they quickly made their way to the upper house.

  Soon, Lianxiu's laughter was heard.

  Lian Wan'er walked to the front door of the upper house, pushed it open with a sudden force, and saw Lian Xiu'er burning fire under the stove. Jiang Shi was holding a spatula in her hand, flipping over the oil cakes in the iron pot. The oil cakes were white, obviously made from refined flour, one side had been fried yellow by the oil, and because of the generous amount of oil used, they were still sizzling with bubbles.

  It turned out that they were secretly cooking and eating in a small kitchen. Lian Man'er understood what was going on.

  Jiang heard the door sound, raised her head to see Lian Man'er and Wu Lang, her hand stopped there, and a awkward expression appeared on her face, for a moment she didn't know what to say.

  Lian Xiuer's face fell with a thud.

  "You two aren't working in the fields, how come you're back at this time? Thinking of slacking off, huh?" Lian Xiuer stood up and scolded Lian Man'er and Wu Lang. She didn't show any guilt or embarrassment for being caught sneaking food from the small stove.

  Jiang didn't know what to do at first, but seeing Lian Xiu'er like this, a smile appeared on his face.

  "Come back if you're coming back, Man Er and Wu Lang are still young, they'll be tired and come back to rest." Jiang Shi said softly.

  "It was Grandfather who told us to come back and irrigate." said Gorō.

  "Old aunt, sister-in-law, shall we have white noodles for lunch?" Lian Man'er deliberately put on a surprised expression, "Great, let's go back and tell Grandpa. He'll definitely be happy."

  Lian Xiuer's face turned even darker. Just now, Lian Jizu and Lian Hua'er both said they hadn't eaten enough breakfast, so they discussed making something to eat. Lian Jizu suggested bringing back half a bag of white flour. Lian Hua'er asked Lian Xiuer to tell Zhou Shi about it. She didn't mention that she herself wanted to eat, but used Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu as an excuse.

  Zhou's heart ached for her eldest son and grandson, but she didn't say anything. They started kneading dough to make pancakes, naturally not just for Lian Shouren and his father, but also for Gu Shi, Lian Hua'er, Lian Duo'er, Jiang Shi, and of course, Lian Xiu'er had to bring some too, so Lian Man'er saw this batch of white flour pancakes.

  "You're talking nonsense. This is a pancake for Big Brother and Second Uncle, there's no share for you." Lian Xiuer said immediately.

  Lian Xiuer mentioned Lian Jizong's name, and she didn't think much of it herself, but Jiang's face turned red.

  "Then let's have pancakes for lunch. Flour... and..." said Jiang in a low voice.

  "We don't even give it to them to eat." Lian Xiuer stood with her hands on her hips, her expression fierce. "You two don't even look in the mirror at yourselves. Do you look like people who should be eating white flour pancakes? This flour was brought back by our ancestors, and even if we're starving, there's no share for you two. You two aren't here to waste water, hurry up and go waste it."

  "Old aunt..." Jiang seemed to want to persuade Lian Xiuer, but didn't know how.

  Gorō's face turned bright red with anger.

  "Old auntie, you really look down on us like this!"

  Lian Man'er pulled at Wu Lang's sleeve, indicating that he should stop talking.

  Wulang found it strange. Yilian's temper would definitely have quarreled with Lianxiu, how come he wasn't allowed to speak now?

  "Brother, let's drink some water."

  Lian Man'er pulled Wu Lang along as he filled up the water jug with water. The two of them carried it and headed out.

  "Man Er, Wu Lang," Jiang Shi called out with a smile, handing over two pieces of flatbread, "take them and eat."

  Ren Mian'er and Wu Lang hadn't even arrived yet when Lian Xiuer got annoyed.

  "Follow grandma's wife, what are you doing giving them buns? Don't worry, they won't dare to tell."

  Jiang looked at Lian Xiuer helplessly, then turned back and smiled at Lian Man'er and Wu Lang, "Your uncle's body is not good, this is the pancake that was made for your uncle by his mother. There are only a few pieces in total. Let Auntie decide to give you two pieces, hurry up and eat them while they're hot, then go down."

  Jiang was obviously much smarter and more tactful than Lian Xiuer.

  Lian Xiuer felt that Jiang didn't need to go so far, but still wanted to give him face, however she walked over and snatched a piece of cake.

  "Just give them one piece and that's enough." Lian Xiuer said, pointing at Lian Man'er and Wu Lang, "You two should know what's good for you."

  Wulang was about to pull Lianmeng away, he didn't want to take the white pancake, although the aroma of the white pancake kept drilling into his nose.

  Lian Man'er stared at the white pancake, her feet unwilling to budge.

  Jiang stuffed the white pancake into Lian Manger's hand.

  "Man Er, eat."

  Lian Man'er ignored Wu Lang's glare and took over the white pancake.

  "You've eaten the cake, but don't you dare tell anyone, or I'll tear your mouth apart." Lian Xiuer threatened.

  Lian Man'er nodded slightly.

  Lian Xiuer was even more pleased, recently Lian Man'er was not as obedient as before, but now facing delicious food, she didn't dare to be naughty.

  Lian Wan'er and Wu Lang carried water buckets out.

  "Brother, let's split this pancake in half between us." Lian Man'er said to Wu Lang.

  Wulang was so angry at Lianmeng's spineless behavior that he didn't want to talk anymore.

  "Thanks to Second Aunt, she brought an empty water jar this morning and told us to come back and fetch water at this time." Lian Man'er said with a smile to Wu Lang.

  Lian Wan'er's words were naturally heard clearly by Lian Xiuer and Jiang Shi.

  Out of Lian's house.

  "Brother, don't go so fast, I can barely keep up." Lian Man'er called out to Lian Wulang.

  Lian Wulang's face was still flushed red.

  "You can still eat buns, and don't bother carrying the water jug, I'll carry it by myself."

  Lian Wan'er saw Lian Wu Lang's expression and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  "Man Er, you're still smiling." Lian Wu Lang got even angrier. Just now in front of Lian Xiu Er and Jiang Shi, if he hadn't been thinking about giving his sister some face, he would have said that Lian Man Er was unbearable.

  "Brother, don't be angry, listen to me. I didn't plan on eating this pancake." Lian Man'er took out the pancake and showed it to Wu Lang, "I was thinking of letting everyone have a white flour pancake."

  "Man Er, so you've made up your mind?" Wu Lang's anger suddenly turned to joy. "However, this pastry, you shouldn't have taken it. It's not right to accept food from just anyone."

  Goro stood up straight with his back erect.

  "Why shouldn't I take it? This face of mine has the money our parents earned." Lian Man'er said with a smile. "Besides, this is evidence."

  Wu Lang exclaimed and suddenly realized. Lian Xiuer and the others were discovered eating from the small stove, they must have finished quickly or hidden the buns.

  "Man Er, what you just said about Second Aunt was also intentional." Wu Lang is also a clever child, he understands at once and knows how to make an analogy.

  "Brother, Second Aunt is the laziest. When have you ever seen her take the initiative to do chores?" Lian Man'er said, "But she rushed to carry water jars this morning and just now she even volunteered to come back."

  "Man Er, are you saying that Second Aunt knows that Eldest Uncle and his wife plan to secretly eat from the small stove?"

  "Definitely. Second Aunt should have wanted to come back and get a share." Unfortunately, she was stopped by Old Master Lian.

  They soon returned to the ground, and everyone gathered around to rest and drink water. Lian Man'er poured a bowl of water and handed it to Master Lian.

  Lian Lao Ye took over the water and saw Lian Man'er looking around with a red face.

  "Man Er, what's wrong, are you tired?"

  "Grandpa, here you are." Lian Man'er took out the white flatbread and handed it to Old Master Lian.

  Even the old man was stunned.

  "Vines... where did they come from..." He asked halfway, and even Lao Yezi stopped.

  "Dad and mom said, 'You're so old, still doing such heavy work, can't even eat well. Let us do more of what we can, don't let you get so tired.' Grandpa, hurry up and eat this pancake."

  Although the white pancake is delicious, how can Lao Yezi eat it. He has already vaguely guessed what's going on.

  "Grandpa won't eat it, you have this pancake instead."

  "Grandpa..." Lian Man'er burst into tears.

  "What's going on? Did you and your daughter-in-law have a fight?" Zhang Shi hurried over.

  "No." Gorō also followed after him.

  "What's going on?"

  "It's like this......" Wu Lang then went back and saw Lian Xiu'er and Jiang Shi baking pancakes. Lian Xiu'er repeated everything they said. "Man Er saw that her aunt and sister-in-law had baked a whole pot of pancakes, so she thought it was for everyone to eat at noon."

  Even the old man was scowling and didn't speak for half a day.

  "My brother and I, aren't we Grandpa's own grandsons and granddaughter? Auntie asked my brother and me to look in the mirror to see if we're worthy of eating white flour pancakes." Lian Man'er sobbed as she spoke. "Auntie also said that the white flour was brought back by Uncle Jian, and it's not for us. Grandpa, is Uncle Jian not a member of our family, or are my brother and I not members of our family, or has our family split up to live separate lives?"

  The old man suddenly stood up from the ground.

  Lian Wan'er hastily grabbed Lian Laoye's sleeve.

  "Grandpa, I took the cake and promised not to say anything. If Auntie and Sister-in-law find out, I...I'm afraid of Auntie...and Sister-in-law will think that Brother and I are naughty kids too." Lian Man'er said pitifully.

  "Grandpa won't say anything, grandpa won't say a word." Lian Lao continued, then turned to Lian Shouli and said, "Third brother, you go back and tell your mother that we'll have pancakes for lunch today, white flour pancakes."

  Lian Shouli responded with a sound, but stood there motionless.

  Even Lao Yezi understood that this matter could only be resolved if he spoke up himself.

  "I'm telling you, this noon, we'll all have white noodles and pancakes, as much as we want." Lao Lao Ye said loudly, and then strode quickly towards home.

  A pancake was called by Lian Miaoer and several of the smallest ones, including Xiao Qi, Lian Ye'er, and Liu Lang, to share and eat.

  "Father is so angry he's about to choke." Gorō said in a low voice, "Mugwort, you say, Father this time..."

  "I don't know anything," said Lian Wan, laughing. "I only know that we have enough white buns to eat for lunch today." Old Master Lian went back and couldn't help but scold Lian Xiu and the others.

  Lian Xiuer and the others will probably think that it was her and Wu Lang who leaked the news. But Lian Laoye will protect her. Moreover, even if they are resentful, there is still He Shi to share the blame with her. The words she said when she left, Jiang Shi must have heard them. Between a naive and ignorant child who can't keep secrets about food, and an adult who plots and plans and can predict their actions, which one is more deserving of resentment?

  "There's more pancakes to eat at noon." Little Seven leaned in close to Lian Mian'er, "Thanks to Second Sister for fighting for us."

  Lian Man pinched Xiao Qi's face.

  "That sentence isn't saying, don't fight for steamed buns, but fight for mouthfuls of air? We're not fighting for pancakes, we're fighting for mouthfuls of air." Lian Man'er said. That's right, she was fighting for this mouthful of air.

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