Chapter 19

Chapter 19

When Tang Qingqing returned home, everyone was already asleep.

The courtyard gate wasn't locked, and Tang Qingqing knew it must have been her aunt who left it open for her.

She slipped into the room, but even though she moved quietly, she still woke up Tang Qiaoqiao.

"Sis, why are you so late?"

"Did I wake you up?"

Tang Qiaoqiao shook her head. "I just couldn't fall asleep."

"Gurgle—"

Tang Qiaoqiao's stomach growled, particularly loud in the quiet night.

"Didn't you eat enough today?"

Tang Qiaoqiao patted her empty stomach. "Ever since the granary burned down, there's been less food at home."

Tang Qingqing took out a flatbread from her pocket and handed it to Tang Qiaoqiao. "Here, I saved this for you."

It was dark in the room, and Tang Qiaoqiao couldn't see anything, but the touch of the bread told her it was better than the coarse flour bread they usually had at home.

"Sis, you eat it; I won't."

"I've already eaten, and I even had meat today!"

"Wow!" Tang Qiaoqiao was envious. "So, did you eat your fill?"

"Yes, I ate until I was stuffed."

Hongqiao Brigade sent a bag of flatbreads, but there were only a few left now.

"Mom left some bread for you. You can eat it tomorrow; I put it in the iron box in the cabinet."

"Aunt hid bread for me again?" Tang Qingqing felt warm inside.

Ever since Aunt came to live with them, she often secretly gave Tang Qingqing food, making Tang Qingqing feel cared for by family for the first time.

However, Aunt herself didn't have much say in the household, so she couldn't help much.

But this was already enough to make Tang Qingqing very grateful. When she was younger, she even wished Aunt was her real mother.

"Aunt is really nice."

"Sis, you're also good to me." Tang Qiaoqiao cherished the flatbread, taking small bites and then widening her eyes.

"Sis! Sis!"

"Hush—don't be so loud, or you'll wake everyone up."

Tang Qiaoqiao quickly covered her mouth and whispered:

"Sis, I tasted meat."

Tang Qingqing smiled. "Is it good?"

"It's delicious!"

"Then finish it quickly, and remember to rinse your mouth before bed."

In the past, Tang Qingqing didn't care about such things, thinking as long as her face wasn't dirty and her feet didn't stink, everything was fine. But she learned from books that maintaining cleanliness was important.

"Sis, can I save the rest?"

"Do you want to give it to Uncle and Aunt?"

"Mm."

Tang Qingqing rubbed her head. "There's too little this time. You eat it first; we'll have more chances later."

Tang Qiaoqiao hesitated, wanting to share this delicacy with her parents.

"Eat it. You'll be happier eating something good than they would be."

Tang Qiaoqiao continued to take small bites, especially savoring the meat, chewing slowly before swallowing.

In the faint moonlight, one could vaguely see the little girl savoring each bite, afraid of forgetting the taste.

Tang Zhenzhen walked out of the room and saw the breakfast on the table, pouting.

"Why is it soy milk and fried dough again?"

Tang Jixue buttoned his shirt with one hand while holding a fried dough stick in the other, occasionally sipping soy milk, his hair messy.

"Younger sister, don't you like soy milk and fried dough?"

"But we can't have it every day. We've had it three times in a row."

Tang Zhenzhen looked at the soy milk and fried dough on the table, losing her appetite.

"Mom is really something. I told her I have pimples on my forehead and shouldn't eat fried food, yet she still bought fried dough."

Tang Jixue couldn't understand the connection between forehead pimples and fried dough. "Do you want to eat it? If not, I'll take it."

"Third Brother, how can you be like this?"

"Ah? How am I?"

Tang Zhenzhen looked at him without saying a word.

Tang Jixue scratched his head with the hand he had been using to button his shirt. Whenever he saw his little sister make that expression, his heart would start pounding.

"What's wrong? Didn't you say you couldn't eat it?"

Tang Zhenzhen was a bit angry: "Then what am I supposed to eat if you take it away?"

"But if I don't take it, aren't you also afraid of getting acne and wouldn't eat it anyway?"

"But still..."

Tang Jixue looked up at the wall clock and jumped up from his chair:

"Ahh, I'm going to be late. I'll be off."

He ran quickly to the door, then rushed back to grab all the fried dough sticks on the table.

"Little Sister, since you're not eating them, I'll take them all. The cafeteria still has breakfast; go get something for yourself. The meal tickets are in the shoebox. I'm out!"

Before Tang Zhenzhen could say anything, the front door slammed shut.

Tang Zhenzhen stomped her foot in frustration.

Without breakfast, Tang Zhenzhen had no choice but to go out and buy some.

She changed out of her pajamas into her new autumn clothes. Although the styles and colors were relatively simple, she could still add details to enhance her look.

For example, she cinched her waist tighter and adjusted her pants to make her legs appear longer.

Her hair was styled into two braids, but unlike others who made them tight against their scalp, she kept them loose enough to flatter her face shape.

After fussing for over half an hour, Tang Zhenzhen emerged from her room, somewhat unsatisfied.

Then she saw Tang Jidong pouring something from a thermos into a bowl and sprinkling some scallions on top.

"Second Brother, why are you back?"

Tang Jidong is currently studying at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University and usually only comes home on weekends.

"I heard you haven't been eating much lately, so I came back to check on you. Look, see what I brought."

Tang Zhenzhen's eyes lit up as she looked at the small dining table:

"Little wontons? Could they be from that state-owned restaurant on East Street?"

She walked closer and took a whiff, confirming her suspicion.

Tang Jidong pushed the bowl toward Tang Zhenzhen, "Try it and see how it tastes. Last time you said the scallions turned yellow, so this time I didn't add them until I got home."

"Second Brother, you're too good to me!"

Tang Jidong smiled and gently patted her head, "Go ahead and eat. If you want anything else next time, just let me know."

The little wontons were delicious, with the meat filling specially prepared to be soft and smooth.

Tang Zhenzhen happily finished all the wontons, even drinking the broth.

The broth was made by slowly simmering bones, making it exceptionally fragrant.

Even after finishing, she still felt a bit unsatisfied.

Tang Jidong then produced another basket of steamed buns.

"Oh, my favorite steamed buns." Tang Zhenzhen was thrilled, "But there are too many; I won't be able to finish them all."

"Eat as much as you can."

Tang Zhenzhen was still growing, and although she always paid attention to her weight, her body craved food, so she often ended up eating more.

Fortunately, she only grew taller without gaining weight, so she wasn't too worried.

The steamed buns had thin skins and juicy fillings, and when dipped in a special spicy sauce, the taste made her close her eyes and stomp her feet in delight.

After eating four, Tang Zhenzhen stopped and pushed the remaining buns toward Tang Jidong.

"Second Brother, have some too."

Tang Jidong's lips curved slightly as he took the remaining buns and ate them one by one.

"Second Brother, could you bring me some hot and sour soup from East Street next time?"

The hot and sour soup at East Street is known only to a few people. It's made by someone originally from Yu Province who runs a secret stall.

Only true connoisseurs know about this place, and he only does business with regulars. Ordinary people can't find or buy it, as the stall owner fears being caught.

Seeing his sweetly smiling sister, how could Tang Jidong refuse: "I'll go get it for you tomorrow."

Tang Zhenzhen affectionately linked arms with Tang Jidong, "Second Brother, you're too good to me!"

"You're my only sister. Who else would I be good to?"

Tang Zhenzhen's smile brightened, and the silver bracelet on her wrist gleamed softly.

The next morning, Tang Qingqing did not sneak out quietly.

The food and money she earned from her work points were all turned over to the common pool. It made no sense for her not to eat a single bite while scavenging outside every day.

She woke up later than usual because she didn't have to go wash clothes early in the morning.

Tang Qingqing felt that her current small stature was not only due to poor nutrition but also because of lack of sleep.

According to the book, she should look like a young lady now, yet her height was comparable to that of a ten-year-old child.

She didn't want to be short, so she had to ensure she got enough sleep and proper nutrition, unlike before when she was too frugal.

When Zhao Dahua saw her, her face immediately turned stern.

"I thought you forgot how to come home."

In the past few days, with Tang Qingqing away, there was no one to wash clothes, and they were still piled up.

Tang Qingqing ignored her and went straight to the kitchen.

Her aunt-in-law saw her and gave her a smile.

She glanced at the door and secretly slipped an egg into Tang Qingqing's pocket.

Tang Qingqing was surprised and asked in a low voice, "Aunt-in-law, where did you get this?"

"Your eldest sister came back yesterday."

The eldest sister mentioned by Aunt-in-law was born from her previous husband and had married out five years ago.

The place she married into was half a day's walk from Rongshan Brigade, and each visit was always rushed.

Tang Qingqing wanted to say more, but Zhao Dahua burst in and shouted,

"Tang Qingqing, your wings must be getting hard; you don't even greet your mother!"

Tang Qingqing turned around, her eyes cold and deep.

"Are you my real mother?"

Zhao Dahua was taken aback but quickly recovered,

"You little brat, do you think you can be the boss just because you've done something? I'll tell you, no matter what you become, I'm still your mother, and you have to listen to me! Otherwise, it's filial impiety, and you'll be shamed wherever you go!"

Tang Qingqing sneered, "You're my mother? If you were my real mother, how could you say such things? Every word, every sentence is meant to drive me to death."

"You were careless and never told us anything. Can I be blamed for misunderstanding? Why would I misunderstand others? Isn't it because you have issues?

Moreover, go around the village and see if any parents don't discipline their children. Why are you so troublesome?

I'm doing this for your own good. If you keep acting wild, sooner or later, you'll get into trouble."

"For my own good?" Tang Qingqing rolled her eyes, "Dare you swear on the lives of Tang Xingwang, Tang Xingsheng, and Tang Xingqiang that everything you said was for my own good?"

"You little brat, how dare you bring your brothers into this! How can you be so heartless? They are your own brothers!"

"If you can't swear, stop making excuses for yourself. Anyway, I believe you're not my real mother, and you've never treated me as your daughter. Don't try to fool me anymore; I still have a brain on my shoulders."

After saying this, Tang Qingqing took three steamed buns from the pot and quickly slipped away from Zhao Dahua.

Zhao Dahua tried to grab her, but she ran off like an eel.

Fuming, Zhao Dahua yelled at her back,

"If I'm not your real mother, then this isn't your home. Prove it by never coming back!"