Chapter 68 Part 2

Chapter 68 Part 2

Shen YinYin was quite skilled in the kitchen and took charge of preparing the meal, bossing her family members around. Zhao Zhengyang was tasked with chopping firewood, Zhao Zhenghui with fetching water, Zhao Tingting with washing vegetables, and Zhao Xingguo got the short end of the stick—he was handed a hoe and sent to tidy up the private plot on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Meanwhile, Shen Moer and her family, as the hosts, didn’t have to lift a hand and simply waited for the meal to be ready. Shen Moer initially wanted to help Zhao Tingting with washing the vegetables, but Zhao Tingting waved her off, insisting that as an apprentice, it was her duty to work during the New Year visit to her master’s home, and she refused to let Shen Moer lend a hand.

Fu Mingze was even less in the loop. Zhao Zhengyang and Zhao Zhenghui, being brothers, both said, "Hey, I can’t match you in studies, but you can’t match me in manual labor. Go on, take it easy."

Shen Shaoyuan simply fetched some tea leaves from his room, brewed a pot of tea in an enamel mug, and sat in Shen Moer’s usual recliner, soaking up the sun while sipping tea. He poured a cup for Shen Moer and Fu Mingze as well. Shen Moer took a sip, her face twitched slightly as she instinctively glanced at Fu Mingze. Fu Mingze, standing, took a sip and hesitated before saying, "This tea... is pretty good."

Shen Shaoyuan’s hand holding the enamel mug paused for a moment. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "This is from a wild tea tree I found in the mountains. I picked it just before Qingming. Naturally, pre-Qingming tea is top-notch."

Shen Moer smirked. It was indeed pre-Qingming tea, but it was actually tribute tea from Yunkai County in Great Liang. Ever since she found bird’s nest, sea cucumber, fish maw, and ham in the treasure vault, her father had also gotten into treasure hunting. Especially now that she couldn’t easily access the vault, her father often poked around in it at night, finding many things. This tea was one of his discoveries.

Normally, he kept it to himself and drank it secretly. Today, perhaps in his excitement, he had slipped up and poured some for his son-in-law too.

Fu Mingze: "...Dad, you know how to process tea?"

Shen Shaoyuan replied without batting an eye, "It’s no big deal. Just give it a quick fry. For our own consumption, we don’t need to sweat the details. But I didn’t expect this tea to be so fragrant. It must be because the wild tea tree grew well. Ah, I was in such a hurry that day, I didn’t really keep track of the path. I’m not sure if I can find it again. If I do, we’ll go pick some more in the spring."

Fu Mingze took another sip of the sweet and refreshing tea and nodded, "Indeed, the tea tree is quite good."

He vaguely felt that this was too much of a coincidence, but Shen Shaoyuan spoke so naturally. Besides, if Shen Shaoyuan hadn’t processed it himself, it was unlikely he could have bought tea of this quality. So, after some thought, Fu Mingze accepted Shen Shaoyuan’s explanation.

As for why Shen Shaoyuan hadn’t brought it out before, it wasn’t surprising. In these times, food was scarce, and non-staple foods were even scarcer. Things like tea, which didn’t fill the stomach, were generally not bought by ordinary people. Moreover, the production was so low that even if one wanted to buy it, it was hard to come by. It was only natural that Shen Shaoyuan, having such good tea, would be reluctant to share it.

Shen Shaoyuan glanced at Fu Mingze, looking as though he was reluctantly parting with something precious, "I still have some left. I’ll give you a bit later."

After a moment’s thought, he added, "You should send some to your parents later."

He was really torn about giving it up—these things from Great Liang were limited, and every bit consumed was one less.

But now that it was out in the open, it was only right to send some to his in-laws.

Fu Mingze: "...Alright, thank you, Dad."

It was clear that Shen Shaoyuan was reluctant.

Shen Moer sipped her tea slowly, glancing at Fu Mingze and then again, sighing inwardly. Her Fu Zhiqing was totally clueless about his father-in-law!

"Oh, Lao Qi, everyone’s here?" Shen Xianghong strolled in.

Shen Shaoyuan looked at his half-sister and smiled faintly, "Of course, where else would we be during the New Year?"

Shen Xianghong entered the courtyard, looking around. She mused that Shen Laoqi had really made it, now living in a brick-tiled house. With a smile on her face, she said, "Last time, Moer’s wedding happened to clash with Lingling’s. You know how Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are—they’re all about appearances and can be pretty stingy. I figured you and Moer would be more easygoing and wouldn’t mind, so I stayed on their side. Our Xiaoqin attended the wedding banquet and kept saying how well your feast was prepared!"

Shen Xianghong couldn’t help but feel relieved that she had sent Lu Xiaoqin to the wedding banquet. Otherwise, like Shen Shengli’s family, she would have completely offended them, and it would have been difficult to even start a conversation.

Lu Xiaoqin fidgeted uncomfortably.

The feast was really well-done, with some commune leaders in attendance, similar to the banquets held by others in the commune. But the fact that it was Shen Moer hosting it still felt awkward.

As the saying goes, one doesn’t hit a smiling person. Shen Shaoyuan shot Shen Xianghong a sharp look and gestured with his chin, "Sit."

Shen Xianghong pulled Lu Xiaoqin to sit down and said, "Moer is really capable and doesn’t need anyone to worry about her, unlike our Xiaoqin, who doesn’t even have a job and just sits around at home."

Lu Xiaoqin shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Of course, she wanted a job, but asking for help from someone she looked down on made her feel uncomfortable.

Shen Shaoyuan remained silent and told Fu Mingze to pour them each a cup of boiled water. Fu Mingze glanced at the enamel mug beside his father-in-law and couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Clearly, he didn’t want to offer them tea.

Unaware, Shen Xianghong was quite pleased. Having her son-in-law pour them boiled water made her feel like they were being treated as proper guests. Though Shen Shaoyuan hadn’t responded to her earlier comments, Shen Xianghong was sure that if she appealed to his emotions and reason, he would eventually agree to arrange jobs for her niece and nephew.

Although it was Shen Moer who could arrange the jobs, Shen Xianghong thought that a young girl wouldn’t know much and would need her father’s guidance.

Moreover, Shen Moer was a junior, and asking her for help felt awkward. It was easier to ask Shen Shaoyuan directly. After all, they were his own niece and nephew; why wouldn’t he help them?

However, Shen Xianghong soon realized she had been too optimistic. No matter how she tried to bring the conversation back to her daughter, Shen Shaoyuan deftly avoided the topic, steering it elsewhere with ease.

She kept trying to bring up the subject, but Shen Shaoyuan effortlessly sidestepped each attempt.

As lunchtime approached, Shen Shaoyuan directly said, "The eldest brother’s family must have prepared lunch, shouldn’t you go and eat? It’s not good to keep them waiting."

This was a clear brush-off. Shen Xianghong suppressed her anger and forced a smile, saying, "We’re all family—whether we eat at the eldest brother’s or yours, it’s all the same. Let your brother-in-law eat at the eldest brother’s place, and Xiaoqin and I will have a meal at yours. You wouldn’t mind, would you?"

At this point, most people would have agreed, but Shen Shaoyuan was not like most people. He did whatever he pleased.

So, without any hesitation, he straightforwardly said, "But we don’t usually interact much. I didn’t expect you to come for lunch. We didn’t prepare any food for you."

Shen Xianghong’s face flushed with anger, and she stormed off, fuming. Lu Xiaoqin glared at Shen Shaoyuan and quickly followed.

As Shen Xianghong and her daughter left in a rage, Shen Yinyin called from the kitchen, "Lunch is served!" She brought out two dishes, saying as she walked, "Shen Xianghong is quite something. Does she think her face is bigger than Shen Shengli’s?"

Zhao Xingguo, Shen Yinyin’s husband, arrived just in time for lunch. He leaned his hoe against the wall, washed his hands, and said, "I saw Lu Yiping wandering outside alone, blowing in the wind. He was sneezing because of the cold."

Shen Yinyin sneered, "He’s too proud to swallow his pride and ask for help."

Shen Moer calmly said, "Auntie never asked me directly. If she had, I would have told her that the pre-selected worker slots are already filled."

Shen Yinyin laughed heartily, "Those two act like they’re too good for everyone. Even asking your father a question was beneath them."

Lunch was quite lavish. Shen Yinyin and her husband brought some cured meat and winter bamboo shoots, making a dish of cured meat with bamboo shoots. The bamboo shoots were fresh and tender, and the cured meat was savory and enticing. This single dish was enough for everyone to have a bowl of rice. Along with the half chicken and fish Shen Moer had prepared earlier—the chicken stewed with wild mushrooms and the fish braised in soy sauce—plus a dish of scrambled eggs with leeks and a plate of the freshest winter greens, the meal left everyone feeling stuffed.

After lunch, bored, Zhao Zhengyang suggested a walk to the back mountain. The younger ones immediately agreed. Shen Shaoyuan thought staying home might mean dealing with Shen Xianghong and the like, so he suggested everyone go together.

As the two families headed out, they ran into Wang Qiutong and Zheng Jiamin on the road. The two had been bickering just a moment ago, but upon hearing about the mountain trip, they immediately stopped. One grabbed Shen Moer, the other pulled Fu Mingze, and boldly joined the group.

The group of ten walked through the village towards the back mountain, looking quite impressive. But it was the New Year, and many relatives and friends were out and about, so it wasn’t unusual.

"Comrade Zheng Zhiqing, where are you all heading?" As they passed a cluster of houses near the back mountain, they encountered a girl carrying a basin of clothes. She looked delicate and shy, her cheeks slightly red as she glanced up.

Zheng Jiamin replied casually, "Comrade Xu Wei, we’re just going for a stroll to the back mountain."

Xu Wei glanced at Shen Moer and then at Shen Shaoyuan, asking shyly, "I happen to be free too. Would it be alright if I joined you?"

Wang Qiutong, holding Shen Moer’s arm, muttered, "Didn’t you just wash clothes? Don’t you need to hang them out to dry? How are you suddenly free?"

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was audible. Xu Wei’s expression changed slightly, and she lowered her head, murmuring, "I... I thought I’d be free after hanging the clothes. If it’s troublesome, forget it."

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Zheng Jiamin quickly said, "Comrade Xu, don’t be upset. Wang Qiutong just speaks her mind; she didn’t mean anything by it. If you want to join, go hang the clothes quickly. I’ll wait here with Fu Mingze for you."

Fu Mingze, who had been pulled along, raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "What nonsense are you talking? I need to stay with my wife."