I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s
Chapter 132: Attending a Comrades Reunion

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Attending a Comrades Reunion

After getting home, Lu Zhenping served the food he had kept warm on the stove for the mother and son duo without asking anything about the old courtyard. Shen Meng and Lu Mingkai continued eating while he took a few children to fetch firewood from the mountain on a flatbed cart.

"Mom, I want to go up the mountain too, I want to catch little birds."

"I think you also want to go to the sky. You’ve had enough excitement for today. Finish your meal and go to sleep obediently for your mom, or else I’ll spank you."

Lu Mingkai, used to her tough talk but soft-hearted nature, wasn’t scared at all and even pouted at her.

Although Shen Meng wanted to enter her space to have hotpot, the meal was prepared by Lu Zhenping; she had gone to enjoy herself while he kept it warm over the stove which made her feel it shouldn’t be wasted, so she ate some of it.

In the afternoon, the north wind picked up again. Shen Meng didn’t let Lu Zhenping take the kids out as there was still coal and charcoal at home, enough to last a long while.

She cut some pears and placed them into a kettle, added some rock sugar, and several children sat around a square table writing, while she didn’t sleep but seriously knitted a scarf.

Lu Zhenping, half-way through his book, looked at Shen Meng and then said, "In a couple of days, I need to go to the county for a gathering with my comrades-in-arms. Do you want to come with me?"

"No need, when you comrades meet up, you’re bound to drink. Besides, if we both go, what about the children? What will they eat for lunch?"

Ming Yang stopped writing, looked up at them, and said, "The teacher said starting from next week, we’re not allowed to come home for lunch due to heavy snow and bad road conditions. We need to bring our own food or lunch, and the teacher will help warm it up."

Shen Meng glanced outside, it hadn’t snowed yet, but it had rained quite a few times. It was cold enough to make anyone shiver once they stepped outside.

"Alright then, you guys will also bring food to school. I’ll pack it for you in the morning. Zhenping, let’s go to the county together; we can buy some raincoats and boots for the kids to wear in the rain and snow."

They did have an umbrella at home, and she had thought several times about getting it from her space but never had the chance.

"Okay, I asked someone earlier to buy several officer boots and big wool scarves. Judging by the time, they should arrive in a few days. Our whole family will have them, including a pair for dad and mom. They are thick and warm, suitable for rain or snow."

Lu Mingkai, who was in deep sleep, suddenly sat up, blurry-eyed and looked at his dad, his ’antenna’ twitching.

"Do I have any too?"

"Yes, you have them too, and you also have a little black hat."

Lu Mingkai squirmed for a moment, "Thank you, dad," then he laid back down to sleep.

"Ha ha ha, this stinky boy, knowing he got something good too, he is more eager than anyone, even confirming it in his dreams, so he wouldn’t miss out. No idea who he takes after."

As Lu Zhenping said this, he glanced at Shen Meng who giggled guiltily, thinking, ’It’s certainly not like me, thank you.’

Ming Yang and Ming Liang were already incredibly happy at the thought of having raincoats and boots. They had no idea their dad had quietly arranged something big; officer boots, which probably very few in the whole commune had. This made their hearts swell with joy.

Ming Fang looked at her two brothers’ somewhat distracted expressions and quickly knocked on the table, reminding them that studying needs focus and lack of it means wasting money, so she had to keep an eye on them for their parents.

"Alright, if you’re tired, take a break. The pear soup in the kettle should be ready soon, have some and rest before continuing your studies."

"Mom, you are so kind. You should rest too."

Ming Yang put down his pencil just as she finished speaking. He didn’t even put on his coat and ran to the kitchen. Soon, he returned with several enamel bowls, poured a big bowl for each person, and went to fetch some cold water for the kettle, placing it back on the coal stove.

The kids in the family were willing to do chores, and Shen Meng never stopped them. Although she didn’t insist on the idea that children from poor families had to take responsibilities early, they were grown up now, and it was essential to practice these things from a young age, especially household chores. She certainly didn’t want her future daughters-in-law to suffer.

On the day they went to the county, Shen Meng dressed quite modestly. She heard from Lu Zhenping that she wasn’t the only military wife attending, and she just wanted to have a meal, let Lu Mingkai meet more people, then just roam around a bit, not looking for any trouble.

In the morning, after packing dishes for Ming Yang’s three children, and fearing they might get hungry in the afternoon, she put some biscuits in their school bags before feeling relieved.

The road to the county was muddy and difficult, so instead of biking, the two rode on Uncle Guai’s oxcart. Besides them, there were others on the cart, who greeted Shen Meng and Lu Zhenping politely, even striking up conversations and expressing envy upon knowing they were attending a comrades gathering.

Some people saw Uncle Guai smiling heartily, an unusual sight, as he always seemed distressed.

"Uncle Guai, what’s making you so happy?"

Uncle Guai glanced at Lu Zhenping and his wife before saying, "We divided the family property, and now I will live separately with only Juying and Xiangxiang. My sons have all moved out."

"Oh, that’s a good thing. But, does Xingchang’s wife agree?"

"How could she agree? They got two big rooms and half of the food supply, and most of the money belongs to them. Both the eldest and the third son have no objections—they just want to live peacefully."

If it were before, Uncle Guai might have kept it under wraps, but not now. The only concern he and Juying have now is about Xiangxiang’s marriage. As for how Lu Xingchang and Mao Chun fare in the future, that is their own business, and they consider that they don’t have those sons anymore.

As for the eldest and the third son, he felt helpless about having wronged them. Fortunately, he could still work the oxcart for a couple more years, and his wife had squirreled away some money. He immediately compensated the eldest and the third son with this year’s savings, hoping that their lives would improve.

Shen Meng, however, felt it wasn’t that simple. Mao Chun now had both money and food coupons. She had started living independently, which seemed fine now, but knowing the hardships of life, she would inevitably face trouble.

Nevertheless, she kept these thoughts to herself, thinking that the split benefited Uncle Guai, Aunt Juying, and Xiangxiang. They just needed to wait for something to develop between Xiangxiang and Xiao Bin.

The gathering place was at the State-Owned Restaurant. When Lu Zhenping and his wife arrived, there were already two tables of people, and the food had not yet been served, yet everyone was chatting spiritedly.

Qin Hao, with his sharp eyes, saw Lu Zhenping and his wife enter the State-Owned Restaurant and quickly stood up to wave at them.

"Zhenping, over here, here. Oh, you brought the little one too; sister-in-law is here. Come and sit."

His loud voice drew everyone’s attention towards the entrance. A fashionable woman with a delicate face brightened as she looked towards them, but when she saw Shen Meng, a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.

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