I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s
Chapter 156: I Won’t Let You Down

Chapter 156: Chapter 156: I Won’t Let You Down

Lu Changhong had only an old mother at home. He took two pheasants and a hare, and asked for thirty pounds of wild boar meat. Taking advantage of the deep night, he hurried back home. Lu Jiasheng rubbed his hands, feeling very embarrassed. He hadn’t contributed much, especially with the wild boar, which was almost entirely caught by Changhong and his older brother. Today, he really reaped more than expected. He had previously dared not to split the family, afraid that he couldn’t get by; surprisingly, he and Jinghao were able to live so well.

He carried a pheasant and three hares, and shouldered a back leg of the pig, hurrying back home in the night, his heart warm and his steps light. He could already imagine how happy Jinghao would be when she saw this.

"Xiaobin, we still have so much left. Take a front leg, and take as much of the meat and ribs as you like. Also, take any hare and pheasant you want."

"Thanks, brother-in-law. But I won’t take the pheasants. Two hares will do. One for my house, one for Xiangxiang’s house. I’ll keep the front leg for myself. I’ll cut thirty pounds of meat, giving fifteen pounds to Xiangxiang’s house, and fifteen to mine."

Lu Zhenping didn’t say anything, but after Shen Xiaobin finished cutting the meat, he chopped a few more ribs for him.

"Be generous, it’s good to have more of the good stuff. You must let Xiangxiang’s parents know you can provide her with a good life. Also, the yard smells heavily of game, and it’s getting late. Hurry up and take Xiangxiang home. Go early and return early. Your sister has something to discuss with you!"

"Ah, thanks brother-in-law!"

Shen Xiaobin now admired and looked up to Lu Zhenping tremendously, considering him a great mentor in life. He not only taught him how to hunt game but also how to please his mother-in-law and father-in-law.

He found a bag and stuffed the pheasants, hares, and about ten pounds of meat and ribs into it. He shouldered the sack and left with Lu Xiangxiang, striding with confidence, with Lu Xiangxiang almost unable to keep up.

There was still plenty of meat left. Shen Meng told him to cut some for Ah Man and Shirley to take over and to decide what to do with the rest. If not giving it away, then chop some cypress branches tomorrow, smoke the meat, and have it on hand to eat whenever they wanted.

Lu Zhenping stored all the remaining meat in a clay pot in the courtyard, and used a rope to hang the rabbits and pheasants from the house beams. He planned to give some to the Secretary and Village Chief He later, and to Director Guo, but no one else.

Shen Xiaobin went to Lu Xiangxiang’s house and took a while before coming back. He washed his face and feet with hot water, then went to the room to play with He Mingyang and Ming Liang for a while. Hearing the door open, he knew that Lu Zhenping had entered the house; only then did he knock on the door to find Shen Meng.

Seeing her brother return beaming, she didn’t doubt for a moment that he must have secretly held hands with Lu Xiangxiang under the cover of night.

"Sister, did you need me for something?"

"Yeah, take a look at this."

Shen Xiaobin took the document handed over by Shen Meng and looked at it again and again, his eyes widening.

"The notice from the textile factory. Sister, weren’t you going to work as a ticket seller at the bus company?"

Shen Meng nodded, and explained why she had this document.

"I have my own job now, and your brother-in-law has his allowance. I don’t need this. It’s just right to give it to you. If you work hard there, our family life can improve. Besides, once you have a proper job, Uncle Guai and Aunt Juying will think more highly of you. Maybe if you stand before them, they’ll simply hand over their daughter to you."

"Sister, you’re really giving this to me? I don’t have the money to buy a job, and, shouldn’t we discuss it with brother-in-law’s parents?"

"No need. I make the decision. Your brother-in-law agrees too. Work well at the factory, don’t embarrass me. When you’re not working, try to read more books, it’s good for you. I’ve got my elementary school diploma now, and Teacher Zheng said he’s going to recommend me to middle school. You should also put in more effort, for the sake of our parents, for Xiangxiang, for our Shen Family, strive harder."

Shen Xiaobin’s eyes reddened a bit. His sister and brother-in-law had done so much for him; he couldn’t let them down.

"Don’t worry, sister. I’ll start reading more. I’ll borrow the textbooks that Mingyang has studied and read them at home. I’ll definitely live up to expectations and not disappoint you and brother-in-law."

Lu Zhenping watched Shen Xiaobin leave, wiping the corners of his eyes with some force, feeling a bit too ashamed to look.

"Xiao Meng, don’t you have two spots available? What are you planning to do with the other one?"

Shen Meng smiled and said, "No rush, I have a use for it."

The next morning, Lu Zhenping carrying three strips of meat, visited several village officials’ homes. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Hongfa invited him to have dinner at his place. Lu Zhenping’s eyes lit up; he had this intention all along. With him not being at home, Shen Meng and the kids needed someone to look after them. Since Secretary Zhang Hongfa so cordially invited him, how could he snub his face?

Not only did Zhang Hongfa and Lu Debang invite Lu Zhenping, but they also prepared an additional table of food, asking Shen Meng to bring the children over for the meal. To accommodate her, Zhang even had his mother find a few old sisters to accompany her.

Shen Meng was sweet-tongued, and in no time had everyone at the table so charmed they were lost for words. Every now and then, Lu Zhenping would glance over, offering an indulgent smile.

Zhang Hongfa noticed this and raised his glass in a gesture.

"Zhenping, come, this drink is for you. It has been years since us brothers have seen each other, and although you’ve been back for a while, we never seem to catch a break. Now, we finally get to gather together. Let’s drink up."

"It should be me toasting to you. While I was in the military, a lot of household matters were resolved thanks to you village officials. Xiao Meng has told me everything - from the brick-tile house to the kids going to school. There’s a lot you’ve helped with. I’ll say no more; let’s drink to it."

Lu Zhenping’s words made Zhang Hongfa and Lu Debang blush a little. Initially, they did not plan on helping out – their actions were driven by the desire for a good future for their own children.

However, their fondness for Shen Meng began to shoot up.

"Speaking of which, Zhenping, now that you’re doing so well, do you plan to continue on this path?"

Once this topic was brought up, everyone at the table focused nervously on him, especially the two young lads. They had been looking forward to this meal for a long time and had only one question on their minds.

"As for the military, there’s a plan in place. A soldier’s duty is to follow orders. I have a deep connection with the military, but whether it’s there or elsewhere, as long as I can contribute to the country, it means I have value."

Zhang Hongfa: "......"

You really don’t have a clear idea, do you?!

"Brother Zhenping, is the military still recruiting? Have you heard any news?"

Lu Zhenping looked at the hopeful faces and chuckled lightly, "Leaking military information is punishable. Aren’t we just catching up? You’re asking me to make a mistake!"

"No, no, Brother Zhenping, that’s not what we meant, just, just..."

Zhang Hongfa glared at his younger brother and hastily smoothed things over: "Hey, Zhenping, don’t mind him. This little stinker has idolized you since he was young. Seeing you join the military, he’s been dreaming of when he could enlist, too. He’s obsessed with becoming a soldier. Enough about this, let’s eat, let’s eat."

Lu Zhenping took a few bites of food and said indistinctly, "Wanting to become a soldier and defend your country is a noble aspiration. Wait for a couple of years; there might be news by then."

He spoke with his mouth full of food and wine, his words a bit muffled, but Zhang Hongfa sitting next to him still caught the implication, his hands shaking with excitement.

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