I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s
Chapter 33: Your entire family digs through cow dung

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Your entire family digs through cow dung

Mixing dough and rolling out wrappers, the filling that had been prepared early in the morning was ready—after a drizzle of hot oil, the cabbage and streaky pork mixture emitted a tantalizing fragrance. Four children gathered around the low kitchen table, peering eagerly.

Shen Meng, once a minor office worker who loved to cook during weekend days off, had now picked up cooking again, her skill gradually resembling something impressive.

"Mother, can Aunt Xifeng have one? She used to secretly cook eggs for me!" Lu Mingkai said as he swallowed hard.

Ming Fang, worrying that Mother might feel hurt, hurriedly said, "The dumplings are ready, Mother should eat first. You’ve not fully recovered, and you work every day. Ming Kai is right, isn’t he?"

Shen Meng glanced at Ming Fang. You could really say that daughters are like intimate little cotton-padded jackets. In the span of less than half a month, she had grown so considerate.

"It’s fine. Ming Kai is a kind child, always remembering Aunt Xifeng’s kindness. I made dumplings with two kinds of dough. We’ll eat the ones with white flour and save some for Daqing, Erqing, and Gao Gao. The others, made with mixed dough, will be sent back home with them for their mother. Just use the bag I’ve prepared. The rest we’ll send over to Grandma Chang."

Mingyang frowned, confused, "Mother, why make two different kinds of dough? If we’re giving them to others, we should give the good kind."

"You can give them, but only if people are willing to accept. Times are tough in the countryside these days. As for white flour meat-stuffed dumplings, there are shameless people who would refuse your offer but still covet what you have. Like Daqing’s mother, Aunt Xifeng, Grandma Chang—they live a hard life yet still care for us. How could such good people accept something so fine from us? Don’t worry, the filling is the same for all dumplings. The mixed dough has more white flour than cornmeal, they’ll be able to taste the difference."

Having heard Shen Meng’s explanation, Mingyang had no objections. The reasoning of adults must be sound. The mother he used to know would hoard even the smallest things for herself, but now she not only prepares a variety of food for them but also repays those who had been kind to them in the past. Such a mother was as good as one could get, and he somewhat regretted the words he had just said.

Shen Meng pretended not to notice the change in Lu Mingyang’s expression. She continued to shape dumplings without pause, and in no time at all, two portions were ready. Lu Mingliang, who was keen on lively activities, had already started boiling the water when Shen Meng was halfway through the batch. It was just the right time to cook the dumplings.

The plump white dumplings were dropped into the pot. Aside from the crackling sound of burning firewood in the stove, there was the noise of several children swallowing saliva.

After the boiling water had rolled thrice, the dumplings were cooked. Shen Meng scooped them out, one large bowl for each person. With a simple dipping sauce prepared, she commenced cooking the next batch. As the job of tending the fire was passed on, the children, holding their chopsticks ready, awaited their turn to eat, looking at her still busy. In the past, they wouldn’t dare, but now, they simply couldn’t bear it.

Lu Mingkai poked through a chubby dumpling with his chopstick, blew on it with all his might as he cautiously approached Shen Meng.

"Eat first, Mother." He was also afraid the dumpling would fall, so he carefully supported it from beneath, his hand slightly reddened from the heat.

"Good boy, thank you Ming Kai." She blew on it twice and gobbled it up.

She wasn’t the kind of person to say, "Mother won’t eat, you go ahead," or "Mother doesn’t like it, leaving it for my treasure to eat." A mother shows her love by wanting to give the best to her child; a child also wants to show love by giving what they consider the best to their parents. Love is reciprocal, and she was a parent willing to accept her children’s love.

After Shen Meng ate the dumpling that Ming Kai brought her, she ruffled his hair.

"Good kid, go and eat your share. Mingyang, you all eat quickly too. Once this pot is done, I’ll make the mixed-flour dumplings. We’ll call Daqing and Erqing over soon. These need to be eaten while hot, and the next batch should be taken away right away."

"Alright, Mother," Lu Mingliang responded before his brother could say a word, grabbing his chopsticks and digging into the dumplings with gusto.

The issue of the Lu Family not providing meals in Lu Family Village was no longer surprising. Shen Meng, with her four children, was now cooking on her own fire and had also requested the return of her share of the family land, a matter still unresolved with the village leaders mainly because the head of the main household was not present.

Fortunately, with the allowance from Lu Zhenping, Shen Meng was in no urgent need, and furthermore, during this time, she had neither caused scenes nor scolded the children, so the few families who felt sorry for the kids were gradually put at ease.

After receiving a letter from Lu Zhenping, Lu Changhong quickly sped home. He had been busy with treatments out of town and had been out of the loop with the village affairs. Just as he was about to push the gate open, he was stopped by someone calling out.

"Uncle Changhong, you’re back?"

"Mingyang? Why did you come here?"

Lu Mingyang eagerly presented the items he brought as if offering a treasure to Lu Changhong,

"Uncle Changhong, my mom made dumplings. She asked me to bring some for Grandma Chang. Uncle, have some too!"

"You’re saying your mom made these and told you to bring them? Why do I find that hard to believe!"

Lu Mingyang pursed his lips, he felt more at ease around Lu Changhong, not as constrained as at home. Although his mom had changed for the better, he still didn’t know how to get close to her without feeling uncomfortable.

"It’s true, Uncle Changhong. My mom has really been good lately. She bought us clothes, shoes, let both Mingyang and Ming Fang go to school, made cotton-padded clothes, prepared lots of delicious food, and she doesn’t hit or scold us anymore. Really, she’s been so good, Uncle Changhong, my mom has truly changed."

Lu Changhong remembered the firm look in Shen Meng’s eyes when he was treating her illness, convincing him to believe her once. Later, she moved back to the brick house with the children. At that time, he wondered if Shen Meng was just pretending in order to move back. It turns out she was really being good to the children.

"You and your siblings eat the dumplings your mom made. Uncle and Grandma Chang don’t need them; we have food at home!"

Lu Mingyang stuffed the dumplings into his hand and ran off.

"Uncle, you eat. I’ll come back for the bowl later."

"Hey, Mingyang, Mingyang, you little rascal." Holding the warm dumplings, Lu Changhong felt a sudden sense of relief. He had covered up a lot of things Shen Meng did over the years. Now that she had reformed, he had not let Zhenping down, just hoping that she would continue to be good and not turn back to her old ways with the children.

Daqing, Erqing, and Gao Gao were called to the Shen Family household, only to be mysteriously pulled into the room by Lu Mingliang.

"Ming Liang, what are you up to? My brother rushed out carrying something just now. Where did he go?"

"My brother has something to do. He’ll be back in a bit. Stop asking and look what this is. Hehe..."

Daqing, Erqing, and Gao Gao watched Ming Liang open the covered bowl with great secrecy, and their eyes widened in surprise,

"Dumplings, white flour dumplings!"

"Not just any white flour dumplings, but they also have meat filling. My mom specifically saved a bowl for you guys. Eat up quick. There are also two bowls for your moms. Take them home later on the sly. Daqing, Erqing, your dad is a fool, so don’t give any to him. Gao Gao, you can give them to your dad since he dotes on your mom. Take them home, lock the door, and let your mom eat them in peace, you got it?"

Gao Gao, who followed in his dad Lu Yongjun’s footsteps, nodded blankly. They couldn’t even have dumplings during the holidays, and to think they got to eat them at the Lu’s.

Just as Erqing and Gao Gao were about to reach for the dumplings, Daqing pulled them back.

"Ming Liang, why would your mom save dumplings for us? She used to pick up cow dung at the doorway and take it home. Why is she giving us such good things to eat now?"

Lu Mingliang’s face darkened, and he snapped at him, "Your mom’s the one picking up cow dung, your whole family picks up cow dung."