I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s
Chapter 34: You are really thoughtless

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: You are really thoughtless

Daqing, Erqing, and Gao Gao didn’t get angry despite Lu Mingliang snapping at them. Instead, they laughed it out. The dumplings were irresistibly hot, yet having white flour dumplings even during New Year was a luxury for them—after all, they were poor children from the start. Where could they easily access such fine food?

Erqing and Gao Gao had just been salivating, but after hearing a few words, they no longer wanted to eat and didn’t even glance at it.

"Go ahead and eat. In the past, my brother, my younger siblings, and I used to eat the food from Aunt Lianhua and Aunt Xifeng quite often. This time, my mother bought meat specifically for these dumplings. She even wants you to secretly take some back, so don’t let your elder aunt and grandmother find out. Hurry up and eat. My mom doesn’t usually show such kindness; who knows if there’ll be a next time—quick, eat up."

While talking, Lu Mingliang nudged the three towards his table, placing a big bowl of fragrant dumplings in front of them. The trio hesitated for a while and dared not eat, even the youngest, Gao Gao, tried to leave. But Mingliang quickly caught him and stuffed a dumpling into his mouth. Gao Gao instinctively bit and immediately froze.

The white dumpling skin was chewy, the filling fresh and slightly spicy, making his whole mouth salivate. Unable to control himself, Gao Gao chewed a couple more bites and swallowed with a gulp.

"Heh, is it tasty? I won’t say much else, but my mom really can cook. Daqing, Erqing, you should eat too. We’ve had our fill; this whole bowl is for you. My mother is still making dumplings in the kitchen, and it’s especially for your mothers. Eat up and go back quickly so they can try it too."

Lu Mingliang was a bit excited; he was happy to finally repay those who had once helped him, and he felt a renewed affirmation towards his mother, Shen Meng.

From outside, Shen Meng listened for a while before she returned to the kitchen, dangling her ladle. Hearing Lu Mingliang’s words about her didn’t make her feel anything; they were familiar with each other by now, but if it was to describe it as a close mother-son bond, she always felt something was missing.

When Xie Jinghao brought Xiao Gang over, Shen Meng had just served a big bowl of two-grain noodle dumplings. The rest she left on a plate to cool down, waiting for Daqing, Erqing, and Gao Gao to finish so she could send some dumplings back for Lianhua and Xifeng to eat.

"Jinghao, come quickly. Xiao Gang, look at the dumplings Aunt has made; hurry and eat while it’s hot. The dip is already prepared; it’s fine to eat during pregnancy."

Xie Jinghao felt a little embarrassed. Recently, Xiao Gang had been visiting Lu Family more often and had grown more daring, not as afraid of Shen Meng as before. Instead, he looked forward to nighttime when they could enjoy delicious food here.

"Sister-in-law, why did you reserve food for me again? These past days, following you, I’ve eaten meat buns, fish soup, shredded pork noodles... I haven’t even finished two clothes for the baby, yet I’ve eaten plenty of good things from you."

"Let’s not talk about that; you’re pregnant, and it’s important. Do nourish yourself well, so the birth goes smoothly, and let Xiao Gang eat by himself."

"Thank you, aunt."

Xiao Gang then reached out, took a dumpling, and started nibbling on it. Tonight, his grandma asked Second Aunt to prepare corn flour porridge and three-grain bun for dinner. He and his mother didn’t eat much; Second Aunt and her in-laws were quick with chopsticks, swiftly transferring the dishes into their own bowls. If he hoped to eat something good, he had to count on his elder aunt remembering him and his mother.

"Jinghao, go ahead and eat; I’ve already eaten, after working all night, you can’t waste my goodwill."

"Ah, thanks, sister-in-law."

With tearful eyes, Xie Jinghao picked up her chopsticks. Shen Meng looked on and smiled. Xie Jinghao had been eating well this half-month, her complexion had improved a lot. Previously thin as a rail and heavily pregnant, she really looked frightening.

In the original story, Xie Jinghao’s fate wasn’t good; this pregnancy weakened her body, and she could no longer have more children. Her daughter was considered bad luck by Liu Sanjin and faced disdain from a young age. Xie Jinghao and her husband spent their lifetime farming two mu of land alongside Lu Jiasheng with their children achieving little. Now, Shen Meng didn’t want to think about the days to come, but seeing Xie Jinghao being kind to the kids, she decided to lend a helping hand.

While they were eating, Shen Meng prepared hot water, mixed it with some cold water, and then went to the room to fetch the children. Lu Mingkai’s eyes brightened when she entered, but seeing her intentions, he began sulking.

"Mom, I don’t want to bathe."

"No way, if you don’t bathe, you’ll sleep with your elder and second brothers. You can’t follow me to bed; I don’t like smelly kids."

Lu Mingfang was writing when she heard Shen Meng’s words and immediately raised her hand, saying, "Mom, I’ll take a bath, I can bathe myself now, and not tire you out. I’ll be clean and can sleep with you."

Lu Mingkai muttered, "Sister is a meanie."

"Off you go then. You’ve been rolling on the ground several times today; if you don’t wash, you can’t even get on the kang." Without another word, Shen Meng picked up Lu Mingkai and went out of the door. Lu Mingfang sighed in relief, thankful that her mom agreed to let her bathe herself, otherwise she would still have to be scrubbed hard like a fish.

When Mingyang came back, he heard his little brother’s familiar shouting. He rolled his eyes; it was just a bath, how painful could it be? If his mom washed him, he would not utter a single peep.

In the kitchen, Lu Mingkai, with tears in his eyes, covered his half-stripped body, his face flushed as he turned away. His mom was really too embarrassing, with Third Aunt and little brother Xiao Gang still inside when she stripped his clothes. He barely managed to cover himself in time.

Shen Meng found his little act amusing and quickly dressed him and put on his shoes before letting him go outside.

After eating dumplings, Daqing, Erqing, and Ming Liang followed to the kitchen, twisting and turning, hesitating to enter. Daqing blinked hard a few times and said softly to the still-busy Shen Meng, "Thank you, Aunt."

"It’s you who we should thank. You used to save your own food to feed Mingyang and the others. Here, I packed two servings of dumplings for you; take them home for your mom to eat when it’s dark, and be sneaky about it, understand?"

"Understood, Aunt. We’re heading home now, thank you, Aunt." Daqing led his two younger brothers a few steps towards the exit then came back, pressed his brothers’ heads down and bowed to Shen Meng.

Wang Lianhua was soothing her daughter to sleep, her heart laden with worries. It was getting late and Daqing and Erqing had not yet returned. She worried that the children might have run to the riverbank, and her man was nowhere to be found, always disappearing when needed the most.

Daqing and Erqing hurriedly took Gao Gao inside their house and quickly went to their own room, then with a "snap," they closed the door.

"Why are you only back now, and with your brother? You can’t do this next time; quickly get on the kang and sleep!"

"Mom, look, what’s this?"

Wang Lianhua’s eyes widened in surprise and her mouth opened in astonishment.

"Dumplings, where did these come from? Such a precious thing, how could you bring it home!"

"Mom, these were made by Mingyang’s mom, she gave them to me and my brothers after we finished eating, as a thank her for taking care of Mingyang and the others."

Wang Lianhua looked at her two foolish sons, too angry to even hit them.

"You, we’ve only fed Mingyang and them a few meals, and not that well, and every time even ridiculed by your elder aunt, how can we accept such valuable gifts? Daqing, how could you be so thoughtless, taking things while eating at someone else’s home."

Daqing and Erqing looked panic-stricken; their mom had never been this harsh on them before.

"Mom!"

"Aunt insisted on giving them to you, she also said to eat them while they’re hot, and not to let grandma and others know, and not even to give some to dad." Daqing spoke softly, walls have ears, one has to be careful or others might overhear.