I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s
Chapter 56: The Daughter Can Also Shelter Them from the Wind and Rain

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: The Daughter Can Also Shelter Them from the Wind and Rain

"Xiao Meng, you need to take this money back quickly. How could you have brought so much money over? If other people find out about this, they could easily rob you," Shen Yutian had never seen this much money; he wasn’t overjoyed but rather extremely terrified.

The little sister came over to Shenji with four kids, passing through two villages on her way. If some street hoodlum set his eyes on her, he couldn’t even bear to think about how dangerous that would be.

"God in heaven, just put it away quickly. It’s making my eyes hurt just looking at it. You’re too bold, carrying so much money with you and daring to go out!" Wang Guizhi covered her eyes and turned her head away.

Shen Shoutian looked at the money on the table, his eyes bloodshot with excitement. For someone who had been so poor for many years, suddenly seeing so much money could only mean a heart full of excitement, thrill, and helplessness.

Excitement is instinctual, but the ability to control the greediness that arises from within is a real skill.

Shen Meng covertly observed the reactions of the three people. A severe shock like this most accurately reveals a person’s true character.

She was willing to help the Shen Family; firstly, because she was borrowing the original owner’s body, and secondly, because the parents of the Shen Family were so good to her when she woke up.

But she absolutely would not allow the people of the Shen Family to treat her like a piece of meat, clinging to her like locusts.

This was not what she wanted to see, luckily, the Shen Family didn’t disappoint her.

"Xiao Meng, your thoughts about us really make your brother happy, but Zhenping’s allowance is earned with his sweat and blood. Our family is not that greedy, take your money back. When it comes to repairing the house, your second brother and I will figure something out. No matter how hard it gets, we can’t let an already married girl like you pay for it."

"Elder brother..."

"No more words, Xiao Meng, put the money back. Your brother will escort you home tomorrow. You’ll sleep with mother tonight, get warm with her. She thinks about you every day."

As Shen Shoutian spoke, he tried to get up. He was struggling, the pitiful state at home and the glaring money on the table pulled at his heart—back and forth—it was killing him inside.

"Don’t leave just yet, big brother. I won’t take the money back. How about this: let’s consider this US$ 150 as a loan from you and second brother, and also Xiao Bin. Use this fifty yuan as my filial respect to our parents. The remaining money is for buying fabrics and shoes for both elder sister-in-laws and the nephews and nieces. Our house really can’t be lived in anymore; a decent rainstorm could knock it down. Do you want to see our parents, wife, and kids suffer? Besides, it’s not like our family will always be this way. Once you earn money later, you can just repay me, right?"

"No..."

"Okay!"

"Second brother?" Shen Shoutian didn’t expect that before he could even refuse, his second brother had already agreed outright. Forget about the idea of borrowing money, he didn’t even know how to spend it if it were given to him.

"Elder brother, Xiao Mei is right. We are still young. US$ 150, it’s not like we won’t be able to repay it in this lifetime. If you don’t borrow it, you and elder sister-in-law can continue living in this shabby house. Xiao Mei and I want to live in a new house. Mhm, there’s something she didn’t let me mention: Xiao Mei is pregnant again. I definitely can’t let her suffer anymore."

"What? Xiao Mei is pregnant again? Dammit, why didn’t you mention it earlier? She has been working these past couple of days, how many months along is she? Didn’t she strain herself, no wonder these days you haven’t let her hold Red Star!"

Wang Guizhi glared at her second son for a good while, wishing she could slap him to make it better, which made Shen Yutian’s dark face turn an almost purple shade of red.

Su Xiaomei and Lv Qinlan, who came to the door wanting to speak, didn’t dare to enter. They also didn’t expect that the conversation inside the main room wasn’t just idle family chatter, but rather touched on such a sensitive topic.

In their view, it was better not to borrow money. With famine weighing them down, they lacked strength in everything they did. Life was tight but still went on; whether abundant or not, a day passed just like any other, and there wasn’t much difference.

Yet looking at their own children, and then at the children of Shen Meng’s younger paternal aunt’s family, the hearts of the mothers couldn’t help but feel a certain unpleasantness. Which mother wouldn’t want her child to eat well, drink well, be dressed cleanly, and be comfortably warm?

It seemed to be a matter of fate. No matter how hard one worked, it was useless - the family was just too poor!

Shen Meng smiled serenely,

"That’s perfect. Tomorrow my second brother will go find someone to knock down our house and rebuild it. Add two more rooms, make it bigger. This money is enough, it’s just that the black tiles might require some effort. I’ll ask around later."

"Ah, great!" Shen Yutian chuckled a few times, watching as Shen Meng put all the money into Wang Guizhi’s hands.

"However much you need to use, just tell Mother. I’m not in a hurry to have it returned. Living well is better than anything."

Wang Guizhi’s eyes brimmed with tears as she clutched the stack of money in her hand. Her feelings were incredibly mixed, having never imagined that the daughter she had doted on since childhood could now provide shelter from the storm for them.

When Shen Fugui woke up and learned about this, he was furious for a good while. Shen Meng knew it was because he doted on his daughter, but his weak point was also obvious. With just a couple of tears from Shen Meng claiming he didn’t consider her as family, the old man immediately turned red-faced and fell silent.

That evening, the meal was prepared by Shen Meng and Lv Qinlan, mainly Shen Meng. She only found out in the evening that at noon they had just fried a plate of green beans with pork for the children to eat, and were not willing to put much meat in it, letting her take it away after she returned.

Shen Meng was speechless to the extreme, chopping up all the remaining pork belly and using sweet potato starch to create slippery chicken. Adding in cabbage, eggs, and chopped coriander, she simmered a pot of slippery chicken soup.

She also stir-fried eggplant, and a plate of spicy pork. Using a spatula to scoop up the lard during the cooking, she frightened Lv Qinlan who was tending the fire, making her heart pound with fear.

From the Shen Family’s courtyard wafted the delicious aroma, making it hard for people to fall asleep; several leaned against the wall, sniffing the scent and sipping cold water.

Shen Meng lit the kerosene lamp, and the whole family sat around the dinner table. For a moment, no one touched their chopsticks. This was the most extravagant meal the Shen Family had ever had, even surpassing what they ate during the New Year celebration, especially the basket full of oily pastries, which had the children swallowing hard with envy.

"Why is nobody eating? Pick up your chopsticks!"

"Xiao Meng, life shouldn’t be like this, no matter how much money you have, it won’t last long if you keep spending!" Wang Guizhi couldn’t help lecturing again.

"It’s just because I’m happy returning home today. Mother, eat with peace of mind. We’ve all grown up, and it’s time for us to honor you and Dad. Elder brother and elder sister-in-law, second brother and second sister-in-law, little brother, eat up. Pick up your chopsticks. Wash up early and go to sleep tonight, or Mother will worry about the cost of kerosene."

"Enough, you naughty girl, let’s eat. Try out your sister’s cooking skills."

After Wang Guizhi spoke, everyone started to move their chopsticks. Shen Yutian had been itching to start, quickly grabbing some stir-fried meat with spiciness, freshness, and bursting with flavor from the richness of the oil - it was incredibly delicious.

He enjoyed his own meal and also served some to Su Xiaomei. They each got a big bowl of slippery chicken soup, with added pepper and paired with oily pastries, making the diners break out in sweat.

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