Chapter 12: Is It Delicious?

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Su Li continued dividing the bones.

“There are four left. The three families each get one bone, Old Five and I will share half a bone, and the remaining half will be saved for Old Big Brother.”

Her hands never stopped moving as she separated the large bones.

Old Second’s family had already happily started gnawing, competing over who would suck out the bone marrow grease.

Old Third and Old Fourth were quite surprised. In the past, if there were six bones, the matriarch would get two, Old Five two, and the other two would go to one of the grandchildren. The rest of them would only get scraps of meat.

Though they didn’t understand why the matriarch suddenly decided to be fair, they hoped this practice would continue.

No more words—time to eat.

Only what goes into one’s own stomach truly belongs to oneself.

Su Li took the last large bone, shaved off half the meat, and placed it all into Old Five’s bowl.

“Here, eat up.”

“The rest is for your big brother. He works through the night and still has to farm afterward; he needs some meat to eat.”

The other families felt sorry for Old Big Brother, who had to work a night shift and then still farm. Luckily, he got the job; they wouldn’t want it.

Old Five, Cheng Junguo, looked at the meat in his bowl, then at his mother, who was eating the beans and potatoes.

“Mom, you should eat some.”

“Mom doesn’t like it; you eat more.”

Su Li swallowed discreetly and turned back to her potatoes.

Potatoes soaked in meat flavor were truly delicious!

At her age, eating meat at night wasn’t good; she still wanted to live a long life.

Next time, remember to stew the meat in the morning so she could eat it then.

Cheng Junguo had no idea of Su Li’s thoughts. The meat was tasty, but eating it was somewhat uncomfortable.

The meal was aromatic; the big bones were smashed to pieces, leaving no crevice untouched, and the marrow grease inside had been scraped clean.

Old Second’s family finished and were now sucking their fingers, afraid of missing any trace of grease.

Su Li couldn’t bear it and got up; she didn’t have to wash the dishes anyway.

After a full day of work, everyone was exhausted and went to bed early.

Su Li still went through her routine—washing up, washing her feet. This time, Miao Xiaocao, who brought the foot-washing water, entered smiling.

Su Li glanced at her and thought she looked better crying.

“Pull back your mouth corners. I didn’t ask you to cry, but don’t give me that creepy smile either.”

Miao Xiaocao’s smile faded as she glanced at Su Li.

“If you have something to say, just say it.”

Su Li kept a stern expression. Miao Xiaocao hurried to speak.

“Mom, I didn’t cry today.”

“Did you come asking for a prize or what?”

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Miao Xiaocao quickly shook her head and obediently put down the foot-washing water.

Su Li could now calmly enjoy herself; after all, it was just carrying a basin of water.

After washing, Miao Xiaocao left. Su Li took care of her skincare, stretched, finished everything, and went to sleep.

She wondered if Old Big Brother could handle the task she had given him.

Once the Cheng family fell asleep, Old Big Brother Cheng Jundong began his work.

Before work today, Su Li reminded Cheng Jundong of three key points:

First, speak little and observe more when you arrive;

Second, don’t promise anyone anything; if there’s an issue, say you need to discuss it at home;

Third, don’t be greedy or accept anything; be honest and trustworthy.

Carrying these three points, Cheng Jundong arrived at the workplace and was taken to meet Old Man Yang, who guarded the gate.

He needed to hand over the shift—one person for the day shift, one for the night.

Old Man Yang showed Cheng Jundong around.

“Our unit has dogs. When you hear them bark, get up quickly. At night, just patrol once or twice; no need to watch constantly. There’s a small kang bed-stove in here, so if you want to nap, go ahead. Nothing will be affected.”

Cheng Jundong listened earnestly and nodded, committing the instructions to heart.

At five o’clock, Old Man Yang left and would return in the morning; Cheng Jundong officially began his work.

That night, Cheng Jundong patrolled the factory four times without incident.

At around six in the morning, Old Man Yang came back. Cheng Jundong hurried off, rushing away.

“What’s the hurry for?”

Old Man Yang entered the gatehouse, where two mooncakes sat on the table—one already bitten.

“The hurry made you leave the mooncake behind.”

Old Man Yang pushed the mooncakes further in, sniffed, and smiled at the aroma.

Cheng Jundong ran all the way out of town onto a country road surrounded by farmland.

“I must have done well, right? Mom told me to hurry off, left a bite in the mooncake on the table—two mooncakes total, that’s right.”

He chuckled and pulled a whole mooncake from his pocket. His mother had left it for him, worried he’d get hungry during his night shift.

He smelled it, then put it back in his pocket to take home for the girls.

*

At the Cheng household,

Su Li woke up just before five as usual. After stretching, she hadn’t even put on her shoes when a familiar wail broke the silence.

“Husband, am I dying?”

“Ouch—it hurts so much!”

“My stomach! Husband, I can’t take it!”

Old Second’s wife, Li Meilan, was crying out again. Su Li frowned.

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Were these two being lazy again?

That was too soon. According to her calculations, that big bone should have lasted several days.

Su Li put on her shoes and stepped outside, just in time to see Li Meilan’s face pale and her hair soaked with sweat as Old Second helped support her along.

After only a few steps, Li Meilan let out a cry, clutching her stomach, bending over and running back.

“Wife—”

Old Second chased after her, worried.

She was truly sick.

Su Li quickly went back inside to get money, preparing to go to the village clinic for medicine. Diarrhea could be mild or severe; it couldn’t be neglected.

Li Meilan came out again, barely able to walk.

The others saw and realized this was real illness, not pretending.

“Old Second’s wife, what did you eat after dinner yesterday?”

The sickness had come on suddenly, and no one else in the house was affected.

Li Meilan’s eyes darted nervously. Su Li immediately understood.

“Old Second’s wife… diarrhea can be deadly, especially if it’s watery! If you won’t say, fine—I’ll just find Old Second another wife—”

“Mom, I don’t want another wife!”

“The wife belongs to me!”

Su Li rolled her eyes and asked in a stern tone, “Then just be honest!”

Her commanding presence silenced them.

“Wife, did you really eat something? How could you do this to me? Don’t we share good food? How could you do this behind my back?”

“Husband—”

Su Li’s eyes ached watching this cheap melodrama unfold.

“Stop stalling—what exactly did you eat?”

“I just craved that big bone flavor in the middle of the night. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and wandered around. There was some meat grease drying in the kitchen, so I ate two spoonfuls!”

Su Li felt her temples burning.

Eating meat grease and only two spoonfuls!

“Li Meilan, you must want to die! If you’d eaten three spoonfuls, I’d be burning incense for you right now!”

“What are you all looking at? Hurry and call Doctor Mao!”

“Granny, I’m faster—I’ll go!”

Big Niu took off running. Su Li just breathed a sigh of relief when Old Second said, “Wife, does eating pure meat grease taste good?”