"Sure, I'm sticking corn cakes, frying some shredded cabbage."
Lady Li, upon hearing it was indeed rice porridge, promptly agreed with delight and swiftly set about starting the fire to cook.
Zhulan's heart ached. Their family owned ten mu of paddy fields, which had lower taxes than dry fields. Plus, rice was more expensive in the North than in the South, leaving the family with very little rice for the year, the rest being converted into money.
Despite not being frivolous with the ample family savings, the original host wasn't particularly clever. However, with a good mother-in-law's guidance and experience through wartime, she understood the essence of concealing one's abilities and wealth.
Soon enough, the second daughter-in-law, Zhao's, got up and entered the kitchen with her head down. Zhulan couldn't be bothered to look anymore. The kitchen was filled with the sound of Lady Li giving orders to Zhao's.
Zhulan looked at the jars but her mind was preoccupied with Zhao's six-month pregnant belly, calculating the days until she'd give birth. A few months more and it would be winter. Winter babies were hard to raise, especially under the poor conditions of the past. She thought, 'Yes, we need to find a good midwife in advance.' With the autumn harvest approaching, household affairs were plentiful.
Breakfast was soon ready, and everyone got up one after another. Zhou Shuren also got up to wash and groom.
Zhulan glanced at him before looking away. Initially, she was concerned whether Zhou Shuren's façade wasn't convincing, but one look told her she had worried over nothing. The original husband, who sought to assert his authority over his sons, naturally had a reserved and reticent demeanor, which suited the pretense perfectly.
In the morning, the cakes served with plain porridge and the clear green of the shredded cabbage were simple yet appetizing, especially since the cabbage was fried in lard, which smelled delicious.
Zhou Shuren adapted well to his role, reaching for his bowl first, "Time to eat."
Once the head of the family had moved, Zhulan had also served the porridge. The second one to pick up chopsticks, she said, "Time to eat."
In those days people lived just to fill their stomachs. With food being scarce, little was said at meals; the whole house filled with the sound of slurping porridge. No one would foolishly ask why they were having plain porridge that morning; they were all focused on getting an extra bowl down.
Zhulan and Zhou Shuren caught each other's eyes. Without conversation, they seemed to have reached a good understanding. Neither of them thought about making big changes right away. Change had to come slowly. They hadn't forgotten about the presence of the third girl, Wang Ru.
After the meal, Zhou Shuren talked with his sons about the farm, reminding the younger ones to study hard and diligently. Once the sons left, the act also came to an end. Having taken his medication, he returned to his room to lie down.
Zhulan also took her tonic and was pondering where it would be best to hide money when Lady Li approached her, "Mother, the little sister hid half a corn cake and went to Wang's again. It's not that I want to say this, but those people at Wang's are ingrates. It would be better for the little sister to keep her distance."
Zhulan recalled that Lady Li never mixed with the Wangs and had never held a favorable view of them. The Wangs did indeed have a problematic reputation, unlike her own family, which was subject to rumors. The Wangs were genuinely of questionable character, "Hmm."
Lady Li was inwardly delighted. In the past, her mother-in-law would find her annoying, but today she was listened to, and even more, she wasn't scolded. Climbing on this, she said, "Mother, shouldn't we prepare the big bones? Shall we eat them for lunch?"
She had been thinking about it all night, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, the thought nagging on her mind!
Zhulan gave Lady Li a sidelong glance. This one needed to be kept in check, lest she get too comfortable and climb over your head with time. Zhulan had no intention of changing her position in the eyes of her daughters-in-law. In the tone of the original host, she replied, "Eat, eat, all you think about is eating all day. Go back and look after the children."
Lady Li, unfazed and feeling rather content, even smiled, "Yes, alright, mother."
Her voice was sweet as honey, laced with eight pluses.
Zhulan, "....."
Before Zhulan found a good place to hide the money, the young girl Xue Han rushed back hurriedly. Seeing Zhulan, she got frightened, "Mother."
Zhulan waved her over, "Why are you rushing back like that? Is something the matter?"
Xue Han pursed her lips but said nothing.
Zhulan, however, was recalling plotlines from the story. This was the rhythm of entering into the storyline, yet she had a toothache!