Chapter 32 Free Food and Drink
Su Wan said: Aunt, besides living and eating here, I have another favor to ask of you. I want to make some food and sell it in the county town to earn some money. I will inevitably have to use the Shen family’s things, such as pots, stoves, plates and bowls. I also need the well in this house, and I will inevitably need Yaya’s help. Aunt, is it okay for me to do this?
Mrs Shen smiled and said: “The pots, stoves, wells and other things are all from the county town, you can use them. You always helped Yaya with the work in the past, and it is only natural for Yaya to help you now. Why do you need to buy so many things in exchange?”
Su Wan said: “If Auntie doesn’t accept these things, I would be embarrassed to use them. Auntie, please help me.”
Mrs Shen had no choice but to let Su Wan put the purchased cloth into the cupboard.
Su Wan took out the clothes she bought for Mrs Shen and asked Mrs Shen to try them on. They were indeed beautiful.
Originally, the clothes that Mrs Shen was wearing were all patched. Although they were clean, they made her look poor. The clothes that Su Wan bought for her were not made of very good material, but after changing into new clothes, Mrs Shen still looked a bit like the Shen family when they were in their heyday.
After helping Mrs Shen change her clothes, Su Wan went to the kitchen to tidy things up. Shen Yaya also followed Su Wan to help.
This time, Su Wan went to the county and bought a lot of ingredients and seasonings for cooking. Shen Yaya and Su Wan placed all these things neatly in the kitchen.
Then Shen Yaya went to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables and fetch firewood, while Su Wan steamed the rice in the pot.
Then the two of them washed and picked vegetables together. Su Wan was efficient at work, and with Shen Yaya’s help, she worked even faster.
Su Wan made several dishes including braised spare ribs, ham and tofu, Chinese cabbage in soup, lotus root boxes, etc. The aroma of rice wafted over and Shen Yaya was drooling.
(braised spare ribs)
( ham and tofu)
( Chinese cabbage in soup)
(lotus root )
She hadn’t eaten meat for a long time. Only during festivals would her brother kill a chicken and stew it. However, after the chicken was cooked, most of it would be given to her grandparents, so she couldn’t eat much.
As for pork, Shen Yaya can only eat it once a year.
After the meat was cooked, Su Wan quickly took out five pieces so that Shen Yaya could enjoy it to her heart’s content.
Shen Yaya swallowed her saliva and said, “I won’t eat it yet. After I give it to grandpa and grandma, there won’t be much meat left.”
Su Wan poked Shen Yaya’s nose with her finger and asked, “Why are you giving it to your grandparents?”
Shen Yaya lowered her head and said in a low voice: “Because I have to be filial.”
In fact, Shen Yaya also disliked her grandparents, but she had the mountain of filial piety pressing down on her. If she didn’t send this to her grandparents, her brother would be scolded by others.
In fact, making delicious food and serving it to elders is a filial piety, but Su Wan knew Shen Lin’s grandparents best, and they only had their eldest son in their hearts.
After Shen Lin’s father died, Shen Lin’s grandparents took away the Shen family’s food, cattle, and farm tools, and seized more than ten acres of land left by Shen Lin’s father, under the euphemism of letting these things fulfill their filial piety on behalf of Shen Lin’s father.
If it were just that, it would be fine. However, Shen Lin’s grandparents often came to Shen Lin’s house every year to ask for help. They even wanted Shen Lin to give up the nice brick house built by his father so that his uncle’s son could get married. Shen Lin was unwilling, so they accused him of being unfilial.
In short, Su Wan knew that Shen Lin’s grandparents and his uncle’s family were extremely shameless.
Su Wan touched Shen Yaya’s head and said, “You and your brother should give your grandparents something delicious when you have it. Should I also give your grandparents something delicious when I have it?”
Shen Yaya finally realized what was happening and jumped up with joy. She said happily, “This is Sister Su Wan’s meat and Sister Su Wan’s meal. It has nothing to do with my brother and me, and even less with my grandparents.”
Then Shen Yaya felt a little embarrassed again: “Sister Su Wan, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to talk about this meal…”
Su Wan knew what Shen Yaya wanted to say. Shen Yaya said this because she subconsciously treated the meal as her own.
Su Wan would not be angry with Shen Yaya because of this. She knew Shen Yaya’s kindness very well. Even if she made mistakes occasionally, it was definitely not intentional.
She originally wanted to create a feeling for Shen Yaya that everyone wanted to eat together.
She corrected Shen Yaya that she bought these things just to make Shen Yaya realize that these foods had nothing to do with her grandparents. Apart from her grandparents, these things belonged to the Shen family in Su Wan’s eyes.
Su Wan comforted Shen Yaya and told her to eat the meat without worry. After listening to Su Wan, Shen Yaya started to eat with confidence. However, Shen Yaya only ate two pieces, as she still wanted to eat with everyone.
Although the things Su Wan bought were not valuable, they still made people jealous. On their way home, those women passed by Shen Lin’s grandparents’ house and went in to tell Shen Lin’s grandparents that Shen Lin’s family had bought a lot of cloth, grain and ribs today. The ribs could not be kept, so Shen Lin’s family must cook meat this afternoon.
After hearing this, Shen Lin’s grandparents immediately stopped cooking. They had originally planned to go to Shen Lin’s house after lunch to ask for justice. If the food at Shen Lin’s house hadn’t been so simple and unpalatable, they would have gone directly there.
.
In the past two years, if the Shen Lin family had a slightly better meal, or had something better, they would give a portion to the two of them.
This time was of course no exception. Old Man Shen and Mrs. Shen were already sitting on the kang waiting for Shen Lin to bring over cloth and food.
While waiting for Shen Lin to deliver the meal, the old couple could take a break. The work at the old house during the day was very heavy.
When Shen Lin’s grandparents heard that Shen Lin’s family was going to eat pork ribs today, they immediately gave up cooking and just sat on the kang chatting while waiting for Shen Lin to bring the ribs over.
The spare ribs are delicious. In the past, Shen Lin’s family mostly sent chicken and fish, but never a meal as delicious as spare ribs.
Shen Lin’s grandfather had smoked four or five pots of cigarettes, and Shen Lin’s grandmother had sewn a shoe sole. It was almost past dinner time, but Shen Lin and Shen Yaya hadn’t brought the ribs over yet.
Old woman Shen’s face had turned a little dark: “Could it be that Shen Lin that unworthy descendant ate all the food by himself and didn’t even think of sending it to us?”
Old man Shen knocked his pipe on the kang and said, “He doesn’t dare. Every time he eats meat, he brings it to us to honor us. Maybe it takes some time to stew the ribs, so he didn’t bring it over. Let’s wait a little longer.”
Old Man Shen and Old woman Shen waited and waited, until it was dark, but Shen Lin and Shen Yaya still didn’t bring the meal over as usual.
Old woman Shen’s stomach was growling with hunger, and her face turned grim: “If we stew these ribs any longer, they will become rotten in the pot. You see, Shen Lin didn’t even plan to serve us a bowl.”
Old man Shen also got angry. He got off the kang, put on a piece of clothes, and said, “Let’s go to Shen Lin’s house to see how this unfilial grandson has the nerve to eat meat while we starve.”
Old woman Shen also hurriedly stood up and followed: “Let’s go call the eldest son and let him have some ribs too.”
Old Man Shen said unhappily, “Don’t call him, let’s go call the village chief to make the decision for us. If we delay, they will finish eating. Let’s go with the village chief and grab some for the eldest son.”
Old Man Shen and Old woman Shen put on thick clothes, passed by the village chief’s house, called the village chief, and asked the village chief to go to Shen Lin’s house with them.
The village chief of Qingshi Village was tall and thin. He had studied for a few years and was a student. His surname was Wan. After Shen Lin’s father died, it was this village chief Wan who decided to let Shen Lin divide most of the family’s belongings to Old Man Shen and Old woman Shen.
When Old Man Shen and Old woman Shen threw the label of unfilial piety at Shen Lin, it was Village Chief Wan who solidified it.
Old Man Shen, Old woman Shen, and Village Chief Wan arrived at the gate of Shen Lin’s yard and indeed smelled the aroma of meat. The aroma was so overbearing that it made people drool.
Inside the house, Su Wan, Shen Shi, Shen Lin and Shen Yaya sat together to eat. Shen Lin was originally reluctant to eat the food bought with Su Wan’s money, but Su Wan said that Shen Lin was willing to save her life, and this kindness must be repaid in any way.
Seeing that Shen Lin still didn’t want to eat, Su Wan had to tell Shen Lin that the meat would go bad if he didn’t eat it, and if Shen Lin felt bad about it, he could treat her to delicious food and drinks when he earned money in the future.
Su Wan persuaded Shen Lin again and again, so he could not refuse and sat down to eat. Before eating the ribs and these dishes, Shen Lin also thought of his grandparents, but this meal was different from the meat he cooked at home in the past. Today’s meal was cooked by Su Wan and the ingredients were also bought by Su Wan. Shen Lin himself ate Su Wan’s food, so naturally he could not serve it to his grandparents as usual.
Before, the Shen family’s dining table was filled with light porridge and side dishes, and even eggs were rarely seen. But now, all kinds of meat ingredients are available, filling the table with delicious food and good looks.
Shen Lin hadn’t eaten meat for a long time, let alone such delicious ribs.
Su Wan specially bought several pounds of ribs just so that Shen Lin could eat well.
He does such heavy work but doesn’t eat well all year round, so although he is tall, he is very thin. If he continues like this for a long time, his body will not be able to bear it.
When they arrived at Shen Lin’s house, Village Chief Wan knocked on the door knocker several times.
Not long after, Shen Yaya opened the door. When she saw Shen Yaya, Old woman Shen showed a fierce look and started to scold: “You unfilial thing, don’t you bring two bowls of meat to your grandparents when you eat meat at home? Aren’t you afraid of getting sores in your mouth if you eat alone?”
Shen Yaya was so frightened that she didn’t dare to speak.
Old Man Shen looked at Shen Yaya with a stern expression: “Where is your brother?”
Shen Yaya was frightened by Old Man Shen’s devil-like expression and burst into tears.
“Cry, cry, cry, you unfilial thing, you still have the nerve to cry.” Old woman Shen cursed and pushed Shen Yaya, who staggered backwards.
Shen Lin and Su Wan hurried out, and Su Wan quickly went to Shen Yaya and held her in her arms.
“Grandpa and grandma, what’s going on?” Shen Lin has always been respectful to Old Man Shen and Old woman Shen.
Old woman Shen snorted coldly: “Don’t you know what’s going on?”
Old Man Shen looked at Shen Lin with anger on his face: “Tell me, what did your family eat tonight?”
Shen Lin slowly said: “Braised ribs”
Old woman Shen looked aggrieved: “Village Chief Wan, look at how pitiful we are. Our son died, and he couldn’t show filial piety to us. It’s also unfilial to leave this grandson. They ate meat, but they didn’t even serve us two bowls. Look at the way they do things. How can they take us two old people seriously?”
Old woman Shen sang these words in a crying voice like she was performing an opera, and wiped her eyes with the corner of her sleeve.
Old Man Shen said to Shen Lin in a sarcastic tone: “Why didn’t you bring it to me and your grandmother?”
As soon as Old Man Shen finished speaking, Old woman Shen quickly spoke up again: “Let’s not talk about it outside, let’s go inside and don’t let that bitch Shen Zhou put away the food.”
Even though she was going to war to punish the culprit, Old woman Shen was still thinking about eating the ribs from Shen Lin’s house. She was already late, and if she delayed any longer, there would be nothing left of the ribs, not even the bones.
Old woman Shen rushed into the house in a hurry, followed by Old Man Shen and Village Chief Wan.
Shen Lin, Su Wan and Shen Yaya also followed him into the house.
As soon as she arrived at the Shen family’s dining room, Old woman Shen saw the chicken, duck, fish and meat on the table. The most eye-catching thing was the half pot of braised pork ribs on the table. The table was already full of bones and most of the dishes had been served. It was obvious that Shen Lin and his family had been eating for a while.
Old woman Shen was so angry that she almost fainted. How could Shen Lin and his family eat so much of the delicious meat and dishes? This table was full of food and it was enough for her, the old man, and the eldest son’s family to have a good meal.
As for Shen Lin and Shen Zhou, after all, the second son was dead, so his wife and children were naturally separated from them. Shen Lin and Shen Zhou were lucky enough to eat what was left over from them and the old man.
( Shen Zhou – Shen Lin’s Mother )
Old Woman Shen frowned and clenched her jaw, looking at Mrs Shen who was sitting on the kang: “Look, this is the good daughter-in-law that my Shen family married back. She eats good food and meat, but she doesn’t even know how to serve a bowl of food to her parents-in-law and eldest brother-in-law’s family. She actually eats alone here, and she’s not afraid of choking to death.”
Old Man Shen also started to curse: “You unfilial things, since the second som died, who has been helping you and taking care of you? If it weren’t for us and the old family, would you still be able to keep your house?”
What Old Man Shen said was so unscrupulous that even Village Chief Wan, who had no conscience, couldn’t stand it anymore.
This Shen Lao Da and Shen Lin’s father Shen Lao Er are good brothers, but over the years, when Shen Lao Er was around, it was often Shen Lao Er who helped Shen Lao Da with work. And now Shen Lao Da’s son ate more, and Shen Lao Er’ son often helped him.
Shen Lao Er was hardworking and saved some money, gradually becoming a wealthy man in Qingshi Village. Then he built this brick and tile house. When building the house, Old Man Shen, Old Woman Shen and the Shen Lao Da family did not help at all, but instead ate and drank for free at Shen Lao Er’s house every day.
It is no exaggeration to say that if it weren’t for Old Man Shen, Old Woman Shen family sucking Shen Lao Er’s blood, he could have built two more brick and tile houses like this.
Later, when Shen Lao Er passed away, Old Man Shen and Old Shen Lao Da wanted to take Shen Laoer’s house and land from Shen Lin. Shen Lin naturally refused, so Shen Lin was branded as an unfilial person.
In the end, Shen Lin divided some of the land left by his father to his grandparents and uncle. As for the house, since the title deed and the land deed were in Shen Lin’s hands, the house was saved. However, Old Man Shen, Old Woman Shen, Shen Lao Da and his three sons moved away all the furniture, pots and pans, new quilts and mattresses from Shen Lin’s house.
Old Man Shen and Shen Lao Da did this, and they still had the nerve to say that they helped Shen Lin after Shen Lao Er’s death. They were really shameless.
Old Woman Shen didn’t want to waste any more time talking to Shen Lin, so she went to the kitchen and scooped two bowls of rice for herself and Old Man Shen, then sat down at the table.
Old Woman Shen called out to Old Man Shen: “Don’t waste your time talking to this unfilial grandson. Come over and have some food. After you eat, you can have a good argument with this unfilial son.”
Old Woman Shen and Old Man Shen sat down and began to eat ravenously.
