Bai Lin suddenly found it hard to breathe.
Bai Zao looked at Song Zhaodi in utter disbelief. How could such a woman exist in this world?
Zhong Jianguo saw that the Bai siblings were rendered speechless by Song Zhaodi’s words. He held back his laughter, keeping a stern expression. “Let’s eat. I have things to do later.”
Song Zhaodi remained still. “They’re waiting for you to give them a clear answer. Jianguo, if you don’t make things clear, they’ll just come back in a few days.” She paused to catch her breath. “Shencheng isn’t far, but it’s not exactly close either. They have jobs to attend to. Doing this is just making things difficult for them.”
“That was inconsiderate of me.” Zhong Jianguo turned to Bai Lin and Bai Zao. “Don’t come back again. If Dawa, Erwa or Sanwa want to visit Shanghai when they’re older, I won’t stop them.” Without giving the two a chance to speak, he continued, “If you want to eat, then come in now. If not, go back.”
Song Zhaodi was overjoyed. “I’ll bring out their bags.”
“We’ll eat,” Bai Zao said reluctantly. She wanted to act with dignity, but her stomach wouldn’t stop protesting.
Song Zhaodi sighed in disappointment. “Then come in.” She turned and went to the kitchen, fetching a bottle of hot water and pouring four bowls, placing them in front of everyone.
Bai Zao was incredulous. “You’re just drinking hot water for lunch? Not even making porridge?”
“Jianguo and the kids don’t like porridge,” Song Zhaodi replied.
Bai Lin said meaningfully, “You know Jianguo quite well.”
“Just a little better than your sister,” Song Zhaodi answered casually. She hadn’t intended to use Bai Hua to shut him up, but since he didn’t know when to stop, she wouldn’t hold back.
Bai Lin choked on his words. He took a sip of water before saying, “You’ve only been married to Jianguo for a few years.” His face was full of disdain. “My sister was with him for seven years.”
“Yes, seven years.” Song Zhaodi nodded in agreement. “And she spent most of that time at the Bai house.”
Bai Lin was speechless again.
Seeing her brother flustered, Bai Zao quickly swallowed the spinach in her mouth but suddenly noticed something. “You don’t use oil to stir-fry your vegetables?”
“We do. But we only get two jin of oil per month,” Song Zhaodi lied smoothly. “If we don’t use it sparingly, we’ll have to eat boiled vegetables for the rest of the month.”
Bai Lin snorted. “Who are you trying to fool? I know for a fact that when Bai Hua was still here, your family got two jin of oil and five jin of meat coupons a month. Five jin of fatty pork rendered into lard was enough for a month’s use.” He paused. “That was three years ago. I don’t believe Jianguo’s ration is still the same.”
In the army, soldiers who had served five to ten years received a 10% subsidy, while those with ten to fifteen years got a 15% increase.
When Song Zhaodi married Zhong Jianguo, he had only been in service for eight years, qualifying for the 10% subsidy.
Among Commander Liu’s three regiment commanders, Zhong Jianguo had the shortest service time. To avoid discontent among other officers, when he was promoted to regiment commander, he was paid at a battalion-level salary, making him the lowest-paid of the three.
Last August, noticing that Zhong Jianguo had reached ten years of service, military leadership increased his subsidy and raised his salary to match Regiment Commander Lin and Regiment Commander Ma’s – 155 yuan per month, with 70 jin of grain coupons. He also received a slight increase in oil and fabric rations.
Song Zhaodi could hear the uncertainty in Bai Lin’s voice. “Even if our benefits have increased, so what? In a few years, Jianguo’s sons will all be teenagers. Do you think his salary will be enough to feed them?”
Growing boys eat their fathers into poverty.
Bai Lin had two sons, aged twelve and fourteen, who devoured their meals like wolves. If he wasn’t watching, they’d eat all the food and still need extra steamed buns to feel full.
His mother was happy to see her grandsons eat well, but she also worried that at this rate, they wouldn’t be able to afford food. That’s why she kept coming to Zhong Jianguo.
When Zhong Jianguo’s expression was unreadable, he exuded a cold aura. Having been on the battlefield and killed people, he carried a faint air of lethal intent, which made Bai Lin fearful of him.
Back when Bai Hua was around, Bai Lin had been wary of Zhong Jianguo, but he knew Zhong Jianguo wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him unless he wanted to ruin his life. But now that Bai Hua was gone, a single glance from Zhong Jianguo was enough to make Bai Lin shrink back.
Song Zhaodi sneered.
Zhong Jianguo raised an eyebrow. That was enough. No need to provoke trouble.
Song Zhaodi huffed. After finishing a steamed bun, she got up and went upstairs.
Zhong Jianguo sighed. Once Bai Lin and Bai Zao finished their spinach, he said, “Go back now. Don’t make me repeat myself. Tell your parents clearly: don’t come here again. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude.”
“Jianguo—”
Zhong Jianguo abruptly stood up.
Bai Lin and Bai Zao immediately followed suit.
Zhong Jianguo carried a pistol. The siblings had accidentally seen it once. They were terrified that if he got angry, he might actually shoot them. Without another word, they grabbed their bags and left.
Zhong Jianguo followed them out, making sure to lock the door behind them before going upstairs.
“What did they have for lunch?” Zhong Jianguo asked upon reaching the second floor.
Song Zhaodi: “They didn’t eat yet.”
“I don’t believe you.” Zhong Jianguo glanced at her before turning to Dawa. “What was your mother originally planning to make?”
Dawa: “Lunch was already made when we got back.”
“Already made?” Zhong Jianguo was suspicious. “Your uncle said your mother locked him outside. When he saw you, didn’t he make a fuss about getting in?”
Song Zhaodi: “Your son is resourceful. He climbed in through the window.”
“The window?” Zhong Jianguo thought about which window was climbable, and his face darkened with rage. “Zhong Dawa, the window is so high, and you dared to climb through it with your brothers? I ought to beat you, you little rascal!” He yanked off his belt.
Dawa’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly hid behind Song Zhaodi.
Song Zhaodi frowned. “Enough. He’s only eight years old. He’s too young to think things through completely. Just tell him properly not to do it again, and he’ll remember.” She pulled the boy out from behind her. “Dawa, will you remember?”
“Got it!” Zhong Dawa responded quickly, afraid that if he was any slower, the belt would land on his backside.
Zhong Jianguo had never actually hit his children. Taking off his belt was just to scare Dawa. An eight-year-old daring to climb out the window? Even he hadn’t been that bold as a kid.
Worried that his fearless son might act recklessly again, Zhong Jianguo pointed at him and warned, “I’ll let this one slide, but if it happens again, we’ll settle both accounts together.”
“There won’t be a next time!” Zhong Dawa clung to Song Zhaodi’s arm. “Mom, we saved you some scrambled eggs with scallions.”
Zili quickly brought over the bowl. “Auntie, it’s right here.”
“You guys go ahead and eat,” Song Zhaodi said. “We’ve already eaten. We finished off an entire bowl of spinach.”
Zhong Dawa muttered, “It must have been my uncle and aunt who ate it.”
“Dawa, be honest with me. Do you really not remember your uncle and aunt?” Song Zhaodi asked.
Zhong Dawa nodded. “I didn’t remember before, but when I saw them just now, it suddenly came back to me. I remember going to Grandma’s house with Mom, and I wanted to eat an egg. My uncle said something like, ‘Go home and ask your dad to buy you one. Your dad has money.’” He paused. “Unless I’m misremembering?”
Zhong Jianguo said, “You’re not wrong. Once, after you came back from your grandma’s house, you kept fussing about wanting an egg. I asked your mom if there were no eggs at her family’s house, and she said you were just being greedy.”
Back then, Zhong Jianguo had been busy and rarely had time at home. Whenever he did get a chance to be with his kids, he cherished it.
He didn’t remember everything Dawa had said as a child, but with a little prompting, the memories flooded back. Zhong Jianguo reassured him, “Don’t worry. Your uncle and aunt won’t be coming back again.” Then he added, “If they do, it’ll probably be when your grandma or grandpa passes away.”
“They’d even come to report a death?” Song Zhaodi asked.
Zhong Jianguo smirked. “To them, our family is like a fat sheep. If they can’t butcher the sheep, they’ll settle for shearing some wool.”
“Then I hope Dawa’s grandma and grandpa live for many more years,” Song Zhaodi said. “Ideally, until all our kids are grown.”
Zhong Dawa nodded. “When the time comes, I’ll go to Shencheng myself. You and Mom don’t have to go. Just wait and see how I deal with them.”
“Zhong Dawa, where did you learn to talk like this?” Zhong Jianguo asked, turning to Song Zhaodi. “Do you know?”
Song Zhaodi replied, “Your son runs around all day. I have no idea who he spends time with. Dawa, was it Lin Zhong who taught you this, or the fisherman’s kids?”
“From my dad,” Zhong Dawa said shamelessly, knowing that Song Zhaodi would back him up. “Dad always says, ‘Just wait and see how I deal with you.’”
Song Zhaodi reached out and shoved Dawa away.
Dawa stumbled forward and bumped into Zhong Jianguo’s waist. Instinctively, he looked up and met his father’s stern gaze. He shivered, then turned and bolted.
Zhong Jianguo grabbed him by the collar like an eagle catching a chick and lifted him off the ground. “Who taught you that?”
“Uh… uh… Ma Zhenxing’s dad! And Lin Zhong’s dad!” Zhong Dawa blurted out.
Zhong Jianguo smacked him lightly on the backside. “You little liar, twisting facts, talking nonsense—”
“Mom, help!” Zhong Dawa yelped, shivering as he turned to Song Zhaodi.
Song Zhaodi chuckled. “Still mad at me for pushing you away?”
“Nope, not mad!” Zhong Dawa shook his head vigorously. “I shouldn’t have blamed Dad.”
Zhong Jianguo set him down and turned to Zili. “You two – don’t learn from Dawa. Instead of picking up good habits, he’s always getting into trouble.”
“That’s not true!” Zhong Dawa was quick to defend himself. This time, he was smart enough to hide behind Zili. “I recite English every morning, practice writing every afternoon, and do math exercises too!”
That was true, so Zhong Jianguo nodded. “I wasn’t talking about your studies.” He glanced at the clock on the wall and quickly said, “I have to go. Zhong Dawa, you’re not allowed to go out this afternoon. Stay home and help your mom.”
As Zhong Jianguo walked away, Zhong Dawa made a funny face at his back. Then he turned to Song Zhaodi. “Mom, what are we doing this afternoon?”
“Take ten cents and go buy some tofu,” Song Zhaodi instructed. “I’ll make tofu dumplings for dinner.”
Zhong Dawa’s eyes widened. “You can make dumplings with tofu?”
“Of course,” Song Zhaodi said. “Remember to tell the store we need four jin of firm tofu, not soft tofu. And if they have tofu skin, buy ten sheets.”
Zhong Dawa hesitated. “Ten cents won’t be enough for all that.”
“Then take fifty cents,” Song Zhaodi said. “You know where the change is. Go get it yourself.”
Zhong Dawa grabbed the money and called out, “Mom, let Gengsheng come with me.”
“So he can carry the tofu for you?” Song Zhaodi shot him a knowing look. “Lazy bum!”
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