When they reached Aunt Wang's room, Li Chuchu stuffed the sausage and the paper bag of dried mangoes into Aunt Wang's hands.
"These are the specialties I brought back. These preserved fruits are sour and sweet. I'm sure you'll like them."
The dried mangoes at this time were different from those in later generations. They didn't have the bright colors of those in modern supermarkets. They were a dull yellow, but very chewy. Besides the sour and sweet taste, there was also a faint licorice flavor.
This was a unique curing method for the fruit preserves in Spring City.
Aunt Wang smiled and opened the bag to take a bite.
Hmm! It was quite sweet!
After just one bite, Aunt Wang let out a surprised sigh.
The sour and sweet taste spread in her mouth. Besides the original sweetness of the fruit, there was a layer of snow - white sugar frost on it, making the taste even more alluring and making her mouth water.
It was usually hard to find something with a good taste, let alone such a rare treat.
Aunt Wang chewed while looking amazed. "This stuff must be expensive, right? You're so generous!"
Li Chuchu just smiled without saying a word.
The dried mangoes cost three yuan a catty, and a bag like this probably sold for forty cents in Spring City. It wasn't cheap, but Li Chuchu was willing to spend the money to build a good relationship with these neighbors.
There were only about a dozen pieces in a bag.
Aunt Wang ate one piece and then was reluctant to eat more.
She carefully put it away. "I'll save it for when I have no taste in my mouth next time. This stuff is delicious. I'll save it and eat it slowly. Is this sausage?"
"This sausage is slightly sweet. You can cut a few pieces and steam them on top of the rice when cooking, then pour some soy sauce on it. I don't know if you'll like it."
Li Chuchu affectionately put her arm around Aunt Wang's. "By the way, what did you want to tell me? I've been waiting to hear."
Aunt Wang put the things away,
then quickly moved a small stool and sat under the eaves to gossip.
"During the time you were away, the old lady next door didn't know what got into her. She suddenly instigated Liu Xiaocheng to divorce Luo Yingshu."
Li Chuchu's eyes widened.
And then?
Aunt Wang told the story in great detail. "A few days ago, it even made a scene in the compound, making Luo Yingshu look very embarrassed."
"Even so, didn't Liu Xiaocheng come back to take a look?"
She exaggerated her expression and winked at Li Chuchu. "How busy can the teaching job in the school be? Can it be so busy that he can't even spare the time to go home when his mother and wife are at home? The family is in such a huge uproar, but he doesn't come back to take a look. He must have been hooked by that fox outside."
"Moreover, I think Liu Xiaocheng's mother must know something, which is why she dared to instigate their divorce. After all, although they used to quarrel before, they would be okay after that. But since Liu's mother went to the school to deliver meals to Liu Xiaocheng once, she has become more assertive when she came back. She always mentions divorce. It seems that she is determined to force Luo Yingshu away and make room for that woman outside."
She lowered her voice when saying the last sentence.
Only the two of them could hear it.
Li Chuchu was filled with suspicion.
"This is bullying! What did Luo Yingshu say? Did you tell her about Liu Xiaocheng?"
Aunt Wang patted her thigh regretfully. "Oh, I wanted to! But this old Liu lady stays at home all day long, ordering Luo Yingshu around. She doesn't have a moment of leisure. I didn't even have a chance to say it! I feel that Luo Yingshu looks much more exhausted recently. Since the old Liu lady moved into their house, she has looked haggard. Well, it's understandable..."
"She has to take care of the child, take care of the old person, and always be on guard against her mother - in - law's tantrums. Her husband is never at home all day long. It's really a pity for her to marry into such a family."
Aunt Wang took out a handful of melon seeds from her apron pocket, cracked them while shaking her head regretfully.
Li Chuchu felt pity.
It wasn't just because she felt sorry for Luo Yingshu's situation, but also because she sympathized with the status of women in this era.
Women were too passive in the family.
On the one hand, they had to accept the social constraints of the three obediences and four virtues and the idea that men should work outside while women should stay at home. On the other hand, they had to bear the pressure from marriage and family. Even someone as strong - willed as Luo Yingshu couldn't escape this situation.
"Since things have come to this, we should still tell her. It's better to know than not to know."
Aunt Wang nodded. "You're right."
Just then, they saw Luo Yingshu pick up Liu Hu from school and come back.
Luo Yingshu was a little surprised when she saw Li Chuchu back. "Li Chuchu? When did you come back?"
"I just came back today."
Luo Yingshu nodded.
As Aunt Wang said, Luo Yingshu looked much haggard.
She had been at odds with Li Chuchu for so many years and wasn't used to Li Chuchu's kindness. But it could be felt that she tried to restrain her sharpness and showed a smile to Li Chuchu. "It's good that you're back safely."
Before they even got home, the old Liu lady started scolding. "You're so late! Where did you go to play again? Do you want to starve me to death? A good wife can bring prosperity to three generations. City wives are just not as hard - working as our village wives. I said back then that Liu Xiaocheng shouldn't have married such a lazy woman like you. You'd better divorce Liu Xiaocheng soon."
The exhaustion in Luo Yingshu's eyes was clearly visible. She seemed to have no strength left to argue with her mother - in - law.
"Xiaohu, what do you want to eat today?"
"I want to eat egg custard."
"Okay, mom will cook eggs for you."
Luo Yingshu went into the room and opened the cabinet door.
The cabinet was empty.
She had just bought a dozen eggs yesterday, and not a single one was left.
Luo Yingshu was instantly furious. She rushed in front of her mother - in - law and tried hard to hold back her anger. "Where are the eggs I put in the cabinet?"
Her mother - in - law looked non -chalant. "I don't know. Anyway, I didn't eat them."
Luo Yingshu stared at her for a long time until her mother - in - law felt a chill down her back. "Why are you staring at me? Can't I send them to Liu Xiaocheng to eat? He works so hard at school. He should eat more nutritious food to replenish his body."
"But Xiaohu is still growing. He also needs to replenish his nutrition."
Her mother - in - law looked unconcerned. "Oh, just make some carrots and corn. That stuff is also nutritious. People say that boys should be raised roughly to grow strong."
After hearing these explanations,
Luo Yingshu suddenly lost the strength to argue.
Forget it. If they were for Liu Xiaocheng, so be it.
After all, it was still someone in the family who ate them. There was still a catty of egg tickets in the room. She could just go and buy some more tomorrow.
Xiaohu was looking at the food on the stove longingly. "Mom, I want to eat eggs..."
"Be good and listen to mom. Mom will buy some for you tomorrow. Eat some green vegetables today."
Luo Yingshu's voice was weak and hollow.
Xiaohu seemed to sense his mother's helplessness, so he stood obediently beside the stove without saying a word.