Li Chuchu stood outside their house, listening to the voices inside.
At this moment, Luo Yingshu stepped into the yard with a vegetable basket to wash vegetables. Old Mrs. Liu, having achieved a short - lived victory, was lying lazily inside the house.
Li Chuchu gave the prepared items to her. "The sausages and dried mangoes are specialties brought back from outside. Try them."
Luo Yingshu looked surprised.
"For me?"
Li Chuchu nodded. "Yes, for you."
Luo Yingshu heard Aunt Wang next door seemingly discussing with Uncle Wang how to cook the sausages Li Chuchu had brought back. She realized that every neighbor had received some.
After hesitating for a moment, she still accepted them.
"I'm not sure if these sausages suit your taste. You can just steam them on top of the rice and they're ready to eat."
Luo Yingshu was slightly surprised. "Sausages are meat after all. How could they not be delicious?"
Looking at the bunch of sausages in her hand, she suddenly remembered that in order to compete with Li Chuchu, she had planned to invite everyone to eat the dried tofu that Liu Xiaocheng had brought back.
That stack of dried tofu was really tasteless. Compared with this heavy bunch of sausages in her hand, it seemed a bit ridiculous.
"Thank you, Li Chuchu."
Li Chuchu pursed her lips slightly, her tone hinting at something. "Find some time to go to the school and see Liu Xiaocheng. Otherwise, your eggs might be eaten by others."
Luo Yingshu scoffed and waved her hand. "Forget it. He's just that kind of person. He values his students more than his own life. Maybe on the first day he took the eggs there, he gave them all to the students. I don't know who actually needs his one egg."
Obviously, she didn't understand the hidden meaning in Li Chuchu's words.
Li Chuchu hesitated to speak, not knowing how to continue.
Aunt Wang stood by the threshold and greeted her. "Chuchu, since Shen Yanshan won't be home tonight, come to our house for dumplings! They're filled with leeks and eggs."
Li Chuchu replied affirmatively.
Luo Yingshu smiled easily. "Go ahead. Aunt Wang makes the best dumplings. You're in for a treat tonight."
After saying that, she carried the vegetable basket to the sink to wash the vegetables.
...
In the evening,
Luo Yingshu saw the sausage placed in the cupboard.
She cut half of the sausage, put the other half back, sliced it and arranged it on a plate. Then she steamed it on top of the rice and served it on the dinner table. Xiaohu's eyes lit up when he saw the meat. He took a bite and his eyes closed in enjoyment. "Mom, this is delicious! You eat too!"
When Old Mrs. Liu saw this, she immediately looked angry. "You hide the good stuff at home. Eating such good sausages, but you're even reluctant to send a few eggs to Liu Xiaocheng."
Xiaohu had never eaten such delicious sausages. After finishing one slice, he reached for another.
Old Mrs. Liu immediately picked up the plate and held it high. She stared at Xiaohu menacingly and threatened him. "You're the greediest! We can hardly afford to feed you. Be careful your dad won't want you in the future!"
Xiaohu pouted his little mouth and was about to cry.
Luo Yingshu got angry. She slapped her chopsticks on the table. "Mom, what are you doing? What's wrong with the child eating a couple of slices of sausage?"
"Don't sausages cost money? Aren't they bought with my son's money? You wasteful woman. You only know how to eat and drink well all day. You don't even think about our Xiaocheng."
Old Mrs. Liu scolded non - stop, and her saliva was almost spraying into the dishes.
Luo Yingshu was just about to say that with the little money her son earned, it was impossible to support the whole family. It was her parents who subsidized them a little. But then the old lady covered her chest, lay on the ground and played the hooligan, shouting in pain. "Oh, my life is so hard! I raised a promising son, but I didn't expect my daughter - in - law to abuse me at home every day!"
The crying and noise made Luo Yingshu's temples throb. She couldn't stand it anymore and quickly pulled Xiaohu into the room.
Xiaohu heard his grandma's howling outside and said pitifully. "Mom, I'm hungry..."
Luo Yingshu took out a piece of sponge cake from the cabinet and the dried mangoes that Li Chuchu had given, and stuffed them into his hands. "Eat here." These things were secretly hidden in the room by her and she didn't let her mother - in - law know, otherwise there would be another big fuss.
Xiaohu ate two pieces of sponge cake and was full.
After being full, he didn't complain about being hungry anymore. He just sat obediently at the small table in the room and did his homework.
Luo Yingshu sat on the bed. At this moment, she calmed down and suddenly felt something was wrong.
Her mother - in - law had been causing a lot of trouble these days and had been sending all kinds of food to the school. Didn't she know that the food wouldn't last long at school? It was all given to colleagues or students by Liu Xiaocheng.
Her mother - in - law was the most reluctant to part with food. Would she let Liu Xiaocheng give the food to others?
Something was wrong. It had been wrong since some time ago.
Moreover, she hadn't seen Liu Xiaocheng for almost a month.
She suddenly remembered what Li Chuchu had said to her today. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Immediately, she got up, put on her shoes and put on her coat. She also put on Xiaohu's coat.
Xiaohu looked confused. "Mom, where are we going?"
"Doesn't Xiaohu miss Dad? Mom will take you to find Dad." For some reason, Luo Yingshu felt extremely calm at this moment. It was as if she was about to lift a veil that had been covering her eyes, and the truth she wanted was right under that veil.
Xiaohu's eyes lit up and he obediently put on his shoes.
Luo Yingshu held the child's hand and "clomped" out of the house.
Old Mrs. Liu raised her eyebrows and glanced at them but didn't say anything. Anyway, all the food stalls were closed at this time, so she wasn't afraid that they would go out to eat.
Luo Yingshu came to the school familiarly. On the way, she saw someone selling chestnuts and bought a bag.
At this moment, the autumn wind was blowing.
The hot chestnuts were stuffed into Xiaohu's arms.
He was very happy. He would be able to see his dad soon.
A feeling of indescribable hesitation and reluctance welled up in Luo Yingshu's heart. But these hesitations and reluctances were extremely small in the face of principles.
Compared with a harmonious appearance, she wanted the truth.
The hesitation in her eyes turned into determination. She reached out and stroked Xiaohu's chubby head. "Be good. You'll see Dad soon."
...
Luo Yingshu arrived at the school.
She knew where Liu Xiaocheng's dormitory was.
In fact, she was very familiar with Liu Xiaocheng's living place. At first, the school had assigned Liu Xiaocheng to the most remote dormitory. She was afraid that he would suffer living at school, so she had personally prepared all the utensils here, including the bedding, pillows and teapots.
She had walked this road many times to help him move things.
Luo Yingshu used the key to open the door. Two figures on the bed opposite the door quickly bounced up.
Liu Xiaocheng's glasses were broken on the ground.
The other person on the bed was a slightly dark - skinned and thin female teacher. She hurriedly wrapped herself in the quilt and looked terrified.
"Who are you! How dare you break into our dormitory?"
Luo Yingshu sneered.
"Liu Xiaocheng, I've been wondering what good things you've been doing staying at school for a whole month. So you've learned the trick of keeping a mistress."