The next moment, Bai Dazhu’s voice sounded inside the house: “Is the food ready? I am starving to death.”

Mrs. Liu rushed to the kitchen and take a look. In the kitchen, she only found a cold stove. She didn’t see any shadows of foods, so she went back to the living room and said to the old lady: “Niang, I think you need to talk to Second Sister-in-law. Look at the time, why she haven’t cook yet?”

Old Lady Bai replied: “Your sister-in-law took Zhenzhu with her and went to her family. You cook our lunch.”

When Mrs. Liu heard this, she was dissatisfied: “Why am I cooking again? I cooked yesterday. Now that it’s second sister-in-law’s turn, she’s being lazy? Why she didn’t go there yesterday instead?”

Old Lady Bai was still weighing the silver coins in her hands, so she has still smile on her face: “If people want to leave, just let them leave. We can save a few more rations by then. You better cook now, didn’t you hear your husband said he was hungry? Xiaofeng will come back home soon, remember to boil him an egg.” 

When Mrs. Liu saw that the old lady always keep her son, Bai Xiaofeng in mind, she finally felt better: “Okay, I’m going to cook, but there was no egg. The old hen in the backyard hasn’t laid an egg for several days now.”

Mrs. Liu opened the door and saw no one in the courtyard. Then, she shouted again: “That dead girl hasn’t come back yet. I’m afraid we don’t have food to cook.”

Mrs. Liu looked at the old lady’s bulging clothes, then suddenly, she smiled and said: “Niang, Li Si killed a pig yesterday, he sent it to the town and sell it today. I’m sure there were few meats left behind. Would you like to buy some meat?”

If it was an ordinary day, Old Lady Bai will not agree to it, but today was different. Today, Mrs. Liu brought back 10 silvers coins. And there were another 10 silver coins coming. The family hasn’t tasted a meat for a long time now. Mrs. Zhang and Bai Zhenzhu were also not in the house. If they bought at least two pounds of meat, they could eat enough for the day.

Thinking of this, Old Lady Bai went to her room and put the 10 silver coins in a box and took a few copper coins, then handed them to Mrs. Liu: “This is 50 copper coins. Take this to buy at least 2 pounds of pork. If there’s still some change, you go and buy some eggs.”

When Mrs. Liu held the 50 copper coins, she swallowed a mouthful saliva. As if a braised pork was placed in front of her.

When Bai Erzhu came in, he had witnessed such scene, so he also smiled and said: “Niang, did the sun came out from the west today? Why are we suddenly eating meat?”

Old Lady Bai took a glance at Bai Erzhu and said in a bad mood: “You talk like I’ve never bought any meat before.” Old Lady Bai then looked at Bai Erzhu from head to toe. She saw his clothes were clean, and there was no single sign of sweat or mud. She also saw his foot were clean as if he didn’t go outside. 

Old Lady Bai’s face suddenly sank and unhappily said: “You didn’t go to work in the field?”

Bai Erzhu’s face darken as if he was taken for granted: “How can a person work in the field alone? You didn’t even assign me a helper.”

Old Lady Bai was so angry, she wanted to give him a slap in the face. But because he was her son, she only scolded him: “What nonsense are you talking about? How can a person work alone? You need a helper? Zhao Lan was injured but she could work in the field alone. Did you see anyone helping her!?”

Bai Erzhu propped up his head to the side and said: “Zhao Lan is Zhao Lan. I am me. Why do you compare me to Zhao Lan? Also, aren’t all these things happening because you hurt Zhao Lan? If you didn’t hurt her, I’m sure the work in the field is already finished by now. Do we still need to worry about anything?”