After selecting textbooks and study materials, Chen Lishu, remembering Xu Ning’s advice to read more and accumulate knowledge, picked out two novels, a collection of essays, and a book of poetry.
Counting everything up, Chen Lishu spent a total of ten yuan. As the items were a bit much to carry, the old man, seeing she was having trouble, kindly gave her a basket for free.
After bidding farewell to the old man, Chen Lishu went to the non-staple food store. Although beef was considered a premium item at the time, not many people bought it; most preferred fatty meat, which was not only fragrant but also yielded more oil.
When Chen Lishu arrived, there were still over three catties of beef left, so she bought it all. She also bought an extra catty of soybean oil.
Back home, she first put her things away and then set about making beef chili sauce. The most time-consuming part wasn’t chopping the beef, but grinding the chilies.
The chilies were red ones that Li Xiulan had dried under the eaves of the house; they were extremely hot. Especially if they touched the skin for a long time, the burning pain was intense.
After Chen Lishu had everything prepared, she found some leftover peanuts from before. She heated oil in a pot, stir-fried the peanuts until they were crisp, and set them aside. Then, she added more oil to the pot, stir-fried the spices until fragrant, added the beef, followed by the chilies and soybean paste. After cooking, she sprinkled the crushed peanuts on top.
Because there was plenty of meat and ingredients this time, she filled five large canning jars and had a small basin leftover. Chen Lishu decided to make some noodles with mixed flour that evening.
When everyone from the Gu family returned from work, as soon as they entered the courtyard, they smelled the rich aroma from the kitchen.
Gu Zhao couldn't help but take a deep breath of the fragrant air and ran into the kitchen in three strides, asking, "Third Aunt, what are we eating tonight? It smells so good!"
Chen Lishu, who was scooping noodles out, looked up and smiled when she heard him ask, "I made noodles. Hurry and wash your hands, dinner is almost ready."
"Yes, ma'am!" Gu Zhao declared loudly, turned, and quickly went to the yard to get water and wash up.
"I made two kinds of sauce. The children can't eat spicy food, so I made egg sauce," Chen Lishu said, placing the egg sauce on the children's side.
"Third Aunt, I can eat spicy food. There's beef in this," Gu Zhao said, standing up with his bowl and scooping a spoonful of beef sauce for himself.
"I don't eat eggs, I want meat too," Gu Lin said, seeing Gu Zhao eat meat. He pushed his bowl away and started to clamor.
"Didn't they say they put chilies in the meat? Why are you being so unreasonable, child? Your parents aren't capable and don't have money to buy meat, so eat whatever they give you!" Liu Yuemin put the bowl back in front of Gu Lin, her tone utterly unpleasant.
Gu Lin was frightened by her scolding and burst into tears.
"Why are you getting angry with a child? Can't you speak nicely?" Gu Xingmin couldn't help but frown and say.
"Are you even thinking? I'm angry, what capabilities do I have to be angry with anyone! You, a grown man, don't bring me any honor. Look at everyone else with a new outfit here and a new skirt there, and I'm here slaving away serving you three men, as if I was born to be a maid!"
Don't think she didn't know that while her third brother bought fabric for his wife, her own mother-in-law only bought fabric for her younger sister-in-law and not for her, which was clearly favoritism towards her daughter.
"Second daughter-in-law, don't stir up trouble every time we eat. We've all worked hard all day and just want a peaceful meal. If you don't want to eat, take the child and go back to your room."
"Mom, how much more favoritism do you want? When you bought fabric for my sister-in-law, you didn't think of us daughters-in-law, and now you're telling me to go back to my room when we're eating meat," Liu Yuemin said unhappily.
Gu Xingping retorted indignantly, "Second sister-in-law, what do you mean? When did Mom buy fabric for me? I only asked Mom for some fabric coupons, and the money to buy the fabric was all my own."
Liu Yuemin scoffed, "It's between you two and your mother, who knows how you discussed it behind closed doors? Don't try to fool me with those childish words."
"Everyone eat. We'll talk about anything after the meal," Gu Shoufu said with a frown. Everyone obeyed and began to eat in silence.
After the meal, the three sisters-in-law cleaned the kitchen. Gu Shoufu said a few words to Li Xiulan and then went out with his hands behind his back.
Once everything was tidied up, Li Xiulan called the three daughters-in-law to her. She then took out several fabric coupons and thirty yuan from the cupboard on the kangs.
"The weather is getting hotter. Each of you gets three feet of fabric coupons and ten yuan. Make yourselves clothes in whatever style you like."
"Mom, I still have clothes. You keep it and make yourself something," Zhang Qin immediately refused when she saw she was included.
"Yes, Mom, I don't need it either. You keep it," Chen Lishu agreed.
"What are you two pretending to be filial for? Who are you trying to impress? Eldest sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, are you two colluding to poison my eyes?" Liu Yuemin's face fell. She stepped forward, grabbed the money and coupons, and said, "If you don't take them, I will! Today, I'll see if either of you dares to take them, or you're not human!"
Chen Lishu had ignored Liu Yuemin since the meal. Hearing her words now, she was truly angered.
"What business is it of yours whether we take them or not? Second sister-in-law, you're in your twenties, the mother of two, and you'll be a mother-in-law yourself one day. You're setting such an example for your children? You're so petty, always focused on trivial matters, either fighting over a bite to eat or scheming for something else. I've tolerated you for a long time for Dad and Mom's sake, otherwise, I would have slapped you across the face long ago."
Liu Yuemin, having nowhere to vent her anger, immediately perked up when she heard Chen Lishu. She craned her neck towards Chen Lishu and said, "Who do you want to hit? You want to slap me? Come on, try it."
"Second daughter-in-law, that's enough. Your father and I are not dead yet, do you want to overturn the heavens? Hurry and take your things and go back to your room, don't wait for me to call your father back, or things won't be so easily resolved."
Upon hearing that Li Xiulan was going to call Gu Shoufu, Liu Yuemin immediately became obedient. Her father-in-law rarely got angry, but if he truly did, she wouldn't be able to handle it.
Giving Chen Lishu a hateful look, Liu Yuemin took her things, turned, and went back to her own room.
"Third daughter-in-law, don't be like her. Your second sister-in-law is just like that for her whole life."
"Mom, don't worry. If she doesn't provoke me, I certainly won't provoke her."
If it were anyone else, she would have already given them a good slap to satisfy her wish, but if she actually did that, the two households would be completely estranged. Li Xiulan and Gu Shoufu would definitely not feel good about it, so Chen Lishu, even for their sake, tried her best to restrain herself.
Chen Lishu and Zhang Qin ended up not taking the fabric coupons and money. They could earn money now, so there was no need to haggle over the elders' money.
Upon leaving Li Xiulan's room, Chen Lishu handed the letter and meat sauce to Gu Xingping, asking her to help mail it to Gu Xingdong the next day. She then went back to her room to get a novel she had found that day and took it to the educated youth point for Xu Ning.
However, she didn't check the almanac before going out and happened to meet Lu Chengming and two other educated youths coming out of the courtyard. Each of them was carrying a basin, seemingly going to the river to bathe.
"You guys go ahead," Lu Chengming said to his companions after seeing Chen Lishu, then walked towards her.