Chapter 8: Soft has grown up

On the square table in the kitchen, there were two bowls of congee made with rice and corn kernels, a bowl of stir-fried shredded potatoes, freshly steamed erhe noodles mantou, and two boiled eggs.

Erhe noodles mantou is made by mixing white flour with sweet potato flour or corn flour and then steaming it.

As they couldn't afford to eat only white rice and flour, Grandma Chen would add some white rice and flour to the coarse grains to enrich the texture and ensure nutrition.

Fortunately, the commune canteen was disbanded in early spring. Otherwise, even if Grandma Chen could buy grain, she wouldn't be able to cook delicious food for Su Ruanruan.

The two sat down to eat, and Su Ruanruan pondered while eating how to bring out the things in the space for Grandma Chen to eat.

Before she could come up with a solution, Wang Aijuan came to the door.

Both Su Ruanruan and Wang Aijuan had just graduated from junior high school and hadn't been home for a few days.

Unlike Grandma Chen, Wang's grandmother never cared for her granddaughter. Although Wang Aijuan had only been idle at home for a few days, she was already being criticized by her grandmother and urged to work in the fields to earn work points.

They belonged to the Third Production Brigade of the Red Flag Commune. The girls who were the same age as Wang Aijuan and hadn't attended junior high school could now earn eight work points. Even those who couldn't work could still earn six work points a day.

By working diligently for a few months, they could earn a considerable amount of grain during the autumn harvest.

Wang's grandmother coveted this grain and was unwilling to let Wang Aijuan idle at home all day.

If Wang Aijuan hadn't solemnly promised her grandmother that she would go to the county textile factory as a temporary worker, her grandmother would have dragged her out to work in the fields long ago.

In order not to become a rural laborer with her back to the sky and her face to the ground, Wang Aijuan had to come to Su Ruanruan early in the morning.

Hearing Wang Aijuan's shouts outside, Su Ruanruan continued to eat breakfast as if nothing had happened, without the usual reaction of jumping up at the sound of Wang Aijuan's voice.

Seeing her like this, Grandma Chen also smiled.

"Our Ruanruan has grown up."

Su Ruanruan blushed at the words, "Grandma!"

Was she saying that she used to be small and foolish, so she was easily deceived by Wang Aijuan?

"Alright, Grandma won't say anything more." Grandma Chen smiled, squinting her eyes. "Since Ruanruan has grown up, Grandma won't have to worry anymore in the future. As for the person outside—"

"Grandma, you don't need to worry. I'll handle it myself in a while."

Su Ruanruan said firmly, her face full of confidence, and Grandma Chen didn't say anything more.

Children have to fly on their own as they grow up, and she just needs to watch from the sidelines.

Grandma Chen was still young and needed to work, but her work was light—she herded sheep for the production brigade.

The Third Production Brigade raised three sheep. There were too many to support, and nowadays, some people had to dig up grass roots and eat tree bark. Where could they find grass to feed the sheep?

It was only because Grandma Chen received a pension and monthly grain coupons that she could ask Su Aimin's comrade in the county to buy grain.

Otherwise, with only the six work points earned from herding sheep, the grandmother and granddaughter would have starved long ago.

After the meal, Su Ruanruan and Grandma Chen cleaned up the tableware and chairs before walking to the front door together.

Wang Aijuan had been shouting outside for a long time, and her voice was almost hoarse.

When she finally saw the door open, she started to scold, "Su Ruanruan, you..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Wang Aijuan saw Grandma Chen's stern face and didn't dare to continue. She turned red and didn't dare to say anything more.

"Grandma Chen..."

[End of the text]