Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 127: Get it Done

Pei Min found the situation amusing. Could it be that she was the main producer of razor clams? And she had to provide them till October when Li Hong would give birth? She didn’t have such capabilities, and even if she did, she wouldn’t indulge Li Hong.

She shook her head as she ran through the calculations, "Your brother-in-law sent back two pounds. Since he was going back, we had him take some cured meat along, which he shared with his comrades. In return, they sent back some local specialties from their hometown. Of that, half a pound of the razor clams was for our family, and the remaining one and a half pounds, we kept half a pound for ourselves and divided the rest among the four elder sisters-in-law, about two and a half ounces each. All were allocated accordingly. And of our own share, the two younger sisters-in-law were eagerly watching. How could we possibly spare more?"

Upon hearing her explanation, Peijun’s hope dimmed. He had been looking forward to receiving some from Pei Min until just now.

Li Hong was even more disheartened, her eyes reddening.

Yang Dahai’s face darkened.

Zhang Minghua slammed the table, startling everyone. She glared fiercely at Li Hong and Peijun, then yelled, "What, got reincarnated as a gluttonous ghost? Your sister kindly brings good things over and ends up being accused? Now you’re addicted? If there’s none left, would you go as far as craving your sister’s flesh?"

Her words were too harsh.

The children quickly tried to calm her, "Mom, don’t be angry, none of us meant that. Right, Peijun?" Yang Peiguo, as the eldest, was the first to clarify, his gaze also carrying a lesson as he glanced at Peijun.

Peijun also waved his hands hurriedly, "No, no, Mom, we didn’t think like that, it was just a casual inquiry. It’s fine if there’s none..."

Li Hong wiped her eyes and also shook her head, "Mom, you misunderstood, I didn’t mean that."

Bai Hehua smirked gleefully, "Exactly, our sister married well, and we’ve all benefited from her good fortune. We shouldn’t be too greedy. After all, our sister has a mother-in-law and several sisters-in-law to consider. By acting like this, aren’t we just making it difficult for her?"

Surprisingly, Bai Hehua made such a statement, and Zhang Minghua glanced at her.

Bai Hehua looked even more triumphant, her head held high like a victorious rooster.

Li Hong, clutching her stomach, was supported back to her room by Peijun.

Zhang Minghua, still unable to harden her heart completely, asked Yang Peiying to make two more corn cakes for Li Hong and sent them to her room.

After breakfast, everyone was supposed to go to work, but Zhang Minghua, seeing her daughter had come back, wanted to spend a little more time with her and sat down on the kang to chat.

She comforted her regarding the earlier incident, "Your third sister-in-law is quite sly. It’s a shame; I used to think that although her family wasn’t great, at least she was diligent. Who would have thought she’d even scheme against you? Next time they do this, just don’t bother at all. Just blame it on me. Let’s see if they can be so impudent, wanting both money and goods."

"Your third brother is one of those who forget their mother once they have a wife. I hadn’t even spoken, and he was already defending her. He has no spine at all. If it weren’t for her being pregnant, would I even bother with her?"

Pei Min hugged her arm, "Mom, don’t be angry. I can handle these things myself. Next time they start saying this and that, let’s just not bother with them. If there is food to eat, we eat a bit more, and if there are clothes to wear, we make a few more pieces. We shouldn’t have to scrimp and save only to end up catching grief from them."

She truly thought this way—material scarcity was real, and their parents would skimp on their own needs to provide for their children. If the children were considerate, it was fine; they appreciated the kindness and even some warm words felt good. But for those who were ungrateful, it was profoundly upsetting.

Zhang Minghua and Yang Dahai were already fifty but appeared like sixty-year-olds given the era’s conditions, still performing labor like young people, although their children were all grown up.

They couldn’t even bear to eat a bit of razor clamps, saving it for when their daughter returned, only at ease when the whole family had tasted it. Pei Min’s heart was filled with an aching sadness.

Zhang Minghua laughed and pulled her in, "See, having a daughter is really heartwarming. It’s no wonder your old auntie preferred swapping her son for someone else’s daughter."

Yang Peimin’s grandfather’s youngest brother’s wife, after giving birth to eight sons, desperately wanted a daughter. So, she exchanged her youngest son for her own sister’s daughter, fulfilling her wish to have a little "cotton-padded jacket" of her own. Of course, this also became a hot topic among people.

Yang Peimin said with a grin, "Your considerate daughter has thought of a way for you to make money."

Zhang Minghua paused, then laughed, "What money-making scheme? Raising a couple more chickens to lay eggs?" She was joking about what her son mentioned yesterday.

Yang Peimin told her what she had discussed with Yang Peiying.

Zhang Minghua was somewhat hesitant. "Really, can this work? Is that Miss Gong really capable? Won’t we get reported?"

Yang Peimin then did some analysis and reassurance, "We can’t hide this from Dad. Just give him a heads-up, but don’t let him take the lead. You can handle it yourself."

Zhang Minghua thought about the recent troubles at home and readily agreed, "Okay, I’ll handle Dad. But Minmin, are you sure you can do this?" She was as skeptical as Yang Peiying.

Yang Peimin encouraged her, "Then, shall we give it a try?"

"Let’s go!"

Zhang Minghua turned and fetched some maltose from her room. "Your second aunt gave it to me; it’s been sitting around."

Yang Peimin looked at what was in her hand. Okay, it wasn’t much, just about half a bowl if using a normal bowl.

She also had her fetch some white sugar to make syrup.

Zhang Minghua felt a pang of distress, "Min, will this really sell? We shouldn’t waste good ingredients; with sugar and egg whites included, even if we get a good price, can we break even?"

Yang Peimin quickly stopped her increasingly far-fetched ideas, almost breaking her neck assuring her. She thought to herself if it doesn’t sell, I’ll just buy it from you myself.

After preparing all the ingredients, she mixed them. Without an oven, she asked Zhang Ming to fetch a round metal dish suitable for serving with water, neither too deep nor too shallow. They filled it up, sealed it securely with a wooden board, fetched some cowhide paper to plug any gaps, and placed it in a pot to steam.

Zhang Minghua kept watch over the stove unwaveringly, "Mother is worried and will watch it here. Go and tell your father that mom won’t be going to work this morning."

Yang Peimin nodded and went to inform Yang Dahai.

When she returned, Li Hong was wandering near the kitchen door, while inside, Yang Peiying along with Da Xiaoniu was intensely sniffing around the steaming pot. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

You could hear Da Niu’s crisp voice, "Nanny, it smells so good. When will it be ready?"

"Nanny, Xiao Niu wants to eat."

Li Hong, seeing her return, smiled and said, "Minmin, you’re back just in time. I don’t know what mom is cooking, but it smells delicious. Hurry and go check it out."

When Zhang Minghua saw Yang Peimin come in, she quickly maneuvered her towards the stove, "Minmin, I think it should be ready by now."

Yang Peimin nodded, Zhang Minghua ushered the kids away and moved the large lid herself.