I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s-Chapter 18: Being Too Eager Is Not Good for Business

Xie Jinghao looked at this family and Liu Sanjin's attitude, and knew that by noon today, both Shen Meng and the children would go hungry. As she was feeding Xiao Gang, she mulled over what food she still had in her house.

After Lu Mingyang delivered the pigweed and recorded the work points with his siblings, they started to head home. The usually chattering Lu Mingliang grew silent as they got closer to home.

Lu Mingfang was even too scared to continue walking forward.

Seeing the look on his younger siblings' faces, Lu Mingyang's expression darkened. He gripped Lu Mingkai's hand tighter.

"Don't be scared. When we get home, you go straight to your rooms. I'll find something for us to eat. If mother gets angry and hits someone, let her hit me. I'm not afraid."

Anyway, as long as she didn't beat him to death, he would make sure this malicious woman paid the price once he grew up.

"Bro, let me join you. Even if we get hit, we can share it, so it won't hurt as much."

"No need, just take care of our little brother and sister," Lu Mingyang said and pulled Lu Mingkai with him as they walked toward home.

Lu Mingfang and Lu Mingliang exchanged glances and hurriedly followed behind, both of them resolved to stand with their brother and not let him face the beating alone.

The children entered the yard and their initial rush to the west side room halted. The aroma wafting from the kitchen made them all turn their heads repeatedly, even Lu Mingyang started to salivate.

"Bro, smell that, it's so good. What do you think that wicked... mother cooked?"

Lu Mingyang didn't respond, but he sneered inwardly. How could that bad woman have cooked something for them, especially something that smelled so good? It was probably something that someone else had made and brought over. Whether there was any leftover by the time she was done feasting was another matter.

"Back already?" Shen Meng emerged from the kitchen slightly stooped, her face devoid of any extra expression. She was well aware that things would not progress smoothly whether she was seeking to trade with the kids or trying to live peacefully and build a relationship with them. Good things take time.

The children, including Lu Mingliang, were still vigorously inhaling the delicious smell when the youngest, Lu Mingkai, his mouth agape with greed, was startled into stillness by Shen Meng's sudden speech.

"I haven't fully recovered yet, so I just boiled some noodles. I've served it for you; go eat. If it's not enough, there's more in the pot. I'll go lie down on the kang. After you finish eating, Mingyang, clean the bowls. Don't go to work this afternoon, go pick up some firewood. From now on, it will just be us and our mother living our lives. It seems your grandma doesn't care whether we live or die. Be diligent, collect more firewood to bring back, so we can cook."

While speaking, Shen Meng rubbed her head and slowly shuffled toward her own room.

Once she left, Lu Mingliang dashed into the kitchen. On the low kitchen table, there were four bowls of hot noodles, each topped with a fried egg, golden and crispy, looking delicious.

He ran excitedly out of the kitchen.

"Bro, there's really noodles, and fried eggs, crispy and brown, smells so good, and there's even a plate of smashed cucumbers. Let's hurry and eat."

That smell was truly irresistible, with the browned eggs accompanied by a few stalks of bright green vegetables, their aroma tickling his stomach into a frenzy of desire that was hard to ignore.

Lu Mingkai and Lu Mingfang also looked at him. It was impossible for him to refuse, so Lu Mingyang nodded. Even if he wasn't keen on eating, his brother and sister couldn't go hungry. Hadn't that wicked woman just said to go see the firewood? It seemed she intended to fill them up so they'd be ready to work.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

With that thought, Lu Mingyang straightened his back.

"Let's eat, don't waste food. We won't eat for nothing; after we're full, let's go gather firewood. We only have enough in the yard for a couple of days!"

"Okay."

Shen Meng seemed to return to the room but was actually hunched over, peering through the window to keep an eye on the children. Today, she had only boiled a pot of water and cooked two handfuls of handmade noodles. The broth and vegetables were all from her space, using high-quality soup stock and organic vegetables—the taste was naturally unmatched.

No one can escape the temptation of delicious food, especially not a bunch of kids. Conquering them with good food was obviously the first step.

Shen Meng didn't eat with the children. One could easily guess that these kids definitely didn't want to eat with her. If she was there, they probably wouldn't dare to eat at all.

It wasn't until they all headed to the kitchen that Shen Meng felt at ease to climb onto the heated brick bed. There wasn't much food at home, and the Lu Family couldn't be relied on. She might even be morally blackmailed into giving up her things, especially since it hadn't been long since Lu Zhenping had sent money home.

Shen Meng pondered her schemes. She was a bit tired from making noodles for the children just now; it had been years since she last cooked with a traditional stove. Earlier, she had struggled to light the fire, failing several attempts, and even the bellows seemed difficult to use—perhaps Zhou Jiaojiao or Lu Jiaxuan kicked it when they moved out.

After eating some bird's nest porridge and light dishes in her space, she lay down to rest. Everything had to wait until she had fully recuperated.

In the kitchen, the children voraciously consumed four bowls of noodles. Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingliang, two growing boys, naturally remained unsated. Lu Mingliang still remembered Shen Meng's mention of the clay pot. When he lifted the lid, there indeed was some noodles left, which he scooped into his own bowl without hesitation and then shared some with Lu Mingyang.

"Brother, have some more; we don't know if there'll be anything to eat tonight. Eat more, so we can gather more firewood this afternoon. Let Ming Kai and Ming Fang rest at home; the sun is scorching in the afternoon."

"Brother, let Ming Kai stay home. I'll come too; I ate so much, and if I don't work, Mom would be angry." Perhaps it was the bowl of delicious noodles, or maybe because Shen Meng, despite her injuries, had made them—suddenly, Lu Mingfang didn't think the wicked woman was all that bad. After all, she had been kind to them before. If it weren't for Second Aunt and their auntie always talking, their mom wouldn't have changed.

Lu Mingkai pursed his lips and said nothing. He didn't want to be home alone at all. If his mom saw him alone and became displeased, she might pinch him.

"You stay with Ming Kai, and I'll go with Ming Liang to gather firewood. What if something happens to our little brother alone at home? The wicked woman just made us one meal, don't think she's suddenly become so nice. Who knows when she'll hit us again?" Lu Mingliang, while stuffing noodles into his mouth, lectured Lu Mingfang, clearly feeling that his sister had softened.

Lu Mingyang didn't say anything, but he was thinking the same thing. He wasn't afraid of being treated badly or being scolded and hit; what he feared was a sudden show of kindness. Before, their aunt had talked about sending them away to save food for the family. That wicked woman must have had similar thoughts; she just didn't dare, fearing that Dad would stop sending money home.

The concern weighed on his mind; he was always afraid, so he did everything with his siblings, never separating. Today, the wicked woman actually made such a fine meal for them, with white flour noodles, eggs, and a shiny layer of oil. If this wasn't part of some evil plan, then it would mean her head had been struck by lightning.

He agreed with Ming Liang's idea to leave Ming Fang and Ming Kai at home; he also wanted to see what the wicked woman was up to.