Chapter 35: Chapter 035 Cornmeal Porridge
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The little girl had tanned skin, rosy cheeks, and a pair of sheep-horn braids. When she saw Sheng Ning looking at her, she timidly shrank back, her eyes filled with fear.
“You scared her.” Sheng An held Xiao Hong, staring at her defensively.
Sheng Ning suddenly realized that her past behavior had been terrible and probably frightened Xiao Hong before.
That’s why she was so afraid of her.
Since Sheng An didn’t want to send Xiao Hong back to their grandparents’ house, Sheng Ning said nothing. Using firewood, she boiled a big pot of water, and after the three of them washed up, she couldn’t hold on any longer and went to sleep first.
She hadn’t rested well on the train last night, the entire journey had been bumpy, and after walking such a long distance, her eyelids were already heavy.
After a good night’s sleep, by the time she got up the next morning, Shen Luhua was already in the kitchen cooking. Sheng An was in the yard feeding chickens with Xiao Hong, and the dozen or so hens clucked away.
When Sheng An saw Sheng Ning come out of the room, he snorted coldly but didn’t speak.
She pretended not to notice and turned her head into the kitchen. “Mom, what delicious food are you making?”
When Shen Luhua saw her, she nervously rubbed her hands and said, “It’s cornmeal porridge, with freshly pickled lotus leaf soy sauce. It’s simple food, don’t be picky, Ningning.”
“How could I be? I love it.” Not having had authentic cornmeal porridge for decades, just the smell made her mouth water.
“How’s the village chief’s wife from last night?” She had slept so deeply the night before that she didn’t know when her parents returned.
“Stomach bleeding, she’s still lying in the hospital! Her brothers from her maiden family came last night.” Shen Luhua said softly, “You two were so daring, how could we afford to offend the village chief? Besides, he’s such a big guy, what if he had really punched you in the face?”
At the hospital, hearing the neighbors’ descriptions scared Shen Luhua so much she didn’t sleep well all night.
“I’m sorry, I just felt sorry for the village chief’s wife.” Sheng Ning also knew she had caused a big mess. She was indeed very bold at that time, and thinking back now, it was terrifying.
“You can’t be blamed.”
“But what about dad…” She was worried that her father would be angry and fall ill in anger.
“Don’t worry, although your dad didn’t speak much on the way, he seemed happy.”
Sheng Laosan, who had just come back from feeding the pigs in the backyard, happened to pass by the kitchen and overheard the conversation between mother and daughter, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
He was proud of what his daughter had done. But risking her own safety, that needed to be criticized.
During breakfast, Sheng Ning ate two big bowls of cornmeal porridge. The whole family was stunned by her enthusiasm. The coldness in Sheng An’s eyes also diminished significantly.
“Daughter, is life tough at the Song and Dance Troupe?”
“No, it’s very good there.” Sheng Ning put down her bowl and wiped her mouth contentedly.
“So when are you going back?” Sheng Laosan looked at her eagerly, fearing she would say she was not returning.
After roughly estimating the time, Sheng Ning withheld the news of the incident, saying lightly, “In half a month!”
“That’s great, that’s great!” The whole family was very happy, but Sheng Laosan’s gaze made Sheng Ning uneasy. It was as if her lie had already been exposed.
After breakfast, Sheng Laosan and Shen Luhua went to work in the fields, Sheng An took Xiao Hong to dig pigweed. That left Sheng Ning alone at home, making her feel a bit uneasy.
“Ningning, wash the clothes!” Shen Luhua said considerately.
Sheng An, who was about to leave with the basket, turned back disdainfully upon hearing the conversation inside. “Mom, can she even wash clothes properly? Don’t forget that the last time you asked her to do laundry, she threw away your best blouse. Our family is too poor to buy new clothes.”