After looking at the clock, Qian Shulan began to prepare dinner.
When Wang Shouzhi left, Qian Shulan specifically told him to bring Li Caiying back for lunch.
Gas tanks had not yet appeared in that era, so most people still used coal briquettes.
However, the current "unified sales and unified purchase" policy means that the coal briquettes distributed each month are basically not enough, so most families will build a clay stove outside the house and a simple shed around it to provide some shelter from the wind and rain. Fortunately, most houses in this era are on the first floor and will not occupy the passage.
Seeing that there was no fire on the stove, Qian Shulan went to the earthen stove outside and cooked two dishes: one was shredded green pepper and potato, the other was scrambled eggs with leeks.
These were all things she brought over from her hometown.
Green peppers, potatoes and leeks are all grown in the family’s private plot, and the eggs are laid by the hens at home.
She saw two tomatoes in the kitchen, and cooked a tomato and egg soup. A layer of green chopped green onions was sprinkled on top, and the aroma immediately filled her nose.
After cooking the soup, she started to make pancakes. Because she didn't have sorghum flour, she could only use fine flour. The pancakes were thin, soft and very fragrant.
When she put the food on the table, she saw someone coming in from outside.
Wang Shouzhi pulled Li Caiying in, who was pouting and looking unhappy.
It was only April, but Lee Chae-young was wearing a dress, had curly hair, and leather shoes that made a clacking sound when she walked in.
However, people always say that women dress up to please themselves, but when Qian Shulan turned her head to look at Wang Shouzhi, he didn't seem to appreciate Li Caiying's outfit, as if there was a wall between the two of them.
What she was most worried about happened. There was really something wrong with their marriage.
Seeing the old lady turn around, Wang Shouzhi hurriedly called out "Mom". Seeing that Li Caiying didn't move, he hurriedly pulled her arm.
Li Caiying then called for help reluctantly, but the sound was like the hum of a mosquito, and it could not be heard unless you listened carefully. What's more, her eyes were always lowered, which really gave people the feeling of looking down on others.
Qian Shulan didn't want to quarrel right after they met, so she could only pretend not to notice Li Caiying's attitude and asked them to sit down. "Come and eat, I just prepared the food. These dishes are all brought from my hometown. They are fresh."
As she spoke, she began to distribute chopsticks between the two of them.
Wang Shouzhi glanced at the tabletop, which was full of color, aroma and taste, and his face was full of smiles. "Mom, I haven't seen you for a few years. Your cooking skills have improved a lot."
Qian Shulan smiled proudly, "I used to be reluctant to add oil when cooking. I added a little more oil because I was afraid you wouldn't be used to it."
Wang Shouzhi was about to speak when he saw Li Caiying put down her chopsticks with a stern face and raised her eyebrows, "Mom, you put so much oil in it, do you want us to follow the capitalist hedonism style?"
Qian Shulan frowned and turned to look at Li Caiying, and saw that the filial piety value on her forehead turned directly into 0. It was 1 when she just came in, and now it was directly reduced to 0 points. She owed her. She even committed a sin by cooking.
Qian Shulan put down her chopsticks and smiled kindly, her voice gentle, "Caiying, you are young and have not experienced much. You have no mother since you were a child, so I guess no one taught you. As your mother-in-law, I am your elder anyway, so I want to give you some advice. Who told you that eating vegetarian food is a capitalist hedonism? Then there are so many families in the courtyard who eat meat, are they all capitalist?"
Li Caiying was choked by her. She didn't expect that this country old woman would dare to refute her. She lowered her head and glanced at the dining table. There were indeed only two dishes of vegetarian dishes.
In fact, objectively speaking, Qian Shulan did not use much oil. Li Caiying usually uses more oil when cooking.
But she just didn't like this old woman. When she thought about how she had lowered herself to please this old woman in order to get Wang Shouzhi to marry her, and how she was deliberately teasing her, she felt sick.
The old hag, an old country lady, how could she deserve it!
Li Caiying had a cold face, waved her hands, stood up from her seat, and ran out of the house in three or two steps.
Wang Shouzhi subconsciously wanted to chase after her, but when he met his mother's warning gaze, he retracted his legs.
After sitting down, he suddenly realized that his mother seemed to have changed. In the past, if someone dared to speak to his mother like this, his mother would definitely bring the whole family to beat that person up. But now, she would just send the person away easily.
Li Caiying rushed out of the house and went directly to her father's house without going anywhere else.
Because it’s in a large compound and very close, it takes less than two minutes to get there.
When Li Guocheng saw his daughter coming in wiping her tears, he was very scared.
"Caiying, what's wrong with you?" Li Guocheng doted on his only daughter so much that he immediately put down the wine glass in his hand and came forward to greet her.
Li Caiying rushed in and sat down on the sofa. As soon as she sat down, she started to curse, "You old woman, you were living well in the countryside, but you came to the county town to show off."
Li Guocheng had known about his in-laws coming over. When he went to work in the morning, his workers reminded him of it.
Li Guocheng didn't take it seriously. He thought she was just an old country lady, uneducated and uninformed. She would probably come to take advantage of him and then go back.
However, he didn't expect that within just lunch time, his daughter would be so angry that she would go back to her parents' home and immediately get furious.
Hearing his daughter's scolding, Li Guocheng immediately closed the door for fear of being heard by others.
Although now everywhere is talking about breaking down feudalism and women holding up half the sky, in small places like theirs, people's thinking is still relatively conservative. Once someone has a bad reputation, it will be harder than climbing to the sky to marry into a good family.
His daughter must not be known as an "unfilial" person. However, he is a man after all, and his mind is not delicate enough. He has a heart of love for his daughter, but he doesn't know how to teach her, otherwise he wouldn't have taught Li Caiying to have such a personality.
Li Guocheng listened to his daughter's scolding for a long time, and patiently asked her about the matter again. After listening, he frowned and said nothing.
According to this, the in-laws did nothing wrong. He quickly poured a glass of water for his daughter, "Caiying, take a break. If there is no other way, just stay at home. Out of sight, out of mind!"
After all, the in-laws are Caiying's mother-in-law. Although people outside are calling for the elimination of feudalism every day, the ideas that have been passed down for thousands of years cannot be overturned so quickly. Everyone has a scale in their heart.
You don't marry your ancestors, so of course you want to marry someone who is virtuous and capable. Why would you marry someone who messes up your family? Caiying didn't find a good family nearby because of her bad temper and average looks, so she had to go to the countryside to find someone to marry.
Wang Shouzhi is considered a good person. He has been tolerant of his daughter over the years.
Li Caiying paused with her hand that was holding the enamel pot, her eyes determined, "No! I don't believe I can't cure her!" In this world, there is no mother who doesn't love her son. She didn't believe that Qian Shulan could remain indifferent when she saw her bullying her son.
Li Guocheng was of the older generation, so he advised, "But she is Shouzhi's mother after all. You are inferior to her in status!"
Li Caiying curled her lips in disdain, "My parents are not as dear to me as my work. For the sake of work, Wang Shouzhi has to stand on my side."
Li Guocheng frowned after hearing this. He is a man, and if his wife dared to threaten him like this, although he would compromise temporarily, he would inevitably feel uncomfortable.
However, he couldn't bear to see his daughter being wronged, so he could only let her do what she wanted.
After eating here, Li Caiying went back to work.
In the evening, Qian Shulan cooked two more dishes: Chinese cabbage with mushrooms and shredded potatoes.
Li Caiying and Wang Shouzhi came back together. When they entered the door, Li Caiying pinched Wang Shouzhi to remind him that he must stand on her side this time.
Wang Shouzhi could only agree reluctantly when he thought of her threat.
The three of them sat down to eat. Li Caiying learned her lesson this time and didn't find fault.
Qian Shulan was still smiling, and said to Wang Shouzhi, "Xiaowu, where is your family's commodity supply certificate? The dishes I brought have been eaten, and there are no more dishes in the kitchen. Tomorrow morning, I will go to the grocery store to buy some fresh vegetables for you to cook."
Before Wang Shouzhi could reply, Li Caiying interrupted, "Mom, we have run out of this month's supply."
Qian Shulan didn't frown, "Okay, give me some living expenses, and I'll go to the black market to buy some fresh ones."
Li Caiying frowned and flatly refused, "The vegetables on the black market are so expensive, who can afford them!" Qian Shulan had already brought rations when she came, so Li Caiying didn't bring this up.
Before she could continue, Qian Shulan asked directly, "Do you mean you don't plan to cook anymore?"
Li Caiying was choked by her again. Thinking that she could go to her father's house for a free meal, she said, "It's okay if I don't eat the vegetables."
She just didn’t believe that the old woman wouldn’t leave after not eating vegetables for a few days!
Qian Shulan could guess what she was thinking from her smug expression. She sighed to Wang Shouzhi with amusement, "In the past, when your father and I took you brothers to hide from the Japanese invaders, we also ate here and there. I didn't expect that the founding of the country had begun, and I could relive the old days when I came back to my son's house for the first time. Well, when I go to the next door to chat with someone tomorrow, I'll also find someone to complain to. Maybe when they see how hard you are, they will share some food with us."
As soon as these words fell, Li Caiying's arrogant attitude deflated. If people knew that they didn't give food to their mother-in-law, then what good reputation would they have? However, she didn't know that because of her arrogance, others had long been dissatisfied with her behavior, so how could she have a good reputation? However, Li Caiying didn't have many friends, so naturally no one would tell her that others were whispering bad things about her behind her back.
Wang Shouzhi saw that Li Caiying was a little embarrassed, so he immediately went back to the house to get the commodity supply certificate, and said to his mother with a smile, "Mom, I have always been the one buying vegetables. Caiying, she remembered it wrong."
Li Caiying laughed dryly and didn't answer, but she pinched Wang Shouzhi's arm and didn't let go. Wang Shouzhi tried hard not to frown.
Qian Shulan pretended not to know about the lawsuit between them. She took the commodity supply certificate, opened it and glanced at it. Last month's supply had been received, but this month's supply had not yet been received. She accepted it with a smile.
When Li Caiying saw the old lady smile, she felt very upset and always felt that the other party was planning some big move to deal with her.