Chapter 16: Just in Time for Separation
Wang Guizhi looked at Shen Meng's expression and couldn't refuse. She put the money and the bill in her pocket and chuckled, "Okay, okay, I know you are filial, so I will take the money. I won't spend it, but save it for you. If you have no money, come home and ask me for more. Seeing you like this, I know there is nothing wrong with your health. Your father and I will go back. If you encounter any problems, come home to me and your father!"

Shen Meng felt a little sad, turned around and nodded slightly.

"I understand, mother. When I am better, I will go home to see you soon. You and father should leave early while the sun is not too strong. Don't worry about me, I am fine!"

Wang Guizhi took Shen Meng's hand and patted it, without saying anything else. The child had grown up and she knew how to live. If they talked too much, the child would get annoyed. Now she and the old man were in good spirits, and if Xiao Meng didn't understand anything, they would help her.

After the old couple left, the four children took the opportunity to run away. They didn't want to stay with Shen Meng, especially seeing Shen Meng's condition, they were afraid that she would not die for a while.

She was home alone and happened to be wandering around the brick house.

There are three brick houses with a main room. The largest one is on the east side, which is the bedroom of Shen Meng and Lu Zhenping. There are two rooms on the west side, one for the boys and one for Lu Mingfang. In addition, there is a kitchen in an adobe house, a firewood room in an adobe house, and another one is empty. The yard is not small, and there is a sycamore tree on the open space. Shen Meng thinks that he can build a fence around the sycamore tree, plant some vegetables, fruits, or build a chicken coop.

Before, Lu Zhenping thought that Lu Mingfang, as a girl, should have her own room when she grew up. Although the room was not big, he made a set of cabinets for his little daughter and kept the small room clean. However, after he left, Shen Meng directly moved the children to live in one room. She locked the good things in her room and locked the food in a large wardrobe. The children often went out to find food when they were hungry.

She would be unhappy if someone outside helped the child, thinking that they were deliberately making others laugh at her. She would often beat and scold the child while making indirect accusations.

Shen Meng was looking at the yard while recalling the plot. When Lu Zhenping built this house, Liu Sanjin refused to agree. She wanted to build a new adobe house in the old yard for the eldest family to live in. The money saved could be used to renovate the old yard, and it would be best if the remaining money was given to her.

Lu Zhenping disagreed. He had been a soldier for many years and could intimidate people with just a slight change of expression. Finally, it was Lu Changzhu who decided that it was okay to build a house, but it couldn't be too far away or too big, so as not to make the other brothers feel uncomfortable.

I don’t know what’s wrong with Shen Meng. If you have the ability, go build a house for yourself.

There is food at home, but no vegetables. Yesterday, Tian Guihua brought some dried vegetables. She looked at them and found that they were some shepherd's purse, bracken, purslane and so on dug in the spring. She is still in a "seriously ill" state and cannot go out to pick vegetables in high spirits.

There is something in the space, but she can't just take it out!

Shen Meng was a little worried.

Just as I was thinking of soaking some dried vegetables and having noodles for lunch, there was a knock on the gate of the courtyard and Tian Guihua came over with a basket.

"Is Mingyang Mingliang at home? Auntie is here, can she come in?"

"Sister-in-law, please come in. The door is not locked. Mingyang Mingliang is not at home. He went out." Shen Meng said weakly while holding the door frame.

When Tian Guihua heard that it was Shen Meng who spoke to her, she quickly pushed the door open and came in. Seeing Shen Meng's sickly appearance, she quickly put the basket on the ground. "My God, why are you out in the field? Aren't the children at home?"

"I'm fine, sister-in-law. I can walk around now. I've been taking the medicine prescribed by Doctor Lu. I just have a headache. Why are you here at this time? Aren't you working on the ground?"

Tian Guihua supported Shen Meng's arm, and the two of them walked into the main hall together. After they sat down, Tian Guihua said, "Your mother was worried about you before she left, so she came to my house and asked me to look after you. She also gave me one dollar. Look at my aunt, she is really a kind person. I will leave this money here for you. I said yesterday that you are my sister, so how can I ask you for money? It's just a coincidence. I didn't go to work today. I was cleaning up the private plot. I thought that you had just moved back and there must be no vegetables at home, so I brought a basket over, cucumbers, beans and so on. There are plenty in the vegetable garden. If you don't have enough, ask Mingyang to pick more."

Tian Guihua is a straightforward person. When her brother-in-law said that he wanted to build a good relationship with Shen Meng and be nice to his son, she hurried over. At first it was really because of her son, but now she really wanted to make friends with Shen Meng.

"Thank you so much, sister-in-law. I just got up and looked around. I really don't have any vegetable leaves at home. It's a pity you gave me so much. It's enough for us to eat for several days."

"What's the big deal? It's in everyone's vegetable garden. It's nothing rare. Just eat it. You look much better than yesterday."

Shen Meng smiled and said, "That's right. Doctor Lu is the best doctor in our commune. His medical skills are really good."

Tian Guihua also said a few good words to Lu Changhong. Lu Changhong, who was far away in the commune reporting on his work, sneezed three times in a row. When he rubbed his nose, he always felt that someone was scolding him.

Tian Guihua didn't stay long, as there was still a lot of work to do in the fields. Before she left, she said to Shen Meng, "Sister, if there's any work you can't do, tell your sister-in-law and she'll help you. You still have to take care of yourself. If the Lu family doesn't let you come over for dinner, you can ask Mingyang to cook something and you and your family can make do with it. If that doesn't work, I'll ask Wenxiu to come over and cook for you or something."

"It's okay, sister-in-law. It's not difficult to get food. The Lu family shouldn't even give us food. Besides, the family hasn't been divided yet. If they really don't give us food, it's just right for us to live on our own behind closed doors. That's good enough."

Tian Guihua opened her mouth in surprise and looked at Shen Meng. After thinking about it, it became clear that who doesn't want to live with their spouse behind closed doors? When she was young, she dreamed of it every day. But now her son is about to get married, and she wants the whole family to live together. Tian Guihua shook her head. She is not a partial mother-in-law like Liu Sanjin.

"Well, Xiaomeng, you stay at home and rest. I'll be leaving first."

"it is good."

Tian Guihua brought a lot of dishes, and she put them all in the closet. The closet, which was one meter tall, was very empty, with only a few bowls and chopsticks placed on it. These were the ones Wang Guizhi had taken from Lu's kitchen yesterday, and Liu Sanjin glared at her for this.

Shen Meng found a clean sand basin in the kitchen and placed two handfuls of handmade noodles in it. The side dishes and soup base were also ready, all placed in a large bowl, waiting to be cooked and eaten at home at noon.

She was sure that the Lu family would never invite her to dinner.

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(End of this chapter)