Traveling back to 1952, starting a comeback from a relief station

These words reached Wang Anping's ears, and he swayed over.

Madam Jia thought this unruly fellow was going to cause trouble, and a wave of tension washed over her. Unexpectedly, Wang Anping stared at the shoe soles she was sewing and nodded in admiration:

"Dongxu's mother, the soles of these shoes are really well-made!"

"If you ask me, the cloth shoes you make are the most comfortable and durable in this whole courtyard!"

The people around him were astonished, unable to figure out what this kid was up to. Why was he suddenly praising Jia Zhangshi? Did he take a fancy to the cloth shoes she made?

But he's a very stingy person.

Rarely receiving a compliment from this young man, Madam Jia immediately straightened her back, a smug look on her face.

"That's natural."

"I've been practicing my cloth shoe-making skills for decades, and everyone in the neighborhood praises me!"

Wang Anping glanced at the Jia family's door and feigned surprise, saying:

"You haven't eaten yet?"

Jia Zhangshi casually replied:

"Dongxu isn't back yet, let's eat together."

Wang Anping scratched his head, looking puzzled.

"what?"

"Didn't Brother Dongxu tell you to eat first?"

"I saw him on my way back just now. He was sitting by the roadside, happily munching on a piece of oil paper. I thought he had already eaten... Oh, maybe I was mistaken."

"Alright, you guys keep going, I'm going back to my room."

With that, Wang Anping slipped away.

Seeing the strange looks from those around her, Jia Zhangshi felt a burning sensation on her face. She could no longer sit still, so she picked up the shoe soles and the stool and stormed back into the house.

The courtyard immediately erupted in a commotion, with everyone chattering and eagerly anticipating the spectacle.

In Wang Anping's house in the front yard, the young couple were sitting and eating.

On the table were two cornbread buns, two steamed buns, and a dish of pickled vegetables brought from the Qin family.

The two had just taken a couple of bites when they heard a knock on the door. Yan Bugui pushed the door open, glanced at the food on the table, and then said nervously:

"Anping, I reckon it'll be tonight!"

"He Daqing is certain there will be action!"

"I saw him come home from get off work with a lot of groceries, mostly meat dishes!"

"I know him too well. He's usually so frugal, he'd never buy these things. And today isn't a holiday, so why is he suddenly buying so much meat and vegetables? There's definitely something fishy going on!"

Wang Anping was speechless at Yan Bugui's appearance.

He still said:

"Teacher Yan, you have such a keen eye for detail."

"But as I said before, I'm not getting involved in this. I'm focused entirely on my studies right now. Didn't you say you'd found some helpers? Have you finalized the arrangements?"

"This is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself!"

Yan Bugui nodded immediately:

"Everything's settled, everything's settled. Old Liu's keeping a close eye on things, just waiting for He Daqing to make a move!"

The two chatted for a few more minutes, then Yan Bugui glanced at the food on the table and, seeing that there was nothing for him to enjoy, reluctantly got up and left.

As soon as he left, Wang Anping got up and closed the door.

He pulled out an oil paper package from beside the rice bin, opened it, and inside was a whole, glistening roast chicken.

"Eat up," he said, placing the roast chicken on the table. "I knew Lao Yan would come, so I hid it on purpose. It's really not easy to avoid other people."

Qin Huairu quickly waved her hand:

"Brother Anping, I don't want to eat it, you eat it. Studying is hard on your brain."

"Let's eat together."

Wang Anping tore off a chicken leg and handed it to her.

"Eat more meat to replenish your energy, then you'll have more strength to work later."

"Well……"

Meanwhile, inside the Jia family's house, Jia Dongxu wiped the grease from his mouth and tiptoed into the courtyard to return home.

The blind date he went on last time didn't work out. The food he bought was all eaten up that day. His mother was worried about the money, and lately they haven't seen any meat at home, and they can't even bear to eat white flour.

He was really craving it, so he secretly bought some braised food after get off work today and hid by the roadside to satisfy his craving.

His mother absolutely must not find out about this!

Upon entering the house, he saw his mother sitting at the table, lost in thought. Although Jia Dongxu wasn't hungry, he pretended to be starving.

"Mom, where's the food? What are we having for dinner? I'm starving!"

Madam Jia looked up at him, her face expressionless, and said:

"Haven't you already eaten? Why are you eating again?"

Jia Dongxu pretended to be stupid and said:

"Mom, what are you saying? When did I eat? I just got home from get off work and I'm starving."

When Jia Dongxu denied it, Jia Zhangshi exploded on the spot:

"You dare to lie!"

Madam Jia slammed her hand on the table, pointing at his mouth and sleeve.

"Look at yourself! Your mouth and sleeves are covered in grease. You still want to lie to me? You said you ate it, and you dared to eat it all by yourself! I raised you with so much hardship, and this is how you repay me?"

"My God, Jia Dongxu, what happened to you?"

"How can you face your deceased father?"

"I don't want to live anymore..."

Inside the He family's house.

Sha Zhu looked at the table full of delicious food, somewhat bewildered.

Roast chicken, pig's head meat, fried peanuts, and braised dried tofu are all hearty dishes that satisfy cravings.

He paused, then turned to look at He Daqing:

"Dad, what day is it today? Buying so much good food is such a waste of money!"

Although Sha Zhu was greedy, his father was usually stingy, so his sudden generosity today made him uneasy.

Besides, the family is saving money.

He's already eighteen, and it looks like he's reached the age where he should be looking for a wife.

Now that he's working, he hands over his entire salary to He Daqing. If he spends all his money on a big meal and drinks and uses it to pay for his wedding, how will he ever find a partner again?

He Daqing glanced at him irritably and said nonchalantly:

"If you don't like it, just leave it."

"Rain, let's eat as much as we want, Dad will tear off a big chicken leg for you."

Sha Zhu couldn't bear not to eat, so he quickly sat down, picked up a large piece of pig's head meat and stuffed it into his mouth. His mouth was full of oily flavor, and he exclaimed how satisfying it was.

While they were eating, a commotion suddenly broke out at the Jia family's house next door.

Before long, Jia Zhangshi's wailing drifted over, each cry louder than the last.

"Wow, what's wrong with Jia Dongxu's mom now? What's she up to this time?"

The people in the courtyard were already used to the Jia family's frequent noises.

Being a lovable mortal is in the nature of the neighborhood. Sha Zhu grabbed a cornbread and ran into the yard, determined to see what was going on.

The commotion drew the neighbors out of the courtyard, who gathered in twos and threes in the central courtyard, asking questions all at once.

"What kind of trouble is the Jia family causing now?"

"Hey, what else could it be? It's all because of Jia Dongxu!"

"I heard he secretly bought some food on his way home from get off work and ate it alone at the alley entrance. Wang Anping saw him and mentioned it to Dongxu's mother when he got back, and that's how this whole drama started!"

"That Dongxu is so unfair! He's eating all the food himself, what kind of son is he!"

"That's right! His own mother is still at home waiting for dinner, and he's secretly indulging in his cravings!"

"that is……"

Jia Zhangshi pulled Jia Dongxu, who looked unwilling, out.

As they were talking, Jia Zhangshi dragged a reluctant Jia Dongxu out of the house.

At this point, she didn't care about losing face anymore. She insisted on demanding an explanation in front of the neighbors and correcting her son's habit of eating alone.

Otherwise, how will she, as a mother, live her life in the future?