This meal was the most satisfying Chen Yu had eaten all year. At home, with the two little ones around, her status had plummeted.
Before, she was the youngest in the family, and anything good to eat was always given to her first.
But now, those good days were long gone.
The two little ones were her parents' darlings, and her elder sister and sister-in-law were pregnant, so they all had to come before her.
"Look at you, girl, it's just a chicken drumstick, and you're this happy."
"If Auntie could raise two more chickens, I'd give them all to you, and you could eat your fill."
Qin Liyun served Chen Yu a bowl of chicken soup. She had watched this girl grow up, and she loved her as much as her own daughter. Su Dan Novels.
"Auntie, you're the best."
Chen Yu mumbled while gnawing on the chicken drumstick. She wasn't eating this drumstick for the taste, but for this special treatment.
So, even though this girl was clever and mischievous, she was still a child who hadn't fully grown up.
Li Ling ate her chicken drumstick in small bites, feeling very happy in her heart.
In those days, eating chicken was a rare treat. Zhang Zhugen's parents saved the best chicken leg for her, which made Li Ling feel unprecedentedly valued.
In this world, besides her parents and a few brothers, it was the first time someone had treated her so well.
This made Li Ling like this family even more!
She wasn't afraid of hardship or poverty, she was only afraid of being looked down upon and being considered a mute.
Zhang Zhugen drank his soup silently, his mind in a mess.
He had liked Liu Ting for so many years, yet he remained single. He had never been in a relationship since he was young, so he didn't know what to do.
After dinner, the entire aunt's family went out. Chen Yang urged Zhang Zhugen to take Li Ling to watch the dragon dance. Everyone was sensible and let the two of them have some alone time.
Cousin Zhang Hongmei took Chen Yu, the little girl, and they slipped away after dinner, heading somewhere to watch the dragon dance. Years ago, when they were little, along with her elder sister Chen Juan, they had their own secret base.
Actually, Chen Yang and Zhang Zhugen and Zhang Shugen also had one, but after men got married and started families, those childish activities became a bit embarrassing to participate in.
This year's dragon dance was much grander than before. Last year, the dragon dance had just been revived, but it was rather rushed. After all, after more than a decade, people's dragon dance equipment was gone.
After last year's hurried efforts, everyone was much better prepared this year, making it very lively.
However, Chen Yang no longer had the same enthusiasm for watching the dragon dance as before. Honestly, he would rather hug his wife and children and sleep soundly than watch the dragon dance.
If he had brought them along, perhaps he would have felt the excitement. Zhang Shugen, on the other hand, was having a blast. This might be the difference between married and unmarried men.
That night, Chen Yang lay on the bamboo bed at his aunt's house, covered by the thick cotton quilt his aunt had prepared for him.
Today, he was a bit sleepless.
Because Chen Yang felt that his elderly mindset was somewhat out of sync with the world; he couldn't find the joy that life should have.
Zhang Zhugen was also sleepless. He finally put on a coat and squatted by the door, sitting in the same row as Chen Yang.
"When did you start liking this?"
Zhang Zhugen lit a cigarette, sat on the threshold, and took a puff.
Chen Yang took the cigarette he offered and lit one too.
He rarely smoked normally; this thing was addictive.
"I started smoking the day my heart died. But I don't dare to smoke much; this stuff is expensive."
"I want to save some money to build a few rooms for the family. Shugen is also at the age to get married. With our family's poor circumstances, which family would dare to marry their daughter to us?"
Zhang Zhugen exhaled a puff of smoke. Chen Yang suddenly felt that his elder cousin was both unfamiliar and familiar.
The current Zhang Zhugen, compared to the naive one Chen Yang had seen not long ago, was unfamiliar.
But compared to the Zhang Zhugen of his past life, after his aunt and uncle passed away, Chen Yang felt a sense of familiarity.
Zhang Zhugen had matured.
"You are the elder brother, and it's good that you think for him. But Shugen is still young, his matters are not urgent. It's you yourself."
"What are your thoughts on Miss Li today?"
Chen Yang exhaled a smoke ring. As a long-time smoker in his previous life, this feeling of nicotine entering his lungs and then exhaling was something he deeply cherished.
"She's a good person."
"Even with my family's previous conditions, she didn't dislike our poverty and did everything well."
Zhang Zhugen glanced at Chen Yang, as if there were things left unsaid.
"These are not the most important things. How do you personally feel about her in terms of romance?"
"Marriage is not a child's play. If you truly don't like her at all, or even strongly resist, don't rush to finalize this matter."
Chen Yang sighed. He had originally thought that Zhang Zhugen had already developed some feelings for his mute sister-in-law.
"Not at all. I didn't have any particular feelings for that girl before. My parents kept pressuring me, which actually made me a bit annoyed with her."
"But today, when she stood in front of me and pleaded for me to others, I felt my heart stir."
"Seeing her fall to the ground, I felt heartache, and I became angry at those who hurt her, wanting to protect her."
"I don't know if this counts as liking her, so I'm a bit confused. It's different from how I felt about Liu Ting."
Only then did Chen Yang realize why his elder cousin had come out for a smoke; he was lost in confusion.
"You know, Liu Ting is just a flower in the mirror, a moon in the water. She's a fantasy of your first love, an idealized form of yearning for love."
"Even if she really agreed to marry you, it might not be love."
"True love begins with good feelings. You now have good feelings for Li Ling, and this is the beginning of love. You need to use your eyes more to understand her and discover her strengths."
"You also need to show her your strengths. Gradually, good feelings will turn into liking, and then into love. This process can be fast or slow, depending on you. This is a good start."
Chen Yang patted Zhang Zhugen on the shoulder. Although Zhang Zhugen was older than him, in terms of mindset, Chen Yang, having lived two lifetimes, saw things more clearly.
"I understand."
"From today onwards, I will face Li Ling properly. People can't fall into the same pit and die. We have to keep living. Li Ling is such a good girl, I must cherish her."
"Thanks, Yangzi."
Zhang Zhugen stood up, threw the cigarette butt on the ground, and stomped on it fiercely.
Watching him return inside, Chen Yang exhaled, feeling that his mood had suddenly improved.
He knew what kind of person his elder cousin was; he was sincere. Once he figured something out, he would never be perfunctory or superficial.
He was completely relieved about the matter between him and his mute sister-in-law, as nothing bad had been done.
People, living in this world, must play their part to have value.