Chapter Fourteen: Meat Doesn't Fall from the Sky

The two of them looked at Chen Zhaodi. At this moment, Chen Ling was still persistently trying to get Chen Zhaodi to take a bite of meat. The second and third daughters-in-law exchanged glances, feeling even more sour inside.

Old Madam Chen noticed this scene too. After all, she had handed out the meat; whether the younger generation ate it themselves or shared it with their parents was their own business, and she wouldn’t interfere.

Seeing her eldest granddaughter care so deeply for her mother, the old woman felt a pang of envy. If only she had a daughter, she too might be treated so tenderly.

A daughter’s thoughtfulness made Chen Zhaodi feel utterly at ease. Even if she didn’t eat that piece of meat, her heart was warmed.

Chen Zhao was the most clever. Seeing the expression on his grandmother’s face, he immediately sidled up to her, coaxing sweetly, “Grandma, grandma, I’ll share my meat with you tonight.”

“Oh? You’ll really share it with me? If you give it to your mother and then to me, you’ll have none left,” his grandmother asked deliberately.

None left?

Thinking of the aroma of the meat, Chen Zhao felt a twinge of regret. But he had already spoken, so he stiffly nodded, his face full of anguish at parting with the meat. “It’s fine. If there’s none left, so be it. It’s right to share with grandma and mom.”

“If grandma is happy, I’m happy too.” The more he thought about it, the more he mourned the loss of his meat, but as the eldest grandson, it was his duty.

“Haha, you rascal!” Old Madam Chen laughed.

Though her eldest grandson was mischievous, he had a sweet tongue and knew how to please people. He was her first grandchild, the one she had raised most, and the one she loved best.

Meanwhile, Chen Zhaodi couldn’t resist Chen Ling’s urging in the end, so she took a small bite and said she would eat more later in the evening. Only then did Chen Ling happily finish the rest herself.

That tiny bit of meat hardly needed chewing, yet Chen Zhaodi savored it in her mouth for a long while, until all the flavor was gone, and only then swallowed. She sighed inwardly; the meat was indeed delicious.

The situation was much the same for others.

Once they heard it was given by their grandaunt, all hesitation disappeared.

When Chen Rui carried the meat home, her parents and siblings were waiting for her to eat. She was the eldest, with two younger brothers and a sister. The family of six had only separated from their grandmother’s household last year.

Zhang Xiu, seeing her daughter return with a bowl of meat, was first surprised, then quickly inquired. Upon learning it was a gift from the grandaunt, she breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her repeatedly.

Zhang Damu was smoking a homemade cigarette. His eyes followed the bowl of meat uncontrollably, so much so that he didn’t notice the cigarette burning close to his fingers until the second son, Chen Yong, slapped it away.

Of course, Chen Yong received a hard smack on the head.

“You rascal! Got guts, haven’t you? Dare to hit your father’s hand.”

Chen Yong rubbed his sore head and muttered, aggrieved, “I was just afraid the cigarette would burn your hand!” Good intentions mistaken for bad.

Zhang Damu cared nothing for explanations. The rule was simple: a junior touching an elder was wrong.

While Zhang Damu was lecturing his son, Zhang Xiu divided the meat Chen Rui brought home into two portions, setting one on the table and carrying the other to her husband. “Let’s eat, you and the children. I’ll take this portion to mother-in-law.”

Though they had split households, proper filial respect must not be lacking. This meat was rare, a gift from the grandaunt. It was only right to let her mother-in-law and father-in-law have a taste.

Zhang Damu nodded, reminding his wife to hurry back for dinner, but said nothing more.

Her in-laws lived nearby. By the time Zhang Xiu arrived, they had already eaten, but were delighted with the meat.

When Zhang Xiu returned, her husband and children were sitting at the table waiting for her. Though tempted by the aroma, they restrained themselves.

Meals must be eaten together as a family. This was one reason Zhang Xiu chose to marry into Niuluo Village.

At first, she didn’t understand the village’s strict rules about respecting elders, but over generations, everyone followed them. Gradually, she grew accustomed.

After all, those who failed to show respect would either be beaten by their husbands, despised by their in-laws, or sent back to their own families. This was Niuluo Village’s foremost rule—no room for negotiation.

The words of the ancestors were never wrong. Anyone who disrespected elders was rotten-hearted, at best driven from the village, at worst bringing misfortune upon their descendants.

Who would dare risk it?

Now Zhang Xiu, like all original villagers, observed this rule.

Besides, respecting elders was always right, even if Bai Xi was a bit younger.

“Oh, mom’s back! Now we can finally eat!” Zhang Yong, already drooling from the meat’s aroma, clapped his hands happily. His younger siblings followed suit in imitation.

Chen Rui, however, was worried about Bai Xi—had grandaunt eaten well, was she asleep?

Niuluo Village had only a few dozen households. At midday, the scent of meat from Bai Xi’s treehouse had drifted through the entire village, and Chen Zhaodi and others carrying meat home was no secret.

It took less than an afternoon for news to spread that Bai Xi had shared meat with Chen Zhaodi and the others. There was no one in the village who didn’t know.

Grain was precious these days, and meat rarer still—often a month would pass without a taste. Some began to mutter, “Where did grandaunt get the meat?”

Their doubts were quickly silenced by elders: “Why bother? It wasn’t you who gave it!”

Others felt slighted. “Why didn’t grandaunt share some with us? Did those few trick her into giving them meat?”

“Nonsense! Say that again and see what happens. Niuluo Village values rules above all. No one dares act out of turn.” Unless a family wanted to be run out of the village.

Adults craved meat; children even more so. When they heard grandaunt had given meat to others, the youngest couldn’t resist their hunger, clamoring for meat.

“I want to eat meat, Daddy, Mommy, we want meat too…”

Naturally, the result was a few whacks.

Some youths around twenty, puzzled and disappointed, asked, “Dad, did we do something wrong so grandaunt forgot us?”

After all, grandaunt took turns dining with families. It made no sense to have meat and share only with a few, neglecting others.

“What are you thinking? Grandaunt is still young, and we should respect her. You’re grown men, always longing for meat.”

“But Dad, isn’t it…”

“Enough whining—have some backbone. There are so many people in our village; if everyone got some, there’d barely be enough for a mouthful of soup each. Grandaunt isn’t partial. Next time, it’ll come around.”

Next time—when would that be? Meat wasn’t something that fell from the sky, nor could it be expected regularly.

Though unwilling, with his father’s words, he could only swallow his feelings.