?Chapter 20: 20 Got to eat meat, got ‘grounded Chapter 20: 20 Got to eat meat, got ‘grounded Lin Xiuyuan chuckled softly, “That’s good, the mountains are dangerous.”


    “Mmhmm, I know, Grandpa, you and Grandma go ahead and eat. I should get going, my mom and the others are waiting for me.”


    Lin Tang said and got up to leave.


    Before she could reach the courtyard gate, Zhao Shuzhen came out holding an empty bowl.


    “…Tangtang, wait, don’t you want your bowl?”


    As she spoke, she stuffed the bowl into her hands and turned to go back inside.


    Lin Tang took the bowl.


    She looked down, and in the thoroughly cleaned bowl, there were two apples that really couldn’t be considered good-looking.


    Thinking of the proud old lady, Lin Tang smiled and headed home.


    As she walked, all members of the Lin Family flashed through her mind.


    Grandfather Lin Xiuyuan and Grandmother Zhao Shuzhen had three sons and a daughter.


    The eldest, Lin Fu, was the Captain of Shuangshan Brigade, married to Gao Ping, with three sons and a daughter.


    The second, Lin Lu, her father, had three sons and a daughter.


    The third, Lin Shou, married to Zhang Hongyan, had only one son and daughter.


    The youngest was a girl named Lin Anan, married off to the county.


    After Lin Anan got married, the Lin Family divided up the household.


    The two elders were unwilling to live at the mercy of others; during the division, they didn’t go with anyone, instead staying in the old mansion.


    All three sons built their houses in the village, and they now had many great grandchildren.


    Each family, whenever they made something delicious, would send a portion to the old mansion.


    The life of the elderly couple was one of the best in the brigade.


    Although they had never enjoyed great fortune, having food to eat and a place to live meant they were much better off than those who starved or froze to death.


    Lin Tang reminisced all the way home.


    She had just reached the doorstep, not yet knocking, when the door swept open and she was pulled in by Zhou Mei.


    “Little sister, hurry up; your nephew and niece are hungry. Let’s get to eating quickly.”


    The allure of meat was too strong.


    So much so that Lin Tang had completely overlooked the two apples in her hand.


    Lin Tang was dragged to the kitchen, where everyone took their seats.


    Upon seeing her, even the always dignified family head Lin Lu couldn’t hide his excitement.


    They could finally eat.


    The children especially began clapping and cheering softly.


    “Oh oh oh, we can eat meat now!”


    “Eat meaty!!”


    “Eat… lou!!” This was Niuniu, trying to say eat meat but in her haste, it came out as “eat lou.”


    Everyone burst out laughing.


    Though dinner at the Lin Family was later than usual, not a single person was upset.


    The old and the young were all incredibly excited.


    In those times, people had few great desires; as long as they could eat their fill and be warmed, they were happy.


    Xiuli said with a smile, “Everyone, sit down quickly, Grandma will divide the meat for you.”


    No sooner had she spoken, than the children immediately sat up straight, eyes fixed on Grandma.


    The wild chicken Lin Tang caught was very plump; the meat was substantial, and there were plenty of potatoes, making the portions look quite generous.


    Xiuli began to distribute the meat—one spoonful per person—


    Family head Lin Lu and his three sons received a bit more.


    Lin Tang herself had quite a lot, the daughter-in-law and the children each got a few pieces.


    But when it came to her own bowl, Xiuli only took one spoonful of potatoes, as there wasn’t much meat left.


    Lin Tang noticed, and so did everyone else.


    So—


    Without any prior agreement, Lin Lu and his three sons, along with Lin Tang, each placed a piece of meat into Xiuli’s bowl at the same time.


    “Old lady, you eat too, we all have some, you can’t just not eat,” Lin Lu’s gaunt face was slightly wrinkled.


    “Yeah, Mom, if you don’t eat, it’s like you’re slapping your sons in the face,” one of the brothers chimed in.


    “Right right, even if we don’t eat, we must show our filial respect to dear mother!”


    After the three brothers finished, Lin Tang also said:


    “My father and brothers are right, Mom, you should eat too, I have plenty of meat!”


    Xiuli didn’t notice for a moment, and suddenly her bowl had a few more pieces of meat, leaving her with a warm feeling in her heart, and her eyes slightly misty.


    The hardships on her face were washed away by her smile.


    What does a person hope for in a lifetime if not to have caring people around and filial children?


    The head of the household is so considerate, and the children are so filial.


    Her efforts are not in vain.


    Li Xiuli swallowed the emotion that had reached her throat, and first turned to Lin Tang before saying:


    “Silly girl, eat it yourself. These potatoes are delicious too, they have a meaty flavor that I just love.”


    Now, things are so much better than two years ago.


    Although it’s still hard to get a full meal, there is now water in the river.


    The crops in the fields can grow, and no one will starve to death anymore.


    Having said that, she turned to her three sons, and her words were not so pleasant anymore.


    “You all eat your food, I’m old enough to know how to eat for myself.


    Not being eager to eat meat, what’s wrong with your brains, how could I have given birth to such blockheads?”


    The three blockheads: “…” What did they say?


    Zhou Mei bit into a piece of meat with relish, swallowing it down in two or three bites, her mouth greasy.


    “Mom’s right, not being eager to eat meat means there’s something wrong with the brain, like me who has such a smart mind.”


    She was the most eager to eat meat!


    Li Xiuli: “…” What kind of thick skin is this?


    Probably not even swords could stab through it!


    Ignoring this foolish daughter-in-law, Li Xiuli said, “Alright, hurry up and eat!” Sear?h the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The little ones bit into the meat joyfully, their eyes shining bright.


    They buried their little faces into their bowls, eating eagerly.


    Wuu wuu wuu, the meat is so delicious!!


    –


    Time flew by, and a week passed.


    Lin Tang was no longer grounded by Li Xiuli.


    The little tail that had constantly been following her was finally not there all the time anymore.


    But it turns out—


    Although Lin Tang claimed she found the pheasants and rabbits at the foot of the mountain, Li Xiuli didn’t say anything, but she was not really convinced.


    So, she specifically called Goudan over to keep an eye on Lin Tang.


    After that, she repeatedly warned her numerous times, firmly forbidding her from going up the mountain again.


    This restriction continued until the injury on the back of Lin Tang’s head had completely healed.


    In the village, everyone had to rely on points for their livelihood; even the children went to weed the fields.


    They all hoped that come harvest time, there would be a little more to eat at home.


    That day.


    Goudan saw that the cloth on his little aunt’s head was gone.


    After asking Grandma and getting a definite answer, he stopped following Lin Tang around.


    Lin Tang had rested for so long that the wound on the back of her head had long since almost healed.


    Li Xiuli, not feeling reassured, insisted she rest for a few more days.


    Once her body recovered, it was time for Lin Tang to go to the fields to earn points.


    Earning points, she wasn’t afraid of that.


    But she was unwilling.


    She clearly knew that even if she earned the maximum points every day, she could only barely manage a seventy percent full stomach.


    Many things, like sugar, eggs, and meat… were unattainable.


    New clothes, bicycles, and such were even more out of the question.


    In the years to come, businesspeople would be looked upon favorably.


    But now, everyone took pride in living on the government’s grain.


    If you had a formal job, with a monthly salary and tickets without having to work in the fields, who wouldn’t want to be a worker?


    Lin Tang planned to go to the county tomorrow just to take a look around, not expecting to find a job immediately.


    At least she would make some inquiries first.


    She had to find a job so she could bring out the good things from the System Space.


    Lin Tang opened the system panel, and a transparent virtual panel appeared before her.


    [Name: Lin Tang]


    [Gender: Female]


    [Age: 16]


    [Points: 39]


    [Items stored in System Space: Two pounds of pork, a pack of noodles, three toothbrushes, a box of Malt Extract, one pound of eggs]