Chapter 17: The Mooncakes
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Upon hearing this, Cheng Jundong had only one thought in his heart: this woman is incredible! Someone actually asked.
“The mooncakes were made by my mother.”
Cheng Jundong said this plainly, knowing full well his mother often spoke more than necessary and often got things wrong.
“Made by herself…”
Old Yang felt a bit regretful. After smelling the mooncake aroma all day, he still had no idea how the filling was made—it was so fragrant.
Cheng Jundong scratched his head, took the intact mooncake, and handed it to Old Yang.
“Uncle Yang, you take this home and eat it.”
“No, no, no, I can’t take yours.”
“Take it, my mother also packed some for me.”
Cheng Jundong then pulled out two more mooncakes from his pocket—each with a different pattern and even more fragrant, fresh out of the oven.
Old Yang saw this, and Cheng Jundong suddenly took back the remaining mooncake he had just given him and replaced it with one of the newly brought ones.
“Eat this one.”
After saying this, Cheng Jundong smiled shyly and sat down honestly and plainly.
Old Yang held the still warm mooncake, breathing in its aroma deeply, thinking of his grandson at home who was pestering him to eat mooncakes.
He decided to hold onto it for now; tomorrow morning, he’d have two eggs with it.
Old Yang accepted the gift.
Then Old Yang gave some additional advice, more detailed than the first day. Cheng Jundong listened attentively, his eyes earnest and simple.
After the reminders, Old Yang went home.
The moment he stepped through the door, his little grandson immediately clung to his leg, his keen little nose sniffing out the mooncakes in Old Yang’s pocket.
“Grandpa bought mooncakes!”
The little boy held the palm-sized mooncake joyfully, four grandchildren sharing it—each got a small piece, but no one was satisfied.
The little grandson clung to his grandpa, acting cute and spoiled.
“Grandpa, grandma hasn’t had any mooncake yet.”
Old Yang was amused by the little grandson’s words, and the adults at home laughed along.
“You little rascal!”
Grandma felt sorry for the grandson and asked, “Where did you get the mooncakes? I’ve been to the supply store several times but couldn’t buy a single one.”
“It’s from Xiao Cheng who covers my shifts; his mother made them.”
“Made herself? That’s quite a skill.”
Grandma was sharp-minded, managing the family’s food and drink, and often bought things from the black market.
That evening, she pulled Old Yang aside and said, “Tomorrow, you ask if we can buy a few pieces.”
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“Well then?”
Old Yang was still a bit fearful. What if they got caught? Besides, he didn’t know much about Xiao Cheng’s family. What if they reported him?
Grandma understood her husband well: “What are you afraid of? If that kid dares to report you, just deny it. Besides, he just started working here and needs you to watch out for him. No one sane would report.”
Old Yang, thinking of his grandson, nodded after some thought, “Alright, I’ll ask tomorrow.”
“Yes, yes, just ask first.”
Grandma felt optimistic about the matter—who wouldn’t want to earn a little extra money?
The next day, Old Yang arrived a bit early, carrying two boiled eggs.
“Xiao Cheng, here, take these eggs.”
Cheng Jundong refused, but Old Yang insisted sternly.
“If you don’t take them, it’ll be awkward for the both of us later.”
Cheng Jundong looked unsure how to refuse but accepted them.
Old Yang then leaned in and whispered, “Xiao Cheng, do you have any extra mooncakes at home? My grandson keeps asking for them. If you have some to spare, could you give me a few?”
Cheng Jundong was honest but not naive; he immediately understood they wanted to buy mooncakes.
He suddenly realized why Grandma was making mooncakes—she was waiting for this moment.
“Uncle Yang, I need to ask my mother first. I’ll tell you tonight.”
“Okay, you have to ask.”
They agreed, and Cheng Jundong packed up and headed home.
San Hong Village, the Cheng family.
Early in the morning, Su Li woke up as usual, stretched, washed up, and tidied herself neatly.
More than that, she used large scissors to trim her eyebrows and hairstyle. Although not perfect, it finally had some shape.
Today, the second daughter-in-law, Li Meilan, was supposed to cook, but she had been sick all day yesterday and was dehydrated.
Su Li feared she might sneak food while cooking and then get sick again, so she didn’t let her cook.
In the morning, Su Li took charge of the kitchen, boiling gourd soup and steaming a pot of sweet potatoes.
Without some solid food, one couldn’t work well.
As for Li Meilan, Su Li gave her a leftover cornmeal pancake from yesterday.
Li Meilan received it reluctantly, whining, “Mom, I’m almost better now. Can you give me some gourd soup?”
“No, eat only when you’re fully recovered.”
Li Meilan pouted and nudged the second son, Cheng Junnan.
Cheng Junnan grinned and said, “Wife, you’re not fully better yet. How about I stay home and take care of you?”
Trying to slack off, Cheng Junnan glanced at Su Li.
Su Li calmly replied, “Fine, if you want to rest, then rest.”
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After saying that, Su Li looked at the others around the table and continued, “There’s nothing at home. Without some income from the autumn harvest, we can’t manage. I’m going to town today to buy some things. If any of you need anything important, tell me.”
The third and fourth households paused their eating, suspecting they misheard.
Grandma was asking if anyone needed to buy something?
That had never happened before.
Previously, whenever they asked for money, Grandma would threaten to hang herself, crying that she had raised them in vain, and it was always about debt collection.
They had argued, quarreled, but in the end, nothing changed.
Now Grandma had given a clear answer: when the fifth child got married, the family would split. Everyone had hope, so they were less inclined to cause trouble and would wait until the day of the split.
Moreover, these days, though Su Li still scolded and hit people, on reflection, it really was different from before.
“Well? No one needs anything?”
“No, Mom, could you buy me an elastic band? The third son’s pants keep falling.”
Ding Xiaohui spoke first, testing whether Grandma was sincere or just pretending.
“Mom, buy some thread spools, preferably gray thread. The fourth daughter-in-law’s clothes get torn working in the fields.”
The fourth daughter-in-law also spoke up. Su Li looked toward the eldest daughter-in-law, Miao Xiaocao.
“Mom, I don’t need anything.”
Though Miao Xiaocao hadn’t cried these days, she still wore a bitter, bullied expression and was timid in her work.
“Alright, I’ve noted everything.”
Su Li said, then fixed her gaze on the second son, Cheng Junnan.
“Second son, when you’re at home—”
“Mom, I’m not staying home! It’s autumn harvest; I have to work in the fields!”
“Right, our head of the house loves working the most!”
The second son and his wife interrupted Su Li, speaking in unison. They weren’t fools; Grandma was surely going to buy them some treats again.
They’d only endure this once!
A smile flickered in Su Li’s eyes.
“Alright, finish eating quickly. The youngest will come with me—I can’t carry everything.”
Cheng Jinguo lowered his head proudly, knowing Grandma loved him best.
The whole family finished eating quickly. Cheng Jundong also returned home.
Su Li hurried to serve the eldest son a bowl of gourd soup. As Cheng Jundong dug in, he noticed something at the bottom of the bowl. Grandma gave him a meaningful glance, but Cheng Jundong neither moved nor spoke.
After finishing the bowl of gourd soup with an egg lying at the bottom, Cheng Jundong felt almost overwhelmed with gratitude—his mother was truly good to him.
“Mom, Uncle Yang said he wants us to spare him a few mooncakes.”