Su Muqing and the others carried the prepared food to their temporary resting place. What was originally a large space felt stuffy due to the sheer number of people gathered, and the air was not pleasant.
The sun outside was too intense, so the men took turns coming in to catch up on sleep. In truth, there were other resting spots a little further away. However, no one was willing to stray too far from the main group, fearing they might be targeted if left alone.
The air was filled with the mingled scents of sweat, feet, food, and the occasional waste from very young children who had soiled themselves wherever they pleased.
When the food was ready, Su Muqing had actually felt quite hungry. She thought she would eat a little before going to the Zhou family’s. At times like these, it was better to take less from others.
However, as soon as the food was brought into this space, smelling the mixed odors in the air, she completely lost her appetite!
She scooped some food for Su Cuiping to take and eat elsewhere, and also fed a little to the baby. Perhaps because he had only recently nursed, he didn't seem very eager to eat. Soon, he became drowsy. She finally managed to lull him to sleep before starting to eat herself.
She then noticed that Lin Rongrong hadn’t eaten either and was waiting, so she quickly called out to her, "Alright, the temperature is just right now. Let's eat too. You must be hungry, right?"
"No, no, I'm not hungry. Sister... Sister A Mumu, please eat more!" Lin Rongrong said, scooping some of the watery broth from the top of the congee. She didn’t take much of the solid food, appearing very reserved.
"You eat more too! This weather, if it sits out too long, it might spoil. And this congee, you have to finish it all. Otherwise, if someone sees that we haven't finished, they'll definitely come over and ask for it. It would be awkward whether we give it or not. Understand?" Su Muqing whispered. She then glanced at Chen Shi, the second daughter-in-law of the third grandmother. When they were choosing a spot that morning, she had also selected one very close to them.
Ever since they entered this door, that second aunt had been staring intently at the clay pots they used for the congee, as if she wished a hole would appear so the congee could leak out!
Su Muqing poured a little of Lin Rongrong's broth into her own bowl, then served her thicker rice and added some shredded beef and shredded potatoes. She also took a little for herself.
The remaining food was packed away to be saved for the evening.
Lin Rongrong, looking at the bowl full of rice, food, and meat, was so touched that she couldn't help but shed tears. Su Muqing saw this but said nothing. It was better to let her adapt to this situation herself! She figured that over time, she would get used to it and be fine.
Then, Su Muqing also buried her head and quickly finished the food in her bowl. Otherwise, she would lose her appetite even more.
Su Muqing ate only one bowl, just enough to fill her stomach. The rest of the congee was finished by Lin Rongrong. This was the most filling meal she had eaten in over ten years.
"Burp~" Lin Rongrong burped, full. She felt a little embarrassed and glanced at Su Muqing. She didn't see any displeasure in her eyes, and then they smiled at each other, the atmosphere quite harmonious.
"My, my! This girl can certainly eat. It's as clean as if it wasn't cooked. Did you lick it clean? How long has it been since you last ate?" A sarcastic voice reached their ears, shattering the harmonious atmosphere.
Hearing such insulting words, Lin Rongrong's relaxed mood immediately tensed up again. Her face flushed red with shame, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Upon hearing this, Su Muqing immediately looked at Lin Rongrong. Seeing her utterly mortified expression, she couldn't help but curse inwardly, thinking, Is this person so bored they have nothing better to do? Why is there always someone meddling everywhere?
So, Su Muqing, with a seemingly carefree smile, said, "It's our own food, so of course, we eat as much as we want. We're not reaching our chopsticks into someone else's bowl, are we? Am I right, Aunt Chen Er?"
When Aunt Chen Er heard Su Muqing's words, she thought Su Muqing hadn't understood her meaning. Immediately adopting an elder's posture, she began to lecture them patronizingly, "You girl, how can you not understand polite words? I'm helping you discipline this little girl! She's of humble birth and destined for servitude. By taking her in as a servant and giving her a bite to eat, you've already saved her life. Yet, look at her! Eating with you, she dares to eat more than you. Is she trying to eat you poor?"
Su Muqing wiped the tears from Lin Rongrong's face and then smiled at her, saying, "I treat Xiao Rong as a sister, as family, not as a maid. Since we are family, there's no such thing as who eats more and who eats less. I wasn't feeling very hungry earlier. I couldn't just let the food go to waste and spoil, could I?"
Lin Rongrong tugged at Su Muqing's sleeve, not wanting Su Muqing to fall out with others because of her. Aunt Chen's words weren't entirely wrong. Yesterday, she had offered to be Sister Qing's maid. Sister Qing treated her so well; she couldn't cause trouble for her sister.