Chapter 7: You are a Wastrel

Lu Lin had got a clear picture of the Chen Brothers’ routine after he married Chen Xiao Mi for about two days.

Chen Xiao Mi was the breadwinner, he would go out early and come home late, hunting in the mountains. Chen Xiao Cai would take Chen Xiao Mai to collect firewood, they would also look for wild vegetables and feed the chickens, Chen Xiao Cai would ask Chen Xiao Mai to stay at home if it was a decent amount of walking.

Seeing the Chen Brothers toiling all day long, Lu Lin who had been lying on the door planks felt guilty.

Even the two little kids were contributing, he, on the other hand, had done nothing but sleeping.

Lu Lin looked around, he was determined to make himself useful as well. They needed some more blankets, otherwise they would freeze to death on winter nights.

Chen Xiao Cai kept sniffing around as soon as he set foot on the house after he returned from the mountain with a basket of firewood.

‘What’s this smell? Yum!’ thought Chen Xiao Cai.

Lu Lin cast a glimpse at Chen Xiao Cai and said, “Hey you are back, I made poached eggs.”

“Poached eggs? Where did you get the eggs? Our chickens are still too young to lay eggs.” Chen Xiao Cai asked curiously.

“I saw some pheasants today and I found some eggs.”

Chen Xiao Cai was surprised to hear how lucky Lu Lin was, he didn’t pester Lu Lin for more details, the kid was just glad they would be having eggs.”

“Here, have some.”

Chen Xiao Cai looked at the eggs on the plate with his eyes sparkled, he hesitated for a little while and raised his head, “You have some too.”

Lu Lin didn’t expect this kid to be this considerate and generous.

People in Lu Lin’s hometown no longer kept their own chickens for eggs, so there was a huge demand of eggs. So, Lu Lin had stored two baskets of eggs in the store with about four hundred eggs in each basket. And now it came in handy.

The eggs in the convenience store probably were not as nutritious as the free ranched ones in this time and space, but hey, it was better than no egg.

Lu Lin had already served himself two eggs and some rice before Chen Xiao Cai came back, it felt nice to have a full belly.

Lu Lin took a bite of the egg Chen Xiao Cai handed him, and then Chen Xiao Cai took the egg back promptly. It wasn’t until then did Lu Lin realize Chen Xiao Cai just offered him the egg because he wanted to make sure Lu Lin didn’t poison the eggs.

Lu Lin shook his head resignedly, ‘You surely are strategic for your age.’

Chen Xiao Cai had a bite and asked Lu Lin, “Did you put oil in the pot?”

Lu Lin nodded, “Yes, I did.”

“You wastrel.” Chen Xiao Cai gnashed his teeth.

Lu Lin couldn’t believe this kid just called him a wastrel. He took a few deep breaths and realized people in modern days tried so hard to stay away from oil, but oil was precious in ancient times, it could only be extracted from animals, and many people didn’t even have access to oil. The lard he just used probably was melted by Chen Xiao Mi.

Lu Lin thought about the situation and recalled he had stored about a dozen bottles of oil in the store, people in modern days were addicted to oil, so he usually kept a decent amount of oil in the store.

‘The oil in the store could suffice the family for a long time’, thought Lu Lin.

Thinking about his store, Lu Lin had never felt so rich in his entire life, but it was a shame that he couldn’t just flaunt all the stuff as he wished.

Chen Xiao Cai took his time in finishing the egg, it felt like he was trying to savor the full flavor of the egg, then he gave one to Chen Xiao Mai. The two both stared at the two eggs left, but neither of them touched the eggs.

Chen Xiao Cai put plate on the table gently, he was saving the eggs for his brother Chen Xiao Mi.

‘The Chen Brothers is a laughingstock in the village, Lu Lin is ill-starred, Chen Xiao Mi is just as ferocious as his big brother, Chen Xiao Mai is special. But in fact, I haven’t met any siblings who care about each other more than they do. This is what family should do for each other!’

“Big brother, that guy made poached eggs, but he used some oil, what a stupid call!” Chen Xiao Cai complained to Chen Xiao Mi as soon as Chen Xiao Mi entered the room.

Chen Xiao Mi finished the two eggs with great relish, Chen Xiao Mi wasn’t a picky eater, he had never complained about the coarse rice, but of course he would enjoy a nice meal.

“It’s all right, I can always hunt more and melt more pigs.” Chen Xiao Mi comforted Chen Xiao Cai.

Chen Xiao Cai looked at the empty bag on Chen Xiao Mi’s back, “It’s a tough day today, brother?”

Chen Xiao Mi’s eyes dimmed, “Yeah, it looks like winter will come early this year.”

“That guy is doing better now, let’s ask him to do some work.” Chen Xiao Cai blinked.

Chen Xiao Mi thought for a while and nodded.

‘He is a man after all, he can always go to the mountains to get some vegetables if he dares not go hunting with me.’ Thought Chen Xiao Mi.