From the History of the Republic of China to Raising Children in the 1970s

5

Summer days come early. It was already light outside at five o'clock. When Li Chengye woke up, he was still a little dazed. He sat on the bed for a while before he came to his senses. The weather was too hot. He was sweating all over and felt uncomfortable. He ran to the stream behind the house and simply washed himself with water and stretched his muscles.

When he returned to the house, Li's mother had already cooked breakfast. She was sitting with her two children waiting for her. When she saw him coming, she hurriedly called him, "Come and have breakfast quickly."

Li Chengye walked over and sat down. Four bowls were placed on the table in the main room. There was sweet potato porridge in it. The porridge was a little thin. Most of it was sweet potatoes. There was very little rice. The color was pretty good, but it was not filling.

"Did you sleep well last night? Does your hand hurt?" As soon as she saw someone coming, Li's mother couldn't help but look at his hand. Li Chengye was wearing a green short-sleeved sweatshirt, with his wrist wrapped in gauze exposed. The outermost gauze was very clean, and there was no blood or medicine seeping out.

Li Chengye turned his wrist a few times in front of her, "The wound is almost healed, and the gauze can be removed in two days." There were some tendons in his right hand that were damaged. Although the doctor had tried his best to sew it, the flexibility would still be greatly affected.

"That's good, that's good." Li's mother nodded. Although she had asked about this yesterday, she couldn't help but want to confirm it again. It's good that there is no pain.

Li Chengye picked up his bowl of porridge. He took a look. His bowl was the largest and almost full, while the other three people only had half a bowl. He shook his head helplessly and counted his savings. It seemed that he had to go and get more food.

"Hurry up and eat!" Seeing that Li Chengye was holding the bowl without moving, Li's mother urged him.

"Mom, I can't eat so much. I'll give you some." Li Chengye quickly poured some porridge into Li's mother's bowl. He was so fast that he didn't give Li's mother time to react.

"Hey, what are you doing for me? This is just a small amount. How can you not finish it?" Li's mother frowned. She didn't believe that her son couldn't finish it, but she didn't dare to move the bowl in her hand. If she spilled it, she would regret it.

"That's enough." When the two bowls were almost full, Li Chengye stopped and drank his portion.

Mother Li wanted to return the food, but Li Chengye guarded the bowl very tightly. She had no choice but to say "You!" and then started eating. She looked helpless, but she was very happy in her heart. She knew her son was worried that she was not full.

The four of them ate breakfast quietly. When Li Chengye was about to put down his chopsticks, he saw two large bowls pushed in front of him, with almost half a bowl of porridge in them. He looked down and saw the two little kids sitting together looking at him with bright eyes, "Dad, I can't finish it either. I'll share it with you."

The two said in unison, obviously learning what Li Chengye said before, and then touched their stomachs with their hands to show that they were really full.

"Oh, grandma's good grandsons, they know how to be filial to your father." Li's mother was happy. She was worried that the father and son would not get along well, but now she was finally relieved. It's the nature of father and son.

Li Chengye was also somewhat moved at this time. Food was a very scarce thing in this era. These two little kids were willing to share with him. He must treat them better in the future, not only because of his responsibility to the original owner. Under the expectant eyes of the two, he had to finish both bowls of porridge. There was not much in it. He didn't know whether it was because the little kids of this age didn't eat much, or because of other reasons. Li Chengye finished it in two or three mouthfuls. He thought of what Li's mother said yesterday that she would go to the town to buy meat today, or take the two children with her, just in time to have lunch at the state-owned hotel in the town.