Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

42: Chapter 42: Eat Whatever is Available 42: Chapter 42: Eat Whatever is Available “What can she do?” Bai Xue muttered.

“Of course she can!

Just tell Old An that you’re not feeling well.

If you do that, the responsibility will naturally fall on An Hao.” Bai Yanjiao said confidently.

Bai Xue was half-convinced, but since her daughter had suggested an idea, she might as well try it.

Who knows, it might work.

When An Shuchao came back from playing chess under the stage at the village entrance, Bai Xue told him she wasn’t feeling well and probably wouldn’t be able to cook that day.

“No worries!

You just rest up.

I’ll go tell An Hao to make a meal,” he said.

Lately, Bai Xue had been taking such good care of him that he was completely comfortable.

So, he turned a blind eye to things at home.

After all, Bai Xue’s ex-husband had died trying to save him.

He felt guilty towards Bai Xue, and it was because of this that when she came to him with tears in her eyes, leading Bai Yanjiao, he agreed to marry her again despite knowing the family was in a difficult situation.

Moreover, Bai Xue hadn’t been doing too poorly since the marriage, and being too stingy would have made her lose face in front of her family.

An Shuchao went to An Hao’s room, knocked on the door, and entered.

Seeing An Hao buried in her books, he casually asked, “Good girl, still working hard?

Are you confident about the college entrance exam this year?”

“Yes!” An Hao closed her book and said confidently, “Don’t worry, Dad, I will definitely get into university this time!”

“That’s great.

If you get into university, I will be proud in front of the whole village!”

An Hao giggled, “I’ll definitely earn that pride for you.

By the way, Dad, did you need something?”

“Your mom isn’t feeling well, so you’ll have to cook lunch,” An Shuchao scratched his head.

An Hao could tell he was embarrassed, so she smiled and stood up, “Bai Xue sent you, didn’t she?

Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

“That’s the spirit.” An Shuchao nodded happily, “It’s okay if our family is a bit poor, what’s important is that we get along well.

Recently, I’ve noticed that you, your stepmother, and stepsister have been getting along quite nicely, and that makes me very happy!”

An Hao smiled wryly and walked out.

Getting along well?

It was nothing more than Bai Xue getting so harassed by her own family that she had no energy left to argue.

An Hao went to the kitchen to cook, where she found only a few winter cabbages and radishes.

The flour was nearly gone, the millet was all used up, and only cornmeal was left.

The house looked as if it had been raided by mountain bandits!

No wonder Bai Xue was unwilling to cook.

With so few ingredients, what decent meal could she make?

It seemed she was having a hard time and had tossed the problem to her.

An Hao knew that whether she took on this challenge or not, there was likely to be a conflict, but she didn’t want to draw more attention to herself over these matters.

So, she went to find Bai Xue.

“Mom, give me some money!

I’ll go buy rice, flour, and some meat and vegetables!” An Hao stood by the bed and spoke to Bai Xue, who was feigning illness.

Bai Xue, with her eyes closed, hummed, “We’re almost out of money.

If you have any, you can advance it.

Otherwise, we won’t even have enough for meals.”

Upon hearing this, An Hao turned around and went to the kitchen.

Since there was no money, they would just have to eat whatever was available.

An Hao went to the kitchen to cook, stoking a big fire and pasting pancakes onto the pan.

The pan was filled with cornmeal paste.

She took two radishes from the cellar, chopped them up, and stir-fried a large bowl full with rapeseed oil.

Lunch was served just like that.

Bai Xue had thought that An Hao would at least use her pocket money to buy some food, but when she saw what was served, she was almost furious.