“Your second cousin got married, this is your second cousin’s wife,” Aunt Wei finally spoke.

"Second cousin's wife! We didn't know about Second Brother's wedding. I'll go back and tell my mother that we'll make up for it by giving Second Cousin's wife a gift later." Liu Shitou smiled shyly.

Aunt Wei: "No need, we're doing just fine! We don't need it!" It's rare for the mother-in-law to be so sharp-tongued.

Wei An and Wei Ping ran to Song Yan's side and tugged at her clothes.

Then no one in the room spoke, which was quite awkward.

"Wei Ping, Wei An, you should call him cousin, right?" Song Yan felt that if he didn't speak up, he wouldn't be able to stay in the room any longer.

"Hello, Uncle!"

"Hello, Uncle!"

"These are my cousin's two children, they're really good-looking."

"These two children call your sister-in-law 'Auntie,' they haven't called her 'Mother' yet. And she dotes on these two children like they're the apples of her eye. All those heartless bastards in the world have driven away your family," Aunt Wei said bitterly.

What does my mother-in-law mean by that?

Liu Shitou pulled a paper packet from his pocket, seemingly intending to give it to the child. Because of his aunt's words, he felt awkward about handing it out or taking it back.

Xiaoxiao poked her head in and pointed to the outer room. Dinner was ready.

"Why don't we eat first?" Song Yan quickly set the table.

Good food at home is usually made in the morning and evening. That way, usually no one gets to eat it.

During the winter off-season, farmers usually eat two meals a day. But this year, things have changed in Qingshan Brigade. The women working in the production team are eating three meals a day, otherwise they wouldn't be able to keep up with the long hours.

Song Yan's family's three meals a day became inconspicuous.

Today, because someone came over, Xiaoxiao made something even simpler: a pot of stewed cabbage with very little oil, cornbread, and a large bowl of pickled vegetable strips.

In winter, every household eats cabbage and potatoes, sauerkraut and cornbread. There's nothing particularly special about this meal.

Liu Shitou took a bite and thought it was especially delicious, as were the cornbreads. He ate two large cornbreads in one go. Seeing that he wasn't full yet, he felt embarrassed to take any more.

Aunt Wei didn't say anything, but just put another pancake on his plate.

"Auntie, I... I'm full!" Liu Shitou said embarrassedly.

Aunt Wei: "Eat up! You have to eat your fill."

After the meal, the mother-in-law finally relented. "Xiaoyan, go to the brigade later and see if you can borrow a horse-drawn carriage. If you can, we'll go early and be back the same day."

"Auntie!" Liu Shitou called out.

Aunt Wei waved her hand, "I'm not staying at your house."