"No, I just went to deliver the mixed vegetables and when I came back I didn't see anyone."

Zhang Xiangxiu also said she didn't see it.

That's strange, where could two grown people have gone?

The noodles had swelled up and were no longer edible, so Aunt Zhang had to tell Old Zhang, his second son, and his daughter to eat first, leaving two bowls for Zhang Xiangliang and Ye Ting.

Zhang Xiangliang and Ye Ting didn't return until the moon was high in the southeast.

"Where have you two been?" Aunt Zhang asked, somewhat annoyed. "Your cousin's wife has been waiting at home for a long time. She brought the baby to press down the bed for you and was waiting to bring you a lamp. And you've disappeared without a trace?"

According to the custom in Longmen Town, on the first night after a couple's marriage, the sister-in-law, who is of the same generation and has both sons and daughters, brings a lamp to the new house and even lets her son crawl on the bed, symbolizing that the bed will be filled with children and grandchildren.

Ye Ting looked at her cousin-in-law who was holding a child and waiting for them, and listened to Aunt Zhang's scolding. She lowered her head and said, "I saw that there was too much food left over, so I sent some to my nephew."

"What? You went back to your parents' house?"

Aunt Zhang's voice immediately turned angry, "You two just got married today, do you even know that? How could you run back to your parents' house?"

Also, should leftover food be sent to one's parents' home?

"How could you send leftovers to your in-laws? What will people say about our family if they see this?" Aunt Zhang said. "Can't you even ask your father and me before doing something?"

Zhang Tiezhu looked at Zhang Xiangliang and said in a low voice, "Boss, what kind of mess have you made?"

Zhang Xiangliang knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Father, Mother, it's all my fault."

The cousin's wife was still at home. Seeing that Aunt Zhang was furious, and considering it was the new bride's first day, she tried to smooth things over.

He smiled and said, "Uncle, Aunt, now that my cousin and his wife are back, shall we present them with lanterns? You'll be holding your grandson in a year!"

Aunt Zhang suppressed her anger and put on a smile: "Liang'er, get up. Let's help each other out if needed in the future."

Ye Ting clutched the hem of her clothes and cried, "Mom, I thought it was a waste to throw away those leftovers. My nephew is only eight years old and is growing, so I sent him some."

Aunt Zhang sighed and said, "It's not that I'm upset about the leftovers, but you two went back to your parents' home without a word. What will people say about me? That I don't know any manners?"

“I grew up without parents and was raised by my sister-in-law. I’ve never had enough to eat. This is the first time I’ve seen such good food, and I thought it would be a waste to throw it away…”

Aunt Zhang was speechless for a moment. She really wanted to ask, "Did you take those thirty steamed buns?"

Why bother? She must have taken it. It's only the first day, why make things awkward?

It had been dark for a long time, and my cousin-in-law was anxious to go home, so she urged them to bring in a lamp.

Aunt Zhang had already prepared a new lamp.

The cousin-in-law carried the lamp and walked towards the new house, followed by a group of young wives and children from the same clan. Zhang Xiangliang and Ye Ting also followed closely beside her.

As soon as I entered, my cousin-in-law sang: "As soon as I entered, it was pitch black. I came to bring a lamp to my new bride. A gold lamp matches a silver lamp, a tiled house matches a multi-story building, and nineteen-year-old Liang Ge matches Ye Ting. With the looks of Song Yu and the beauty of Diao Chan, we will respect and love each other for a lifetime. Like Meng Guang and Liang Hong, we will live a happy and harmonious life together."

Place the lamp securely on the cabinet, and wish them a son soon.

He carried his children onto the bed and made them crawl around on it twice.

The night was precious, and the crowd dispersed.

The next morning, I got up early and served tea.

Aunt Zhang had already prepared the gift.

Ye Ting served tea, and Aunt Zhang gave her a silver hairpin and a silver bracelet, while Zhang Tiezhu gave her five taels of silver.

In rural areas, such a gift is considered quite valuable.

After serving the tea, Aunt Zhang said, "It's the off-season for farming now, and there's not much work to do in the fields. You two just got married yesterday, so you should rest at home today. Your father and I will go help out at Jiutian's place."

Zhang Xiangxiu asked, "Mother, what is Jiutian going to do?"

"She cured the landlord Wang's illness, and the landlord Wang took out 30,000 taels of silver, which he used to buy grain and cotton clothes, and used the name of Jiutian to help the poor."

Today, impoverished households from both counties came to collect cotton-padded clothes and food, and we went to help distribute them.

Aunt Zhang said enviously, "That child Jiutian is truly a living Bodhisattva. He didn't keep a single tael of silver for himself, but donated it all to save people."

Zhang Xiangxiu said, "Mother, I'll go help her too. It's doing good deeds, and it will bring good fortune."

Ye Ting also said, "Mom, shall I go and help too?"

Aunt Zhang, being an experienced woman, saw that Ye Ting's legs were weak when she walked today, and naturally didn't want her to go out and tire herself out, so she told her that she didn't need to go.

“Back home, my sister-in-law was afraid I would talk to others, so she just told me to keep my head down and work every day. I had never even been to town before…”

Ye Ting started crying as she spoke, saying that she had suffered since she was a child. In the dead of winter, she would break open ice to wash clothes, and her hands were covered with frostbite, and the joints of her fingers were deformed from the cold.

Aunt Zhang's heart softened, and tears almost fell. Alas, a child without a mother, her sister-in-law is so mean, even worse than a stepmother.

“Let’s go together then. If you’re not feeling well, come back early,” Aunt Zhang said. “The work over there won’t be too tiring; it’s just helping others carry things.”

Ye Ting wiped away her tears, clutched the hem of her clothes, lowered her head, and asked, "Will Jiutian and her second uncle both go?"