Qi Zhifang quickly went to the post office to mail the money and coupons. As for the remaining supplies, she decided to wait until after the New Year to buy them and give them to Wang Fang.

Meanwhile, Qi's mother hurried to the kitchen to cook. She was peeling cabbage in her hands, thinking, "I still need to talk to Zhijun later. He knows about Fangfang's situation. Even if he doesn't want to, he won't just stand by and watch her die!" After she finished cooking, she stir-fried some cabbage as usual. While cooking, she looked at the eggs, meat, and fish in the kitchen. She thought about it several times, but in the end, she didn't dare to cook them. After all, these were for tomorrow's New Year's Eve dinner.

With a heavy heart, I took out three bowls of cornmeal and used them to make a circle of flatbreads in the pot where cabbage was stewing.

She scooped a piece of pickled vegetable from the jar, shredded it, and soaked it in water. While doing this, she kept glancing at the meat. Finally, she gritted her teeth and cut off an ounce or two of lean, fatty meat, chopped it into small pieces, rendered some oil, and stir-fried the shredded pickled vegetable. She also added four pieces of stinky tofu and arranged them on a plate.

He called out, "Dinner's ready!"

The first to come in were Xiao Cui and Qi Zhijun, who helped get the bowls and chopsticks and serve the dishes.

Wang Dong and Wang Hong came in next. Qi Zhijun smiled and said, "Dongdong and Honghong are here. Come in and sit down. Let's eat together."

The brother and sister were very polite and greeted each other courteously. Xiao Cui smiled and said, "You're here! Perfect timing, let's eat together. Your uncle said that after the New Year, you should eat at home on the evening of the 30th and the morning of the first day of the New Year. But this year, everyone has been busy with their own things. We live in the same courtyard, so we haven't had many opportunities to eat together. Let's take this opportunity to get together!"

Wang Dong's expression wasn't too good, but he could only smile. Qi's mother hesitated to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

Listen carefully to the tone of the drums and the words. Cui has already made his stance clear: you should come on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day morning. Otherwise, you should all go home.

With a cold face, Qi's mother placed the pancakes in Wang Dong and Wang Fang's bowls and said, "Eat!"

Qi Zhijun glared at Xiao Cui, "Mom, where did Fangzi go?"

Qi's mother paused and said, "She said she went out to take care of something, but she'll be back soon. Eat first, don't worry about her."

Xiao Cui remained outwardly calm, but inwardly sneered. He took two pancakes and gave one to Qi Zhijun. Qi Zhijun's expression darkened; it was mealtime and he wasn't home waiting for dinner. Had his old habit relapsed?

Looking again, Qi's mother pretended to be calm, but her eyes were filled with panic. She felt as if a huge stone was lodged in her heart, and she couldn't say anything in front of her child. She just took a bite of her pancake and started eating in a fluster.

Qi Zhifang returned just then, and her mother quickly made room for her, saying, "Eat quickly, it will get cold soon."

Qi Zhifang washed her hands and sat down. Xiao Cui picked up some pickled vegetables with her chopsticks and put them in Qi Zhijun's bowl, smiling as she said, "Look, Wang Dong and Wang Hong are coming over for dinner. Mom put a lot of effort into making these pickled vegetables. They've been deep-fried, haven't they?" Then she called to Wang Dong and Wang Hong, "Quickly, you two should try these pickled vegetables too. They're quite delicious after being deep-fried."

Mother Qi slammed her chopsticks on the table. Little Cui glanced at the others, whose faces were all grim, and innocently said, "What's wrong? What did I say wrong? Mom, you're so old, and you always get angry with me for no reason. I was just praising your cooking. Besides, don't you dote on your grandson? He finally comes home for a meal, so what's wrong with adding a little oil to the pickled vegetables? It's not a bad thing, is it?"

Qi Zhijun picked up a piece of cabbage with her chopsticks and said, "Alright, alright, Mom, don't think too much about it. Hurry up and eat."

Qi's mother said coldly, "Are you saying too much, or am I overthinking things? It's almost Chinese New Year, and I don't want to argue with you. My grandson will be eating at home during the New Year. As his maternal grandmother, I'm willing to cook for them. If you, his uncle and aunt, don't want to offer your food, then don't. I'll save my own food rations for them, okay?"

Then, glaring at Xiao Cui, her angry face twisted into that of a raging lion. Her usually composed demeanor was terrifying when she was enraged. "From the moment Dongdong and Honghong walked in, you were either telling them to leave or accusing me of favoritism. With so little food, how have I been biased? Did I cook fish or meat? I just cut off some scraps of fatty meat and stir-fried some pickled vegetables for them, is that not allowed? Come on, Qi Zhijun, you tell me. If you can't say it, then from today onwards, I don't even want the right to cook anymore, so that no one will say I'm giving them special treatment, that I'm biased, that I've ruined this family!"

Wang Dong was already 19 years old. Knowing he had some shame, he took Wang Hong home. Qi's mother slammed her hand on the table and roared, "Everyone sit down! Nobody is allowed to leave. Qi Zhijun, you have to give me an explanation today. And Xiao Cui, if you have any complaints about me, just say so. Don't be so sarcastic. If we can get through today, great; if not, then forget it."

Qi Zhijun sighed, "Mom, Xiao Cui didn't mean anything by it..."

Qi's mother roared, "Shut up! I don't want to hear any explanations. I just want to hear how you're going to explain this to me. Is it true that in this family, no one is allowed to eat unless we pay for food? If I, this old woman, want to eat, I have to do your laundry and cook for you before I'm even entitled to a meal, right?"

Xiao Cui laughed and said, "Mom, do you really have to get so angry? Huh? Just for a few bowls of cornmeal, half a cabbage, four pieces of stinky tofu, and some pickled vegetable shreds with a little lard? If you ask me, you're overthinking it! Do you think I spoke harshly? Then I'll apologize! Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against me. If you don't want to listen to me, I won't say it again, okay? It's almost Chinese New Year, and you've made everyone unhappy. Why bother?"

Qi Zhijun put down his pancakes and chopsticks and said, "Mom, look, Xiao Cui has apologized, so let's let this matter go. Let's eat quickly, it's not good for the children to be watching here. Dongdong and Honghong, you sit down and eat."

Mother Qi sneered, "Little Cui, do you think you're so great? That you can control this old woman? Let me tell you, I usually don't argue with you, but you've gone too far. If you really want to settle scores with me like this, then let's settle it. You live in my house, and you have to pay five yuan a month in rent. If you want me to cook and do your laundry, then you can pay me at least ten yuan a month for a housekeeper, or you can build your own kitchen and cook for yourself. I'm not going to serve you anymore, lest we create animosity. Today's vegetables and grains are my own. The little bit of meat that was cut was provided by Fangzi. If you didn't get any of yours, please leave! Take your things and leave my house!"

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