Tao Hongying was exhausted after a long day, and her arms ached. She only ate a few bites before putting down her chopsticks.
Jiayin noticed this, so she took a spoon and fed her mother her steamed egg custard spoonful by spoonful.
She was thinking that once these busy days were over, she would quickly set up a small business for her mother so that she wouldn't be so tired, and she could also give her mother a chance to shine!
Tao Hongying was unaware that her daughter was secretly plotting something for her. As she ate her steamed egg custard, she lowered her head and rubbed her daughter's soft hair. Even though she was a little tired, she felt extremely at ease...
The next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival, but because the restaurant was doing well, everyone went back to work as usual.
However, they returned early in the afternoon because every family would gather together to admire the moon in the evening.
The old lady and Madam Cui, along with Granny He, Sister-in-law Qiong, and Dongmei, spent most of the day distributing mooncakes to each household in the village early in the morning.
Even the teachers and children in the school were not left out.
After noon, they began preparing various ingredients.
Blanch what can be blanched, wash what can be washed, arrange everything neatly, and even put the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar next to the pot.
Then, Tao Hongying and Jia Huan were allowed to cook and stir-fry, just in case they were too tired.
Originally, Li Laosan and Zhao Yuru should have brought the children back, but for some reason, the academy only gave them a half-day off and did not allow the students to leave Luoan Town.
As a result, Jiaren and Lige'er were unable to return in time.
How could Li Laosan and Zhao Yuru leave their two children alone for the festival? So they could only send a message to the restaurant to tell their families that they would be staying in Luo'an for the festival.
Grandma Li didn't seem to care.
As children and grandchildren grow up, it's impossible to be with them all the time like when they were children. As long as they are safe and sound, that's enough.
Moreover, her eldest son, whom she missed the most, has come home this year. If she still has any complaints, then she is being too greedy.
But she was just as curious as everyone else about the fact that the school wasn't giving out holidays.
So, after the meal, the table was cleared away, and everyone set out fruit, tea, and mooncakes in the courtyard to admire the moon together. At that time, Old Lady Li chased away the children and asked a few questions in a low voice.
The restaurant was crowded and noisy, so you could hear a few words about anything. Li Zhensheng replied, "I heard that a student in the academy had been seeing a peasant girl from outside the town and got into some trouble. The peasant girl's family came to the academy and made a scene."
"After discussing it, the academy's dean and teachers decided not to give the students a full holiday before the New Year. Instead, the rest days that used to be once every ten days were changed to half a day every five days."
Everyone nodded, finally understanding.
Jia Huan had been away from Luo'an for the past few days and had been busy in the kitchen all day, so he was unaware of the matter. Now, after hearing a few words, he felt guilty, scared, and relieved.
Although he and Wenjuan had never held hands before, they had been seeing each other privately for a long time, which was unreasonable and improper!
Fortunately, the concubine of the Peng family was greedy for her own shop, and coincidentally, Grandma came to the door and quelled the matter in time.
Otherwise, he and Wenjuan would be the ones being talked about and ridiculed by everyone now, losing all face...
Jia Huan became increasingly frightened as she thought about it, and couldn't help but shudder.
Just then, Jiayin ran over, snuggled into his arms, and cried, "Brother, I want a hug!"
Jia Huan casually picked up his little sister and put her on his lap. The chubby little girl seemed to have endless warmth, so he subconsciously hugged her tighter.
Jiayin leaned against her brother, munching on fruit, and asked indistinctly, "Brother, is my seashell bed still there? Has it been stolen? Please keep an eye on it for me, it's mine!"
Jia Huan couldn't help but laugh when he recalled that someone had indeed offered a high price to buy the big seashell for the children in his family during the day. "Don't worry, it's not just me, Uncle, and Fourth Aunt. Everyone is watching over it for you. No outsiders can even touch it, let alone steal it!"
"Hmph, that's more like it! Mine, all of it is mine!"
Jiayin waved her little hand triumphantly, as if there were silver in the air, and tried her best to hug it back.
Jia Huan smiled and held her tightly wrapped little hand. "Yes, they're all yours, even this zongzi is yours!"
Instead of getting angry, Jiayin rolled her eyes and immediately started to whine and beg, "Brother, Grandma says you are what you eat! I need to eat something to help my wound heal faster!"
Jia Huan pretended not to understand and replied with a troubled expression, "Ah, you mean zongzi? At this time of year, glutinous rice is easy to buy, but I'm afraid there's nowhere to find zongzi leaves!"
Jiayin widened her eyes in anxiety and waved her chubby little hands even more vigorously.
She wants to eat pig's trotters! Pig's trotters! Who said she wanted to eat zongzi?
The saying goes, "You are what you eat." After eating zongzi, does her little hand need to be tied up in several more layers?
Because of the gossip about the students at the academy, everyone couldn't help but glance at Jia Huan a few more times.
Seeing him "secretly" bullying his sister, Jiayin was so angry she almost exploded and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Tao Hongying hugged her daughter, tapped her little nose, and said with a smile, "You're so cunning! If you want to eat something, just tell your brother. Would he not make it for you? Why do you have to be so cunning and say that eating certain foods can help you recover?"
"So, the reason you're so greedy and cunning now is because your family fed you too much pork belly and chicken hearts when you were little?"
Jiayin drooped her head, hugged the rolls of fat on her stomach, and looked like an obedient student.
This broke Old Mrs. Li's heart. She kept shouting to support her granddaughter, "What are you doing? What are you doing? My Fu Niu just wants to eat a pig's trotter, and you're all taking turns bullying her! Tomorrow I'll buy ten or eight so our Fu Niu can eat her fill!"
Fu Niu'er immediately ran away from her mother's embrace and ran to her grandmother, "Waaah, Grandma is the best! Fu Niu'er loves Grandma the most!"
"Grandma loves you the most too!" Grandma Li hugged her granddaughter and gave her a big kiss, saying with a beaming smile.
The grandfather and grandson's daily displays of affection are something the Li family has grown accustomed to, but outsiders find them both envious and strange.
After all, whether you love someone or not is too embarrassing. Even if you feel it in your heart, no one would say it out loud...
Suddenly, the sound of galloping horses could be heard in the distance. It turned out that the Marquis had returned with several of his personal guards.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, there was a banquet in the palace. As the newly appointed Marquis of Xinting, he could not be absent. After waiting for the banquet to end, he took the token, ordered the city gates to be opened, and rushed back.
Everyone was delighted and rushed forward to greet them.
The Marquis smelled slightly of alcohol and was in a hurry to go back and change his clothes, so he said to Old Lady Li, "Auntie, there's nothing good to eat at the banquet in the palace. I'm really hungry. Could you make me a bowl of noodles?"
"Okay, okay!" Old Mrs. Li quickly agreed.
So, after the Marquis took a bath and changed his clothes, when he came to the Li family's courtyard, there was not only a large bowl of bone broth noodles on the table, but also two dishes and a plate of egg pancakes.
The Marquis didn't stand on ceremony and started eating as soon as he picked up his chopsticks. Only after he had eaten and drunk his fill did he finally breathe a long sigh of relief.
Li Lao Er joked, "Luckily, I only received my official robes and haven't gone to the Ministry of Personnel for roll call yet, otherwise I would be one of those starving right now."
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