"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Xiao Yaodong was unaware of the feud between Tang Wenya and Xu Qingning. "Director Gao appreciates both you and Zhao Jingyu. Since Zhao Jingyu isn't home, it's no big deal for us, as relatives, to invite his mother and wife for a meal."
"It's nothing, it's just that Zhao Jingyu isn't home, so inviting his mother and wife wouldn't be appropriate." Xiao Tingshen didn't want to talk about going to the countryside, so he said vaguely, "Let's stick to the business this time and just treat Director Gao to a meal. As for the others, we'll make other arrangements later!"
Tang Wenya and Xu Qingning had another fight at the bookstore last time, so why would Xu Qingning agree to have dinner with them...?
What kind of mess is this?!
“I think we can invite them. What happened before is in the past.” Liu Yuzhen noticed her son’s unease. She thought it was because Xiao Tingshen was wary of Xu Qingning’s past feelings for him, and said dismissively, “Even if Xu Qingning had feelings for you before, that was before marriage. She’s married with children now and is your sister-in-law in name only. You should still keep in touch. Just keep it on the surface.”
“Yes, your going to university is a great joy for our family. We live in the same courtyard as them. They didn’t come to your wedding either, we just had a meal together.” Xiao Yaodong waved his hand. “It’s settled then. I will arrange the others in advance. Your father-in-law and mother-in-law, Zhao’s mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and Director Gao, just one table will be fine.”
He also knew that Xu Qingning liked Xiao Tingshen.
It's just the love and affection between young people, there's no need to take it to heart. It's perfectly normal to like someone before marriage, and it hasn't caused any other problems.
“Dad…” Xiao Tingshen’s good mood vanished. He coughed lightly and said, “Why don’t we wait until Zhao Jingyu comes back and then invite his family?”
"Ting Shen, what exactly are you trying to say?" Xiao Yaodong's face darkened as he saw Xiao Ting Shen stammering. "Just say what you have to say. What's with all this stammering?"
"Yes, Ting Shen, what can't you tell your parents?" Liu Yuzhen was also completely confused.
"Mom and Dad, actually, Wenya and Xu Qingning don't get along well." Xiao Tingshen knew he couldn't hide it anymore, so he told them the whole story about the grudges between Tang Wenya and Xu Qingning. "Xu Qingning has a lot of opinions about Wenya and me. Even when we meet, she speaks with barbs. We can talk to her about it, but what if they start arguing in front of Director Gao?"
"No wonder Xu Qingning didn't come to your wedding." Liu Yuzhen finally understood and rolled her eyes, saying, "Your mother-in-law really has a silver tongue. She said things like the Xi family doesn't eat the Xi family's food. She said all sorts of good and bad things."
She looked down on Jiang Yumei when they were in school.
As expected, Jiang Yumei's daughter also disgusted her; she spoke and acted timidly and lacked any sense of magnanimity.
“The matter of going to the countryside is over. The two sisters can’t cut off all contact for the rest of their lives because of this, can they?” Xiao Yaodong thought it was no big deal. Even biological sisters have conflicts, let alone half-sisters. “Why don’t we take this opportunity to mediate between them? They are still young and have a long life ahead of them!”
“Old Xiao, you’re just meddling in other people’s business. What does the feud between those two sisters have to do with us?” Liu Yuzhen put all the dumplings from her bowl into Xiao Tingshen’s bowl. “I think we should just let it go. It’s better to avoid trouble.”
"Do you think I want to get involved in this?" Xiao Yaodong looked at the mother and son seriously. "I said, it was Director Gao who brought up Zhao Jingyu, so I wanted to invite the mother and daughter-in-law to dinner. Listen carefully to what he means, and you need to learn to understand what the leader means."
"..." Xiao Tingshen was completely at a loss. After a long silence, he said, "Then I'll talk to Wenya tomorrow and see what she thinks."
"That's more like it!" Xiao Yaodong picked up his chopsticks and continued eating. "Eat quickly, the food is getting cold."
"What? Your dad's going to invite Xu Qingning and her mother-in-law to dinner?" Tang Wenya exploded upon hearing this. "No way! It's either her or me! You choose one!"
She was so ruined by Xu Qingning that she couldn't even go to university.
They almost had a falling out.
We're already enemies!
Why should I treat them to a meal?
"Look at what you're saying!" Xiao Tingshen was also caught in a dilemma. "It's just a meal, how did it become a choice between her and you?"
"If you want to invite her, go ahead. I'm not going." Tang Wenya felt a chill run down her spine when she saw that Xiao Tingshen had actually agreed to invite Xu Qingning to dinner. "Do you really think the leader's thoughts are that important?"
Is she so important that we can disregard her feelings?
They could even trample on her self-esteem at will?
She had no problem with anyone inviting her to dinner, except for Xu Qingning.
“The leader’s thoughts are not important. What’s important is that I was recommended by the leader to go to university.” Xiao Tingshen knew that Tang Wenya could not accept it for the time being, so he said softly, “Take your time to think about it. There’s no rush. We’ll arrange to have dinner after the admission notice arrives.”
"Do you think she'll agree to have dinner with you just because you invite her?" Tang Wenya sneered. "Ever since Xu Qingning married Zhao Jingyu, she's been incredibly arrogant."
"Whether she agrees or not is their business; whether we invite her or not is our business," Xiao Tingshen said calmly. "Wenya, I hope that in the future, we will prioritize the overall situation rather than focusing on personal grudges."
"Okay, I agree. Go and invite her!" Tang Wenya didn't want to say anything more to him, so he should consider the bigger picture.
It wasn't until July that Jiaodong City truly entered summer; after two rain showers, the weather became increasingly hot.
Wu Xiufang and Zhou Chunyan had agreed that the two boys would stay for half a month, but more than a month has passed and they still haven't come to pick them up.
Xu Qingning didn't mind. She used the leftover fabric scraps to cut two sets of short-sleeved shirts and shorts for the two boys, and also bought each of them a new pair of sandals.
I spent one yuan on two pairs of plastic sandals.
Two children can wear it all summer.
The two brothers have lived in the city for so long, but they haven't said they miss home or want to go back.
They spend their mornings at home writing and reading comic books, and their afternoons going for walks with Xu Qingning and Yang Yuelan. They lead a very regular life.
For the past month or so, the two of them have become Xu Qingning's little followers, going wherever she goes.
They knew that their third aunt was a kind and wealthy person who could buy them new clothes and shoes, as well as delicious food.
Xu Qingning is over three months pregnant. She no longer experiences morning sickness, and her appetite has improved. She thinks about what to eat every day. Before, she had a poor appetite and could accept bland food.
Recently, her appetite has improved, and she has realized that Yang Yuelan's cooking is too bland, with almost no oil or fat.
Moreover, she's been craving barbecue these past few days, and she'll make it whenever she wants; she absolutely can't let herself suffer.
Early in the morning, Xu Qingning led her two little followers to the grocery store to buy two catties of meat, as well as a few large bones that didn't require meat coupons. She also went to the open space outside the wall to pick a large handful of perilla leaves.
The ingredients are ready, but we don't have a barbecue grill.
Building a barbecue grill is a man's job; she neither knows how nor wants to do it. Wang Yaqiang and Liu Dawei are busy with work every day and only come to see her every two days.
She didn't want to trouble them with this little thing, so she could only ask her mother-in-law for help.
Yang Yuelan didn't know what Xu Qingning was going to do, but when she learned that Xu Qingning was going to roast the meat, she understood: "Just use the big pot in the yard. Frying it is almost the same as roasting it. It's too hot outside, so you can go inside and wait. I'll call you when it's ready."
The two brothers jumped up excitedly when they heard there was meat to eat.
It has to be said that the mother-in-law has a very strong understanding. She had never eaten barbecue before, but she understood as soon as Xu Qingning mentioned it.
She used a large pot to fry each slice of pork belly until it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The aroma wafted throughout the entire courtyard, and even Wang Cuifen from next door came over to watch. Seeing the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law frying meat, she brought a stool over and waited to mooch some meat.
Xu Qingning wrapped the roasted meat in a perilla leaf and put it directly into Yang Yuelan's mouth so she could taste it: "Mom, this kind of leaf is good for cutting through the greasiness, it's delicious."
"It's delicious, eat more." Yang Yuelan had never eaten such delicious meat before. It was crispy and crunchy, and every bite was full of fragrance.
Yang Yuelan wiped her hands, wrapped one up, and handed it to Wang Cuifen: "Try it, it's really delicious."
Wang Cuifen ate it and her eyes lit up: "It's so delicious, we'll make it at home too."
The two little brothers leaned over the pot, their mouths practically watering: "Third Aunt, we want some too."
"Don't worry, you'll get your share." Xu Qingning taught them how to wrap the roasted meat in perilla leaves and eat it. "Be careful, it's hot, eat slowly."
The two brothers ate without making a sound, taking big bites until their mouths were greasy.
The aroma was so enticing that several neighbors passing by turned to look over, having never smelled such delicious meat before.
Yang Yuelan quickly scooped out most of the roasted meat from the pot and gave it to Xu Qingning, telling her to go inside and eat: "We'll just have a taste, the rest is for the two boys, you go inside and eat."
What if Wang Cuifen brings over all the old ladies from the tenement again?
Then her daughter-in-law won't get to eat it.
Xu Qingning didn't stand on ceremony. She took the bowl back to her room, rolled it up in perilla leaves, and enjoyed the fragrant taste. It was truly satisfying.
Just as she was enjoying her barbecue, Xiao Tingshen walked in, and Xu Qingning was immediately taken aback: "What are you doing here?"
What, does he want to come and eat barbecue too?
No way!
Thank you Yu Chengyi for the monthly ticket, and thank you to everyone who voted for the author!
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