Liu's mother hadn't eaten meat in a long time, and her eyes lit up when she smelled it. She searched around the house.
Seeing her so agitated, the matchmaker asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Xiao Cui Niang hasn't come out yet."
Xiao Cui is A Niu's sister-in-law.
Liu's mother excitedly told her, "Can you smell it? It smells like meat!"
Huang the matchmaker stretched out her nose and sniffed the air; it did indeed have a slightly different smell.
Liu's mother looked around, and finally her gaze settled on A Niu, who was standing in the corner with a basket in his hand.
The basket was covered with a cloth. Liu's mother rushed over, lifted the white cloth, and took a look.
Such a big piece of cured chicken!
A piece of cured chicken the size of half a palm may not seem like much, but these days, it's enough for a family to eat for a week!
Liu's mother's eyes lit up with envy. She asked him, "Cured chicken! Your family eats so well, how come you still have meat to eat?"
Ah Niu was a little angry that she lifted the cloth without saying a word, but he also knew that she was an elder and a future mother-in-law who might become his aunt, so he naturally didn't dare to say anything.
When A Niu's mother called Zhang Da Niang out, she saw that her son was being cornered by Liu's mother, and the basket had its cloth lifted.
Looking at Liu's mother's expression, A Niu's mother immediately understood what had happened.
Before Aunt Zhang, who had rushed out in a hurry, could understand what was happening, A Niu's mother had already snatched the cloth from Liu's mother's hands and put it back on.
"Go, take the things back to the Yang family first."
After receiving his mother's instructions, Ah Niu went out with a basket, feeling relieved.
Upon hearing this, Liu's mother was both delighted and heartbroken: "Your family is so well-off, yet you still have extra meat to give away to others?"
If the Zhang family is so well-off, wouldn't her son get a share of the meat if he could marry a daughter from the Zhang family?
As Liu's mother thought about it, her smile deepened, and she eagerly took Zhang's hand: "Oh my, this must be Xiao Cui's mother, right? I felt an instant connection with you!"
Aunt Zhang still didn't understand what was going on. What was in that basket?
While responding to Liu's mother's polite words, Aunt Zhang asked her daughter-in-law, "What's going on? What's in that basket?"
Upon hearing this, Liu's mother realized that she had no idea what the meat was all about.
The smile on Liu's mother's face immediately disappeared, and she looked at them intently as they spoke.
A Niu's mother had no choice but to tell her mother-in-law the truth: "Isn't it Yang's sister who went back to her parents' home today? Grandma sent some eggs over today, which were a return gift from Yang's family."
Aunt Zhang suddenly realized that although eggs were precious, they were still more expensive than meat. No wonder her daughter-in-law had asked A Niu to take the things back.
After Zhang Da Niang found out, she stopped caring and turned around to chat with Liu's mother, following the lead of the matchmaker Huang.
At this moment, Liu's mother's mind was no longer on the matter; she was preoccupied with the piece of cured chicken she had just seen.
Such a big piece of meat! The Yang family just gave it away like that?
Liu's mother's eyes darted around as she pondered something.
Ah Niu returned the basket, and Yang Shi quickly asked him what was wrong.
Ah Niu was a little embarrassed: "My mother said this is too valuable, I can't accept it!"
Yang was displeased upon hearing this: "Your mother married into the family when I was a teenager. She even helped me with my wedding preparations. She's practically family to me. What's wrong with me giving her a piece of meat?"
Ah Niu didn't know how to explain it, and it wasn't easy to talk to a child, so Yang thought she might as well go and talk to her herself.
“Come on, I’ll take it to your mother myself, so she can see my new nephew.”
Ah Niu hesitated for a moment before pulling her back: "Auntie, we have family here."
Who is it?
"The Liu family in Peach Blossom Village, the son of the Liu family is looking for a partner with my aunt! Today, the matchmaker and the other family members have been chatting with my grandma!"
"The Liu family of Peach Blossom Village? Liu Dashi?"
Yang thought for a moment, and realized that the Liu family in Peach Blossom Village did have a son named Liu Dashi, but Liu Dashi seemed to have an older sister named... Liu Zhaodi.
Wait a minute, Liu Zhaodi, isn't that the new bride who married into the Li family in Xinghua Village—Little Li?
"Oh." Lili, who had just finished watching Houfu sleep, passed by and heard something incredible.
Liu Dashi?
Is it Liu Dashi, the younger brother of Xiao Li?
Is it Liu Dashi, the protagonist of the play she watched at the embroidery shop that day?
Lili tugged at Madam Yang's sleeve: "Mother, who is Liu Dashi?"
Mrs. Yang picked her up and said, "He's your Aunt Li's younger brother."
Yang was unwilling to talk too much with Lili, firstly because she had a very bad impression of Xiao Lishi, and secondly because Xiao Lishi was also extremely resistant to Lili.
Therefore, the thought that Liu Dashi was Xiao Li's younger brother, and that Liu Dashi might actually be involved with the Zhang family, made her feel uneasy.
But it's their business if they want to arrange a marriage, so she shouldn't say too much. Besides, Xiao Li is Xiao Li, and Liu Dashi is Liu Dashi. Xiao Li is a shrew... she shouldn't have anything to do with Liu Dashi.
It wouldn't be appropriate for her to go over there while the other person is at home getting to know each other.
So Yang gave up on the idea and said to A Niu, "Okay, I'll go again later. A Niu, we're about to cook dinner, why don't you stay for a meal?"
Lili's eyes darted around, and she said, "Brother Aniu, why don't you stay for dinner? Lili wants to play with you."
Ah Niu, who had originally intended to refuse, blushed upon hearing that such a cute little sister wanted to play with him, and couldn't utter a word of refusal for a long time.
Mrs. Yang smiled and said, "Your family must be quite busy right now. It's just a meal, you can eat here as well."
Lili then said, "Lili really wants to play with Brother Aniu. Does Brother Aniu not want to play with Lili?"
Ah Niu quickly said, "How, how could this be!"
“Then stay for dinner. Your little brother Jialuo is making a doghouse with his grandpa right now. Libao is bored by herself. Why don’t you take your little sister to play for a while?” Madam Yang made the final decision.
“Okay,” Ah Niu said.
"Alright, Li Bao, go play with your brother. Mom will go cook."
"good!"
Lili immediately grabbed Ah Niu and ran out.
Before Yang could even react, she exclaimed, "Hey, slow down!"
"Okay!"
Ah Niu held Li Li's hand, afraid she would fall, and dared not let go: "Li Li, be careful."
"It's okay."
Lili pulled Ah Niu around the area for a while before finally choosing the best spot... and squatting down.
Ah Niu didn't understand, but he did as instructed.
"Li Bao, why are you squatting next to our dog hole?"
This dog hole was made in the Zhang family's yard; it was the dog hole for the guard dog that the Zhang family used to keep.
Lili observed that the dog hole was in the Zhang family's yard. She could even see the people inside and hear their voices from the edge of the hole!
It's an absolutely perfect spot for observation (eavesdropping)!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com