The "Manchu Han Imperial Feast" on the table is like a luxurious culinary painting, with layers of delicacies piled up. On the carved dragon and phoenix plate, the plump roast duck gleams with oil, its skin crisp and its meat tender, as if the juice would overflow with the slightest touch.
Steamed sea bass rests on a blue and white porcelain plate, topped with shredded scallions and ginger. The rich aroma of steamed fish soy sauce rises gently, filling the air with an enticing freshness.
Each crystal shrimp is plump and resembles a translucent jade bead, clustered in an exquisite lotus leaf bowl. Next to it, the braised bear paw has a rich color, and the texture on the bear paw resembles the veins of mountains and rivers, showing its extraordinary quality.
As soon as the five people stepped into the room, their eyes were instantly glued to the feast on the table. Their eyes were filled with amazement and drooling. They were so engrossed in watching that drool was almost uncontrollably dripping from the corners of their mouths.
"What are you looking at? Get out of the way! Pear Blossom hasn't arrived yet! You have no manners at all, get out of the way."
Ma Hehua's eyebrows instantly stood on end, her almond-shaped eyes widened, and her eyes, which were originally as gentle as the lake water in spring, now seemed to be burning with two raging flames, staring wide open, her pupils filled with anger and impatience.
Her pert nose wrinkled, her nostrils flared, like an offended lion. Her lips, which were once luscious and delicate like spring petals, were now twisted into a mean expression, her mouth turned down, her cheeks puffed out slightly with anger, and her exquisite face was covered with frost.
Li Xin was only slightly taken aback before returning to normal. Having spent so many years with her grandmother, he was already used to her volatile temper.
The other four, however, were as if they had been doused with a bucket of cold water. Their anticipation and excitement froze instantly, and they looked at each other, their eyes filled with astonishment and embarrassment.
They never expected that this seemingly beautiful and graceful aunt would speak like a shrew from the streets. The contrast between her delicate image and her current shrewish demeanor was so striking that it left them speechless. They were filled with mixed feelings and didn't know whether to advance or retreat.
Several mothers waited nearby, not daring to stare directly, but they still saw the scene inside the room clearly.
They huddled in the corner, as if afraid of being caught up in the storm, exchanging cautious glances, their eyes filled with fear and helplessness.
I've already experienced how formidable this girl is in just half a day; even my own man has been sent out to do a thorough cleaning.
Just as the standoff was at hand, Ma Linghua strode into the house like a gust of frosty wind.
She was slender yet exuded a cold and hard aura, dressed in a plain-colored outfit, the hem of which seemed to carry a chilling air.
As soon as he stood still, his gaze swept over the children like an ice blade. The words "worthless trash" were uttered in his mind, his tone sharp and piercing, and the disgust on his face was like frost.
Every glance he gave was filled with disdain, and the corners of his mouth turned down as if weighed down by two weights, ruining his otherwise handsome face.
"Alright, go away! We'll eat when your aunt arrives."
She crossed her arms and tapped her fingers impatiently on her arms, the rhythm like a death knell, each tap making the air tense.
After saying that, she turned her gaze and caught sight of Li Fagui chopping wood outside the window. Her eyes narrowed instantly, and the seriousness inside was like a deep pool in the cold night, unfathomable and chilling to the bone.
"By the way, Fa Gui is chopping wood, you guys go and help him out!"
These words, spoken rather than as a suggestion, sounded more like a military order squeezed out through clenched teeth. The last syllable of his voice rose in an unquestionable tone, his eyebrows were raised high, and the menacing light in his eyes seemed tangible, pressing directly at the children, as if anyone who dared to disobey would be severely punished.
Upon hearing this, the children's shoulders trembled violently, their heads drooped even lower, and they responded timidly. They hurried and somewhat flusteredly moved towards the outside, not daring to linger for fear of provoking more anger and reprimands.
"Grandpa, we've come to help you chop wood."
Li Xin's clear voice broke the dull rhythm of chopping wood in the courtyard. As soon as he finished speaking, he leaped to Li Fagui's side like an agile little leopard, and with a steady hand, he deftly took the slightly heavy axe.
He moved with agility, his feet firmly planted in a stable horse stance, his arm raised high with the axe, his muscles taut as if containing immense power. With a shout of "Heave-ho! Heave-ho!" the axe fell, the firewood cracked, and wood chips flew everywhere, just like fireworks bursting in the air.
The four stood aside, initially looking at each other with blank and helpless expressions.
Their eyes met, revealing a strong resistance to this sudden "hard labor," yet they dared not show too much disobedience.
Just as they were hesitating, Uncle Fu's face creased with wrinkles, and he broke into a smile that seemed incredibly bright but actually concealed a "secret." He strolled leisurely to the woodpile, bent down to pick up two axes, and handed them over while laughing, "One to chop and one to pick up, a perfect match."
The tone was so relaxed, as if he were sharing something wonderful, but to the four of them it sounded like the whisper of a cunning fox.
The corners of the four people's mouths twitched slightly.
"That old geezer is wicked."
But circumstances forced them to move on reluctantly after a brief stalemate.
One man, pouting, reluctantly reached out and took the axe, muttering, "This is quite a 'lucky' day."
The other looked distressed as he bent down to pick up the scattered firewood, sighing as he did so: "We came here to enjoy the New Year, but now we're doing hard labor."
Despite his displeasure, he dared not stop swinging the axe, gritting his teeth and exerting all his strength, each chop seeming to vent his resentment.
The wood gatherers bent over and busily gathered the wood, leaving only the sounds of axes striking wood, firewood clattering, and the four men's soft sighs.
After a long afternoon of work, the group of people were like puppets whose bones had been removed, slumped on the tree stumps, completely exhausted.
They were pampered young masters who had never lifted a finger, raised in luxury and never experienced the hardships of such strenuous labor. It was already their limit to survive an afternoon of chopping wood and carrying loads.
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