Chapter 9: The Mantis Catches the Cicada, Song Dynasty Porcelain Behind
When she heard that it was for this year's harvest, Mrs. Song let go of him angrily. She took a look at the cakes in his hand, and her anger subsided.
"You're kind enough to be filial."
"This is my favorite cake from Qingzhaifang. I bought it specially to honor you."
Qingzhaifang is the most famous old-fashioned pastry shop in Beijing. The things they sell there are a bit expensive, but they taste great.
Old Mrs. Song picked up a piece of cake and ate it, then she saw that Old Third Song had another box hidden behind his back, and she became unhappy on the spot.
"Why do you still have a box hidden?"
"Mom, my wife and daughter haven't eaten it for a long time. I want to save a few pieces for them to try."
"They don't deserve it!" Old Madam Song exploded on the spot, "Leave it! Rouxi and the others haven't eaten in a long time. How can you, as the third uncle, be so selfish?"
A small box of cakes from Qingzhaifang costs one or two taels of silver, and the Song family can’t afford to eat them often now.
What's more, in Old Lady Song's mind, the third family was a bunch of losers, so how could they deserve to eat such delicious pastries.
"Mom, this is all the money I have left..." Song Lao San explained bitterly as he watched the cakes being taken away.
"You are my son, and you should give me the money you earn. I will keep the cakes, and you can go back."
Seeing the determination on his mother's face, Song Laosan knew that there would be no result if he continued to insist, so he could only rub his red and swollen ears and walk back in disappointment.
Song Ci was drinking tea in the corridor. When she saw her father, she hurried over and hugged his arm, "Dad!"
Hearing his daughter's sweet voice, Song Lao San was immediately happy, "Hey, Daddy's good daughter."
He bent down slightly and touched his daughter's head. Song Ci was sharp-eyed and immediately noticed her father's red and swollen ears, and her eyes instantly turned cold.
"Dad, what's wrong with your ears? Did grandma beat you again?"
"Your grandmother is not feeling well, so it's normal for her to feel a little irritated."
Song Ci knew that when Old Madam Song was angry, she would not let go easily unless she got something good. She asked suspiciously, "Did Dad do something else? Otherwise, why would Grandma let you go so easily?"
"Dad bought some cakes from Qingzhaifang for your grandmother. She had a bitter taste in her mouth after taking medicine, but eating them made her feel better."
"My daughter wants to eat too!"
Seeing that Song's father had nothing in his hands, Song Ci knew without a doubt that her father would buy her some if he had anything. If not, then the cakes must have been taken away by her grandmother again. Old Lady Song had done this countless times in her previous life.
"Dad originally bought it for you and your mom...but your grandmother said that the other families didn't get to enjoy it either, and said that Dad shouldn't be so selfish...It's okay, Dad will buy it for you later." Father Song looked at his daughter apologetically.
"So, grandma took it all away?" Song Ci's eyes were cold when he said this.
"Xiaoci, don't be angry. Daddy will buy it for you in a few days."
"Dad, you're being selfish by buying it for your own family. When you were away, my eldest and second uncles bought roast duck from Quandetang, but they never mentioned sharing it with our third wife."
"Xiaoci wants to eat roast duck. Daddy will buy it for you later. Your uncles are studying and don't have much money. They can't take good care of you. Don't blame them. We are all family, so don't be petty."
Song Ci knew her father's temper and told herself to take it slow. Sooner or later, she would let her father see their hypocrisy.
"good."
In the evening, there were three dishes on the table: braised pork with radish. The bowl was mostly radish, with only a few pieces of meat. There was also a plate of scrambled eggs with vegetables, and a portion of cold bamboo shoots. The third family sat together to eat.
Song Ci looked at the dinner in front of her, frowned, and looked at the sunset.
"Dad is back today, and the food is also so simple."
Wanxia didn't even think about it and blurted out, "What else does Third Miss want to eat? Dragon meat and phoenix meat? Isn't that how we used to eat it?"
The third wife's family is a bunch of losers, yet they still want to eat good food. Do they really think they are the first and second wives?
Song Laosan was also a little surprised. He always brought back several hundred taels of silver every time, so why did he eat so lightly?
Song Ci had seen it before, too, when Old Madam Song took the first and second wives to eat and drink the finest food, but at the time she listened to her father and never made a fuss. But now, she wasn't that foolish.
Song Ci looked at her father and said, "Dad, it's okay for Mom and I to eat light meals, but you've lost weight after your trip. You should eat something oily and rich to replenish your body."
Song Lao San asked Wan Xia, "Big Brother, Second Brother, are you and Mother also eating these?"
Wanxia's heart skipped a beat, and she looked a little uncomfortable. "The kitchen made it together, so the old lady and the first and second wives will naturally eat it too."
"Dad, Grandma is not in good health. How can she eat such a bland diet? I have saved some money over the years. Why don't we ask Wanxiang to buy some good food and bring it to Grandma? Maybe if Grandma is happy, she will recover faster."
It's just a good opportunity for Dad to see clearly how the first and second wives and the old lady live, and how their family lives.
Wanxia looked anxious. At this time, the first and second wives and the old lady were still having lunch in the main house. If she went there now, wouldn't she be caught red-handed?
She was panicking, and her face showed it. She was thinking about how to escape and report the incident.
Song Ci saw this and hurriedly instructed, "Wanxiang probably can't carry so much by herself. Why don't you trouble Sister Wanxia to come along?"
Wanxia took back the foot she had just taken, with a look of embarrassment on her face, "I understand..."
Song Ci nodded and said, "Wanxiang, why don't you go with Sister Wanxia quickly? Don't be late. By the time the food is served, grandma will have finished her meal."
"Oh, I understand. I'm very nimble and will definitely buy it back soon."
Song Laosan is a filial man, and he is happy to see his daughter is also so filial.
Her daughter is the most filial and good girl!
Qiao Xianglan never had any ideas, so she naturally had no objection to what she heard. She just wanted her family to be together in harmony, her husband to go out less, and the family to stay together all the time.
The nearby Zui Xiang Lou was not far away, so Wanxiang and Wanxia quickly bought the things back. During the trip, Wanxia tried to find excuses to slip away several times, sometimes because she had a stomachache and sometimes because she felt uncomfortable, but Wanxiang insisted on holding her hand and continued walking.
Wanxia was so annoyed that she cursed everyone in the third room in her heart.
Especially Song Ci. These days, the third young lady is like a ghost possessed by a ghost. She is very cunning. Not only can she not gain any advantage, but she has also been scolded several times by the eldest wife and the old lady for her incompetence.
Her arm still hurts when she thinks of the old lady's method of treating people.
After getting the food, Wanxia tried to escape under the pretext of needing to pee, but Song Ci stopped her and said, "Sister Wanxia, I can't carry it. My mother is not in good health either. The food won't taste good if it gets cold. Please help carry it for a while before you go."
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