"Hey, Qingshan's already engaged! Lei Zi, did you hear that? Your cousin's engaged! And what are you thinking all day long?!"
When Jiang Nian heard that his eldest nephew was engaged, he was very anxious.
His son, Lei, is a year older than Qingshan!
"Father, why are you in such a hurry? Your son is healthy and strong, why should I worry about not having a wife?"
Jiang Lei quickly slipped away, trying to stay away from his father, afraid that his father would get angry and beat him up at his aunt's house!
Sigh, he's so concerned about his image, you know.
Jiang Nian pressed his hand down, suppressing his words:
I'll deal with you when we get home!
"Alright, you two are making a scene. Don't you even know this is your sister's house? If you want to fight, go home."
Liu covered her lips, her eyes full of smiles, as if the one about to be beaten was not her own son.
"Mother, am I your biological child? Or were I picked up from the field?"
Jiang Leisheng was utterly dejected. Realizing his mistake after speaking, he quickly pulled his younger cousin aside and said he wanted to see his study...
"You brat—"
Jiang Nian was furious. He instinctively wanted to take off his shoes, but then he remembered he'd been walking all day and his feet must stink, so he silently put them down...
Forget it, I'll play it when I get home!
When Qingyun saw this, he felt that his cousin had some mental issues and felt extremely sorry for his uncle.
Out of politeness, he reluctantly agreed to take his older cousin to his study.
Jiang Dian also slipped away and followed, claiming it was to get to know his younger cousin.
Seeing that it was getting late, Jiang Yue suggested making dinner.
Upon hearing this, Qingshan and Qingsong immediately told their mother and aunt, who wanted to help, to sit down and chat casually while they went to prepare the meal!
This scene filled Liu with envy, not to mention Jiang Nian.
Ugh, look at this, comparing yourself to others is just infuriating!
My two rascals, let alone going into the kitchen, they'd probably burn it down!
Look at the girl's two sons, how sensible they are, and they're also great cooks!
Of course, Jiang Nian did see the cart in the front yard. Although he was curious about what kind of business the girl's family was doing, he didn't ask a single question.
Since it was for overnight stay, leaving the oxcart outside wasn't a safe option, so Jiang Yue removed the bolt between the two large doors. With the doors open, the space was much wider, and the oxcart could be easily pulled inside...
It's alright if there's no hay at home. Jiang Yue instructed Qingyun to go to Wu Jiahu's house and exchange it for a basket to take home.
If you give someone a basket of fruits and vegetables in exchange for a basket of hay, I'm sure Mrs. Xu won't say anything.
Sure enough, Qingyun exchanged the basket for a neat basket of hay and also took a bunch of scallions home.
"Mother, Aunt Xu asked me to take it home."
"Ah, perfect for sprinkling into the pork rib soup, smells amazing!"
Jiang Yue happily accepted it, thinking to herself, "This Xu woman knows how to handle people."
Before dinner was even ready, there was another knock on the front door. Jiang Yue went to open it and saw her mother-in-law carrying a vegetable basket. She quickly made way for her and invited her mother-in-law inside.
"No, no, I heard that your family came and I was worried that you weren't prepared, so I came to bring you some food. You haven't cooked the rice yet, have you? Cut this cured meat and put it on the rice, then steam it and eat it. It'll smell delicious. I won't sit down. I'll treat your family well."
Old Mrs. Zhou quickly shook her head. She had come to deliver vegetables and to support her third son's wife. She didn't want the Jiang family to think that her third son's wife was not doing well in the Wu family.
"Thank you, Mother. Please take care. I won't see you off any further; I still have family to take care of."
Jiang Yue accepted the basket; it was heavy, filled with the heartfelt gifts from her in-laws.
After watching her mother-in-law leave, she closed the door again, lifted the coarse cloth on the basket, and lo and behold, there were two pieces of cured meat and a salted fish. She guessed that this was what the old house was preparing for the New Year.
"Hey girl, was that Aunt Zhou who just came by?"
Liu came over and offered to help carry the basket.
Jiang Yue nodded, proudly saying:
"Yes, my mother-in-law heard that my family had come, so she quickly brought some vegetables."
"Aunt Zhou is still so kind. Back in the day, you didn't have any milk after giving birth to Qingsong..."
When Liu saw the vegetables in the basket, she couldn't help but gasp in amazement, and then she was happy for her sister-in-law.
Although my husband's younger sister became a widow at a young age, her in-laws still treat her very well.
Dinner was plentiful, consisting of eight dishes and a soup, along with a plate of peeled zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and half a dish of white sugar.
"My dear sister, please understand how hard it has been for your brother and sister-in-law all these years. We haven't been able to take care of you and your child, but I've recovered now. Let's keep in touch more often. If you need anything, just let me know, and I'll do my best to help!"
Using tea instead of wine, Jiang Nian gave an impromptu speech, and then drank it all in one gulp.
"Brother, sister-in-law, I used to be so confused. I didn't understand our parents' good intentions, nor did I appreciate how hard you worked. Now that I'm a mother myself, I finally understand. From now on, our family will live a harmonious and happy life, raise our children well, help them get married and establish their own careers, and then we can enjoy our old age in peace."
Jiang Yue's bowl contained pork rib soup served by her son, with small green scallions floating on top.
Seeing this, he also joined in the impromptu performance, then toasted, "One, I can't finish it all in one gulp, it's hot!"
Whew~
Blow on it and finish drinking!
"Come on, come on, eat and drink well."
"Uncle, I'd like to offer you a toast with tea instead of wine."
"Auntie, I'd like to toast you too!"
"Uncle, I toast you!"
"Auntie, have some soup!"
"Auntie, let me toast you!"
"Woof woof woof~"
......
In high spirits, everyone let loose and enjoyed a long-awaited reunion dinner.
This is the old house.
After dinner, Grandpa Wu leisurely enjoyed the cool air on his recliner, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan.
Old Mrs. Zhou sat down with a worried expression, brushing her shoes as she spoke:
"Old man, the family of our third son's wife has arrived. Do you think it's that rascal Jiang Nian or that rascal Jiang Xu?"
"To be honest, of the Jiang family, only Jiang Nian is someone I can handle. As for Jiang Xu, ha, he's a coward, not only useless but also henpecked! Bah, I don't think that kid will come."
Grandpa Wu made no attempt to hide his likes and dislikes; his cloudy eyes stared at the bright moon and stars, a hint of nostalgia creeping into his gaze.
“I also think it’s Jiang Nian. These years have been tough for this child. Fortunately, the hardship is over. I heard that when they came, the whole family came by oxcart, carrying big bags and small bags, a whole cart full of things. It seems that they still value the third son’s wife.”
Old Zhou poured out the dirty water, then scooped up a basin of clean water to rinse the shoes.
"After all, she's the only girl he has. How could we not value her? In my opinion, he's loyal and righteous. This guy is much better than that henpecked husband!"
Grandpa Wu smiled. If Grandpa Jiang were alive today, he would be very happy to see that his three children, except for the good-for-nothing second son, have finally found happiness after all their hardships.
"Make some more flatbreads and send them over tomorrow. I reckon they'll be leaving by tomorrow morning."
"You found out too?"
"What? You don't believe this old man can predict the future?"
"Hmph, you think you're so great, why don't you go wash up and go to bed? You're all sweaty, you'll attract mosquitoes!"
"Old woman, you're so smug, aren't you? I've already attracted the mosquitoes, so they won't bite you anymore, right?"
"Hmph, that ointment my third brother's wife gave me is quite effective. I'll ask for some more tomorrow."
...
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