Old Lady Zhang glanced at Li Mingli who was standing beside her, quickly covered the basket with the blue cloth, and handed the basket back to him.
"We have everything we need at home, take it back quickly."
"Mom, we still have some at home. Even though the weather is getting colder, it's not winter yet. If we don't eat it, it will go bad."
"Yeah, Mingli and I came all the way here, how can we take it back?"
Old Mrs. Zhang smiled at Li Mingli and pulled Zhang Lihua aside.
"How could you bring so much meat home, little girl? Live your life well and stop thinking about your parents' home all the time. If the villagers knew about this, you would be criticized."
"I know, this is given by my brother-in-law, and I really can't finish it."
"Nonsense, there's no such thing as endless meat."
"Mom, it's getting dark, so let's go back first."
After Zhang Lihua finished speaking, she pulled Li Mingli back.
Old Lady Zhang called out, "Wait a minute, we'll be home in five minutes. Come sit for a while."
Li Taohua and Sun Cui, the two sisters-in-law, also advised: "Sister-in-law, go home and have a drink of water before talking."
Zhang Lihua was dragged to Old Zhang's house by the two men.
Old Mrs. Zhang filled half a basket with potatoes.
"There's nothing good to give at home. Take these potatoes back and share some with your mother-in-law."
"Mom, there are many people in my family, so I won't take it."
"You silly girl, you just took it when I told you to. Do you really want me to deliver it to you? You're so busy that you don't even have time to rest."
Only then did Zhang Lihua pick up the basket in her hands.
When leaving, Mrs. Zhang said, "Don't take such precious things next time. I just took out the pork and saw there was a small bag of crispy cakes inside. You are really willing to give it away."
"Okay, I'll make a note of it."
Watching the two people leave, Old Lady Zhang sighed.
No matter how well your family is doing, you can't bring things back to your parents' home like this. There will always be resentment over time.
The children in the family were drooling at the sight of the biscuits and meat on the table.
Old Lady Zhang took out a pastry and gave each person a small half, and put the rest in the cupboard.
"Let's have braised pork and potatoes tonight."
Li Taohua said, "Mom, please sit down and take a rest. My sister-in-law and I will go cook."
The Zhang family hasn't eaten meat for a long time.
The last time Zhang Dali ate meat was when he was lucky enough to catch a little wild rabbit in the mountains.
Not much meat, but it was meat nonetheless.
After Zhang Lihua came back, she took the potatoes to Old Lady Li's room.
"What's this for?"
"My mother asked me to bring it to you."
"Why are you being so polite, my in-laws? No one is well off."
"These are fresh potatoes from this year. They are delicious when they are new."
Old Lady Li held the fruit in her hand and said, "Since it's so kind of my in-laws, I'll take two to try. You can take the rest back to your room."
Among her four in-laws, only Zhang Lihua and Li Lizhu's families can get along well.
Li Mingyuan came back and saw the meat and said, "Wife, let's have braised pork tonight."
"It's already simmering in the pot. It will be ready to eat in about ten minutes."
"Did Fourth Brother give all this to you?"
"Yes, Fourth Brother is willing to do so. I will send our eggs to the new house later. It's just right for Jiaxue to nourish her body while she is pregnant."
Erniu and Sanniu sat in front of the stove, smelling the food and feeling extremely hungry.
"Erniu, there's no need to light the fire. Come and wash your hands and wait for dinner."
The two sisters immediately rushed out to the water tank to wash their hands.
Li Lizhu filled two large bowls and still had half a bowl left.
The family of four ate to their heart's content and the big bowl was soon empty.
Li Lizhu took the remaining bowl to Old Lady Li.
"Take it back quickly. Your father and I just finished eating and we're not greedy at all."
Zhang Daya brought over a small half bowl, and the old couple had just finished eating.
Seeing this, Li Lizhu took the braised pork back.
"Lizhu, take this small half bowl to your family. The autumn harvest is very tiring, so you should give your parents some extra oil and water."
“That’s not good.”
"What's wrong with that? You've brought food back from your parents' house before."
Li Lizhu took the bowl and went back to her parents' home.
Zhang Chunya looked at the juicy braised pork and suddenly felt no longer tired.
Even though I was so hungry that my chest was sticking to my back and I couldn't lift my legs.
"My girl, this meat is cooked to perfection."
"Look how tired you are. You are old, not young. How can you work so hard?"
"Whether you try your best or not, that's how it all happened."
Zhao Xiaohua was busy making corn tortillas in the kitchen.
Just prepare a simple meal or two to fill your stomach.
Li Hongtao and Li Hongbo trotted to the kitchen, smelling the aroma of meat, and said, "Mom, my aunt brought a big bowl of braised pork."
"That's what my aunt gave to my grandparents."
"Can't we eat?"
"You can eat it, but not too much, understand?"
"We'll just eat a little bit to taste it. Tomorrow we brothers will go to the mountains to hunt wild roe deer."
The two brothers were full of confidence and wanted to go to the mountains to hunt game.
Li Lizhu smiled when she heard this at the kitchen door.
Said: "Sister-in-law, I'm going back."
"Hey, why don't you sit for a while? The pancakes will be out of the oven soon."
"I have something to do at home, so I left first."
Zhao Xiaohua sent Li Lizhu away. This sister-in-law is really worry-free. She knows when to act and doesn't get involved in any trouble.
In the new house.
Li Mingqing and Sun Jiaxue were burping because they were so full.
This pork rib soup is really authentic and with the addition of winter melon, it is especially nourishing.
"Wife, send some to old lady Li. It's just right for digestion."
Sun Jiaxue served a large bowl. It was very hot as it had just been taken out of the pot, so she had to carry it in a basket.
When the two of them went there, Old Lady Li was eating steamed buns by the light of a kerosene lamp.
She saw the couple and asked in surprise, "Why are you here so late at night?"
"What a coincidence! I just happened to catch you having dinner."
"Here, pork rib soup, original flavor, drink it for good health."
"Why don't you keep this good stuff for yourself? Jiaxue needs to take good care of herself."
"There are still some at home, don't worry about it."
Old Granny Li was so moved by the broth and meat that her cloudy eyes filled with tears.
"It's hard for you to still think about an old woman like me."
"Look at what mother-in-law said. How come we're already so distant after not seeing each other for a few days?"
"What's the matter with being estranged? I've lived alone for over twenty years, and even my biological children couldn't do what you do. And yet, I finally ran into you two."
Her two houses made of loess bricks are rarely seen with the popularity she thought they were.
This mud house won't last for a few more years, and she knows her own body won't last for a few more years either.
I never got to enjoy the joy of family.
Old Granny Li tremblingly took out the knitted insoles from the sewing basket.
"My eyesight isn't very good, so the stitches are a little messy, please don't mind."
"How could that be? It's so nice of you to give us this time. But please don't make things difficult for us next time."
"Anyway, I have nothing to do at home, so I hope you don't mind."
When she saw Li Mingqing accept it, she couldn't stop smiling.
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