Chapter 7: A Piece of Meat Causes a Commotion

  Zhang was stunned for a moment, then quickly put the shredded potatoes aside and took over the chopped bean sprouts to hand them to Zhou.

  Zhou didn't answer, stood up and glared at Zhang.

  "I've already poured the oil for you, can't you even stir-fry the vegetables yourself? You're always relying on me, this old wife of yours. At your age, I still have to serve you like a young daughter-in-law."

  This week, Zhang was doing what, picking bones from eggs, anyway, it's just that no matter how Zhang did it, it wasn't right. As for the mud man, he still had an earthy nature, and surprisingly, Zhang accepted everything and didn't even seem to be angry.

  But Lian Man'er couldn't take it anymore.

  "Mom, you just poured that little oil to stir-fry a big bowl of potatoes, and you were complaining about too much oil. Now you've added even more oil, but there are fewer beans than potatoes, isn't this an even greater waste of oil?" Lian Man'er couldn't help but speak up.

  "Man Er!" Zhang Shi hurriedly stopped Lian Man Er, but Lian Man Er still finished what she was saying.

  Just then, with a loud clang, Zhou threw the spoon onto the stove.

  "I've lived in vain for so many years, and you little girl dare to mention me!" Zhou's hand almost poked into Lian Miao's eyes.

  Mrs. Zhang hurried over and pulled Lianmeng into her own arms.

  "Mother, Mian'er is just a child and doesn't understand things, she bumped her head again. Don't take it to heart." Zhang Shi hastily advised, "Mian'er, quickly apologize to your grandmother."

  "What a child, not yet yours. Filial on the outside, vicious in heart. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking, letting a little girl like that want my strong one." Zhou Shi turned to scold Zhang Shi.

  "Daughter..." Zhang's face suddenly turned bright red.

  The oil in the pot sizzled and crackled, accompanied by Mrs. Zhou's scolding.

  Zhang wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

  "Mother, the oil is hot, if you don't add the beans to stir-fry now, it will burn." Zhang Shi forced a smile and said.

  Zhou saw Zhang like this and stopped scolding, but still glared at Lian Man'er with a huff.

  "Man Er, apologize to your mother and admit you were wrong." Zhang Shi pulled Lian Man Er again.

  The Zhou family is making things difficult for you everywhere. I just told the truth, what's wrong with that? Even Lianmeng doesn't agree in her heart.

  "Mum, we were wrong, don't be angry." Little Qi poked his head out from behind Lian Miao and smiled at Madame Zhou.

  Zhou's expression eased slightly, but he was still staring at Lian Man'er.

  "Second sister, you don't apologize, none of us will have dinner." Little Qi said in a nasal tone.

  For just this one sentence, Zhou's family can really make everyone go hungry.

  "Milk, I was wrong, don't be angry." Lian Man'er said. Since the other person is older, she'll let it go.

  "Come on, hurry up and stir-fry the dishes, don't dawdle or be lazy." After saying that, she slammed the door and went back into the house.

  Everyone let out a sigh of relief.

  "Mother, did I say something wrong? Nai said that about you and you're not angry at all?" asked Lian Man Er.

  Zhang was stir-frying vegetables, and her hand paused for a moment.

  "It's no big deal, she is an elder, just a figure of speech."

  "She would say you're unfilial if you did this."

  Zhang turned his head and did not answer.

  ………

  Zhang's hands and feet moved quickly, and in a short while, he had stir-fried both dishes.

  "Zhi'er, Wu Lang, put away the table." Zhang's wife called out to the two children.

  "The eggplant stew is also done, I'll tell Mother to serve the dishes." said Zhao Shi.

  "Trouble Third Sister-in-law," said Zhang Shi with a smile.

  "It doesn't matter if it's troublesome or not, you're helping me more." Zhao also smiled.

  "Mother, can't you serve yourself? And why should she work and wait on us?" said Lian Man Er.

  Lian Man'er finished speaking and found that several people were staring at her with strange eyes.

  What's wrong with her, has she said something wrong again?

  "Man'er just woke up and forgot some things, she'll be fine in two days." Zhao comforted Zhang.

  "What did I say wrong?" Lian Man'er was even more puzzled.

  "Man Er, you forgot that eggplants have meat in them. We need to stir-fry the meat and vegetables ourselves," said Lian Zhi Er.

  "Second sister, how many slices of meat are in the pot? I remember counting them." said Xiao Qi.

  "I remember every single piece." Even Lian Ye added with a bit of courage.

  Lian Man'er's mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.

  "Go inside, Xiao Qi, take care of your sister," said Zhang Shi.

  Zhao went into the house and told Zhou that the eggplant stew was ready.

  "What's the point of raising you all? At my age, I still have to serve you." Zhou said this as she walked out, and instructed Zhao, "What are you standing there for, set the table."

  Everyone came out to move the tables. Even Lian's dining table was made of solid wood and very heavy. Zhao Shi, Lian Wulang, and Lian Zhier each carried one, while Lian Man'er, Lian Zhier, and Xiao Qi combined their strength to lift another. Two tables were placed together at the head of the kang, and the other two were placed together at the foot of the kang. Lian Zhier quickly wiped down several tables with a flourish.

  Lian Man'er followed Zhao Shi out and moved bowls and chopsticks into the house.

  Zhou was scooping eggplants out of the pot, while Zhang stood by and waited.

  "This basin is for your father's table. Remember clearly, don't get it wrong." Zhou Shi said to Zhang Shi.

  Mrs. He poked her head in from outside, "Mother will be serving dinner soon, but none of your grandsons are back yet."

  "Then you'd better hurry up and go find her." Zhou Shi said irritably.

  Mr. He hastily retreated with his head down and began to loudly call out in the courtyard. In a short while, four big and small children rushed in from outside the gate.

  In the house, Zhao's family had already arranged the bowls and chopsticks according to the number of people.

  The two tables at the head of the kang were for Lao Lao and the male members of the Lian family to sit together, while the table at the foot of the kang was for Old Lady Lian and the female members of the Lian family. Except for Lian Shouren's eldest son and daughter-in-law who had not returned from town yet, all the members of the Lian family were present. Lian Man'er counted them silently and couldn't help but sigh inwardly that the Lian family was indeed prosperous with many children.

  Lian Man'er and Xiao Qi also sat down at the table by the kang, Xiao Qi, although a male, was still young and followed Zhang Shi to eat at this table. Lian Ye'er also came over and sat tightly next to Lian Man'er. Next to Xiao Qi were Lian Duo'er, then Gu Shi, Lian Hua'er, Lian Xiu'er, and finally Zhou Shi sitting at the top. He Shi brought her young daughter Lian Rou'er to sit next to Zhou Shi, leaving only a narrow space for Zhang Shi, Zhao Shi, and Lian Zhi'er.

  Zhang's family and Zhao's family are taking dishes from the outer house to the inner house. Lian Jihong is also helping out.

  "Wulang, you just sit down, this is not your job, let your mother and sister do it." said Zhou Shi.

  "Oh." Lian Wulang replied, still helping to carry the rice over, and only then sat down beside Lian Shouxin.

  "Lao Si loves doing this kind of thing for his wife." He Shi said with a sly smile.

  "Useless." Lian Xiu'er snorted.

  Lian Man'er wanted to speak, but Xiao Qi hastily pinched her hand under the table. Lian Man'er thought for a moment and closed her mouth.

  Lian's family dinner was very sumptuous, a large bowl of millet rice, a bowl of big miscellaneous noodles, a large bowl of potato shreds stir-fried with green peppers, a large bowl of five-flower pork stewed with eggplant, a dish of stir-fried bean sprouts, and a bunch of scallions, a bowl of bean paste, and a dish of pickled vegetables. The man's table was the same, but the quantity was doubled.

  Zhang, Zhao and Lianzhi brought all the dishes up and sat on the kang.

  The rice bowls and the Wonton bowls were all placed next to Madame Zhou, who picked up the serving spoon and first scooped a full bowl with a pointed bottom, handing it to Lian Xiuer. Lian Xiuer took it but didn't eat, instead passing it to Lian Hua'er. Madame Zhou then scooped another full bowl with a pointed bottom, again handing it to Lian Xiuer. This time Lian Xiuer accepted it and placed it in front of herself. Next, Madame Zhou served herself and the remaining children, only then serving the daughters-in-law, Gu Shi and He Shi, each receiving just an ordinary bowl. When it was Zhao Shi's turn, Madame Zhou suddenly glanced at the table and put down the spoon.

  "Scallions are not enough, Old Third's wife, go pick some more scallions." said Zhou Shi.

  Zhao lowered his head and responded with a "yes", then got down from the kang.

  "Mother, I'll go. Today it's my turn to cook, but there aren't enough scallions, so I'll go get some." Zhang stopped Zhao and went out to pick the scallions herself.

  Zhou's face didn't look too good, but she didn't say anything. She picked up the spoon and scooped more than half a bowl for Zhao. At this time, there wasn't much rice left in the basin. Zhang's bowl only had less than half a bowl left.

  There's only half a bowl of rice, Zhang Shi is afraid that it won't be enough to eat, fortunately there are also dumplings.

  Lian Xiuer has already taken two mantou, one for Lian Huaer and the other in her own bowl. Zhou Shi started distributing mantou again, one per person, and finally there were two left, which should be Zhao Shi's and Zhang Shi's, but Zhou Shi didn't distribute them.

  He sat down beside Zhou and quickly picked up a baozi, putting it in his mouth and biting off half of it.

  "Mother, I've had a lot of work today, I'm starving." He Shi said with a smile.

  Zhou glared at He with disgust.

  "That's your brother's wife's, put it down quickly."

  He grabbed Wō Wō and smiled at Zhao.

  "Old three's wife, I've taken a bite of this, are you going to have some or not?"

  Zhao looked at He's yellow teeth sticking out and lowered his head again.

  "Second sister-in-law, you eat it, I don't want it anymore."

  "This is what you didn't want, not me snatching it from you." He said immediately.

  Zhou pouted.

  "Mother, give me another bun." Lian Xiuer said.

  Zhou gave the last nest to Lian Xiuer.

  That was supposed to be Zhang's wotou, but Lian Man wanted to speak up again and saw that both Lian Zhi and Xiao Qi were shaking their heads at her. Lian Zhi even secretly broke off half of his own wotou and hid it in his sleeve. Xiao Qi did the same. Looking at them, could this be a common occurrence? Lian Man looked at the wotou in her own bowl and followed suit, hiding it away as well. She had just eaten a bowl of noodles, she wasn't hungry yet.

  Zhou took the scallions back and saw his half bowl of rice. Without saying a word, he sat down to eat. It seemed that he was also used to it.

  Zhao gave Lianye a few dishes with chopsticks, Zhou hummed coldly, Zhao's hand trembled and stopped serving dishes, just dipping scallions in sauce and eating rice with her head down.

  There was five-flower pork in the braised eggplant, and when Madame Zhou served the dish, she picked it out and placed it on the surface. Among the people at the table, only Lian Xiu'er ate the meat mouthful by mouthful, savoring its fragrance, occasionally giving a piece or two to Lian Hua'er. Lian Man'er heard Xiao Qi's sound of swallowing saliva, turned her head and saw that the little guy was drooling with his eyes shining brightly, but he didn't dare to pick up meat to eat.

  Lian Man'er's chopsticks seemed to have a mind of their own as they picked up a piece of five-flower pork.

  "What are you doing, Man Er?" Madam Zhou slammed her chopsticks on the table and shouted.