Lady Zhang was taken aback for a mont, then hurriedly set aside the shredded potatoes and went to get the cut green bean shreds, handing them to Lady Zhou.
Lady Zhou didn’t take them and stood up, glaring at Lady Zhang.
"The oil is already poured for you. Can’t you lift a finger to cook? You expect , an old lady, to wait on you as if I were a young bride at my age," she said.
What was Lady Zhou doing, nitpicking over everything? It seed like whatever Lady Zhang did was wrong. They say even a clay figure has so temper, but Lady Zhang took it all in and didn’t even seem angry.
However, Lian Manman couldn’t stand it anymore.
"Grandma, just now, Mom poured just a little oil for frying a big pot of potatoes, and you thought it was too much. Then you added a lot more for the green beans, which are even less than the potatoes. Isn’t that a bigger waste of oil?" Lian Manman couldn’t help but speak up.
"Manman!" Lady Zhang quickly tried to stop Lian Manman, but she had already finished speaking.
There was a crisp snap as Lady Zhou slamd the spatula onto the stovetop.
"Have I lived in vain to be talked back to by a little girl like you?" Lady Zhou’s hand almost poked Lian Manman in the eyes.
Lady Zhang hurried over to pull Lian Manman into her arms.
"Mom, Manman’s just a child and doesn’t know any better, plus she’s hit her head. Don’t take her words to heart," Lady Zhang hurriedly tried to pacify, "Manman, apologize to your grandma."
"What ’child’? It’s all your spoiling. Acting obedient on the outside but evil at heart. Don’t think I don’t know your intentions, letting a little girl speak against ," Lady Zhou lashed out at Lady Zhang.
"Mom..." Lady Zhang’s face flushed bright red.
The oil in the pot sizzled loudly, accompanied by Lady Zhou’s curses.
Lady Zhang wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Mom, the oil’s hot now, if we don’t start frying the green beans, they will burn," Lady Zhang tried to placate with a forced smile.
Seeing Lady Zhang like this, Lady Zhou stopped cursing but still huffed and glared at Lian Manman.
"Manman, apologize to your grandma, admit you were wrong," Lady Zhang urged Lian Manman again.
Lady Zhou was being so difficult, Manman thought. She had only spoken the truth, so where was she wrong?
"Grandma, we were wrong. Please don’t be angry," Xiao Qi peeked out from behind Lian Manman and said to Lady Zhou with a smile.
Lady Zhou’s expression softened slightly, but she kept glaring at Lian Manman.
"Second Sister, if you don’t apologize, we’ll all go hungry," Xiao Qi nudged Lian Manman and whispered like the buzzing of a mosquito.
For just a few words, Lady Zhou indeed could make everyone miss their al.
"Grandma, I was wrong. Please don’t be angry," Lian Manman said. She’d give in to her elder’s advanced age.
Lady Zhou then snorted, "Hurry up and finish frying the vegetables, and don’t dawdle or slack off." With that, she stord into the house, sliding the curtain behind her.
Everyone exhaled in relief.
"Mom, did I say sothing wrong? Aren’t you even a little bit angry with all Grandma said to you?" Lian Manman asked.
Lady Zhang, who was busy cooking, paused for a mont.
"It’s a trivial matter. She is an elder, after all; it’s just talk," she said.
"But acting like this, she still accused you of being disobedient," Lian Manman said.
Lady Zhang turned her head away this ti and didn’t answer.
......
Lady Zhang worked quickly with her hands, and in a short while, she had both dishes fried.
"Zhizhi, Wu Lang, set them on the table," Lady Zhang called out to the two children.
"The eggplant is also stewed. I’ll tell Mom so we can serve the food," Lady Zhao said.
"Thank you, Sister-in-law," Lady Zhang said with a smile.
"What’s all this fuss about? You help out far more," Lady Zhao also smiled.
"Mom, can’t you serve yourself? Grandma will start saying again that she has to work and wait on us," Lian Manman said.
Lian Manman finished speaking and realized several people were looking at her with strange expressions.
What was wrong? Had she said sothing inappropriate again?
"Manman just woke up a while ago and forgot so things; she’ll be fine in a couple of days," Lady Zhao tried to comfort Lady Zhang.
"What did I say wrong?" Lian Manman was even more baffled.
"Manman, you forgot, the eggplant has at in it, and at dishes must be served by Grandma herself," Lian Zhizhi explained.
"Second Sister, Grandma keeps count of exactly how many slices of at are in the pot," Xiao Qi said.
"And she rembers exactly what each piece looks like," Lian Yeye also chid in bravely.
Lian Manman opened her mouth to speak but no sound ca out.
"Head inside, Xiao Qi. Keep an eye on your sister," Lady Zhang said.
Lady Zhao went inside to tell Lady Zhou that the eggplant was ready.
"What’s the use of feeding you all? At my age, I still have to wait on you," Lady Zhou grumbled, yet her feet moved toward the outside. She also ordered Lady Zhao, "Why are you all just standing there? Set the table."
Everyone ca out to move the tables. The Lian Family’s dinner tables were made of solid wood and quite heavy. Lady Zhao, Lian Wulang, and Lian Zhizhi each carried one, and together, Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, and Xiao Qi lifted another. The two tables were placed side by side at the head of the brick bed, and the other two were placed together at the foot of the bed. Lian Zhizhi also quickly and nimbly wiped down the tables.
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