This evening, Lian Shouxin’s place is having a banquet, inviting quite a few people to dinner, but Lady Zhang and Lian Manman haven’t sent anyone over to the old house with a good al!
Lady Zhou specifically instructed her to just cook rice and boil cabbage for the evening, probably planning all along to wait for the dishes to be sent from Lian Shouxin’s side.
Understanding the implications of Lady Zhou’s actions, Lady Chiang could only sigh silently.
Speaking of which, ever since the Fourth Household of Lian Shouxin split from the family, in terms of showing filial piety to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, they have truly done it in a way that earned admiration from everyone in the village. Just after the division, when everyone still lived in the old house, at that ti, the Shouxin Family wasn’t well-off, in fact, they were even poorer than the average tenant farrs, let alone compared to the Upper Room.
But even during those tis, whenever they made a at dish, dumplings, or even broth from big bones, Lady Zhang would always select the best portion and send a child to deliver it to the Upper Room, offering it to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou before her family ate.
Even now, in Thirty Mile Camp, there are still so elderly people whose sons live separately who often say that if their sons and daughters-in-law could be half, or even just ten percent, as filial as Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, they would be content. Not to ntion anything else, but just like when Lian Shouxin first split from the family, sending a good al to their parents when they make sothing nice, that would be enough.
These old people say with deep emotion that they don’t really crave that bite of food; they desire that piece of sentint. To be kept in mind, honored first by their sons and daughters-in-law.
In the village, there are quite a few sons and daughters-in-law who live separately, and there are also many such incidents of sending food. Generally, if a family makes sothing delicious, they also share a portion with their children and grandchildren living separately, letting them have a taste, and it puts their hearts at ease. There’s such an elderly person at the back street who always sends a portion of whatever good food he makes to his son living in the front yard, otherwise, he won’t eat.
Compared to these families, Lady Chiang knew that the old house indeed didn’t pay much attention to this aspect.
If, back when the Fourth Household was still poor, they had done a bit better, even if only applying the principle of reciprocity, the current situation might have been completely different.
Unfortunately, those primarily responsible for this situation show no regret whatsoever.
"Maybe they don’t really feel no remorse," Lady Chiang mused to herself while working, "they’re just too stubborn and accustod to being above others, thinking that no one could do anything to them, just bulldozing down one path to the very end.
However, living with such a person is truly hard, only those who experience it know."
As Lady Chiang thought this, she heard Lady Zhou and Old Master Lian’s voices coming from inside the house.
"...It’s heartless, I raised him, pulling him up with poop and pee, now he’s co up in the world, and he’s forgotten his own mother... Didn’t they always say she’s virtuous and filial? Eating like a horse, and forgetting there’re still elders around? Virtuous and filial my ass!"
"Just say fewer words," Old Master Lian cut off Lady Zhou’s complaints and curses sternly, "When they sent you food, you said they had bad intentions, just doing it for show, still being picky. Now they’re not sending anything, and you’re saying they’re heartless. What exactly do you want?"
"Why don’t you go say that on the main street, not getting food for a al, so you make a fuss, see if people talk about you or about Fourth’s wife. You might not care losing face, but I still do."
"And another thing, this ti it’s sothing concerning Old Zhang Family, not Old Fourth’s. What have you ever contributed to Old Zhang Family for them to respect you? What obligation does Old Zhang Family have towards you?"
Perhaps realizing her unreasonable stance, Lady Zhou didn’t retort Old Master Lian when he scolded her like that.
The room was quiet for a while before Lady Zhou’s voice sounded again.
"Am I soone who cares about food? I’m not complaining about them not sending food, just look at the amount I actually ate from what they sent. Didn’t I have you all eat it, while I only got to enjoy so flavor.... She’s the one handling this, she’s in the wrong."
Hearing Lady Zhou suddenly talk about reasoning, Lady Chiang couldn’t help but beco more careful in her actions; she was genuinely curious to know what kind of reasoning Lady Zhou could co up with.
"Why is Old Zhang Family marrying their daughter off through Old Lian Family? Why co to Old Lian Family to eat and drink? Are there no people in Old Zhang Family, or are they so poor they can’t even make ends et? Even if they don’t feel embarrassed, I feel embarrassed for them... That’s my son’s house, I haven’t even had the chance to lie down on that kang, why they co over and over there. How about from tomorrow, let Old Fourth change his surna, marry into Old Zhang Family as a son-in-law!"
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