"This is Balixiang," Lady Li said, pointing to another basket covered tightly, "just keep it covered like this and put it in the cabinet to warm for a few more days, then it can be eaten."
Lady Zhang also grew up in the mountains and was very familiar with these fruits, and she liked them a lot.
"I think they are ready now; I can already sll the fragrance," Lady Zhang said.
"Eldest sister loves Balixiang the most," Zhang Qingnian laughed, "There are two more baskets at ho; mom said she’s keeping them warm for you to eat when you go back for the New Year."
Lady Zhang, a little anxiously, stood up, put the basket of Balixiang into the cabinet, and then slowly walked back. Lian Manman, standing by the side, clearly saw that Lady Zhang had gone to the cabinet earlier and secretly wiped away tears from the corner of her eyes.
Lady Li then showed Lady Zhang that she had also brought so dried mushrooms, dried wood ears, and half a basket of eggs.
"Mom, you are the elder, and we are the younger ones; it’s enough for you to co and look, why bring all these things, making us younger ones feel uneasy," Lian Shouxin said.
"It’s not anything expensive, these fruit trees, mushrooms, and wood ears are just grown in the mountains, and these eggs are laid by the chickens at ho. These are all for my grandsons and granddaughters," Lady Li said.
"Mom, we’re doing well now, don’t always worry about us," Lady Zhang said softly.
"All right, let’s go see the Upper Room," Lady Li said.
After drinking a cup of brown sugar water, Lady Li had Lady Zhang pick out so fruit from each basket and put it into another basket, took a piece of fabric, and then went to the Upper Room.
Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou, Lian Shouren, and Lady Gu, among others, ca out to greet her and invited Lady Li to sit in the Upper Room East Room.
Of course, there was a round of pleasantries.
"This fabric is for Sister Huahua’s dowry, and this basket of fruit trees is for the in-laws to try," Lady Li said.
"Where is Sister Huahua?" Lian Manman asked. Lady Li had co to add to Lian Huahua’s dowry, but Lian Huahua had not yet shown up, and Lian Manman felt a bit dissatisfied.
"She just said she wanted to co and kowtow to grandma," Lady Gu hurriedly said with a smile, "This child, she’s about to get married, she’s shy. I’ll call her now."
"All girls are like this; we grown-ups understand it best," Lady Li said with a laugh.
Lady Gu went out and soon ca back with Lian Huahua, who perford the proper greetings to Lady Li. They hadn’t talked much when soone else arrived to give gifts; Lady Gu’s family had also sent people, and Lady Li chatted with them for a while before going to rest in the West Wing Room.
Soon, Chef He arrived, and Lady Zhou sent Lian Xiuxiu to call Lady Zhang.
"Mom, see, I have to help and don’t have ti to chat with you," Lady Zhang said to Lady Li, "With so many people coming and going, you won’t have good rest either."
"I already thought of your family’s affairs when I ca. You go ahead with your work; let the children keep company," Lady Li said.
...
According to the customs of the countryside, many dishes need to be prepared a day in advance, so that the next day, the al can be arranged on ti. For example, the atballs must be fried beforehand, the braised at and so stir-fries have to be partially cooked the day before, which ans they’re made half done, and before serving the next day, they just need to be stead or stir-fried a bit longer to be ready, without affecting the taste of the dishes at all.
Once Chef He had arrived, it was ti to start preparing the dishes. Neighbors such as Chunzhu and Chunzhu’s Wife, Wu Yuchang and Wife of Wu Yuchang, as well as several of the young n and won from other families with whom the Lian Family had dealings, also ca one after another. They were all there to help with the work.
In the villages, when hosting a banquet, the family often couldn’t manage alone and needed many hands, so well-acquainted families would co to help, a practice referred to as helping with labor. The more people ca to help with a family’s event, the better the family’s reputation and the more face they had in front of others.
Old Master Lian was well-liked in the village, so there were quite a few people who ca to help.
Everyone got busy. Lian Shouyi, along with a few half-grown boys from the second family and a few young people from the village, took care of borrowing tables, chairs, bowls, and dishes. Younger wives like Lady Zhang, Lady He, Lady Zhao, and Chunzhu’s Wife were responsible for assisting Chef He, doing tasks such as picking and cutting vegetables.
Those who ca to help were mostly diligent and cheerful young won. They worked while laughing and joking. Chef He had rolled up his sleeves and was mixing the dough and stuffing for frying atballs.
The courtyard was bustling with people coming and going, and the sound of laughter was endless. Lian Manman, curious about the way things were done in the countryside, also joined in the hustle and bustle.
By the ti the sun began to set, most of the work was almost done. Chef He had already fried the atballs and stir-fried a few dishes. At dinner, people like Lady Zhang and Lady Zhao prepared the al and invited Chef He and those who had co to help to eat.
The dinner was still millet rice, a pot of stewed tofu, a pot of at-sliced gudu (bubbling) tofu, and a pot of stir-fried bean sprouts. The dishes were simple, but there was plenty of food. Aside from the formal banquet, these were the usual dishes. Chef He didn’t make these dishes; it was Lady Zhang who was in charge.
After everyone had eaten, they sat in the Upper Room for a while before returning to the West Wing Room. Lady Li and Lady Zhang, the two mothers, sat on the kang bed and seed to have endless topics of conversation.
The children, including Lian Manman, couldn’t sit still in the room and stepped out to the outer room.
"Sister, I can sll the braised pork and the fried atballs," Xiao Qi sniffed and said to Lian Manman.
"We’ll be able to eat them tomorrow," Lian Manman said.
"Grandma said we shouldn’t sit at the banquet," Wu Lang said.
"Sister Manman, co look," Lian Yeye beckoned from the doorway, whispering to Lian Manman.
"What’s up?" Lian Manman walked over, following the direction of Lian Yeye’s pointing finger, and saw a figure moving stealthily along the window towards the greenhouse in the growing darkness outside.
"Ah!" Lian Manman couldn’t help but let out a startled cry. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to go to Qidian to vote for recomndation tickets, monthly tickets, and your support is my greatest motivation.)
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