It was the dead of night, a call for the pink powder.
*****......******
"Elder sister, Grandma is looking for you and Niuniu," Lian Manman did not pick up on Lady Chiang’s cue, and instead spoke with a smile, "It’s almost ti for dinner, Auntie, Duoduo, you should also co inside quickly."
"You go back first," Lady Gu signaled Lady Chiang with her eyes.
The backyard was chilly, with a strong wind. Despite being dressed warmly, staying out for a long ti was unbearable, especially for Niuniu.
Lady Chiang, holding Niuniu and taking Lian Duo by the hand, entered the house. Once inside, she let go of Lian Duo and instead grabbed Lian Manman’s hand.
Lady Zhou was coming out of the house, and upon seeing Lady Zhang cooking, she noticed them but said nothing.
Lady Chiang hurried over to Lady Zhou, urging Niuniu to call her "Great," which in the local dialect of Thirty Mile Camp was the term for a great-grandmother, probably a short form of Great Grandma, while the great-grandfather was referred to as Great Grandfather.
Lady Zhou was always affectionate towards Lady Chiang and Niuniu, so she smiled.
"Don’t run about in the wind and catch a cold. Take Niuniu and go sit inside; it’s almost ti to eat," Lady Zhou said.
"Auntie, let Niuniu stay with . I’ll help Auntie Four with so chores," Lady Chiang offered.
"All the work is done. I’ve said it before, just take good care of Niuniu," Lady Zhou responded.
Today was butchering day, and Niuniu was young; fearing she might be frightened, Lady Zhou had not allowed Lady Chiang to work and instead had her watch Niuniu inside.
"How could that be right?" While Lady Chiang spoke, she squeezed Lian Manman’s hand slightly and frequently gave her a pleading look.
Lian Manman playfully teased Niuniu, seemingly oblivious.
"Manman, co and help your sister set the table and pick up the bowls," Lady Zhang, having finished the last dish, straightened up and instructed.
Lian Manman agreed with a nod, broke free from Lady Chiang’s grip, and went to work.
Lady Chiang showed a disappointed expression but said nothing.
Lian Manman certainly noticed, and to talk about disappointnt, was she not disappointed? If Lady Gu needed soone to plead her case, why co to her? Why didn’t Lady Chiang do it herself? They said she was favoured by Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, but wasn’t Lady Chiang more influential in Lady Zhou’s presence? Were they all crystal-hearted, glass people, taking her for a fool? Or did they think she was young, soft-hearted, and easy to talk to?
...
The Lian Family, along with Butcher Zhang and guests, certainly made for no small number; the original four tables weren’t enough, and two more were added. Three tables were joined together at the head of the kang bed for one seating area, and the other three at the foot of the kang bed ford another.
The head of the kang bed was reserved for the Lian family’s males and guests, while the won of the Lian family, along with Liulang and Xiao Qi, sat at the foot.
The seating at the head of the kang bed offered various stir-fried dishes, a large pot of butcher’s bounty, a bowl of pig’s blood and tofu, and a jar of ward wine. At the foot of the kang bed, the stir-fried dish was simply bean sprouts, but the butcher’s bounty and pig’s blood and tofu were the sa.
The children were eager to climb onto the kang bed, sitting beside the tables waiting. Lady Zhou, along with several daughter-in-laws, were the last to take their seats.
As per Lady Zhou’s custom, the distribution system still applied at their table for today; the butcher’s bounty pot only contained pickled vegetables and broth, with Lady Zhou serving a separate pot of bones and at. Rice and other dishes were freely available to eat today, but the at would be distributed by Lady Zhou.
Knowing that they were butchering a pig today and everyone would eat together, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang convened a full family eting the previous evening. The spirit of the eting was simple: if Lady Zhou scolded soone or was unjust, they must endure.
"We’re all divvied up now, and such occasions aren’t frequent, only a few tis a year, becoming even fewer in the future. Your Grandfather and Grandma have worked hard all their lives, and it wasn’t easy. Especially your Grandfather, who cherishes having the whole family together in high spirits. If anything happens tomorrow, just bear with it. Let your Grandfather have a cheerful day," Lian Shouxin elucidated, with the main ssage being to ensure, against all odds, a harmonious atmosphere.
Lady Zhang concurred with Lian Shouxin’s decision.
"At that ti, your Grandma will surely distribute the at. No matter if it’s more or less, don’t say a word and don’t show any displeasure. If your Grandma doesn’t give at, you mustn’t speak up nor let anyone pass at to ," she insisted.
Thinking that the children wouldn’t mind eating less at but would surely resent Lady Zhou if she failed to provide at for their mother, Lady Zhang added another command.
"...We’ll buy so at and make it up when we get ho," Lady Zhang declared.
Lian Manman and the other children nodded in agreent, expressing their firm intention to follow their parents’ directives.
Lady Zhou first took several small basins and placed one in front of Lian Xiuxiu, Lady Chiang, and several other daughter-in-laws. Only then did she start picking at from the large pot with chopsticks, distributing it into the smaller basins for each of them.
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