"There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, that house is there, it won’t run away. You don’t have to wait for a specific occasion, whenever you feel like going, just go, stay as long as you want. That’s another home for us." Lady Zhang said to Lady Zhang Wang and Zhang Caiyun.

Lady Zhang Wang and Zhang Caiyun both nodded.

"In the future, we definitely need to visit, thanks to my big sister/aunt, we can also broaden our horizons."

Lady Li then decided who would go to the prefecture city, leaving Lady Zhang Wang to look after the two little children while the others would go.

"... then I’ll find two wives from the village to help watch the house. I’ll ask your father later to see how he wants to arrange it." Lady Li concluded.

This was leaving a way out for Zhang Qingshan, clearly showing that Zhang Qingshan was the head of the family. However, everyone understood that since Lady Li had decided, unless something else came up, Zhang Qingshan would certainly follow her plan.

As they were talking, Old Madam Lu and Lu Family’s Eldest Daughter-in-law arrived, it turned out the meals were ready, and they invited everyone to the table.

Everyone went to wash their hands and then took their seats. Xiao Long and Xiao Hu had already been brought over by Lu Bingwu and were next to Zhang Qingshan.

The Lu Family had specially invited a head chef from a restaurant in town, so the meal was naturally quite good. There were four tables in total, two in the Upper Room East Room for male guests, and two in the west room for female guests, the Lu Family also arranged a table for the Lian family’s attendants, hosting them very considerately.

"... it’s just ordinary home-cooked dishes, please make do with it." When inviting everyone to the table, the Old Master Zhang and Old Madam were persistently humble.

Lian Manman wasn’t very hungry today, she ate a bowl of rice and then left the table early, carrying Dabao to Zhang Caiyun’s room.

Zhang Caiyun naturally couldn’t sit at the table, nor could she eat the food from the table. Old Madam Lu and the Eldest Sister-in-law of the Lu Family prepared separate food for her. When Lian Manman entered with Dabao, Zhang Caiyun was holding a bowl, frowning, and angrily eating a pork knuckle. The pork knuckle was clearly well-cooked, tender and falling apart, the aroma was tempting from afar. But from Zhang Caiyun’s expression, it seemed like she had a deep-seated grudge against it.

Lian Manman sat on the kang, watching Zhang Caiyun, trying not to laugh. Dabao, though not understanding, sensed her amusement and laughed even more heartily than her.

"You all enjoy yourselves and still have the heart to make fun of me, that’s too cruel." Zhang Caiyun complained tearfully.

"My grandma and my aunt both said you are eating well, what more can you complain about?" Lian Manman teased deliberately.

"Big fish and meat, it looks good. Just try it yourself." Zhang Caiyun rolled her eyes, "Forget the other spices, there’s not even salt in here. They just put ginger in it. My grandma and my mom were in cahoots, I heard them conspiring outside, my sister-in-law even suggested adding a little salt, just enough to give it some flavor, it wouldn’t hurt. But they didn’t agree. They said just put ginger, nothing else."

"Once or twice is fine, but every day is like this. For this rascal, I’ve suffered so much." Zhang Caiyun said, glancing at the already sleeping Shuanzhu, then turned back to gnaw on the pork knuckle and drink the soup fiercely. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Lian Manman noticed that the broth had a thick layer of grease on top, yet lacked salt for seasoning. Despite Zhang Caiyun’s frustrated look, she ate heartily without needing any encouragement. This was another of Zhang Caiyun’s admirable traits, she wasn’t fussy or pretentious.

"Dabao, when you grow up, you must be good to your mother. She went through the same thing." Zhang Caiyun told Dabao.

"Oh, oh." Dabao, knowing Zhang Caiyun was talking to him, waved his little hands and let out excited cries, as if responding.

"Good boy, so well-behaved." Lian Manman said, giving Dabao’s chubby little cheek a kiss.

"Manman, why did you eat so quickly, are you full, did you not like the food?" Zhang Caiyun asked Lian Manman.

"You all really are like family, even asking the same questions as my mother-in-law and sister-in-law did earlier. I’m full, I had more snacks when we left the county town this morning. Then, while chatting here, I ate a lot of fruits without noticing, so I’m really not that hungry now."

"Today’s meal was really well-made, top-notch." Lian Manman added in praise.

Hearing that Lian Manman was full, Zhang Caiyun felt reassured.

"My mom and the others brought a lot of fruits, but they won’t let me have even one, saying they’re cold. I really miss their taste." Zhang Caiyun complained again.

"Just hang in there, you’ll be able to eat everything in a few days." Since it was not a matter of real concern, Lian Manman replied.

Seeing Lian Manman so unconcerned, Zhang Caiyun muttered a couple of words but didn’t complain further. Once Zhang Caiyun finished eating, she didn’t clean up, instead continued chatting with Lian Manman, and soon the Eldest Sister-in-law of the Lu Family came over, swiftly clearing the table.

When Lady Zhang and the others finished their meal, they all sat together for tea, chatted for a while, and then took their leave from the Lu Family. Zhang Qingshan, Zhang Qingnian, Lady Li, and a few from the Wu Family also went out, all heading towards Manman’s Family.

These past few days, only Lady Zhang Wang stayed with Zhang Caiyun at the Lu Family, while Lady Li and the others stayed at Lian Manman’s family overnight.

Back at home, the men gathered in the front yard to chat, while the women went straight to the back, heading to Lady Zhang’s room.

...

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