After the banquet, the relatives rested awhile before gradually leaving, and Lu Gu and the others began cleaning up the dishes and tables in the courtyard.
Shen Yaoqing wiped down the borrowed tables before returning them to the neighbors, laughing, "I thought Fourth Uncle would get drunk again today, I was keeping an eye on him the whole time. Who knew he’d actually behave for once?"
"Him?" Wei Lanxiang snorted at the mention of her fourth brother. "Your eldest uncle’s wife told me that before coming, your eldest uncle warned him. This is a celebration, and there are children here, he wasn’t allowed to get wasted and make a scene."
"Ah, so that’s why." Shen Yaoqing chuckled. As a junior, he couldn’t have stopped his uncle from drinking, so it was good the eldest uncle had intervened.
Lu Gu sat in the kitchen washing bowls while Shen Xuanqing carried in a stack of dishes, squatting opposite him by the wooden basin.
"Did you eat enough?" Shen Xuanqing asked.
Lu Gu hesitated before nodding, though he didn’t say he was full. Seeing this, Shen Xuanqing laughed.
Lu Gu lowered his voice. "With all the aunts and uncles here, how could I eat much? It’s proper to let the guests eat their fill first."
Country folk didn’t often get to feast, and some of their relatives were poor. The banquet had been nearly emptied, with hardly any leftovers. Shen Xuanqing glanced at the bamboo shoots and river snails soaking in the basin. "I’ll stir-fry some bamboo shoots with meat for you later. Is there any chicken soup left?"
"Yes, we stewed all three pheasants, and there’s still some meat and broth in the pot." Lu Gu nodded. He had already thought of reheating a bowl of soup for himself, no one in this family would let him go hungry.
Then he asked, "Will you eat too? I saw you and Yuping barely had a bite."
Shen Xuanqing grinned. "Of course I will."
Lu Gu’s eyes brightened, his smile widening. "Then why scold me? You’re the same."
Zhou Xiangjun had left last, taking a big bowl of chicken soup and rice for Shen Yuping to eat at home before resting.
Outside, Wei Lanxiang overheard their conversation and called out, "Lu Gu, reheat the leftover chicken soup and stir-fry some bamboo shoots for us later. With so many guests today, I barely got to eat!"
Even Shen Yaoqing nodded in agreement.
As hosts, they had to be reserved during the banquet, it was customary. Once the guests left, they could finish the leftovers, clearing the dishes properly.
Shen Xuanqing had brought back three pheasants, all stewed for the soup. To ensure the relatives ate well, they had cooked everything, leaving only half a pot now.
No one would let Ji Qiuyue go hungry. During the meal, Wei Lanxiang had set aside a bowl of meat, vegetables, rice, and soup for her to eat in the room while she tended to the baby. So when the others ate their chicken soup over rice later, she didn’t join, busy putting the child to sleep.
Since the baby’s birth, Wei Lanxiang had held her head higher in front of the village women, especially the two gossips who had once mocked them. Now, she couldn’t stop talking about her "precious grandson," finally avenging the past humiliations. Who dared say Ji Qiuyue couldn’t bear children now? And the fact that it was a son made her even prouder. Whether in the countryside or the town, having a son meant the family wouldn’t be bullied in the future.
If the baby weren’t so young, she’d have carried him around the village every day just to show him off.
____
The sky darkened, threatening rain. Lu Gu and Shen Yan hurried back from the river with two baskets of grass, packed tightly. Even this wouldn’t be enough, with so many animals to feed, they couldn’t afford to be caught in the rain later. They emptied the baskets in the main hall to keep the grass dry.
Just as they finished, they heard Wei Lanxiang talking to someone outside.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, back from the fields? Haven’t been to Yutao’s place these days?" Wei Lanxiang carried a basket of coarse buns to feed the dogs but stopped when she saw Zhou Yunzhi returning with a hoe.
Zhou Yunzhi’s expression soured, but she replied, "No, not yet. Maybe in a couple of days if Yutao sends word."
Wei Lanxiang knew well that Yutao’s wife looked down on them as country bumpkins who couldn’t even raise children properly, hence the reluctance to invite them to town.
She ignored Zhou Yunzhi’s mood. During the full-month celebration, Zhou Yunzhi had complained in front of relatives that her grandson hadn’t followed the family genealogy when naming the baby. Luckily, most guests were from Wei Lanxiang’s and Ji Qiuyue’s families, so no one paid her any mind.
But Wei Lanxiang hadn’t forgotten. Smiling, she said, "That’s why I was wondering why you hadn’t gone. I thought if you did, maybe Yutao would treat you to Hongqiao (dish featuring green snails), and you could take me along! It’s the season for it now. Last year you said Yutao was too busy, and I didn’t have time either. Thinking back, it’s been a whole year since you promised, and I still haven’t tasted it."
Zhou Yunzhi’s brows furrowed, her eyes turning wary, clearly guarding against Wei Lanxiang trying to mooch off her. A plate of hongqiao was expensive, the cheapest costing fifty copper coins! She hadn’t even eaten it this year, and here was this money-grubbing woman, acting like she deserved a treat.
The more she thought, the angrier she grew, barely stopping herself from snapping, "Don’t even think about it!" Suppressing her fury, she forced a cold laugh. "How would I know? Yutao works hard in town to support his wife and child. I wouldn’t dare trouble him."
Wei Lanxiang feigned surprise. "Eldest Sister-in-law, the whole village knows how filial Yutao is! If you said you wanted hongqiao, how could he refuse? Besides, Jiaojiao is such a dutiful daughter-in-law. If you really go, remember to call me, let me share in Yutao’s generosity!"
Filial daughter-in-law? Zhou Yunzhi nearly spat. And hearing Wei Lanxiang’s eager tone, her disdain only grew, afraid of being taken advantage of. She quickly excused herself, "I have things to do. Your eldest brother is waiting for me to cook."
Without another word, she hurried off, not even looking back.
Wei Lanxiang watched her go, finally feeling vindicated. Knowing Zhou Yunzhi’s stingy nature, she’d likely avoid coming over again anytime soon. What a miserly shrew, she cursed inwardly before turning to enter the house.
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