The last time I came back to the old house was about eight or nine months ago, when I stood by Qi Fenglian. Returning to the in-laws now feels like a lifetime ago.
For the banquet to celebrate Qi Jianguo getting into college, many round tables have already been borrowed and stacked in the yard, along with long benches and baskets filled with big bowls and chopsticks.
In the countryside, this is how banquets are set up. They are mostly held at home for the liveliness, and more importantly, to save money, as hosting at home costs much less than at a big restaurant.
This is why whenever thereās a happy event, most families borrow bowls, chopsticks, and plates from each household, just like the Qi family is doing now.
"Dad, Mom, weāre back!" Qi Fenglian called out.
Father Qi and the others came out of the main room, and upon seeing Cheng Su and the group, their faces immediately lit up with smiles.
Mother Qi glanced behind them and asked, "Taiguo didnāt come back with you?"
"Heās on a mission and hasnāt returned yet!" Cheng Su replied, and then greeted Father Qi.
Mother Qi pursed her lips but brightened up at the sight of the things Cheng Su was carrying.
"Come on in, you must be tired," Father Qi said, smiling as he took the items from Qi Fenglian and the others.
The group walked into the main room, and Qi Fengping came out of a side room, yawning. She looked a bit stunned to see them.
"Big sister." She first called out to Qi Fenglian, then, somewhat reluctantly looking at Cheng Su, she said, "Sister-in-law!"
Cheng Su was startled when she saw Qi Fengping, wondering how she had grown so round in just eight or nine months.
Her hair was a bit messy, her face resembling a bun, her body plump, her waist hardly visible, and her chest quite full.
Yet her plumpness didnāt seem youthful but gave her the mature look of a young matron.
Qi Fengping caught Cheng Suās gaze and knew what she was thinking, furiously glaring back at her.
Cheng Su quickly averted her eyes, catching a glimpse of her own furrowed brows.
Qi Fenglian, on the other hand, seeing her roundness, directly asked, "Fengping, when I came back last month, you werenāt this chubby. How did you grow like this in just one month?"
A round face and a round body, like a pregnant lady.
"Donāt mention her. This lazy girl does nothing but eat and sleep all day, eating two big bowls of rice per meal and still claiming to be hungry. How can she not get fat?" Mother Qi complained about her younger daughter, "Ask her to do some work, and sheās lazier than a snake, unwilling to move, so lazy she could fly to the sky!"
Qi Fengping, a bit embarrassed and annoyed, retorted, "Mom, why do you talk like that? Eating two bowls of rice canāt harm anyone. Iām going through a growth spurt, so of course, Iām eating a lot!"
"Little sister-in-law, typically during growth spurts, youāre around Xiao Yunās age. Youāre eighteen; you should be settling down, not really growing anymore!" Cheng Su reminded her with a smile.
"You think you know everything. Who says you stop growing at eighteen?" Qi Fengping countered, "Besides, Iām not eating your food, so why do you care how fat I am?"
Alright, I have said too much.
Cheng Su didnāt argue back, she turned to Father Qi and said, "Dad, Iāll go put the luggage in the room first."
"Go ahead, go ahead!" Father Qi waved with a cheerful smile.
Cheng Su took the luggage and walked out of the main room, and as she turned a corner, she heard Father Qi scolding Qi Fenglian: "Why argue back with what your sister-in-law says? Show some respect."
"Dad, Iām your daughter. Whose side are you on? I know you all think I eat too much, didnāt get into college, didnāt make you proud. Fine, I wonāt come out and embarrass myself anymore."
Then came the sound of a door slamming, and Cheng Su shook her head.