Chapter 188: Chapter 24: Post-dinner Meeting
"That pocket is also embroidered for you, but I havenât finished it yet. You often go out, and itâs not proper to be without a pocket. How can you carry all the silver in your arms?" Mrs. Lv looked at the pocket, raised it towards Gu Chengyu, itâs sky blue, with pine and cypress embroidered on it, only not finished!
"Once itâs embroidered and tied with knots, itâll be done!" Mrs. Lv put the pocket back into the basket of sewing supplies, her initially cheerful face seemed to recall something, furrowing her brows slightly.
Gu Chengyu knew, perhaps still worried about Lv Yang. Speaking of Lv Yang, Yu Tuanzi should be returning to the village today. After all, heâs back from the county; he has to meet him eventually. Itâs just as well, saves him the trouble of finding him!
"Mom! The kids have all come back, and second sister-in-law hasnât returned yet, should we wait until sheâs back to start dinner?" At this moment, Mrs. Zhang lifted the curtain and came in, asking Mrs. Lv about setting the table. It was her turn to manage the kitchen today. He had gone to her parentsâ house early in the morning and still hadnât returned by now.
Even the nephews studying at the private school had come back, Da Ya and the others had gathered several baskets of pig grass, yet there was no sign of He. She said she would return after lunch before leaving.
"Just her? Then letâs not wait! Itâs mealtime, and she doesnât know to come back? Does the whole family have to wait for her alone?" Mrs. Lv was already feeling uneasy and certainly wouldnât wait for He.
"Tell your dad and them to come out, stop fiddling with that rabbit cage!" Yet another big issue was unresolved, and everyone at home seemed unconcerned, not anxious at all! Sigh!
"Alright! Iâll save some food for second sister-in-law!" Mrs. Zhang agreed promptly and was about to lift the curtain to go out.
"Save what? She probably already ate at her parentsâ house! Letâs start dinner!" Mrs. Lv rolled her eyes when she heard about saving food. This daughter-in-law acts more important than the mother-in-law.
Mrs. Zhang suppressed her upturned mouth with all her might and readily agreed!
Gu Chengyu felt that Mrs. Zhang also had a lot on her mind. When she first came, perhaps the family was poor, and she was a bit timid, even sharing the table without daring to pick up dishes. But now, look, there isnât a shadow of her former self.
Not that maintaining the original character was necessary, but Mrs. Zhangâs thoughts were quite lively! Besides appearing cheerful, she wasnât without her calculations. Among the three daughters-in-law, third sister-in-law was the most adept socially and the most calculating!
Mrs. Zhang left the kitchen in high spirits! This He always looked down on her, picking on her constantly, causing her to be scolded by her mother-in-law several times. She even went around the village claiming she was a barren hen, thinking she didnât know it was her spreading the rumor. Humph! You like bullying me openly? Then Iâll come at you secretly, set traps for you!
Mrs. Zhang had dug quite a few pits for He in the last two years!
"Mom! Iâll call grandma and grandpa; itâs time to eat!" Only then did Gu Chengyu remember that there were still two people in the side room, and he had to call them.
Mrs. Lv paused, "Go ahead!"
"In-laws, please take the head seats!" Mr. Gu led the old man to sit at the head of the table.
"In-laws, donât blame Jin Niang. You know what the eldest brother-in-law is like; weâre really too afraid to visit!" Mr. Gu looked at the two frail old people, feeling a bit guilty inside.
"No blame! No blame! We know we made mistakes back then, so itâs already kind of you to keep us here today!" The old lady looked at Mrs. Lv, tears in her eyes. It had been years since sheâd seen her daughter. Knowing her daughter was doing well now, she was relieved.
Mrs. Lv still harbored some resentment and pretended not to see.
"Itâs better not to mention the past. Try some of the third familyâs cooking. Oh! You probably donât know everyone, right? Iâll introduce everyone to you!" Mr. Gu pointed to each member of the Gu Family, introducing them one by one, and everyone greeted them.
The old couple felt a bit embarrassed. They didnât have a penny on them and nothing to give to so many juniors.
"Thereâs also the second daughter-in-law, gone to her parentsâ house and hasnât returned yet. Youâll meet her once sheâs back!" Mr. Gu kept putting food on their plates, urging them to eat more.
The old lady noticed there were even two bowls of big meat on the table! They were eating white rice, too; her daughterâs family really was doing well! She was delighted and couldnât resist picking up a bowl to examine closely, having never tasted white rice before! How come this rice is so white?
"Oh my! How come you started eating without me?" He came back from outside holding a bundle, secretly hiding the treats for her two sons in the room. She didnât expect that everyone had already started eating upon entering the main house.
"Why are you only getting back now? Whoâs going to wait for you? Making a whole family starve, do you have such face?" Mrs. Lvâs face darkened, seeing He return after being out all day without greeting anyone and just sitting at the table. What kind of rule was this?
"Mom! Didnât I walk back? Iâm exhausted and starving! Da Ya! Bring me a bowl of rice!" As soon as she sat down, He pushed aside Mrs. Fang and started poking at the dishes with her chopsticks.
"Youâre an adult, still having your niece serve you food, is she your maid? Back home, you donât even greet people before sitting down. What kind of reasoning is that?" Mrs. Lv was beside herself with anger. This second daughter-in-law was becoming more and more unruly!
"Hey! Dad! Mom! Huh? Who are these two?" He wondered in her heart, as she noticed two people sitting beside Mr. Gu, dressed in ragged clothes, looking thin to the bone.
"Ahem! These are your grandma and grandpa! Theyâll stay with us for a while! In-laws, donât mind her; sheâs just loud!" Mr. Gu explained awkwardly to the old couple.
"What? Grandma and grandpa? When did they come?" He looked surprised, werenât her mother-in-lawâs family members not in contact? Why were they here today?
Da Ya and the others shared the same curiosity. During lunch, they hadnât seen their great-grandparents at all!
"Alright! Sit down and eat!" Gu Chengyi hurriedly urged as He seemed about to start a litany.
After eating, he had something to say. Thinking about how to bring it up, he had to go over it again in his mind!
After dinner, Mrs. Zhang was leading the girls to clear the table, and Gu Chengli and the others didnât retreat to their rooms as usual after the meal.
"Dad! You guys are back, we forgot to ask, how did Xiao Bao do in the exam? Did he pass? Otherwise, why was it ten days?" Gu Chengli suddenly remembered the important matter of the exam they hadnât inquired about.
Upon hearing the exam mentioned, the second son immediately perked up his ears. Could it be possible they were just playing around in the county? But his heart pounded with anxiety, fiddling with the corner of his clothes.
"Xiao Bao got the county champion this time and will go to the Prefecture for the exam in April!" Mr. Gu mentioned this with a smile on his face.
"County champion? Whatâs that?" Having never studied, Gu Chengli naturally paid no attention to it.
"Itâs first place! Wow! Little Uncle is incredible." Da Lang couldnât help but feel envious upon hearing he received the county champion.
The second son, on the other hand, clenched his clothes tighter. Why? He failed the exam, but Little Uncle topped it? The news left him feeling disappointed and unexplainably disheartened!