Leave some food for your sister-in-law

  Fu Qiu Lian didn't know how Lian Qing told Lian Wu and his wife, anyway, half an hour later, Liu Mama personally came over to reply, "Miss, Master asked me to tell you that Uncle and Auntie are leaving."

  So soon? Fú Qiūlián thought for a moment, feeling that she still had to go over there. Not for anything else, but Lian Qing's mother and brother were one family after all. She had to consider Lian Qing's face, so thinking of this, she got up and walked out. Her foot stepped out, then paused again, turning her head to instruct Liu Mama, "Mama, go help me prepare a few boxes of pastries, make them exquisite, and have someone send them to the front courtyard."

  "Yes, miss." Although she felt that giving things to the couple was a waste, as they were clearly heartless, Liu's mother also knew that these were all about social etiquette and giving her own daughter a good impression in her husband's family. She smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, miss, I'll take care of it myself."

  Fu Jia Lian nodded, thought for a moment, and then called out to her, "Help me prepare some gifts for the kids again. Yeah, prepare six sets, but don't seal them yet. Let Er Sao take a look first, and then let Xiao Yatou seal them. Then write down on a note, remember it's two girls and one boy from the main house, and three boys from the second house, don't get them mixed up." Although she was a bit worried about Qian Shi, the things were all carefully selected, and each household and child had their own share, so Qian Shi probably wouldn't be foolish enough to lose them.

  In the living room, Qian Shi reluctantly stood up, "Dad, are we leaving now?" It's not easy to come to town once in a while, take a look at this house, it's so stylish, even the chair with a floral pattern under her butt hasn't been warmed up yet. How about eating a meal before leaving? This family is so rich, even the tea they drink is fragrant, and the food should have meat to eat, right?

  Thinking of meat, Mr. Qian felt his mouth watering, and his eyes rolled around, "Third brother, why don't I see third sister-in-law? Look at me, just now I was so busy talking that I even forgot about third sister-in-law, second aunt should also take a look at third sister-in-law, after all, she's carrying my little nephew in her belly. Why not have third brother send someone to escort me to third sister-in-law's place?" Incidentally, it would be good to take a stroll around the courtyard, even if I couldn't bring anything back, taking an extra look is also fine.

  "Is that so, Third Brother? Your second sister-in-law must be thinking of you and your younger sister. And what about my unborn nephew? Even if they did come, wouldn't we have to let them chat with Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister for a bit?" Being glared at by his own wife, Lian Wu's eyes rolled, and he immediately spoke up, "Third Brother, if your second sister-in-law doesn't take a liking to you and your younger sister, then when Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law ask about it later, we won't have anything good to say."

  "Sorry to keep you waiting, Second Brother and Sister-in-law. I suddenly felt a bit unwell earlier and arrived late. Please forgive me." Fú Qiūlián walked in with a smile, followed closely by Liu Mama who was being extremely careful, muttering things like "watch your step". Fú Qiūlián stopped inside the house and bowed to Lián Wǔ and his wife, "Second Brother, Sister-in-law."

  "Wow, just one night and the third brother and sister's complexion has improved so much. It's true that the water and rice in this town are nourishing." As he spoke, his eyes gleamed with envy, but his mouth muttered, "Third brother and sister mustn't eat too much, or when the time comes, the baby will be too big to deliver and you'll suffer for it."

  "What are you talking about, nonsense. " Lian Wu's eyes were sharp and saw Lian Qing with a dark face beside him, glaring at his own wife, then turned his head to Fuyu Lian and smiled awkwardly, "Third sister-in-law, don't listen to this woman, she doesn't know anything, just talking randomly."

  "Who said that, several midwives have said so too. Third sister, listen to me, you really can't eat too much, the baby will grow too big and it's not good for giving birth, believe me." At first, Lian Jia Er Sao was just speaking out of a sour heart, but this time she was scolded by Lian Wu, who pulled Fuyu Lian's hand and couldn't help but show some real anger. Lian Wu glared several times, wanting to curse, but was stopped by Fuyu Lian. "Thank you, Er Sao, for reminding me. I'm young and inexperienced in these things. In the future, if there's anything I don't understand, please remind me again."

  "Don't worry, don't worry, I've got it covered." Mr. Qian patted his chest to guarantee it, almost as if he was taking an oath. He glanced outside, then turned back and looked at Fu Qiulian with a hopeful expression, "Hey, third sister-in-law, it's getting late, why don't you give some pastries to second aunt to hold her over?"

  "It's not mine, actually. The pastries are there, but they're not for Second Aunt to eat." When she saw the flash of disappointment on Qian Shi's face, she pursed her lips and let out a faint smile. "Those were prepared by me, for Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law to take back and use at their leisure. As for food, I had already instructed the kitchen early on. It seems that we can sit for a bit longer, and then we'll be having lunch soon. Husband, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, is this arrangement alright?"

  Lian Qingxin felt a surge of gratitude, no matter what. Lian Wu was his own brother, and no matter how angry or resentful he was, this was an unchangeable fact. Moreover, having read the classics for so long, some things had been deeply ingrained in him. Upon hearing Fu Qiulian's arrangement, although his expression didn't change much, his heart warmed up. He stood up and grasped Fu Qiulian's hand, "The second brothers aren't outsiders either, just eat something casually. It's the young lady who has gone to a lot of trouble."

  Fen Suo Lian's smile, at this time, Liu Ma pushed out the small servant girl who was holding various gifts and smiled first to kneel down to Lian Qing, "Young Master, these are the gifts prepared by my family's daughter for Second Master and Second Madam. Please take a look, they are all ordinary things, it's just my family's daughter's heart. Don't despise them."

  "Not at all, not at all. Not a bit." Mrs. Qian heard that it was a gift for her, so she wouldn't dislike it. Looking at the several trays full of colorful things, her eyebrows and eyes lit up with joy, and she muttered to herself "Third brother's wife is being polite" and such phrases. By her ear, she heard Liu's mother laugh and say, "Second madam, these few gifts are from my family's daughter, entrusted to you to bring to the older madam's nephews and nieces at home. My family's daughter said that since she can't return now, she can only ask you to take the trouble."

  "Ah, this is great." But upon hearing that it wasn't all hers, Mrs. Qian's face fell, but then she smiled again - she saw that her own child's gift was several times better than the one from the main house.

  And she also has several pastries to take away.

  The corner of her eye caught Liu's mother bringing out the dishes, which were either fish or meat, with generous portions and a savory aroma that wafted up to Qian's nose, rendering her unable to look away.

  She still has meat to eat!

  What's the point of being resentful now? All his attention was focused on that table of dishes, and even when someone next to him clicked their tongue in disapproval, he calmly thought, this table must have cost one or two silver coins! But seeing San Ge's expression didn't change, it made people put down their guard, thinking secretly, the Fu family is indeed wealthy!

  A meal is eaten with joy, Fú Qiūlián has grasped the thoughts of Lián Wǔ's husband and wife, only managing to stir-fry big fish and meat, and also stewed a chicken egg and fried it. At first, Lián Wǔ's couple still remembered that they were in someone else's home, although they were also eating meat with big mouths, but they still paid attention to some extent. As they ate later, where did they care about so much? Especially Qiān Shì, her mouth was stuffed with braised pork, her hand held a half-eaten chicken leg, and her bowl had a pile of fish and meat as high as a small mountain. Even Fú Qiūlián, who was pregnant, couldn't help but purse her lips at this eating method. How big does one's stomach have to be?

  After lunch, they sat for a while, about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea. Qian Shi had to get up and bid farewell. Before leaving, she held onto Fu Qiulian's hand and wouldn't let go. Her eyes showed a hint of reluctance, "Third Brother's wife, you must come back soon, we sisters-in-law have a lot to talk about."

  "Don't worry, second sister-in-law, I will."

  After sending away Lian Jia's second couple, Lian Qing supported Fu Qiu Lian into the small flower hall and sat down, personally helping her hold a cup of honey water. "I saw that you didn't eat much earlier, what's wrong?"

  "No, I just don't have much of an appetite, husband, don't worry." However, Fú Qiūlián's words made Lián Qīng let out a sigh in her heart, and she slightly furrowed her brow, saying softly, "Is it because of what the second sister-in-law said that you're unhappy? The second sister-in-law has always been straightforward and frank, but later on, she won't even remember what she herself said. Don't take it to heart, wife."

  "Hubby, what are you talking about? I'm not in the mood, and what does it have to do with Second Aunt?" Fú Qiūlián asked with a hint of puzzlement, as Qīng Líng gently grasped her hand, his eyes filled with subtle meaning. "If Madam wasn't upset by Second Aunt's careless words like 'remember not to eat too much', why would you suddenly lose your appetite and not even touch half a bun?"

  Fu Qiu Lian shook her head and smiled wryly, "It's just a phrase, why would I care about this? Besides, Er Sao's words are indeed reasonable, I should thank her instead. I didn't eat because the dishes were too greasy, so I asked Liu Mama to prepare some light and plain white porridge, it'll be served soon."

  "Really?"

  "It's natural." Fu Qiu Lian's eyebrows and eyes were filled with a gentle smile.

  Digression

  A big chapter... friends give some collection ah... no motivation anymore. Roar roar.