Chapter 419: Chapter 217: The Clove Incident_1
"How could it be her?" Lian Manman revealed a surprised expression.
"Isn’t it customary to eat dumplings on New Year’s Eve? In the evening, Sister-in-law Xiu E was chatting with the old auntie, saying that adding a bit of white sugar to the meat filling would make it even more fragrant," Lian Yeye recalled as she spoke, "The old auntie then said if you add sugar to the meat, wouldn’t it become sweet? How could that taste good? Sister-in-law Xiu E said that in her family’s dumplings, they always add white sugar, and it tastes particularly good. The old auntie was persuaded by Sister-in-law Xiu E, lamenting that unfortunately, there was no white sugar at home. Sister-in-law Xiu E said that you all have some, saying you bought four jin of sugar from her grocery store right before the New Year. Sister-in-law Xiu E also mentioned that uncle and aunt bought so much sugar, they probably intended to give some to the seniors in the Upper Room."
"So she knew about this, and she still had the audacity to say that." Lian Manman scoffed, recounting to Lian Yeye how their good intentions to support Fuda Grocery Store turned into gossip about buying four jin of sugar, "There really are all sorts of people; our kindness was wasted like feeding it to dogs. What happened next? How did she persuade the old auntie to come to us for sugar?"
"After hearing her, the old auntie got quite angry, saying she was going to tell grandmother. Sister-in-law Xiu E stopped the old auntie, saying she shared it with her because they got along, not realizing you hadn’t given sugar to the Upper Room. She also claimed that if grandmother found out and it caused a fuss, you would certainly blame her for gossiping, making her look bad. And just like that, she convinced the old auntie, even saying that if the old auntie asked you for white sugar, you would definitely give it," Lian Yeye explained.
"And then, the old auntie came to us with a bowl asking for sugar?" Lian Manman inquired.
"Yes," Lian Yeye nodded, "Sister Manman, did the old auntie come to ask you for soy sauce yesterday morning? That was also because of Sister-in-law Xiu E."
"Ah, how does she manage to involve herself in everything?" Lian Zhizhi couldn’t help but interject.
"What happened?" Lian Manman asked.
"While grandmother was cooking with everyone, Sister-in-law Xiu E boasted about her ability to cook pig’s head and other dishes. Grandmother let her take charge, and... mid-way through, she used up a whole jar of soy sauce. She then told the old auntie to ask you for some, even making the old auntie say that grandmother sent her... She and the old auntie spoke in secret, but I overheard some of their conversation," Lian Yeye detailed.
"Yeye, what do you think of Sister-in-law Xiu E as a person?" after pondering for a moment, Lian Manman turned to ask Lian Yeye.
"She’s quite capable in the kitchen, my mother says she’s an efficient person." Lian Yeye said this and paused, "But I don’t think she has good intentions."
"She really is lacking." Lian Zhizhi was of a gentle nature, and it seemed she very much disliked Zhao Xiue.
"Indeed, just this morning, I don’t know if you two noticed." Lian Manman then recounted the matter of Niuniu asking for New Year’s money. "Our family has no money, and grandfather and grandmother have never given out New Year’s money, nor have we ever asked for it. Niuniu suddenly asking for it made grandmother a little uncomfortable. The eldest sister-in-law was worried grandmother would suspect that it was her idea, so she quickly tried to explain."
"Manman, you mean Sister-in-law Xiu E deliberately taught Niuniu to ask for New Year’s money?" Lian Zhizhi asked.
"Besides her, I can’t think of anyone else," Lian Manman said.
"It must have been her. This morning, while elder sister-in-law was tidying the house, Sister-in-law Xiu E took Niuniu out to play for quite a while," Lian Yeye added.
The holiday visits continued until midday before coming to an intermission. Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhang, and their sons Wu Lang and Xiao Qi returned. Wu Lang and Xiao Qi took out candies from their pockets, which they had received from their elders during New Year’s calls and hadn’t eaten, saving them to share with Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi. Lian Manman happily took out a box to collect the candies, saving them for everyone to enjoy later.
The family started cooking; they only boiled a pot of rice since all the dishes were ready-made, needing only to be reheated. The dishes for the New Year’s feast were prepared in large quantities, in anticipation of the busyness of the first days of the month, leaving no time for cooking.
After dinner, Lian Manman shared Lian Yeye’s words with Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang.
"The family values of the Old Zhao family are truly a concern," Lian Shouxin said, "We should have inquired more when we were arranging the marriage."
"His second uncle and aunt were only fixated on the fact that the bride’s family was wealthy and the dowry was substantial, never mind the rest," Lady Zhang sighed, "Our father was preoccupied with his older brother’s affairs at that time."
"Our parents didn’t agree either, but it was the second brother and sister-in-law who were determined to proceed with the Zhao family, and Erlang was willing too," Lian Shouxin recounted.
"Finding a wife should be about choosing someone with a good heart and straightforward ways, someone who is trouble-free and avoids gossip," Lady Zhang said.
In the afternoon, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang visited several households of their peers with whom they were on good terms. After returning home, the family was called into the Upper Room.
