"Hey, no need! How could I let her go to all that trouble? Little girl Li Chuchu is really too polite," Uncle Li refused with a beaming smile on his face, but his butt had already shifted off the stool.
He turned towards the house and shouted, "Xiufen, don't cook today. We're going to the next compound for dinner tonight."
"Okay, Dad."
There were still a few other families in the compound. They were all the ones who had helped out last time. Aunt Wang also invited them to join in the fun. They pretended to decline but still walked over. When they all arrived at Li Chuchu's place in a group and saw the dishes on the table, their faces lit up once again.
There were braised beef, marinated pork knuckles, pig ears, and the famous roast duck from the shop near the entrance. There were quite a few large plates of dishes, filling up two tables both inside and outside the house.
Goodness! All were sumptuous dishes!
Don't look down on this young daughter - in - law of the Shen family. She really knows how to do things on a grand scale!
"Hey, daughter - in - law of the Shen family, a simple gesture would have been enough. Why go to so much expense making all these dishes?" Uncle Li said politely, but his eyes had been glued to the dishes on the table since he entered the room, and he was almost drooling.
Aunt Li gave him a disdainful look. At his age, he was still so greedy. It would make people laugh.
Just then, Li Chuchu came in carrying a large plate of braised pork. A rich, sweet aroma filled the room.
She had specifically chosen the streaky pork with 70% fat and 30% lean meat from the market and used rock sugar to make the caramel color. People in this era lacked fat in their diet, so this dish was sure to be popular.
Sure enough, everyone in the room was staring at it intently.
The pork was so fragrant and looked so crystal - clear. It obviously had been stewed until tender.
Everyone swallowed their saliva involuntarily.
This daughter - in - law of the Shen family really knows how to do things. She managed to make such a decent meal!
It seemed as if what they were thinking was written all over their faces. Seeing everyone's reactions, Li Chuchu just smiled and said, "Don't be polite. I invited you all here to have a good time. Don't be shy. Eat to your heart's content."
Seeing that there were still two green vegetables left to be stir - fried outside,
Aunt Wang didn't idle around either.
She quickly went to help Li Chuchu stir - fry them.
Noticing that there weren't enough stools, she called Uncle Wang to carry two stools from their own house.
The young daughter - in - law of the Li family, with her pregnant belly, looked up at the large bay window and the wallpaper and exclaimed sincerely, "This room is so beautifully decorated!"
"This curtain is really pretty! The one in our house is so old - fashioned. I also want to change to a new one."
"The daughter - in - law of the Shen family has such good taste! With just this decoration, it's like a whole new room."
Uncle Li said with a beaming smile, "Hahaha, we men are all sweaty. We don't want to make a mess of her house. Let's sit and eat at the table outside."
"Okay, okay, okay."
Uncle Wang came over carrying the chairs and also wanted to sit outside.
It would be more enjoyable to drink outside!
With good wine and delicious food, the men ate to their heart's content. Inside, the women and children sat together, chatting about daily life and gossiping.
When the last two green vegetables were served, everyone pulled their stools and called Aunt Wang to come and eat quickly.
A gentle summer breeze blew, and they sipped their wine.
It was so refreshing!
...
After Luo Yingshu, the daughter - in - law of the Liu family, picked up Xiaohu from outside, she saw so many people in Li Chuchu's house. The house seemed to have been redecorated.
The windows and furniture were all so exquisitely renovated. Jealousy distorted her face.
Humph, just a few days ago, they were as poor as church mice. I wonder where they got the money from?
Xiaohu was sucking his finger. Smelling the aroma of the meat, saliva was dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Mom, why don't we go and eat?"
He saw Grandma Wang, Uncle Wang, and Grandma Li there, and his good friends were also in the room. Why couldn't he go?
"Humph, putting on the airs of a capitalist. People who don't know might think a capitalist miss has moved into our compound. Now she's showing off her wealth. Be good, we won't go. Mom will stew meat for you at home."
Luo Yingshu deliberately spoke loudly so that everyone in the compound could hear.
Aunt Wang saw her coming back and came over with a smile to smooth things over.
"Hey, isn't this Yingshu? You've gone to pick up the child? I just went to invite you to come and have dinner, but when I saw your house was empty, I thought you must have gone to pick up the child. Come on, Xiaohu, come and eat here."
Luo Yingshu pulled Xiaohu back and said haughtily,
"Thank you, Aunt Wang. We won't eat here. We've cooked our own meal at home. We don't want to be a nuisance. In case someone thinks I'm taking advantage of her."
She was a woman of integrity. She would never eat at her enemy's place.
Aunt Wang looked a bit embarrassed.
She thought that they were all neighbors. Today your family might encroach on a bit of my land in front of the door, and tomorrow my chicken might eat your rice. Who didn't have a bit of a conflict with someone else? Having a couple of meals together would reconcile them.
She didn't expect Luo Yingshu to be so stubborn. She just refused to come.
Seeing this, Li Chuchu found it really funny.
Did Luo Yingshu really think she was someone important?
She said with a smile,
"Aunt Wang, if you can't persuade her, don't bother. Maybe she's having abalone and other delicacies in her house and looks down on our meal."
People around burst into laughter.
"Yeah, maybe she's having something even better tonight."
"Hahaha, isn't Liu Xiaocheng away in another place? Maybe he really sent something delicious for the mother and son. Daughter - in - law of the Liu family, if you really have something good, show it to us and let us have a look!"
Luo Yingshu blushed with embarrassment.
She left with a "There's nothing" and quickly ran back.
The people having dinner here didn't take this little episode seriously and continued eating.
Yang Xiufen was pregnant and didn't have a good appetite. She usually ate very little. But seeing that the braised pork was so delicious, she ate a few more pieces and then just had some green vegetables.
Opposite her, Sister Ge was feeding a child. The child was very well - behaved, eating heartily without crying or making a fuss. Aunt Wang had a good appetite. She gnawed on a pig's trotter and ate a few pieces of braised pork. There was oil on the corner of her mouth.
After a while,
a voice suddenly came from outside the window, "Li Chuchu, your family is here."
Li Chuchu walked out to take a look.
She only saw Wu Li standing at the door with a red leather bag on her arm.
She was dressed quite fashionably.
Li Chuchu raised her eyebrows slightly. Did Li Jianmin know he was too ashamed to show his face? So he sent Wu Li to deliver the money?
People around were whispering when they saw her.
"Is this Li Chuchu's step - mother?"
"Seems so. Why is she dressed like a temptress?"
Wu Li didn't expect there to be so many people in Li Chuchu's compound. Being stared at so blatantly by so many people, she felt extremely embarrassed.
Her face was flushed with heat. She raised her hand to wipe the sweat off her face.
This place was really out - of - the - way. She had asked several people before finding the way. Looking around, it was all shabby and gray.
Sure enough, people like Li Chuchu only deserved to live in such a poor place.
Moreover, the silk dress she was wearing cost over a hundred yuan. These people were really just country bumpkins who had never seen the world.