Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 844 - 430 Guest Meal_2

"Grandfather also asked my brother and me whether taking leave from the private school would affect our studies. I assured him that Mr. Loo would give us extra lessons, and only then did he feel relieved," Xiao Qi said.

"Grandfather wants us to study hard so that we can pass the imperial exams in the future. He also told us to cherish and pity the old and the poor, to be kind and accumulate good deeds, and to take care of any relatives and friends we can if circumstances allow," Wu Lang added.

Lady Gu and Lady Chiang were busy with something and didn’t come back; Lady He went into the kitchen and didn’t come out either.

Zhao Xiue had a room full of her maternal family members; they probably had private matters to discuss, so it was inconvenient for others to go there. And in Lady Zhou’s room, the conversation wasn’t lively, so it was pointless to go there. Thus, only the mother and daughters talked in the main hall.

Lian Manman found it strange. Lady Gu and Lady Chiang were both considerate people who knew the household situation well; normally at least one of them should have come to keep them company.

"Tomorrow your old aunt is getting married, and there are definitely many preparations to be done. We all know how your grandmother runs the household. It’s likely that your aunt and your sister-in-law have to be busy with things," Lady Zhang said understandingly, "They might be busy with that, we’re not picky about gifts; we mothers and daughters sitting here comfortably is just fine."

Wherever she went, Lady Zhang was always amiable and easy to talk to.

Lian Manman looked outside the house again; indeed, it didn’t seem like there were many tasks being attended to in the courtyard.

As evening approached, Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, Erlang, and Sanlang finally returned home.

Everyone had to meet and exchanged pleasantries, then they had dinner.

The dinner was split into three groups; one table in the main hall consisted of Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, Erlang, Sanlang, Si Lang, Liulang, Zhao Xiue’s father and brother; Wu Lang was also seated by Old Master Lian at this table.

Another table was set in Zhao Xiue’s room in the eastern wing, where Lady He dined with Lian Yaya, Zhao Xiue’s mother, and sister-in-law.

Then there was a table in the Upper Room East Room, where Lady Zhou, Lian Xiuxiu, Lian Lanlan, Yin Suo, and Lian Duoduo dined, and Lady Zhang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi were also invited to this table.

Lady Gu and Lady Chiang had to take care of inside and outside matters, so they did not join the tables immediately; they would eat after everyone else had finished.

On the kang bed in the east room, two kang tables were put together. When Lian Manman and the others entered, Lady Zhou was already seated at the table with Lian Xiuxiu and Lian Lanlan.

Lady Zhang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi also got onto the kang and took their seats at the table.

Soon, the dishes were brought in one after the other.

The cold dishes included four items: a plate of boiled salted peanuts, thin slices of ham, a mixed dish of three shreds, and pickled bean curd. The hot dishes included five items: stir-fried bean sprouts, garlic shoots with meat, garlic bolting with meat, cabbage tofu vermicelli, and a large bowl of tender pork hock, finished with a bowl of egg drop soup.

There was no rice for dinner, only two plates of steamed buns were served.

Once all the food was served, everyone waited for Lady Zhou to pick up her chopsticks before they commenced eating.

Lady Zhou had a stern face, rearranged the dishes on the table, and then started eating.

Seeing everyone picking up steamed buns first, Lian Manman also reached out to grab one, only to realize the large plate in front of them three contained coarse cornbread dumplings directed towards them.

Lian Manman was taken aback, her hand quickly turned to grab a white bun instead. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lady Zhang also reaching out, but for the coarse cornbread. Lian Manman quickly placed the white bun into Lady Zhang’s hand, then grabbed two more buns, giving one to Xiao Qi and biting into one herself.

After Lady Zhang took a bite of the white bun, there was a sound of chopsticks being heavily placed down and a cold snort from Lady Zhou.

Lady Zhang’s bite of steamed bun felt odd in her mouth.

Lian Manman gently nudged Lady Zhang with her elbow, signaling her to loosen up and eat freely.

"Mother, you are no longer the junior daughter-in-law of the past; you are a guest now."

Even if Lady Zhou deliberately placed several coarse grain buns in front of Lady Zhang, it wouldn’t matter if Lady Zhang didn’t eat them; Lady Zhou couldn’t forcibly stuff them into Lady Zhang’s mouth. If Lady Zhang chooses to eat the fine flour buns instead of the coarse ones, what can Lady Zhou do about it? Despite Lady Zhou’s likely frustration and anger, she wouldn’t dare to overtly forbid Lady Zhang from eating the fine flour buns and force her to eat the coarse ones in this setting.

Lian Manman took a bite of the steamed bun and reached for some dishes, only to discover that the stir-fried pork with garlic shoots and garlic bolt that was originally in front of her had disappeared, replaced by cabbage with vermicelli and stir-fried bean sprouts.

Lian Manman just took a bite of the bean sprouts.

"These bean sprouts are delicious," Lian Manman commented, catching sight of the stir-fried pork with garlic bolts in front of Yin Suo.

Lian Manman put down her chopsticks and held the plate of bean sprouts out to Yin Suo.

"Yin Suo, you like this dish, so here you go—we can switch," Lian Manman said as she picked up a plate of sauerkraut stir-fry and placed the plate of stir-fried bean sprouts in front of Yin Suo.

"I don’t like bean sprouts; I want the stir-fried garlic bolt pork," complained Yin Suo immediately.

Lian Manman acted as if she didn’t hear and busied herself with serving vegetables to Lady Zhang and Xiao Qi.

Lian Lanlan cast a look at Lian Manman and secretly pinched Yin Suo, signaling her to keep quiet.

Feeling wronged, Yin Suo looked up at Lian Lanlan, saw the meaningful glances she was giving, and reluctantly closed her mouth. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Lady Zhou stopped eating and directed her annoyance at Lian Manman and Lady Zhang. On the side, Lian Lanlan kept making eye signals and gestures under the table, trying her best to appease Lady Zhou and prevent her from lashing out.

Lian Manman pretended not to notice and quickly swapped the cabbage and tofu for the ham slices that were in front of Lian Lanlan, moving them to her own side.

"Not eating anymore." Lady Zhou slapped the table and sat to the side to be angry.

Seeing Lady Zhou turn her back, Lian Lanlan moved the elbow meat that was originally in front of Lady Zhou to in front of Lian Manman and Xiao Qi.

"Thank you, Aunt," Lian Manman said loudly.

***......****

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