Chapter 68.1

Translated by Aviana

Twenty-seventh day, Twelfth Lunar month——

As Lin Qingwan and others weren’t aware of the procedure for making tofu, they couldn’t make one. Thus, Yao-shi dropped by their village’s tofu maker’s place and bought two slabs of them. Yang Tiegen, who was also accompanying her, helped her carry them. On the way back home, they stopped by the small grocery store of the village and purchased two jugs of wine.

The center of the Luoxia village had a small grocery village. The family owning this shop built a small room at the side of their yard and converted it into a grocery store. Though a lot of things were sold there, they don’t have many varieties. Nevertheless, they had all the basic necessities like oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and wine, along with hair ties, needles and threads for embroidery, and candies for kids.

Back at home, Lin Qingwan chopped about a pound of meat from the leftover portion of pork.

The four of them together waded to the main room to give Yang loayezi and He-shi end-of-the-year presents.

Yang loayezi was quite astonished by their arrival. When his gaze fell upon the things in their hands, realization dawned upon him. His lips moved slightly; the words he wanted to say didn’t leave his mouth. He-shi’s initial gloomy face improved slightly after seeing the things in their hands.

Lin Qingwan and them didn’t know what to say to Yang laoyezi and others. Placing things in their hands, they turned out to leave after simply saying that these were the end-of-the-year gifts from them for the elderly couple.

All along, He-shi didn’t utter a word. But, just as they were about to step out, Yang laoyezi’s dull voice came from behind: “This year the situation at home isn’t good, and haven’t prepared anything. For the new year’s celebrations, you don’t have to come here for the family dinner, lest you would also suffer along with us and eat chaff and wild herbs.”

The term used in the raws for Family Dinner was 团圆饭 ( tuán yuán fàn ), which literally means family reunion dinner or simply reunion dinner. On the New Year’s Eve the entire family, no matter how far they are, gather at one place and have a get together feast.

These words were precisely the same ones Lin Qingwan had aimed at Elder Sister Yang a few days ago when both of them had a dispute, weren’t they?

Lin Qingwan found it a little amusing, was this old man still displeased at them for that? Fine, if he wanted to be miffed, he could be to his heart’s content. Anyway, it won’t even affect them a bit.

Yang Tiezhu and Yang Tiegen’s steps came to a halt as their complexions became slightly unsightly. However, without a word, they silently pulled their wives and left.

Even when they were having lunch, their complexions didn’t show any signs of improvement, for their faces were still enshrouded with gloom.

Lin Qingwan rolled her eyes as she remarked, “If he is asking us to not come for dinner, we just won’t go. The main house had sold this year’s pig, so there won’t be anything to eat there anyway. Not to mention, after such an unsightly dispute, do you still want to sit along with them and have a meal?! I can understand your feelings at the moment for being told off by the other person on the face in such a manner; rather, think in this way: having a family dinner together with them wouldn’t be good. Since the other person himself has said that directly and saved us from such an ordeal, why are you two still feeling depressed? Let’s make good use of the remaining days of the year-end and celebrate well, and have a joyous time.”

Yao Shi also chimed in, “Second sao is right! We have money anyway, what food can’t we eat? Why do we even have to go there to eat and see their faces? Everyone ate well when we celebrated the new year at home, except for us. Moreover, why do we have to sit together with them in current circumstances, pretending to be harmonious? Besides, father had already said such words upfront; obviously, he is least interested in having meals with us, then why should we even go there? Let’s not be depressed and have a nice feast by ourselves.”

At present, it could be said that Yao-shi had moved on from her former timid and pessimistic self. Ever since they had separated from the family, she had been getting livelier and livelier. Moreover, she no longer demeaned herself for not being able to give birth to a son. And a significant part of this change in her was influenced by Lin Qingwan as she constantly instilled such positive thoughts in Yao-shi’s mind, changing her way of thinking for the better. And coupled with her bulging waist purse and the husband who listens to her, confidence surged within her heart.

Lin Qingwan felt Yao-shi’s words were aptly right. Do they have to pretend to be harmonious? No, they didn’t have to.

At the same time, she was also acutely aware that it wasn’t that these two men wanted to have a reunion dinner, nor did they forgive those people from Yang jia for all the things they had done. But, when all was said and done, their way of thinking was pretty orthodox. No matter how they didn’t get along well and were on normal days, they had to have a family dinner with the rest of the members on new year’s day.

However, Lin Qingwan would rather eat alone than have a family dinner with them!

It was unknown what sort of thoughts were running in the minds of the two men, for they had a sort of fierce expression on them, and their movements while eating also became equally fierce.

After lunch, Yang Tiegen stated that he would go to the town to buy stuff for the new year celebrations. Lin Qingwan was about to give him some money, but he refused, saying that all the foodstuff for the new year celebrations were bought by the second elder brother and second sao, so for the rest of the trivial stuff that needed to be purchased, he would pay for them.

Seeing his resolute attitude, Lin Qingwan also didn’t force money on him anymore.

In the afternoon, Yang Tiegen returned back from the town with lots of dried fruits, sweets, and the likes. Furthermore, he also bought a few decorative paper cuts, new year couplets, and a bunch of firecrackers.

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