The lunch was truly lavish, featuring meat, eggs, and fish. Although such a feast was common at the Lu Family, it was considered utmost luxury at the Shen Family. Not only did they have these dishes, but Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaomei also made sour cabbage and pork dumplings, a big bowl for everyone, generously filled with meat.
Shen Meng didn’t say much; the meal was cheerful and enjoyed by all. Uncle Guai was a bit flushed from drinking but still remembered to check on his ox outside, afraid that someone would mistreat his old buddy.
Shen Fugui tried to toast more, but was glared at by Shen Meng, sheepishly putting his wine cup down and stuffing a dumpling into his mouth.
"Look, daughters know best. No matter how many times we repeat it at home, this stubborn old man sneaks a drink now and then. Without a word from his daughter, just a glare made him hurriedly put it down, hmph!"
"How can you compare to my daughter? My daughter cares about my wellbeing, you all just worry I’ll spend money, skimping on me!"
"This old geezer, just hurry up and eat, even food can’t shut you up."
Uncle Guai took the opportunity while everyone’s attention was on Shen Fugui, quickly sipping the last bit of wine from his glass.
"Ah, marvelous! Another bite of dumpling, even if deities arrived they wouldn’t trade places. My in-law is right, my girl is the same, always fussing about whether it’s too hot or cold, reminding to add clothes, making sure everything about meals is well managed, like a little housekeeper. Xiao Bin better not complain when she marries over!"
"Uncle, my treasure can’t wait, how could she be a problem, hehehe, how about another drink, uncle? I see you enjoy it. This is from my sister last time she visited, brought it for dad. We usually don’t dare drink it, saved especially for my brother-in-law and you!"
"No, no, if I drink more, I will miss the carriage. Once home, Xiangxiang will scold me."
Shen Xiaobin was also relieved; he was just testing the waters. If Uncle Guai wanted more to drink, he was not planning to pour it, hoping to use Xiangxiang to convince him. Luckily, he stopped there.
Shen Meng didn’t say anything, she was happily enjoying her meal. Today, Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaomei were particularly generous with oil and salt while cooking, enhancing the taste significantly, giving it a bit of a homey countryside vibe, the dumplings were exceptionally fragrant too.
After the meal, they didn’t chat for long, Shen Meng and Lu Zhenping needed to leave, as snow started falling, making the return journey challenging. Uncle Guai drank two cups of hot water to sober up, fed the ox, let it rest a bit, then began moving the kids onto the ox cart, also instructing Xiao Long to tidy things up, planning to visit the Lu Family Village next month.
Once back home, Shen Meng carried Ming Kai into the house, the other three kids had slept enough on the road, they energetically ran outside to play once home. Ming Kai also wanted to join, but Shen Meng didn’t allow it; the child slept rough on the way back, fussing to get off the cart to urinate, and in his rush, wet half his pant leg. The cold wind made him clasp his genitals, shivering, eliciting pitiful cries faced with staring eyes.
Shen Meng had no choice, unable to take clothes out in public from her space, she had to strip his wet pants off, leaving him bare-legged under the covers, while she hugged the little guy.
Ming Kai cried with a face flushed red, as the ox cart started moving, Uncle Guai mysteriously obtained a tree branch, skewering his wet pants upon it, glaringly placing them at the forefront of the ox cart. Though Ming Kai was young, he was clever; he knew his reputation would be ruined, that by the time the ox cart reached the Lu Family Village, everybody would know about Lu Zhenping and Shen Meng’s youngest son wetting his pants.
Just the thought made him unbearably sad, he started wailing again, crying intermittently all the way home, hiccupping, several times Shen Meng feared he’d choke.
Lu Mingliang was exceptionally comforting, playfully pinching his little brother’s buttocks under the covers.
"Bro, aren’t you cold with your butt showing? Let me cover it for you."
"Wow~!!!"
"And now you’re crying? I’m not even complaining about the stink on your butt, and you feel wronged?"
Mingyang twisted Lu Mingliang’s ear and whispered to him: "Keep it down, Ming Kai feels embarrassed. When we get home, you can’t tell others that Ming Kai wet his pants, or he’ll be a crybaby."
"Waaa~~, I hate big brother, I hate second brother, wuuu, mom, they’re making fun of me~."
Ming Fang reached over Shen Meng and patted his head.
"No, no, don’t listen to your brothers’ nonsense; nobody will know about your wet pants. Sister won’t let them spread it. Don’t cry now, being seen with wet pants is already embarrassing enough, and now your eyes are all swollen, it looks awful."
Just when Lu Mingkai was nearly consoled, he cried even louder. Shen Meng, worried he might inhale the cold air with his mouth open, pulled the blanket a bit to cover him. But the child just curled up inside the blanket, his body still visibly shivering from outside.
Shen Meng warmed some water for him to clean his butt and legs, washed his little feet, and got him into clean cotton pants, socks, and shoes. The little guy finally came to life, struggling to go downstairs to find his brothers and sister, worried they’d spill his embarrassing story.
Shen Meng stopped him, seeing her son pouting on the kang.
"It’s windy outside, and you’ve been crying all the way. If you go out and catch the cold wind again, you might catch a cold, then your nose will get congested, and you’ll really suffer then!"
The little guy’s eyes brightened.
"Then let second brother catch the cold, let his nose get stuffed up, second brother is a big meanie."
Shen Meng: "....."
Quite a grudge!!!
"Stay at home, Mom will make you some sugar water."
Worrying Ming Kai might really feel unwell, she thought it better to prevent early. She made some herbal tea for him, and the kid liked it so much he wanted a second glass. Shen Meng glared at him to settle down.
Lu Zhenping huffed and puffed in the courtyard, washing his son’s urine-soaked cotton pants. Just as he hung them on the rope, someone knocked on the courtyard gate. Lu Jiaxuan looked at his big brother, hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside.
"Big brother, I, I’d like to borrow your bicycle. Tomorrow I’m taking Jiaojiao back to her maternal home to visit relatives. Your bike is new and will look pretty good."
Lu Zhenping looked at Lu Jiaxuan’s sullen face. He used to think this younger brother was promising and sensible, but since Shen Meng’s time, he started caring about appearances and even his speech became bureaucratic. And his hair...Ouch~, looks like it’s oiled now. Looking at him now, he seemed so pompous!