Back home, Xiaoxiao still kept to her old habits, retreating to her room to rest after the meal as usual. The habits of a homebody are hard to change.
"Fourth child, tell me about your visit to your third sister-in-law's place today. They didn't give you a hard time, did they?" As soon as Xiaoxiao left, Old Man Yang asked eagerly.
"Dad, please don't send me to such errands in the future, their family temper is really something! When they saw me, they were about to bring the entire family over for a fight! But later, the third sister-in-law calmed them down."
"That's good, that's good," Old Man Yang said, relieved.
"As soon as the third sister-in-law got home, she cried a river. Personally, I think the third brother was a bit much. Who goes to sleep in my room on his wedding day and doesn't even come back to visit the next day, yet the third sister-in-law is there speaking well on his behalf!"
"Hmm, the third daughter-in-law really knows the bigger picture, good, good."
The next morning, Xiaoxiao got up early, having vowed in front of her family to turn over a new leaf, so she decided to start with cooking. After washing up, she headed to the kitchen.
In the morning, one should make some porridge, slap on some pancakes, cook a soup, and maybe make some 'Embroidered Pouch' eggs! No sooner said than done, except for making pancakes, everything else was a piece of cake for her, as she often cooked them in modern times. She picked up a basin and went to look for rice.
"One pot of rice for three people, so four pots for eleven," Xiaoxiao murmured, "The kids eat less, so that should be three pots."
After washing the rice and cleaning the pot, she poured the rice in, added water, and got ready to light the fire. But when it came to lighting the fire, she hit a snag, ended up with a sooty face and a room full of smoke, without actually getting the fire started. She had wanted to make a grand entrance, dazzling them as the dutiful daughter-in-law, but she botched it!
Both the eldest and second sister-in-law were surprised to see Xiaoxiao in the kitchen!
"Sisters, I can't seem to get the fire going. Hehe," she said, revealing an embarrassed smile through her soot-stained face.
"I'll show you. Watch, , , and there, it's done," the eldest sister-in-law took over the fire starter and demonstrated.
"Wow! Eldest sister-in-law, you're so amazing!" Xiaoxiao clapped and cheered.
"Am I amazing just for lighting a fire?" she thought, finding her third younger sister-in-law quite childlike.
"Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, I'd like to prepare today's breakfast. Would it be okay for you to guide me?"
"Sure, today you'll cook, and we'll be your assistants," said the second sister-in-law.
"The porridge is ready to go; just light the fire and it'll be ready soon. I want to make cornmeal pancakes, but I've never done it before. How much flour and water should I use?"
"Oh, oh, should I flick it onto the side of the pot ?"
"Should I add water to the bottom of the pot?"
The kitchen was filled with Xiaoxiao's questions until breakfast was finally ready. Here it's not much different from Northern China and it was just entering early winter. Without modern greenhouses to grow vegetables, there weren't any leafy greens—only storage vegetables like cabbage, radishes, potatoes, and sweet potatoes were available. So, Xiaoxiao's breakfast could only be rice porridge, cornmeal pancakes, and shredded radish soup! She had intended to make 'Embroidered Pouch' eggs but ended up not doing so when she realized all the eggs were sent to her parent's home.
"Mom, today's breakfast was made by the third sister-in-law!" The sisters-in-law began carrying the food into the house.
Everyone was surprised to hear this. The old third daughter-in-law was known for not being able to cook or do housework. And yet, she had prepared breakfast today!
"Dad, Mom, I have something to say before we eat," Xiaoxiao said with a serious expression.
Listening to Xiaoxiao's words, everyone started to wonder. What could Xiaoxiao possibly have to say? They thought apprehensively, hoping she wouldn't bring up the issue with the third son.
"We're all family here. Whatever it is, just say it!"