The shop owner was reluctant to close the door, and Mrs. Li expressed understanding, following the instructions of the father-in-law from just a moment ago by heading to the nearby restaurant.
Zhong Xianggui, welcoming guests at the entrance, courteously invited Second Sister when he saw her arriving.
"Brother-in-law, with your father minding the shop and your mother with your wife, you should deliver a meal to them."
Zhong Xianggui listened to Mrs. Li’s words and showed particular respect for this gentle-spoken Second Sister.
"Don’t worry, Second Sister, I’ve already had a special meal prepared to send to them."
"Good," Mrs. Li entered the private room to see that the servers had already started bringing out dishes, and her aunt and cousin, neither the hosts nor the guests had arrived, were already unceremoniously beginning to eat.
Another guest, the brother-in-law, sat leisurely at the table, his gaze not on the eating mother and son but on Mrs. Li as he stood up to greet her.
"Second Sister has arrived!"
"Yes, little brother-in-law, no need for formalities." Mrs. Li also returned the greeting and sat down. There wasn’t a separation between guests and hosts, nor a division by gender at different tables; it was just like being with one’s own family, free from such pretense!
Zhong Xianggui served them tea, even though it was customary to serve wine. However, with only the two men at the table and women who wouldn’t encourage drinking, it was just as well to abstain!
"Congratulations, Second Brother-in-law, let’s drink tea instead of wine!"
Tang Weixing was actually quite pleased; Second Brother-in-law had informed people that Second Sister had given birth to a child.
His wife had discovered she was over two months pregnant and no longer needed to bear the special glances from others constantly gossiping about them not having a child several months into their marriage.
This not only cast doubt on his wife’s fertility but also on his own capability. How could one explain such private matters between husband and wife to others?
Aside from others’ gossip, their parents also inquired non-stop and even supplied them with nutritious soups; he almost developed a nosebleed from drinking so much.
Forgoing alcohol was also for the sake of safety in travel.
"Mm, congratulations to us both," Zhong Xianggui also picked up his tea cup, and the two men smiled as they clinked their cups together.
Ye Shuying watched the two men looking quite pleased and glanced at Mrs. Li, pouting and muttering:
"Psh, it’s just the birth of a girl, what’s there to be happy about? I hope she doesn’t end up like Second Sister, having one daughter after another."
Ye Shuying’s downhearted words caused the two men to rein in their smiles. They held their tongues, pretending not to hear.
The two men already felt that it takes all sorts to make a world. They were both fed by the Ye family, and in front of them was the gentle and kind Second Sister, unlike their wives who did not have the older sister’s offensive and less-liked personality.
Mrs. Li’s hand stopped as she picked up food to eat, choosing not to educate Mrs. Lai’s daughter. With a mother of such character, one could imagine what the daughter’s personality was like.
However, after marrying, the Second Sister and the younger sister had changed a bit. As the oldest sister, why was she still the same?
"Mom, I haven’t gone to see the little cousin yet. As a little cousin brother, I should go visit." The little boy, with his mouth greasy from eating, talked with a piece of fatty meat still chewing in his mouth, oil dripping down his chin.
"What’s there to see about a little cousin sister? You’re interested in the rattle drum, aren’t you? Your aunt is here!"
Ye Shuying didn’t even think of using a handkerchief to wipe her son’s mouth, further encouraging her son’s impish behavior as a mother.
Indeed, hearing about the toy, the child lost interest in the food on the table and fixated his gaze on his aunt!
"Aunt, where is the rattle drum?"
Mrs. Li rolled her eyes at her elder sister-in-law and chose not to scold her but instead spoke gently to the expectant child looking at her:
"Little one, you must eat up before you can play, okay? Once your aunt has finished eating, she will take you to buy a toy."
"Okay, okay!" The little boy, promised, laughed happily.
Ye Shuying smiled contentedly, eating heartily.
The two men at the table exchanged glances, conveying through their looks how fortunate they were that their wives had reasonable relatives.
The coachman and another were looked after by the host, indulging in big bowls of rice and meat.
After finishing her meal, Mrs. Li headed to a shop not far away, which was still open, and bought the eagerly awaited rattle drum for the little boy.
She only bought one and didn’t buy any for her own children. At such a young age, children shouldn’t be too spoiled, certainly not like the current example.
The small trinkets made by her husband and daughters were enough to keep her little boy entertained; she didn’t think it was bad that her little son played with an abacus.
It was less worrisome than a five or six-year-old boy clamoring for a rattle drum.
Mrs. Li then went to check on the birthing room again, saw that Ye Shuzhi had fallen asleep once more, her mother-in-law still eating, and the baby also asleep.
Only then did she feel reassured and spoke a few words with her mother-in-law.
Granny Ye Shuzhi, listening, nodded and agreed, acknowledging the sister-in-law’s concern for her daughter-in-law. She couldn’t be seen as ungrateful.
She understood it was just the maternal family’s concern speaking a few more words, being someone who had been through it herself.
On the return trip, Granny Ye Shuzhi also packed some pig’s feet with ginger vinegar for everyone.
Seeing that she hadn’t brought a gift but still had something to take back, something to eat, and something to keep without spending a penny, Ye Shuying thought to herself that this trip had been advantageous.
Sitting in the bullock cart, the weather grew colder, and a chill wind blew. Unlike the morning when she had two bundles to shield her, Mrs. Li wrapped her arms and sat on the stool.