Chapter 68: The Uninvited Guest

  Deng Ye Shi Wei and others moved the dishes from the kitchen, such as braised pork ribs, to Qizhen's house, where they started cooking. Stir-frying, frying meatballs, simmering soup, steaming baozi, and steaming rice were all in full swing, and this was when things really got busy.

  Most of the ingredients have been prepared, some like fried meatballs and soups are already ready, just waiting to be served.

  The sweet aroma of the wine-braised meatballs, the rich flavor of the pork rib soup, and the fragrance of various stir-fries all mixed together, making everyone's stomach growl with hunger. The older kids were a bit better off, but Ye Suqi and Hu Zi, two little rascals, stared at the table full of dishes, their eyes wide with excitement, and drool unknowingly dripping from the corners of their mouths, completely unaware that they had become the laughing stock of the crowd.

  Huzi was fine, and he always had a kind of reverence for food. Even if he liked something very much, he never dared to ask for it openly. Since childhood, under the blows of Liu's mother, he also thought that he was "cheap life", not worthy of eating good things.

  But Ye Su Qi was different, he would directly grab whatever caught his eye, without caring that he was in someone else's home.

  Ye Baiji couldn't stand the sight of him and was about to scold him when Qi Zhen'er hastily pulled her back. Ye Baiji glanced around and understood. At this moment, everyone was busy, and no one noticed what was happening here. If she were to stop him now, people who didn't understand the situation would probably say that she wasn't being loving towards her younger brother, making a big deal out of nothing.

  Qī Zhēn ér reached out and gently pulled Hǔ Zǐ and Yè Sū qí over, ignoring Yè Sū qí's struggles. "You two just played with rocks and got your hands all dirty," she said loudly. "Go wash your hands first before eating, okay?"

  Ye Suqi this little overlord obviously displeased, opened his mouth and said: "You this jinx pull me for what? I want to eat meatballs, also have chicken legs."

  Qī Zhēn ér opened her mouth to speak, just as the dish was being served. Except for the occasional sizzling sound from the stove, the kitchen had quieted down, and with her loud voice, she attracted everyone's attention. The crowd listened clearly to Yè Sū qí's words.

  At this time, in the kitchen, apart from Mao Shi, Sun Shi and Jiang Shi, there were also Ye Qi Shu and another helper. When Mao Shi heard these words, her face turned black. The old man had arranged for a change of fate for Zhen Er. The villagers no longer dared to say that Zhen Er's siblings were jinxes, but instead turned against their own family members. At this time, Jiang Shi was also there, and she gave a signal with her eyes, letting Jiang Shi speak up to scold them a couple of times, so as to save face completely.

  Jiang had wanted to speak up for a long time, and now that she saw Mao looking at her, thinking someone was backing her, she straightened her back. She rushed towards Zhen'er saying: "I'm telling you, Zhen'er, you're too stingy! We've all been busy with the move, inside and out, and you don't even give a single meatball to the child. This is really heartless!"

  After hearing Jiang's words, the faces of several people in the kitchen were different. Before that, whenever they saw Jiang, she was always dignified and elegant, dressed in a rich and luxurious style, and got along well with the clan leader's daughter-in-law, the village headman's wife, and the daughters of several wealthy families in the village. Who wouldn't be envious? Now that Lian sister has fallen, she didn't even go to see her, let alone what she said today was so unreasonable. Zhen'er clearly said that she would eat after washing her hands, why wasn't she allowed to eat?

  Qizhen also saw the condemnation in everyone's eyes. She didn't bother to say anything at this moment. Seeing Huzi listening and going out to wash his hands, she took two large bowls from the side cabinet. She picked up some meatballs, ribs, chicken, etc., and gave one with a chicken leg to Ye Suxi and the other to Huzi. When she did these things, it was all in front of everyone, and she was calm and composed.

  Everyone's eyes had just glanced at her, and she only understood that everyone was condemning not Qi Zhen'er but her. Now although Qi Zhen'er didn't say anything, Jiang Shi thought that this behavior really slapped herself in the face, and her face turned green and black in an instant. Ye Suqi, however, wasn't so considerate of his mother's feelings, holding a bowl, finding a small stool, and happily starting to eat.

  The pot in the kitchen was boiling again, and everyone started to busy themselves once more. No one had the leisure to pay attention to Jiang Shi, each person being busy with their own tasks, and the kitchen was once again restored to its former bustle.

  Everyone was busy and lively on this side, and it was the same outside. Around 5 pm, people who were busy in the fields returned home, washed up a bit, and then gathered at Qi Zhen'er's house.

  Ye Shiwei stood at the door to greet guests with Hu Zi, while Ye Shiyan held a pen beside him to record the gifts brought by each family. The villagers' hospitality was modest, with some giving around 100 wen (a small amount of money), others giving one or two dozen eggs, or a piece of cloth. Ye Shiyan found it annoying to record these things, but deep down, he also felt a sense of superiority.

  The main room was filled with people of high seniority and status, and Old Master Ye was inside chatting with the crowd. Younger generations who came would first go to the house to pay their respects to their elders, then come out to find a seat in the courtyard. Ye Sumu and Ye Luyuan were in the courtyard, and whenever someone sat down, they would take over a cup of tea.

  After about two quarters of an hour, the courtyard was almost full. The people who came were just as Ye Shiwen guessed, mostly men from their families, and only a very small number were women with children because their husbands had something to do.

  Yeshi Wei saw that the guests had almost arrived, so he sent Yeshu Mu to urge them on in the kitchen. After all, people in rural areas go to bed early, and now that the days are long, they have worked hard for a day and want to rest early too.

  In the kitchen, all the dishes were almost ready, only four dishes left to be stir-fried. Ye Sumu came to urge, and Mao Shi let him start setting the bowls and chopsticks.

  In rural areas, setting out a bowl and chopsticks means that the meal can be served. People who were just sitting scattered around began to move their stools to sit at the table.

  Zi Zhen'er's house was too small, the main room could only hold one table, where Ye Lao Yezi and other elders sat. The rest were set up in the courtyard, a total of five tables, three of which were for men, and two for women, children, and those who came to help, including Mao Shi's family. Seating arrangements were particular about who sat in the upper seat, and this was no exception in rural areas. Those with higher seniority should sit in the upper seat, but they still had to decline politely before finally sitting down properly.

  Ye Shiwei, as the eldest son of the Ye family, also had to entertain guests with Hu Zi, so he also sat down at the table. Ye Shiyuan, Ye Sumu, Ye Luyuan and several young men from the same clan carried dishes to serve food to each table.

  Qī Zhēn ér this time bought good wine, just moved up and opened the lid, a strong aroma of wine rushed to the nose, attracting those gluttons to sniff their noses.

  The villagers all love a good drink, but unfortunately, the family's conditions are limited. Even those who can afford to drink every day only buy cheap high-gluten wine for a few cents to satisfy their cravings. It's not until the harvest season when they invite people to help that they splurge on better wine, like the one Zhen'er bought. The aroma of the wine is really making everyone hungry. When the dishes of generous portions of braised pork, steamed fish, and stir-fried chicken are brought out, everyone becomes even more restless, silently thinking that the Ye family really values Qi Zhen'er and her siblings.

  They all thought that Zhen'er's younger brother was definitely incapable of hosting such a banquet, and it must be the Ye family who valued them and paid for it.

  Everyone had just poured their wine and dishes were still being served when a man burst in at the door and started shouting.

  "Hey, everyone's here. I was wondering why there were so few people in the courtyard today, and even our old master is ill but no one went to visit him. It turns out they all came for the feast." Lian sister said standing at the door with a neutral tone.

  Thank you for the peace charm sent by Dong Han Yue ~~~ I will work hard to code words to repay everyone's support

  Today there are two updates, the next update is at 12 o'clock~~~ In recent days, if I have time, I will update twice a day. If not, it's just one update. The second update is usually around 12 o'clock. Everyone can pay attention to this.