CHAPTER 181: CHAPTER 179: THE STRANGE GUOGUO

Just when she was considering an excuse to leave, Princess Consort Luling told her to leave, which was exactly what she wanted.

However, when she wanted to take her daughter Guoguo, Guoguo refused to leave no matter what, even throwing a tantrum.

The expression on Xue Family’s face became even more unpleasant.

"Alright, you go handle your matters. How can you manage with a child? Off you go," said Princess Consort Luling with a stern face.

Xue Family had no choice but to say, "Yes, mother."

As soon as she left, Guoguo started to smile again, "Aunt, Aunt." Guoguo held onto Miss Chai, showering her with kisses.

The difference between the two situations was like night and day.

Miss Chai’s expression was one of utter embarrassment.

She thought to herself, as soon as she arrived at the Li Family, the granddaughter of the Li Family was showing such affection towards her, even ignoring her own mother. Was this a blessing or a curse?

She didn’t want to take away someone’s affection and be hated!

Li Yuzhu noticed that whenever Guoguo called Miss Chai, the expression on Xue Family’s face was particularly unpleasant.

And today, with Miss Chai being invited to the banquet, she was worried that Xue Family would cook in a bad mood. After sitting with her for a while, she excused herself and went to the kitchen as well.

Sure enough, when she walked into the kitchen, she saw Xue Family reluctantly washing a fish.

After washing the fish, it should just be placed on a plate ready to be cooked. But Xue Family placed the fish on the cutting board, raising the knife, intending to cut it in two.

It was a one-and-a-half-pound carp, best served whole and braised. Even if it needed to be sliced, this wasn’t the way.

Li Yuzhu decided to give her a gentle reminder, "Sister-in-law, today we’re hosting guests. If the dishes aren’t prepared well, Miss Chai will mock our entire family and the cooking person. And sister-in-law, you were specifically named by mother to cook. Are you cutting the fish like this so Miss Chai can laugh at you for being the head wife yet unable to cook properly?"

Xue Family was startled, realizing she hadn’t thought of that.

So, she gently put down the knife, not randomly chopping the fish.

Li Yuzhu glanced at her lightly and moved on to check the other dishes.

The Second Princess said, "Oh right, Third Sister, this basket of vegetables, and the carp that Sister-in-law washed, were all sent by Mr. Mu. Third Brother mentioned he was to do something for him, and then he sent the vegetables."

Mu Yuanxiu sending vegetables?

Li Yuzhu was surprised; why suddenly send vegetables?

Unfortunately, since they were hosting female guests at home, it was inappropriate to invite him to join the meal.

Li Yuzhu thought it over and decided to set aside some of each vegetable he sent to prepare a portion to send back to him.

...

With the vegetables sent by Mu Yuanxiu, the Li Family’s banquet was extremely lavish.

The two square tables placed together held sixteen different dishes, filling the tables and appearing particularly grand.

Miss Chai was very moved because more than half of the dishes were her favorites.

Braised beef, red-braised pork trotters, sweet and sour carp, stir-fried fresh mushrooms, these were among her most loved dishes.

"Such lavish dishes," she laughed and complimented Xue Family, "Sister-in-law Li is so capable, cooking so many delicious dishes."

Xue Family’s face turned awkward, smiling awkwardly in return.

Out of the sixteen bowls, twelve were cooked by Li Yuzhu, and she only cooked four simple stir-fries.

Having the whole family eat together showed the importance of the banquet.

The men of the Li Family sat on the left side of the table, and Li Yuzhu and the other women sat on the right side.

At the head of both sides sat Prince Luling and his wife.

To show respect, next to Princess Consort Luling sat Miss Chai.

During the meal, the family showed mutual love and respect, making Miss Chai extremely envious.

She wouldn’t have such a family in this lifetime, maybe in the next.

After the banquet, Li Yuzhu accompanied her to the main gate.

"Farewell, and thank you for the hospitality," Miss Chai waved to Li Yuzhu, then gently pinched Li Guoguo’s little hand in Li Yuzhu’s arms, smiled at the aunt and niece, and then turned to leave.

Guoguo, watching her back, suddenly pouted and began to cry bitterly, "Mother, Mother—"

Crying heart-wrenchingly.

Li Yuzhu comforted her, "Don’t cry, Guoguo, be good, Guoguo."

How strange, why does she keep calling Miss Chai "mother"?

Miss Chai turned back, waving to Guoguo, "Call me Aunt, Guoguo."

Guoguo wouldn’t listen, continuing to cry and stubbornly calling "mother."

This left Miss Chai embarrassed again, "Guoguo, I’ll come to see you another day, or maybe, let your aunt bring you to my house to play? Would that be nice?"

She came back and pinched Guoguo’s little hand.

Guoguo stopped crying, only sniffing as she looked at her.

"Can this child really understand?" Li Yuzhu laughed and sighed, "Alright, alright, Guoguo, I’ll take you to see Aunt Chai tomorrow, oh wait, the day after tomorrow, since tomorrow we have to go to the market."

"Okay, you guys come to me the day after tomorrow," Miss Chai said with a smile.

Guoguo looked at Miss Chai and grinned.

"This child!" Li Yuzhu said with a combination of anger and amusement, "Not easy to please, huh."

Miss Chai wasn’t angry, "She’s still young, needing affection, isn’t that right, Guoguo?" She touched Guoguo’s face, "I have to leave now, don’t cry anymore."

Guoguo smiled at her, indeed not crying anymore.

"Such a good girl." Miss Chai kissed her little face, waved to her, and sat in the mule cart.

Guoguo didn’t cry at all, not until the mule cart went far enough to no longer be seen did she turn around, holding onto Li Yuzhu and softly humming.

"You little mischief, if you wanted to go out, just say so, why cry?" Li Yuzhu laughed, and then she laughed again, "Alright, I forgot you can’t talk yet, you only know how to cry."

Li Yuzhu carried Guoguo back into the house.

Xue Family was standing just inside the door, reaching out to hold Guoguo.

But Guoguo ignored her.

Clenching her little hands tightly, her expression was indifferent.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Xue Family angrily said, "Yes, I don’t have milk, so you don’t recognize me. Someone gave you a nanny goat, and you recognize her? Whoever has milk is the mother, is that it? Then why did I go through the trouble to give birth to you? You disobedient child, you’re not allowed to call another woman mother, do you hear me?"

She yelled at Guoguo.

Guoguo looked at her unmoved.

Xue Family, furious, reached out to pinch her, "I should just beat you to death!"

"She’s just a child, why do you keep going against her?" Li Yuzhu ran away holding Guoguo, avoiding Xue Family’s pinching hand.

"She’s my daughter, who are you to interfere? Give Guoguo back to me!"

"I won’t! Try pinching her again? Do you want me to pinch you to death first!" Li Yuzhu was also angry.

Xue Family was stunned, she didn’t dare to pinch Li Yuzhu.

Princess Consort Luling would kill her.

She shot a cold glare at Li Yuzhu, turned and left.

Guoguo rested her head on Li Yuzhu’s shoulder, wrapping her arms around her neck, and if you listened closely, she seemed to sigh.

Li Yuzhu looked at her, "Guoguo don’t be scared, with Aunt here, with Grandma here, your mother won’t dare hit you, come, let’s go find Grandma to play."

Guoguo sweetly called out a word, "Na."

"So obedient." Li Yuzhu kissed her face.

When they reached the main room, Princess Consort Luling immediately smiled and took Guoguo, "Have you sent away your little aunt?"