CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: RICH, HEARTY DISHES

Radish stewed with vermicelli, spicy sour shredded potatoes, pork belly stewed with dried green bean strips, stir-fried pork with cabbage, a total of four dishes, each one with plenty of oil, fragrant. After the three sisters cooked, they put them in large bowls. These bowls were borrowed from Grandma Zhao’s house in the east yard; we don’t have so many bowls at home.

Bai Xue also cooked more than a dozen pounds of sorghum rice from home, afraid it’s not enough, she also mixed cornmeal and made flatbread.

This time, besides the rice brought back yesterday, there’s only a bit of corn stalk left at home!

Wang Cuihua was heartbroken, constantly muttering that it’s too wasteful! No need to make so much!

She locked the kang cabinet door and checked it over and over again. She’s afraid that Grandma Bai would come over to rummage through and find her rice and cotton.

These days, she can have a full meal every time, and has two eggs with each meal. Her breast milk is enough for the two babies to feed, Bai Xue makes milk powder for the four younger siblings to drink, watching their faces turn rosy.

But seeing the food being used up by the eldest daughter, she’s worried again, fearing that later there won’t be rice to cook, and it’s the kids who would suffer.

"Mom, you’re just worrying for nothing! Elder sister said we’ll eat rice every day, who’s going to eat coarse grains?" Bai Ruxia took a moment to enter the room and saw her mother looking at the kang cabinet, troubled.

"Eating rice every day, you’re just greedy, who can afford that? Even a wealthy household can’t eat rice every day, having a meal is only because Zhang Yuan has the connections to get it! We’ll still have to save and eat sparingly! This grain is life!" Wang Cuihua saw her third daughter actually believed her eldest daughter’s comforting words, and criticized.

"Alright mom, I’m busy! Not discussing this with you!" Bai Ruxia waved her hand and ran out; she didn’t want to argue with her mom and believes her eldest sister, who always delivers on her promises.

Eldest sister said they’d eat meat, and the next day they ate meat, along with white flour dumpling soup, sugar cubes, and pastries, all delectable upon thinking about them.

Eldest sister said they could eat rice every day, and she believes her sister can certainly make it happen.

Previously, when they were unbearably hungry, the eldest sister had ways to procure edible wild vegetables and fruits to fill their stomachs. Now the eldest sister is even more capable, able to get them meat. She only trusts the eldest sister’s words and doesn’t heed her mom’s pointless worries!

Bai Ruxia walked out easily, helping Bai Ruyun.

Soon, the two brothers who went to invite guests also returned. They’ve spoken of lunch, so the guests hadn’t arrived yet. Meanwhile, they first set the cooked food on the table and had breakfast.

Zhang Yuan didn’t come over, Bai Xue didn’t send anyone to call him. He may have his own matters to attend to, and she trusts Zhang Yuan wouldn’t bail at the last moment. So she felt at ease eating the radish stewed with vermicelli.

But Wang Cuihua looked at the table full of food with worry.

"Xiao Xue, why start eating now? What if it’s not enough later?"

"Mom, what did I say before? Why did you forget again? Just eat and fill yourself up! Leave the rest to me! I’ve got it all arranged!" Bai Xue knew exactly what her mom was thinking, with so many people eating, her plan was to save a bit wherever possible.

"Mom, just eat! Later, when there are more people, you might not even get to eat! Besides, we’ve made plenty, don’t worry about it!" Bai Ruyun gently persuaded.

"The kids are right! A shortage won’t be for this meal! I’ll take you three to Quanzi’s house in the east yard later! People are plenty, don’t let the two babies catch a cold! Quickly finish eating and then leave!" Bai Daliang thoughtfully suggested.

Only then did Wang Cuihua pick up her chopsticks and eat.

When the family finished breakfast, it was almost ten o’clock. Bai Xue helped Bai Daliang take her mother Wang Cuihua and the two babies to Grandma Zhao’s house in the east yard. When she returned, she saw her grandparents leading Third Uncle’s family of five towards their home.

"Dad! Hurry!" Bai Xue was worried that the food she prepared would be spoiled by Third Uncle’s three greedy kids, so she ran a few steps ahead and entered the house.

But she found that the four little ones had already put away the dishes.

Grandma Bai entered the house and smelled the aroma but, unusually, she didn’t rummage through, not even when her favorite little grandson Bai Rusheng, who was six, said he wanted to eat, did she ask Bai Xue to serve it.

Soon, Second Uncle and Second Aunt came but they didn’t see their three children.

"Second Uncle, why didn’t Xiao Mei and the others come?" Bai Xue asked puzzledly.

"Better not to come, saves food!" Third Aunt Li Guihua interjected.

"Why doesn’t Third Aunt think of saving a meal for me?" Bai Xue replied with annoyance. Li Guihua wanted to say something but was stopped by Bai Dahe beside her with a signal to keep quiet.

"Little Chuan! Go call Sister Xiao Mei, Xiao Yue, and Little Yang! Don’t save on them!" Bai Xue summoned Bai Ruchuan to call them.

"Xiao Xue! No need, the kids already ate at home, Xiao Yue is busy sewing bags!" Second Aunt Wu Zhaodi hurriedly held Bai Xue’s arm and said softly.

"Second Aunt, even if there’s work, it won’t be delayed! Since everyone is coming, how could we miss them?" Bai Xue patted Wu Zhaodi’s arm. "Little Chuan! Hurry up!"

Bai Ruchuan ran out, ignoring Grandma Bai’s shouting behind.

"If they don’t come, they don’t come. They’re just youngsters; it doesn’t matter if they come or not for your engagement!" Grandma Bai said once, then unhappily rolled her eyes.

While talking, Third Granny also arrived, she came alone, refusing Bai Xue’s offer to call her grandson.

Grandma Zhao’s family also showed up together, and finally, the brigade leader came over with his little daughter Wang Xuehua.

Everyone was present, yet Zhang Yuan was nowhere to be seen.

"I say, is this young educated youth reliable or not? Why hasn’t he come? Could he have changed his mind? I haven’t had breakfast yet; I’m starving!" Third Aunt Li Guihua again started her sarcastic tone.

Her family hadn’t eaten much since last night, waiting to eat their fill at the meal.

"Third Aunt, if you’re in a rush, you may as well go home for lunch!" Bai Xue glared at Li Guihua. Her reputation has been mostly ruined by Grandma Bai, standing up to the elders a few times didn’t bother her now, especially since everyone present knew the situation.

Even the brigade leader, seeing Bai Xue criticizing Li Guihua, didn’t intervene; Third Granny glared at Li Guihua and coldly snorted.

As for the others, not a word was said, only Third Uncle’s three kids kept pestering Grandma Bai, saying they’re hungry and want to eat.

"Xiao Xue! Did something happen to Xiao Yuan? Go take a look at the educated youth spot?" Bai Daliang couldn’t sit still, fearing Xiao Yuan suddenly having second thoughts on the engagement, and with everyone invited, Bai Xue’s reputation would be worse, affecting her chances of getting married!

"Xiao Shan has already gone to check! It’s fine, don’t worry dad!"

"If that young educated youth changes his mind, I’ll get the commune secretary to demand justice!" Grandma Bai was also anxious. With the promised matter, if the educated youth doesn’t appear now, her bride price wouldn’t vanish, would it?

Just as everyone in the house was waiting anxiously, Bai Rushan ran in. "Elder sister! Brother-in-law is back!"

He was panting, his face couldn’t hide the excitement.