CHAPTER 220: CHAPTER 220: AGING

"Tonight, let’s invite Young Master Nan over for dinner, and have Uncle and Second Uncle come as well. I have a big plan!" Gu Nian chuckled, thinking about her scheme.

"Wha... what plan? If it’s such a big deal, shouldn’t you talk to Mom first? Otherwise, Second Brother is a bit worried about his butt!" Erhu muttered sulkily.

"Hehehe..." Seeing Erhu looking so timid, Gu Nian and Cuihua burst into laughter. Gu Nian’s smile was innocent and pure, while Cuihua’s had traces of foolishness.

Erhu pulled a long face, "I’m not wrong. Mom might spare you, but when it comes to spanking me, she doesn’t hold back at all. Plus, after what happened with Cousin-in-law, Uncle has been really upset these days. We’re inviting him for dinner now, are we making fun of him? Also, Young Master Nan has never shown up in front of outsiders since he came to our village. You’re sure he’ll come when invited? What if he doesn’t want to?"

Gu Nian pondered and found that Erhu’s words made some sense.

The Wang Family would rather take Mrs. Wang back than give up the smoked sausages, and Uncle’s family probably isn’t very happy lately. "Precisely because of that, we should invite Uncle over. Uncle feels guilty towards our family, not least because the sausage recipe got leaked. But Uncle didn’t intend for that to happen. If we don’t take the initiative, the relationship between the two families might become distant. It’s better to have him over for food and drinks, talk things through openly, and prevent any grudges between Uncle and Dad. As for Young Master Nan, let’s not invite him. We’ll send over some dishes once we’ve made them."

"Just go ahead and follow your sister’s plan. Your Dad saw your Uncle yesterday and said half his hair has turned white. There’s guilt in his words towards us, which doesn’t sit well with your Dad either!" Mrs. Jiang suddenly walked out of the house, sighing, "But slaughtering a pig and a sheep, isn’t that a bit too much? There are already plenty of cured meats and sausages hanging in the yard next door. Just buy some fresh meat, that’s enough. How can we eat all of that?"

"Mom, I want to invite everyone over for dinner and then come up with some new dishes and ways of eating. Too few ingredients wouldn’t allow me to work my magic."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Jiang had no more objections, "Alright, your mother doesn’t have much insight in this lifetime. You do whatever you want. I won’t ask about anything. I’ll just sit at home, waiting to eat, drink, and enjoy life."

Little Hu chimed in, "Mom, isn’t that great? You used to always say you were tired, wishing you could have a full meal without having to work. Now your wish is coming true!"

Mrs. Jiang glared at him, "Shut up, you little brat! What do you know?"

Gu Nian hadn’t visited the main house in days. Seeing Lin Shui again, it was indeed as Mrs. Jiang described, Lin Shui had noticeably aged, with silver strands woven into her bundled long hair and deeper forehead wrinkles.

Even Uncle’s wife seemed visibly aged.

The simple and earnest Lin Dashan had become silent, chopping wood outside with an axe. The corner of the wall was piled high with chopped wood—it was more like venting than working.

The little baby had grown chubby over the months from drinking goat milk, held in Lin Jing’er’s arms, sucking on fingers and occasionally making babbling sounds. The baby kept reaching out his hands wanting to go to Lin Dashan, but Lin Jing’er held him tighter.