Chapter 7 - A Piece of Meat Causes a Storm

　　When Zhang froze for a moment, she busied herself with putting the shredded potatoes aside and went to get the shredded string beans, handing them over to Zhou. 　　Zhou didn't take it and got up to glare at Zhang. 　　"The oil has been poured for you, frying vegetables you can not move a hand, everything is counting on me as a wife, so old, but also as a daughter-in-law to serve you." 　　What is this Zhou's ah, looking for bones, anyway, is how Zhang's how to do how wrong. That said, there is a clay nature of the mud people, Zhang's surprisingly move plate fully accepted, and does not seem to be angry. 　　But Lian Maner can't stand it. 　　"Milk, just now mother poured that little bit of oil, to fry a big pot of potatoes, you are too much oil. Milk you added a lot more oil, beans can be less than potatoes that, this is not even more waste of oil." Lian Man Er couldn't help but open her mouth. 　　"Man Er!" Zhang's busy stopping Lian Man'er, but Lian Man'er still finished her sentence. 　　Just as she heard a snapping sound, Zhou's dropped her spoon on the potting table. 　　"I've lived this old age for nothing, and you little girl is still talking about me." Zhou's hand almost poked Lian Man'er in the eye. 　　Zhang Clan was busy coming over to pull Lian Man'er into her arms. 　　"Mother, Man Er is a little kid who doesn't know any better and fell on her head, so don't be so mean to her." Zhang's busy persuading, "Man'er quickly apologize to your milk." 　　"What child, it's not because you're used to it. You're filial on the outside, but you're vicious in the heart. Don't think I don't know that mind of yours, letting a little girl want my strong." Zhou turned to Zhang Clan and seethed. 　　"Mother ......" Zhang's face instantly turned red. 　　The oil in the pot sizzled, accompanied by Zhou's tirade. 　　Zhang wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. 　　"Mother, the oil is hot, if we don't put the bean curd to fry, the pan will be mushy." Zhang struggled to accompany a smile. 　　Seeing Zhang like this, Zhou stopped scolding, but she still glared at Lian Man'er with an angry grunt. 　　"Man Er, apologize to your milk and say you were wrong." Zhang's pulled Lian Man'er again. 　　Zhou's everywhere difficult you hey, I'm just telling the truth, where is it wrong? Lian Maner was unconvinced in her heart. 　　"Milk, we were wrong, don't be angry." Xiao Qi poked her head out from behind Lian Man Er, smilingly saying to Zhou Clan. 　　Zhou's expression slightly eased, but she still glared at Lian Man Er. 　　"Second sister, if you don't apologize, none of us will have any food." Xiao Qi arched Lian Man Er and said like a mosquito hum. 　　For such a sentence, Zhou could really make everyone go without food. 　　"Milk, I was wrong, don't be angry." Lian Man Er said. Let's just pretend that the other party was older and she gave in to her. 　　Only then did Zhou grunt, "Hurry up and fry the dishes, don't dawdle and be lazy." After saying this, she slammed the curtain and went inside. 　　Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. 　　"Mother, was I wrong? You're not angry at all when milk said that about you?" Lian Man'er asked. 　　Zhang was frying vegetables and her hands paused. 　　"What a big deal, she's an elder, she's just talking out of her mouth." 　　"If you're like this, she'll still say you're unfilial that." 　　Zhang's twisted her head this time and did not answer. 　　...... 　　Zhang's hands and feet were quick, and in a moment's time, she had fried both dishes. 　　"Zhi'er, Wulang, put the table away." Zhang called to the two children. 　　"The eggplant is also stewed, I'll let Mother know so she can serve the food." Zhao said. 　　"Trouble third sister-in-law." Zhang's laughed. 　　"Say what you mean by trouble or not, you've helped me more." Zhao smiled back. 　　"Mother, can't you serve yourself, milk should say let her work and serve us again." Lian Man Er said. 　　After Lian Man Er finished speaking, she realized that several people were looking at her with strange eyes. 　　What's wrong, did she say something wrong again? 　　"Man'er just woke up and forgot some things, she'll be fine in a couple days." Zhao comforted Zhang and said. 　　"What did I say wrong?" Lian Man'er was even more puzzled. 　　"Man Er, you forgot that there is meat in the eggplant, the meat dishes have to be done by the milk itself." Lian Zhier said. 　　"Second sister, how many slices of meat were put in the pot, milk remembered the number." Xiao Qi said. 　　"I remember what each slice looks like." Lian Ye'er also said boldly. 　　Lian Man'er's mouth opened without making a sound. 　　"Go inside, Xiao Qi, look after your sister." Zhang Clan said. 　　Zhao went inside and told Zhou that the eggplant stew was ready. 　　"What's the use of feeding you guys, at my age, I still have to serve you." Zhou said this, but her feet went outside, and instructed Zhao, "What are you standing around for, put the table down." 　　Everyone came out to move the table again. The Lian family's dining tables were all solid wood and very heavy. Zhao, Lian Wulang, and Lian Zhi'er each carried a table, while Lian Man'er, Lian Zhi'er, and Xiao Qi combined their efforts to lift one. Two tables were placed side by side at the head of the kang, and the other two were placed side by side at the end of the kang. Lian Zhi'er quickly wiped the tables again. 　　Lian Man'er then came out with Zhao and moved the dishes into the house. 　　Zhou was serving eggplants out of a pot, and Zhang was waiting beside her. 　　"This pot is for your father's table. Remember it clearly, don't get it wrong." Zhou said to Zhang. 　　He poked her head in from outside, "Mother will start dinner later, your grandchildren haven't come back yet." 　　"Then why don't you hurry up and go look for them." Zhou's didn't have the good sense to say. 　　He's busy shrinking her head back, so she greeted them loudly in the courtyard. After a while, four half-grown boys came prancing in from outside the gate. 　　Inside the house, Zhao Clan had already set up the dishes according to the number of people. 　　The two tables at the head of the kang were for Old Master Lian with the male members of the Lian family, and the table at the end of the kang was for Old Mrs. Lian with the female members of the Lian family. Except for Lian Shouren's eldest son and eldest daughter-in-law who were still in town and hadn't returned, the Lian family was considered to be all here. Lian Man'er counted the number of people in the Lian family and sighed, "The Lian family is really thriving". 　　Lian Man Er and Xiao Qi also sat down at the table at the end of the bed, although Xiao Qi is a male, because he is still young, he also followed Zhang Clan to eat at this table. Lian Ye'er also came over and sat next to Lian Man'er. Next to Xiaoqi is Lian Duo'er, followed by Gu, Lian Hua'er, Lian Xiu'er, and then Zhou, who sits at the top of the table. He brought her little daughter, Lian Meier, to sit next to Zhou, leaving only a narrow empty seat for Zhang, Zhao, and Lian Zhi'er. 　　Zhang, Zhao, and Lian Zhi'er served rice and vegetables from the outer room and from the inside. Lian Jihong also followed to help. 　　"Wulang, go sit down, this isn't your job, just let your mom and your sister do it." Zhou said. 　　"Oh." Lian Wulang agreed, still helping to carry the rice over, before sitting down next to Lian Shouxin. 　　"Old Fourth Family's Fifth Lang loves to do this pussy work." He grinned. 　　"No talent." Lian Xiu'er hummed. 　　Lian Man'er wanted to speak, but Xiao Qi hurriedly squeezed her hand under the table. Lian Man Er thought about it and shut her mouth. 　　The Lian family's dinner is very generous, a large pot of millet rice, a pot of large mixed noodle nest, a large pot of shredded potatoes fried with green peppers, a large pot of pork stewed with eggplant, a dish of fried shredded bean curd, and a handful of scallions, a bowl of soybean paste, and a dish of pickled vegetables. The men's table was the same, but the amount was twice as much. 　　Zhang, Zhao, and Lian Zhi'er brought up the rice and dishes, and all went to sit on the bed. 　　The rice bowl and nesting pots were placed next to Zhou's. Zhou picked up the rice spoon and first filled a bowl with a sharp tip and handed it to Lian Xiu'er, who didn't eat it but handed it to Lian Hua'er, who then filled another bowl with a sharp tip and handed it to Lian Xiu'er as well. This time, Lian Xiu'er took it and put it in front of herself. Zhou next served herself and the remaining few children, and finally the few daughters-in-law, Gu, He, all just a flat bowl, Zhao's turn, Zhou suddenly glanced at the table and put down her rice spoon. 　　"There aren't enough green onions, Lao San daughter-in-law, go pick another green onion." Zhou said. 　　Zhao lowered her head and agreed, about to get off the bed. 　　"Mother, I'll go, it's my turn to cook today that, there aren't enough green onions, it's my turn." Zhang stopped Zhao and went out to pick onions herself. 　　Zhou's face wasn't too good, but she didn't say anything, picking up a spoon to give Zhao more than half a bowl, by this time there wasn't much rice in the basin, Zhang's bowl, there was only less than half a bowl. 　　With only half a bowl of rice, I'm afraid Zhang can't eat enough, but fortunately there's still the nest, Lian Man'er thought to herself. 　　Lian Xiu'er had already reached out and taken two nests, giving one to Lian Hua'er and placing the other in her own bowl. Zhou started to share the nests again, also one for each person, and in the end, there were two left, which should have been Zhao's and Zhang's, but Zhou didn't share them. 　　He was sitting right next to Zhou, quickly reaching out and picking up a wowo, putting it in her mouth and biting off half of it in one bite. 　　"Mother, there's a lot of work today, I'm starving." He said with a smile. 　　Zhou glared at He in disgust. 　　"That's your brother-in-law's, don't put it down yet." 　　He grabbed the nest and looked at Zhao with a smile. 　　"Lao San daughter-in-law, I took a bite out of this one, do you still want it?" 　　Zhao looked at He's exposed yellow slate teeth and lowered her head again. 　　"Second sister-in-law you eat it, I don't want it." 　　"This is what you don't want, it's not me robbing you." He immediately said. 　　Zhou skimmed her mouth. 　　"Mother, give me another nest egg." Lian Xiu'er said. 　　Zhou then gave the last nestle to Lian Xiu'er. 　　That was the nest egg that should have been given to Zhang's. Lian Man'er wanted to speak again, but she saw Lian Zhi'er and Xiao Qi both shaking their heads at her. Lian Zhi'er even secretly broke off half of her own nest egg and hid it in her sleeve. Xiao Qi was also doing the same. Looking at them, could it be, that this was a regular occurrence? Lian Man Er looked at the nest in her bowl and also followed the two's example, hiding the nest. She had just eaten a bowl of noodle lumps, she wasn't hungry yet. 　　Zhou came back with the green onions and saw her half bowl of rice, she didn't say a word and sat down to eat, she seemed to be used to it as well. 　　Zhao gave Lian Ye'er a few chopsticks of vegetables, Zhou snorted coldly, Zhao's hand trembled, so she stopped pinching the vegetables, and just dipped her head into the onion dipping sauce and grubbed her rice. 　　There was pork in the eggplant stew, and when Zhou was serving the food, she picked it out and placed it on the surface. Of the people at the table, only Lian Xiu'er was eating the meat bite by bite, eating with a spit, and every now and then even pinching a piece or two for Lian Hua'er. Lian Man Er heard the sound of Xiao Qi gulping, and turned her head to see the little guy craving for meat, but he didn't dare to go and clip the meat to eat. 　　The chopsticks in Lian Man'er's hand seemed to have a consciousness of its own, and she picked up a piece of five-flower meat. 　　"What are you doing, Man'er?" Zhou's snapped her chopsticks on the table and said sternly.