Chapter 684: Chapter 591

By now, the group chatting in the living room downstairs had dispersed. Grandma went into the kitchen to watch Yu Wumei and Xinghua cook. Granny Mo and Aunt Ahua wanted to go see the backyard, so Fifth Auntie accompanied them. This was a regular ritual every time they visited Grandpa Mo’s house. Gazing at the plump pigs, cows, chickens, and ducks, they would be genuinely delighted and excited, even if they were green with envy. After all, they never went home empty-handed—they could at least take a chicken or a duck with them.

And while they were at it, they would thin out the greens and cabbages in the vegetable garden that were growing too densely. They could gather a large bundle of outer leaves and pull up a few tightly wrapped cabbages to take home, which would be enough to feed their families for several days. ’It’s a waste to just leave them here, anyway,’ they thought. It broke their hearts to see Yu Wumei chop up perfectly good, tender green leaves to feed the pigs, chickens, and ducks. ’Whose animals aren’t raised on sweet potato vines? But the women in this family are so extravagant! They don’t value vegetables and just waste food.’

Fifth Auntie watched as the group, mid-conversation, swarmed into the vegetable beds to get busy. She pursed her lips, planted herself in the middle of the garden, and started issuing nonstop commands. She reminded them not to trample the soil and not to strip too many outer leaves, lest they damage the whole plant. Granny Mo, finding Fifth Auntie too chatty, smiled and told her to go back inside and rest. Fifth Auntie waved her hand dismissively but stayed put, continuing to watch. Then, she made a pointed remark to Granny Mo. "Big Sis, Second Brother has a big family. There aren’t that many vegetables left in this yard. Don’t take too much, or else Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law will have to go begging their neighbors for greens!"

She, of course, knew Granny Mo’s habits. Aunt Ahua was just following her lead, and Grandma couldn’t be bothered with their chattering, so she always let them take two bundles of vegetables.

But this time, it wasn’t just Granny Mo and Aunt Ahua who had come to the backyard. They were joined by Granny Mo’s two daughters-in-law and her youngest daughter, Liang Panqiu. The middle-aged women were strong and quick; they could strip a large cabbage bare in a flash. ’At this rate,’ Fifth Auntie worried, ’the few beds of vegetables won’t be nearly enough for them to plunder!’

When Granny Mo heard Fifth Auntie’s words, she looked deeply embarrassed. Liang Panqiu, however, immediately straightened up, tugged on her mother’s sleeve, and said to Fifth Auntie with a smile, "Fifth Auntie is right. We just saw how vigorously the vegetables were growing and thought we’d peel off a few outer leaves, that’s all. We’ll stop now. First Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, that’s enough, that’s enough! Stop peeling!"

Aunt Ahua, who had already prepared some hemp rope, had tied her vegetables into two bundles. Holding one in each hand, she said with a laugh, "I’m not greedy. It’s always just two small bundles like this. Last time, Brother Amu even asked me why I only took so little."

Granny Mo shot her a look. "Oh, give me a break. You’re the one who runs over to my younger brother’s house the most. When I come, I give you a shout and you tag along, but you come even when I don’t. Just think of all the good things you’ve carted away from my brother’s house!"

Aunt Ahua was not happy to hear this. She put down the vegetables and started to argue with Granny Mo. "I do visit often, but that’s because Brother Amu asks me to! Every time he sees me off, he always reminds me: ’Come back and visit often! We’re family, we shouldn’t become strangers!’ It’s not just that he thinks of me; I miss them too! It’s less than a half-day’s walk, so I come when I feel like it. What can I possibly carry by myself? It’s just a couple of vegetables and maybe a bag of sugar. Are you going to stick your nose into that, too?"

"A couple of vegetables and a bag of sugar? Who’d believe that? Don’t think I don’t know. You’re constantly crying poor to Granny Xinghua. Granny Xinghua doesn’t do manual labor; she’s never been battered by the elements, so she doesn’t appreciate the value of money and food. You know full well how much she subsidizes you with fabric and food! And you borrowed money from my brother and haven’t paid back a single cent! Let me tell you right now: you must pay it back! My poor brother works himself to the bone to support this huge family. He offers me money, and I refuse to take it, but you’re so greedy and shortsighted, always scheming to take his money for yourself! What gives you the right?"

Choked with anger, Aunt Ahua started crying and declared she was going to find Grandma to set things right. Liang Panqiu rushed to hold her back, inwardly cursing her mother for being so hot-headed. ’Why did she have to provoke Ahua for no reason? I haven’t even achieved my purpose for coming here yet. If they cause a huge scene and Second Uncle gets annoyed, he won’t agree to lend me the money. This whole trip will have been a complete waste!’

Liang Panqiu supported Ahua as she tried to placate her. "There, there, Auntie. My mom just got angry and wasn’t thinking straight. She’s just talking nonsense. We’re guests here; it’s not right to cause such a scene."

Back when Granny Mo used to look down on Grandma, she had taught Liang Panqiu and her siblings to call Ahua "Auntie." The title wasn’t entirely inaccurate, because Ahua and Grandpa Mo had been betrothed since childhood. In fact, Ahua had even paid for the coffins and, as a daughter-in-law, had worn the traditional mourning attire for Old Master Mo and his wife. Grandpa Mo was always kind and gentle with Ahua, granting her every request. And while Grandma always felt a bit awkward about the situation, she remained polite and treated Ahua as well as she possibly could.

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