Breakfast was lamb wontons.

Ma Hongmei had minced the leftover lamb from last night, mixed it with fennel to make a filling, and used it to make the wontons.

After breakfast, just as Jiang Moli was about to leave for work, An Hui called out to her and gave her a new leather purse.

“This is for you.”

Jiang Moli took the purse, her eyes curving into a smile. “A birthday present? Thanks, Mom! C’mere, let me give you a kiss~”

An Hui pushed her approaching face away, saying in mock disgust, “Wipe your mouth. It’s all greasy.”

“Then I’ll come back for that kiss after I’ve washed up.”

Lu Deyao spoke up. “Xiao Jiang, you should get to work. You’ll be late.”

Jiang Moli glanced at her watch knowingly. “Oh my, you’re right, I’m running out of time. I’ll go back to my room to get dressed. Dad, could you do me a favor? Give Mom a kiss for me.”

Lu Deyao grinned so widely he couldn’t contain it.

‘This daughter-in-law of our third son is really something else.’

Jiang Moli returned to the bedroom with her new purse.

It was a burgundy cowhide leather bag in a messenger style, with metal hardware. It was about the size of an A5 notebook, and Jiang Moli quite liked it.

Carrying her new purse, she hadn’t walked far from her door when she ran into Wu Miaoyun, who was chatting happily with two other residents’ family members.

“Aunt Wu, what are you all so happy about?”

The moment they saw her, all three of them fell silent.

The smile on Wu Miaoyun’s face vanished. She gave Moli a lukewarm look. “Nothing much. Are you off to work?”

Jiang Moli laughed. “Ah, we’ve known each other for so long, but you’re still acting like strangers. Alright, I’ll let you get back to your chat. I’m off.”

After watching Jiang Moli walk away, Wu Miaoyun and the two others gossiped about her behind her back for a bit before turning and entering the Lu Family’s courtyard.

An Hui was in the yard, cleaning up the charcoal ash and bamboo skewers from last night’s barbecue.

Wu Miaoyun walked over. “What’s all this? Keeping a fire for warmth?”

An Hui pointed at two old iron pots. “We grilled lamb skewers. It was our third son’s wife’s birthday last night. She invited a few friends over to celebrate.”

Wu Miaoyun pursed her lips. “No wonder it was so noisy last night. These young people… always so impulsive.”

Her tone shifted as she brought up Jiang Moli’s age. “She must be twenty-one now that her birthday has passed, right? She’s been married into the family for half a year. How come there’s no news yet?”

An Hui smiled. “We’re not in a hurry. It’ll happen when it happens.”

Wu Miaoyun said, “How can you not be in a hurry? Your Xiao Cheng will be twenty-seven after the New Year. In any other family, a man his age would have a kid old enough to run errands.”

“It’s not a big deal for a man to be a bit older. Your Chen Xue, on the other hand, is more than a year older than my third son’s wife. You should hurry up with her wedding.”

At the mention of her daughter, Wu Miaoyun gave an awkward laugh. “Chen Xue’s date is set. The Liang family is holding the reception on January first, and we’re having our celebration the day before. I’ll need you to come and help out on those two days.”

An Hui agreed. “Alright. Just let me know when the time comes.”

…

Lu Tingting woke up, got dressed, and came out to the living room for breakfast. But the moment her butt touched the stool, she shot back up with a yelp.

The whole family stared at her.

Seeing her clutching her rear and grimacing in pain, Fan Wenfang leaned over to check the stool. “What’s wrong? Is there a needle on the stool?”

Lu Haoyu gloated, “Sis, don’t tell me you have hemorrhoids.”

“You look like a hemorrhoid. All you do is fart nonsense when you open your mouth.”

After that tongue-lashing, Lu Haoyu didn’t dare say another word.

‘His sister was getting fiercer and fiercer, and her words were venomous.’

Fan Wenfang looked at her suspiciously. “What is it, really? If something’s wrong, go to the hospital and get it checked.”

Lu Tingting was too embarrassed to admit that she was sore from being spanked by An Hui, so she just made up an excuse to brush it off.

Since her butt hurt, she decided not to sit at all, and stood there holding her bowl while she ate.

“Mom, give me some money.”

“What do you need money for?”

“It’s Jiang Moli’s birthday. I’m going to get her a present.”

Hearing this, Fan Wenfang didn’t object. She took out her wallet and gave Lu Tingting 20 yuan.

Lu Tingting took the money and stuffed it in her pocket. “It’s not enough. Give me more.”

Fan Wenfang said irritably, “Twenty isn’t enough? What are you planning to buy, gold?”

‘If it weren’t for the fact that Jiang Moli had bought her daughter a coat, she wouldn’t even have gotten twenty. Five yuan would have been the max.’

‘Kids who don’t manage a household have no idea how expensive things are. She acts like money just grows on trees.’

“Aiya, don’t worry about what I’m buying. Just add another 10 yuan.”

“There’s no more. If it’s not enough, figure it out yourself!”

With that, Fan Wenfang grabbed her bag and left for work.

Lu Tingting turned to Lu Haoyu and Lu Nana. “Lend me your allowances.”

Under Lu Tingting’s threatening gaze, the siblings obediently took out their pocket money.

Unfortunately, it was a drop in the bucket. Together, it didn’t even add up to two yuan!

Just before leaving, Lu Tingting snuck into Fan Wenfang’s room and took an industrial coupon from a drawer in the dressing table.

After leaving the compound, she was heading for the bus stop when Chen Xue hurriedly caught up with her.

“Tingting, I’m getting married in a few days. Would you be my bridesmaid?”

‘Who does she think she is, asking me to be her bridesmaid?’

Lu Tingting was about to refuse outright, but she swallowed the words before they came out.

“Do bridesmaids get red envelopes?”

Chen Xue was taken aback for a second, then quickly said, “Yes, yes, of course.”

“How much?”

“3.30 yuan.”

Lu Tingting nearly rolled her eyes into the back of her head. “This will be my first time being a bridesmaid, and you’re only giving me three yuan? Are you shooing away a beggar?”

Seeing she had a chance, Chen Xue quickly explained, “That’s usually the going rate. If you agree to be my bridesmaid, how about I give you 6.60 yuan?”

“9.90 yuan! And it’s not just me. Meixia and Xiao Ke have to be bridesmaids too. All three of us, together. And you have to give each of us 9.90 yuan.”

Chen Xue was startled. “I wasn’t planning on having so many bridesmaids.”

“Well, that’s our price. If you think it’s too expensive, find someone else!”

With that, Lu Tingting stuffed her hands in her pockets and walked off.

Watching her leave, Chen Xue was torn.

She hadn’t really held out much hope that Lu Tingting would agree to be her bridesmaid in the first place.

After all, Lu Tingting was proud to the bone and had the temper of a spoiled princess.

But among all the unmarried young women she knew, Lu Tingting’s family background was the best. If Lu Tingting were her bridesmaid, it would not only give her face, but the Liang family would also think more highly of her.

After weighing the pros and cons, Chen Xue ran after Lu Tingting again.

“Tingting, I agree.”

Without a word, Lu Tingting held out her hand. “Money first. Otherwise, if you back out later, who am I supposed to collect from?”

Chen Xue was dumbfounded.

At noon, Lu Tingting, now with 50 yuan in her pocket, dragged Wu Meixia and Song Ke to the department store and bought a glittering 18-karat gold necklace.

Wu Meixia and Song Ke watched, their eyes burning with envy.

Wu Meixia said, “Tingting, aren’t you being a little too good to Jiang Moli? You’ve never bought Xiao Ke and me gold necklaces.”

Song Ke, chewing on a lollipop, nodded. “Yeah! And you’re using the money from our bridesmaid red envelopes.”

Lu Tingting, though she knew she was in the wrong, said forcefully, “We promised to be best sisters for life. When I need money, shouldn’t you help me out?”

Then she added, “Alright, alright, there’s still some money left. I’ll treat you to a meal out.”

Only then did the two of them cheer up.

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