First update, seeking pink.

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Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and Lian Jizu returned from labor service, and Old Master Lian sent Erlang to buy groceries. Now, he called for Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang, intending for the whole family to welcome Lian Shouren, Lian Shouyi, and Lian Jizu.

"Erlang surely went home, saw us come back, and told his grandpa. Only then did his grandpa send your third uncle to call us," said Lian Shouxin.

"Dad, are you and my brother going?" Lian Manman asked, "Our whole family hasn’t eaten together for quite a while."

"Yes." Xiao Qi nodded in agreement.

Lady Zhang was planning how to prepare a sumptuous meal for the family, envisioning a joyful reunion and a lively dinner. Hearing Old Master Lian sending Lian Shouli to call Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang, she also felt a bit uneasy.

Everyone looked at Lian Shouxin.

"Hmm," Lian Shouxin thought for a moment, "maybe let’s not go. It’s not such a big deal."

Since Lian Shouxin decided not to go, Wu Lang naturally wouldn’t say he wanted to go.

"Then we’ll all eat at home; let’s make a hotpot tonight," Lady Zhang said happily.

"Mom, let’s make fish head hotpot," Lian Manman suggested. They had a lot of big flower-headed carp in the family fish pond. The fish head stew was particularly delicious. She also planned to make some chopped chili to prepare chopped chili fish head.

"Alright." Lady Zhang nodded promptly and said to Lian Shouxin, "Since your third uncle came over, you and your son aren’t going. Don’t let the girl send the message; you go and tell your third uncle yourself... Previously, whenever something happened at the old house, they always had Yeye running errands. Now it’s his third uncle instead."

The construction on the mountain was nearing completion, so Lian Shouli spent more time at home than before.

"Of course." Lian Shouxin said, then went out.

Lady Zhang then asked Wu Lang and Xiao Qi what they’d like to eat, insisting that each of her sons choose two dishes before happily taking Xiao Xi to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

In a short while, Lian Shouxin returned from the front yard.

"Dad, what did you say to my third uncle?" Lian Manman asked Lian Shouxin.

"...I just said, over there they barely make some money to buy some meat for a feast, and if Wu Lang and I go over, we’d have to add our share. It’s not like we’re missing anything for just one or two meals. We’re not going. Coming back from labor service, they’re surely quite weary. I told your third uncle to relay a message to your grandpa and grandma that we’ll visit tomorrow," Lian Shouxin replied.

This was a very honest reason, and Lian Manman smiled silently.

"Did my third uncle say anything?" Wu Lang asked.

"What could your third uncle say? Upon hearing we weren’t going, he said maybe he wouldn’t go to the Upper Room either," Lian Shouxin replied.

"Oh," only then did Lian Manman remember that Old Master Lian asked Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang to come over to eat, and sent Lian Shouli with the message, yet didn’t invite his third uncle, third aunt, or Yeye. "He’s only inviting my third uncle, not my third uncle’s wife and Yeye, right."

"Hmm." Lian Shouxin nodded.

Lian Manman didn’t say much. The tenant farmer families were accustomed to this tradition. When a big family separates, the sons who set up their own households, and when the elders have something going on, it’s generally only the sons who are called to the table, followed by the adult grandsons. Sometimes especially favored little grandsons can find a seat by the elders. As for the daughters-in-law and granddaughters, they generally aren’t called unless the dinner is large enough for them to help with the cooking and cleaning. More traditional families let them eat the leftovers, while less traditional ones send daughters-in-law and granddaughters to eat at their own homes.

Lian Manman analyzed the causes of this situation. She thought this was mainly due to male dominance and secondly due to lack of material wealth.

By evening, when the meal was almost ready in the kitchen, Wu Lang sent someone to hitch a ride to pick up Mr. Loo early from the mountain. The family set a table in the east room of the backyard and sat around it.

The dishes on the table were naturally very sumptuous, including the fish head hotpot Lian Manman wanted, with the milky white fish head broth simmering and bubbling. Inside were fish meatballs, pork meatballs, shredded tripe, and other ingredients suitable for long simmering. Prepared neatly next to it were plates of spinach, duck blood tofu, bean curd skin, lotus root slices, as well as the red-cooked lion’s head, fried river shrimp Xiao Qi wanted, and Wu Lang’s sautéed liver tips. Vegetable dishes included stir-fried garlic sprouts and garlic scapes.

The staples included rice, as well as three-flour steamed buns made from cornmeal, wheat flour, and bean flour.

Lian Manman’s family always included wine for Mr. Loo during lunch and dinner but not breakfast. Lian Shouxin naturally accompanied him, and sometimes Wu Lang would join him for a drink. Today was the first time in days that they were returning from the county and sitting together to eat, so wine was certainly essential.