After the midday meal, the guests gradually dispersed. Lady Li had to set off immediately for her long journey home. Lady Zhang, Lian Shouxin, and Lian Manman tried in vain to persuade Lady Li to stay for a day or two before returning.

"How about this, let Qingnian go back, mother, you and Caiyun could stay for a couple more days," Lady Zhang and Lady Li discussed.

"No need to stay, there are things to take care of at home. When New Year comes, you bring the kids over to stay for a while, then you and I can have a long chat," Lady Li said, shaking her head reluctantly despite not wanting to leave Lady Zhang.

In rural families, there’s always plenty to do, and Lady Li was also worried about her husband, Zhang Qingshan. Seeing that she couldn’t convince Lady Li to stay, Lady Zhang hurriedly packed up things for Lady Li to take back: a basket of garlic-flavored peanuts, twenty jin of sliced pickled vegetables, and a jar of grape wine.

Lady Li then asked Lady Zhang to sit beside her and took out her purse, intent on leaving some money with Lady Zhang.

"I know you’ve earned some money, but you’ve used it all to buy land. Daily expenses need money too. Keep these few coins for some pocket money for my grandchildren," Lady Li said.

"Mother, we really can’t take your money anymore," Lady Zhang hastily refused. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Manman, keep this money for your mother," seeing that Lady Zhang would not take it, Lady Li tried to give the money to Lian Manman.

Lian Manman cheerfully refused to accept it as well.

"Grandma, we make money selling pickles at the market, and we don’t lack money. Keep it for yourself," she said.

"... Your family doesn’t have much savings, what if you run into tight times? I’m too far away to be of timely help," Lady Li said. In her lifetime, she had two sons and two daughters. Her sons lived with her, her younger daughter married well in the county town, but she was most concerned and affectionate towards her elder daughter.

"Mother/Grandma, really, it’s not necessary," Lady Zhang and Lian Manman said in unison.

Last time, they accepted Lady Li’s money because the family was indeed in difficulty and in urgent need of it. Now that they could earn money, naturally, they couldn’t keep taking the hard-saved money from an elder.

Nobody was willing to accept the money, so with no other option, Lady Li had to take it back.

"If you are doing well, then your father and I will be at ease," Lady Li told Lady Zhang before she left, "If you’re short on cash, don’t hide it from the family. Just send a message, and I’ll have your eldest brother bring you the money."

"Yes," Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin promptly agreed.

After sending off Lady Li, Zhang Qingnian, and Zhang Caiyun, the Lian Manman family called over Lady Zhou to start work.

All the borrowed tables, chairs, plates, and chopsticks needed to be washed and returned clean, so Lady Zhou had Lady Zhang and Lady He lead Lian Manman and the children in washing the dishes.

"Old Three’s wife, come and help me sort the vegetables," Lady Zhou called Lady Zhao over separately.

In rural households, even if the variety of dishes for a banquet is not extravagant, the quantity of each dish is certainly generous. As such, some food is always left over at each table, and Lady Zhou, with Lian Xiuxiu and Lady Zhao, sorted the remaining food into different bowls according to type, to keep for their family to eat over the next few days.

"There’s still a big bowl of meatballs left," Xiao Qi popped back from the Upper Room and whispered to Lian Manman.

"Xiao Qi, behave and stay with your sister, don’t run off to your grandma," Lady Zhang instructed while washing the dishes, turning her head to tell Xiao Qi.

Sorting the leftover food was a messy task, yet Lady Zhou insisted on doing it herself, calling Lian Xiuxiu to her side, but did not let Lady Zhang, Lady He, or anyone else, except the most dependable Lady Zhao, get involved. Lady Zhang understood Lady Zhou’s intentions; she was afraid they might sneak some for themselves, so she told Xiao Qi to stay away, lest Lady Zhou become suspicious.

Lian Manman looked up and observed Lady Zhou busy at work.

"Those meatballs won’t be for us," Lian Manman said.

"Your grandfather barely gets to eat good things all year round. We have to save those meatballs for him to enjoy with his drink," Lady Zhang said.

Besides providing for Old Master Lian’s drinking pleasure, Lian Xiuxiu also needed to eat, as for the rest, it seemed unlikely they would get a share.

Xiao Qi pouted.

"It’s just meatballs. Xiao Qi, if you really want some, next market day after we sell the pickles, we’ll buy a jin for you to eat," Lian Manman told Xiao Qi.

"Right," Lady Zhang nodded, feeling sorry for her daughter. Seeing that the dishwashing was almost done, she told Lian Manman, "Manman, go wash your hands and take a break, there are only a few dishes left, no need for you to wash anymore."

"Oh my, I’ve been squatting for so long I can’t even straighten my back," hearing this, Lady He quickly put down her bowl and got up, "Old Fourth’s wife, I’ve got something to do, the remaining dishes aren’t many, you finish them."