Old Master Lian hoped that everyone would come together to make baobao, and then divide Lian Shouxin’s portion out for them. When Lian Shouxin’s family went their separate way, Old Master Lian had done so reluctantly. What he loved the most was having all his children and grandchildren gathered around him, doing everything together.

Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang exchanged glances, as they had also considered the possibility that Old Master Lian would make such a proposal. Whether to join in or to wrap baobao separately for their own household was something Lady Zhang pondered.

Lian Manman was curiously checking the several bags laid out on the ground, filled with large yellow millet flour, small yellow millet flour, broomcorn millet flour, and one bag of red adzuki beans. Upon hearing Old Master Lian’s words, she couldn’t help but lift her head.

Old Master Lian was smiling, waiting for the response of Lian Shouxin and his wife, while Lady Zhou sat on the kang bed with Lian Xiuxiu, squinting her eyes, seemingly very dissatisfied with something.

Lian Manman then sneaked over to Lady Zhang and surreptitiously tugged at her sleeve. It would be better for them to make their own, otherwise, in front of Lady Zhou, they would have to endure her looks and listen to strange comments.

Lady Zhang couldn’t help but give Lady Zhou a glance.

"Dad, just give us some flour and beans, and we will make our own. This way, mom can rest a bit easier," Lady Zhang said.

Lady Zhou snorted coldly, and her eyes scanned Lady Zhang’s face like a venomous snake. Lian Xiuxiu also glared fiercely at Lady Zhang.

"Fourth sister-in-law, if you don’t want to make them together, just say it," Lian Xiuxiu said angrily, "Are you just taking advantage of your youth and ability to do work, looking down on our mother who’s getting old, afraid she’ll hold you back?"

Lady Zhang was stunned by Lian Xiuxiu’s words, and immediately a sense of grievance surged up from her stomach to her throat.

"How can you wrong me like that? When have I ever thought that?" Lady Zhang, an honest person, was not adept at arguing when faced with malice and injustice she could neither understand nor anticipate.

"Auntie, don’t wrongly accuse my mother," Lian Manman hurriedly nuzzled into Lady Zhang’s embrace while saying to Lian Xiuxiu, "My mother always tells us, in the entire village, you can’t find anyone as tidy and efficient as grandma. My mother says she doesn’t measure up to grandma by a long stretch, no matter how hard she tries, she can’t match grandma."

Lady Zhou coldly sized up Lady Zhang and Lian Manman, and her expression seemed to soften a bit.

"You sure have a way with words, your mouth as sweet as if smeared with honey," Lian Xiuxiu glared at Lian Manman.

"I’m speaking the truth, Auntie. Are you saying I’m wrong?" Lian Manman provocatively said.

Lian Xiuxiu pursed her lips and said nothing. If she denied what Lian Manman said, that would be tantamount to speaking ill of Lady Zhou.

"My mother says that our family has many mouths to feed, so we have a lot of baobao to make. There are few of us to do the work, so joining everyone else would slow them down. If we make them by ourselves, whether it’s quick or slow, we can manage," Lian Manman added.

"Yes, the child’s mother said so," Lian Shouxin hurriedly agreed.

Old Master Lian laughed heartily on the kang.

"We are a family, there’s no need to talk about being a burden. It’s livelier when everyone works together. I say, let’s make them together," Old Master Lian spoke, then turned to ask Lady Zhou, "What do you say?"

"Let’s make them together, and once finished, we’ll divide the baobao for Old Fourth Family," Lady Zhou said, without a moment’s hesitation, as if she’d already made up her mind.

Lian Manman was somewhat surprised; at this moment, she was still unaware that Lady Zhou had already plotted it all out.

"Old Fourth, let’s make them together," Old Master Lian sighed from deep within his chest, "Every year we’ve made them together, I’m a man with one foot in the grave already..."

Toward the end, Old Master Lian’s head drooped as he took a puff of his cigarette, revealing the top of his head.

His father’s head seemed to have acquired more white hair, and although his back was still straight, he no longer had the vigor of the past. Lian Shouxin felt a twinge of sadness. His father, in the twilight of his life, had one simple wish: for the family to gather together.

"All right, let’s do as Dad says and make them together," Lian Shouxin immediately responded with eagerness.

"Then let’s make them together," Lady Zhang said, her heart being the softest, almost speaking at the same time as Lian Shouxin.

The matter was hence settled, and Lian Manman knew that if she said anything further, neither Lian Shouxin nor Lady Zhang would support her, so she closed her mouth.

"Let’s start kneading the dough," Old Master Lian immediately brightened up, instructing Lian Shouxin, "Go and call your second brother and third brother to the Upper Room."

Lian Shouxin agreed and promptly went out to call Lian Shouyi and Lian Shouli to the Upper Room.