Chapter 23 -23: Golden Finger? (7)_1

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Chapter 23 -23: Golden Finger? (7)_1

At dusk.

The entire sixth brigade gradually fell into silence, with villagers returning home one after another after a day’s work in the fields. As they passed by the Ruan Family’s home, they would stop in surprise; it wasn’t a holiday or a special occasion, yet the Ruan Family’s meal was unexpectedly lavish.

Within the Ruanlin Family, cooking was a forte, and the pheasant they had weighed over a dozen pounds. Apart from the offal, she could turn every part into something precious.

She set aside the chicken blood and liver, planning to prepare them for Ruan Jiaojiao to eat alone the next day.

The meat was boiled in one pot with some freshly dried mushrooms, creating a large, sumptuously fragrant potful.

When Ruanlin saw that the meat was nearly ready, she first scooped out a large chicken leg and placed it in a fine porcelain bowl for Ruan Jiaojiao to nibble on, then turned around to leave the kitchen and said to the six boys still kneeling in the courtyard, “Get up now, call your parents over for dinner.”

However, only Jiandang of the second branch and his wife were at home. Jianjun and Du Qing of the third branch, as well as Jianmin and Wu Le of the fourth branch, were all working in the town and only came home when they had a day off.

Ruanlin’s words were actually directed at the second branch; unlike Liao Zhaoji, who got petty over little things, she wouldn’t squabble over some meat.

Upon hearing her, the six boys cheered, baring their teeth as they stood up.

Ruan Wei dashed into his own house to call Ruan Jiandang and Liao Zhaoji. Hearing the call, Jiandang put down the basket he was mending to wash his hands in the kitchen, while Zhaoji leaned against the doorframe, deliberately squinting and snorting with pretended indifference, “I’m not going, there will surely be unpleasant talk again.”

She was speaking to Jiandang, hoping he would coax her so she could make an appearance with grace, but Jiandang didn’t even glance at her from the corner of his eye, stepping around her to go towards Ruanlin.

Feeling vexed, Zhaoji clenched her teeth as the meat’s aroma wafted her way. After a mere two seconds of inner struggle, she shamelessly followed suit.

“Mom… didn’t you say you weren’t going?” Ruan Wei, completely clueless, touched the back of his head in confusion.

“Mind your own business!” Zhaoji slapped him and thought to herself that her son truly lacked wits; if she hadn’t witnessed his birth herself, she would suspect that Ruanlin had switched out her real son with another.

Ruan Wei, having been slapped for no apparent reason, felt wronged and mumbled under his breath that his grandma was right after all – his mother was someone who made a fuss over nothing. Zhaoji heard him and, infuriated, reeled back to hit him again but this time, Ruan Wei nimbly dodged her hand.

With too many people, the kitchen couldn’t accommodate everyone, so Ruanlin had everyone bring their bowls to the serving table. She dished out a spoonful for each. When it was Zhaoji’s turn, she snickered, “According to Ruan Wei, weren’t you not coming?”

With her eyes glued to the bowl, Zhaoji turned to Ruanlin with an awkward smile, “Mom, don’t listen to Wei’s nonsense. How could I not come when the food you make is so delicious?”

Scoff.

Ruanlin couldn’t be bothered to entertain her.

The last time they had meat was during the New Year; it had been a while since the members of the Ruan Family had smelled the fragrance of meat. Although the recent uproar had been a bit scary, the meal was satisfying as everyone enjoyed juicy mouthfuls.

Little Fatty, clutching his round belly, smacked his lips and sighed wistfully, “If only we could have such good fortune more often.”

“Tch, let the fortune hit your legs instead, not my sister who you can’t afford to hurt,” Ruan Feng said, glaring at him.

Little Fatty wasn’t offended and nodded with a smile, “Yeah, let it hit my legs, I don’t mind at all.”