Chapter 57: Poor Gu Ruoqing, Poor Zhang Xiaohui (1)
The dishes were all done. Gu Qingyao scooped them into plates and scraped everything from the pots into serving dishes. She did not leave a single bit. She even poured all the soup into a basin.
When she saw the fragrant rabbit meat, Gu Ruoqing could not help but reach out to take a piece. But Gu Qingyao smacked her hand aside viciously. “What are you doing?”
She hit her on the back of the hand and it smarted. Gu Ruoqing said angrily, “I want a piece.”
Gu Qingyao refused to let her have it. She laughed coldly. “There are so many adults today. Our grandmother’s entire family is here. Can’t you see that the adults alone number more than ten? There’s not even enough for the adults, and you still want to steal a piece?”
“You…”
At that moment, Old Madam Zhang and her eldest daughter-in-law came over with a few children. “Is the food ready? It smells so good!”
The children had been playing outside, but when they saw that the food was almost ready, Old Madam Zhang and her eldest daughter-in-law deliberately summoned them.
The children grew even more excited when they smelt the fragrance of meat.
“Meat… meat! I want to eat meat, I want to eat meat…”
“Eat meat!”
“Eat meat!”
…
The children who were here today were all quite young. The oldest was twelve, and he was the oldest grandson in the Zhang family.
Really, the oldest grandson in the Zhang family was only twelve. It was as if the Zhang family was cursed. The daughters-in-law who married into the family were barren for many years. Those who became pregnant were forced by Old Madam Zhang to work so hard serving her, that they had several miscarriages.
Also, medical care was poor in these times. Many of the children who were born did not survive. They had lost two children, until this eldest, 12-year-old grandson finally made it safely to this age.
This delighted Old Madam Zhang. He was the apple of her eye and she doted on him.
Especially because this eldest grandson was the son of her most beloved eldest son.
This grandson’s name was Zhang Dabao!
He was followed by Zhang Dachun and Zhang Daqiu.
Their names alone showed the children’s status in the family.
Gu Qingyao’s lips twitched and she picked out a piece of rabbit meat from the plate and handed it to Zhang Dabao with a smile. “Dabao! Have a bite and see if your cousin’s cooking is nice?”
Then she gave Zhang Dachun and Zhang Daqiu a piece each.
She had added plenty of oil and seasoned the rabbit meat generously. Of course, it was delicious. The three children gobbled it down without bothering to chew.
“I want some more, I want some more…”
The smile in the corner of Gu Qingyao’s eyes deepened. Old Madam Zhang and her daughter-in-law, Wang Honghua, did not say anything. Clearly, they were giving their tacit approval. Gu Qingyao gave each of them another piece and said with a smile, “Hurry up and wait in the main room. We’re about to eat. There’s still the fish! When I put it on the table later, Dabao must eat more of it!”
Gu Ruoqing, who was watching from the sidelines, nearly drooled when she saw the children eating so happily.
“Give me a piece!”
As she spoke, she reached out for it.
Piak!
Gu Qingyao once again smacked her hand away viciously.
“What are you doing?” Gu Ruoqing was infuriated.
Gu Qingyao said, “What are you doing? You’re so big but you’re still fighting with children for food. Aren’t you shameless? Dabao is our younger brother, so what if he eats a few pieces of meat? How dare you fight him for it?”
“I…” Gu Ruoqing glared at her, but was momentarily speechless.
Old Madam Zhang, who was standing nearby, said with displeasure, “Your younger sister is right. Look at you, haven’t you eaten meat before? Dabao is your younger brother, why are you fighting with him for it?
“I seldom see you do any work, but you are certainly fast when it comes to eating meat. A burden is a burden. Worthless thing.
“Yao Yao, hand it to me!”
Old Madam Zhang took the plate from Gu Qingyao, then turned and brought it to the main room.
The three children followed her and ran to the main room.