Hunting 81: Gathering Goods in the Mountains, I Spoil My Ex-Wife to the Extreme

"Why is Li Yunshi's house so lively at this time of year, when it's neither a holiday nor a festival?"

"It seems like it's his mother's 60th birthday today. I saw Li Yunshan run to Aunt Feng's house to buy an old hen early this morning, and then ride his bicycle to Xiangyang Commune. When he came back, the wicker basket on the back of his bicycle was full of things."

"Li Yunlan also came all the way here with the children. Li Yunlan usually doesn't come back unless it's Huang Zhifang's birthday."

"It smells so good, I wonder what they're stewing in their kitchen."

"What can you stew? Meat, of course. Do you think you can cook some rare delicacy?"

"Look at that family, laughing and chatting happily..."

"..."

Hearing the cheerful laughter and the delicious aroma wafting from Li Yunshi's house, several neighbors couldn't help but gather together and whisper among themselves.

Some voices were filled with envy, while others were filled with jealousy.

A few hungry kids simply ran to Li Yunshi's house, saying they wanted to play with Li Yunshi's two sons, but actually they just wanted some food.

Seeing this, Huang Zhifang didn't stop his two grandsons from playing with the neighbor's children. He even grabbed a handful of mixed candies and gave a few pieces to each of the neighbor's children.

"Wow, it's fruit candy."

"Mine is strawberry flavored."

"Mine is apple flavored."

"..."

Having received Huang Zhifang's candy, the children, who were not yet fully aware of social etiquette, immediately peeled off the candy coating and started eating it.

Li Yunshan and the others simply smiled when they saw this.

In those days, resources were still quite scarce. If you wanted to eat meat and fish, you could only do so during the Lunar New Year. At other times, people would just buy some meat to satisfy their family's cravings.

If people are so frugal with meat, then no one will bother to spend money on snacks like candy.

Li Yunshan still remembers that back in the year 2000, when he returned to Guapigou Village from the provincial capital to pay respects to his father at his grave, many children from the village followed him, just to wait for him to give each child candy and cookies.

In the 1980s, a single mixed candy was enough to make a child happy for half a day, let alone the five or six that Huang Zhifang gave to each person.

Seeing this, the neighbors all rushed to Li Yunshi's house to join in the fun and chat with Huang Zhifang.

Seeing this, Huang Zhifang distributed a round of mixed candy to his neighbors, which made them all smile and thank him.

At this moment, Li Yunshi poked his head out of the kitchen and called out, "Third sister, fourth sister, come and help serve the dishes."

Seeing this, the neighbors knew that it was someone's 60th birthday celebration and they were about to have a meal, so they got up and left.

Li Yunshan and the other two went to the kitchen to help bring all the prepared dishes to the table.

The old hen soup is made with dried wild mushrooms picked from the mountains in the summer, giving it a delicious and rich flavor; the braised pork is stewed until tender and has a bright red and glossy appearance; the dry pot rabbit is served with potatoes, mushrooms, onions and other side dishes, making it very fragrant.

Other dishes include braised cabbage, stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar, sausage, and cured meat.

One dish after another was laid out on the table, and Li Yunshi finally brought out the steamed meat buns.

The freshly steamed meat buns were plump and white, still steaming hot. DouDou, the little glutton, had just sat down when she saw the meat buns and her mouth watered: "Mom, I want to eat meat buns."

"Wait a minute, we can only start eating meat buns after Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, and Aunts are all seated. It's polite, understand?" Lin Xiulan instructed Dou Dou.

"Oh, I understand."

DouDou nodded.

"Dou Dou, listen to what your mother taught you, you must be well-behaved."

Huang Zhifang did not spoil her granddaughter, but instead approved of Lin Xiulan's way of educating Dou Dou.

Soon after, Li Yunshi, Wang Xiaolian, Li Yunmei, and Li Yunshan took their seats, and Li Yunlan also came out carrying Qianqian, who had just woken up.

Qianqian, who had just woken up, was still squinting her little eyes, looking bewildered as if asking, "Who am I? Where am I?"

But after Li Yunlan put Qianqian on the chair, Wang Qianqian immediately perked up when she saw the food on the table.

"Alright, it's rare for our whole family to get together like this, let's eat while it's hot. We can talk about anything else after we've eaten," Huang Zhifang said with a smile.

This year's birthday was the most comfortable one she had ever had.

With her two sons successful and her two daughters by her side, the whole family gathered together to prepare dishes for her 60th birthday and chat with her. Huang Zhifang felt content.

Lin Xiulan picked up a meat bun for Dou Dou, and Dou Dou took the meat bun and started eating.

Seeing the table full of delicious food, Li Yunshi's two sons also had a great appetite and began to wolf down the food with their chopsticks.

"Qianqian, what would you like to eat?"

Li Yunlan asked Wang Qianqian.

"Mom, can I have braised pork?"

Qianqian pointed to the braised pork on the table and asked cautiously.

For a moment, Huang Zhifang, Li Yunshan, and Li Yunshi were all stunned by Qianqian's childish yet cautious words.

The once lively atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

Li Yunlan glanced at Huang Zhifang, her eldest brother, second sister, and third brother out of the corner of her eye. Seeing the stunned expressions on their faces, she felt a pang of sadness, but she still managed a forced smile: "Qianqian, at Grandma's house, you can eat whatever you want."

"Yes, yes, Qianqian, at Grandma's house, you can eat whatever you want. Do you want braised pork? Your uncle will get it for you."

After Li Yunshi realized what was happening, he started talking while putting a piece of bright red and glistening braised pork into Qianqian's bowl.

"Qianqian, come here, Auntie will put a piece of chicken leg meat on your plate."

Li Yunmei also put a piece of chicken leg meat into Qianqian's bowl.

"Qianqian, your third uncle won't serve you any more, but at your maternal grandmother's house, you can eat whatever you want. If you want braised pork, eat braised pork; if you want cured meat or sausage, eat cured meat or sausage. You don't need to ask your mother, maternal grandmother, or uncle for permission."

Li Yunshan patted Qianqian's little head, his tone firm and resolute.

"oh."

Although Qianqian didn't quite understand, Li Yunshan's words left a mark on her heart.

"Eat up, eat as much as you want."

Li Yunshan gave her an encouraging look, and Qianqian, who was not even three years old, picked up a piece of braised pork and started eating.

"Dad, I want to eat as much as I want too."

DouDou said from the side.

"Dad, Mom, can we eat as much as we want?"

Li Yunshi's eldest son asked about Li Yunshi and Wang Xiaolian.

"Eat up, why are you talking so much nonsense? You little chubby boy, when have your father and mother ever gone hungry?"

Li Yunshi laughed and scolded in an annoyed tone.

"hehe!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh, and the previously quiet atmosphere returned to its lively state.

Li Yunshan opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for Li Yunshi: "Brother, let's have a drink together."

Li Yunshi picked up his glass and clinked it against Li Yunshan's: "Third brother, it's all thanks to you that I got the job at the forest farm. Otherwise, I'd still be a farmer toiling in the fields. I'll toast you."

Sitting next to Li Yunshi, Wang Xiaolian heard this and said, "Third brother, if your sister-in-law did anything wrong in the past, please don't take it to heart."

"Let's not talk about the past. I just hope our whole family is doing well."

As Li Yunshan spoke, he raised his glass and clinked it against Li Yunshi's, then drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing that Qianqian had finished the meat in her bowl, Li Yunmei put another piece of braised pork on her plate, saying as she did so, "Qianqian, eat more."

Lin Xiulan and Huang Zhifang also served Qianqian meat one after another.

Li Yunlan felt a pang of sadness as she looked at the bowl piled high with meat in front of Qianqian.

At her husband's family home, she worked tirelessly, doing all the laundry, cooking, and cleaning. But even with all that, her mother-in-law was still unhappy.

When she was pregnant, her mother-in-law was convinced she was having a boy, but when she gave birth to a girl, she simply said "a money-losing thing" and left without even taking care of her in the hospital for a few days.

At home, her mother-in-law would often greet them with phrases like "money-losing good" or "a hen that can't lay eggs."

During meals, the meat in the bowls was always given to the mother-in-law and husband, Wang Yuanchao, first.

But when she returned to her parents' home, her eldest brother, second sister, and mother all doted on Qianqian, constantly piling meat into her bowl.

Even her third brother, who used to favor sons over daughters, treats Qianqian very well.

Seeing Qianqian's delicate and thin face, he gave her three hundred yuan and told her to buy some food and drinks for Qianqian to supplement her nutrition when she got back.

With such a mother, such an elder brother and a third elder brother, and such a second elder sister, Li Yunlan felt at ease.

"Mom, I want to drink chicken soup."

After finishing the meat in her bowl, Qianqian held the bowl in her little hands.

"Okay, let's have some chicken soup."

Li Yunlan took the bowl and served Qianqian another bowl of chicken soup.

"Hehe, Fourth Sister, why don't you and Qianqian stay at your parents' house for a few more days? It'll be a good opportunity to improve your meals."

"Big brother, sister-in-law, you don't have any objections, do you?"

Li Yunshan said with a smile.

"Of course we have no objection. This is Fourth Sister's maternal home. She can stay here for as many days as she wants, which is a good opportunity for her to spend more time with Mother," Li Yunshi said with a smile.

"this……"

But Li Yunlan hesitated for a moment, unsure of what would happen if she delayed going back for a few more days, given her mother-in-law's domineering nature.

But thinking of how much her mother and brother and sister-in-law doted on Qianqian back at her parents' home, she finally nodded and agreed: "Okay, then I'll stay with Qianqian for a few more days before going back."

"Mom, do we really want to stay at Grandma's house for a few more days?"

At this moment, Qianqian, who was drinking chicken soup, suddenly looked up and asked.

"Okay, we'll stay at Grandma's house for a few more days. You'll have to spend a lot of time talking to her then."

Li Yunlan stroked Qianqian's little head and said.

"Can I eat braised pork every day?"

Qianqian asked innocently again.

"sure."

Li Yunlan said.

"Then I'm going to stay at my grandma's house forever."

"Hahaha!"

Everyone was amused by Qianqian's innocent words.

However, after finishing their meal, Huang Zhifang still pulled Li Yunlan into the house, as she had something to say to her.