Chapter 104: Packing the Leftovers
Chapter 104: Packing the Leftovers
No matter how much Zhang Xiuping was reluctant to let her family and best friends go, they eventually had to return home.
When the other guests left, they only took a few slices of five-spice meat and a piece of braised pork with tofu, strung together with bamboo skewers. However, the relatives who came to see the bride off received more. In addition to the five-spice meat, braised pork, and tofu, each of them also received a red envelope. Deng Shirong was generous, giving each person ten yuan.
After all, when they came to visit the family, they had given red envelopes with 8.88 yuan, so it was only fitting that the amount for the wedding should be higher. Ten yuan was just right.
Deng Yunzhen, who was not yet married, didn't fully understand the bride's feelings, but she had seen many brides in the village cry when their guests left. Some even sobbed uncontrollably.
So, when she saw her sister-in-law shedding tears, she tried to comfort her, "Sister-in-law, don't be sad. You'll be back in three days, and you can always visit your parents whenever you want."
Zhang Xiuping wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said with red eyes, "I know, but seeing my family leave just makes me want to cry."
Deng Yunzhen nodded, "I understand. Many brides in our village feel the same way when they first get married. You'll get used to it in a few days."
While Deng Yunzhen was comforting her sister-in-law, Deng Shirong turned to his third sister, "Third Sister, there's so much food left. I'll pack a few tables worth for you to take home. No point in letting it go to waste here."
Deng Shilan initially wanted to refuse, but she swallowed her words. Her brother was right; there was too much food to finish, and it would be a shame to waste it. She nodded, "Alright, I'll take some home."
"I'll go tell Yun Tai's two uncles to take some as well."
"Sure, go ahead!"
Deng Shirong quickly went to Yun Tai's two uncles and repeated what he had said to his third sister. They were close relatives and understood that it would be wasteful to leave so much food. Both uncles agreed.
So, Deng Shirong fetched some oil paper and old newspapers and began packing the leftovers. The seafood was already finished, but there was still plenty of meatballs, egg rolls, poached chicken, poached duck, braised pork, stir-fried pork, sweet lotus root, and bamboo shoots. The vegetables were less important since everyone had plenty of those but lacked meat and oil.
Deng Shirong focused on the meat dishes, wrapping them in oil paper and then covering them with old newspapers, tying everything with thin hemp rope. There were fifteen tables of food in total, and he packed three full tables for his third sister's family. He didn't pack more because they wouldn't be able to finish it, and it would still go to waste. Three tables were plenty.
He did the same for Yun Tai's two uncles, giving each of them three tables of food. The remaining six tables were kept for their own family.
Of course, they wouldn't finish it all by themselves, but they had a lot of work to do the next day and would need to feed many people. The food wouldn't go to waste.
Once the food was packed, the third sister's family and Yun Tai's uncles all bid their farewells and left.
...
After the guests left Yayue Village, the elders were still discussing the wedding feast. They were all amazed by the abundance and quality of the food. They had never heard of a wedding with such a lavish spread, and the taste was simply incredible.
Especially the three seafood dishes—those flavors would never be forgotten!
And the fifteen tables of food were a grand scene they had never seen before.
In summary, after today’s wedding banquet, Deng Shirong could brag to the village gossips for a whole year about the grandeur of the event.
The four Zhang brothers didn’t join in the conversation, just carrying their things and walking silently. After all, from today on, their only sister (or younger sister) was truly married off. When they saw her shed tears, their eyes also welled up, but no matter how much they wished to stay, they couldn’t. They could only leave with a faint sadness, following the elders.
Unlike the four Zhang brothers, Zhang Da’s wife and Zhang Er’s wife, though also reluctant to see their diligent younger sister-in-law go, knew that only by marrying her off could she help their family. Therefore, on the way back, the two sisters-in-law walked shoulder to shoulder, whispering to each other.
Walking at the back were Ou Guofang and Ou Guohua, the sisters. They were also whispering, but their topic wasn’t the newlyweds or the delicious feast. Instead, they were discussing Deng Changyuan and the other young men from Naye Village.
Although Ou Guohua and Deng Changyuan hadn’t yet had a matchmaker arrange their marriage, through intermediaries like Deng Yuntai and Zhang Xiuping, they had decided to start dating.
As for her older sister Ou Guofang, she had been keenly observing the young men from Naye Village, looking for a suitable match. So, on the way back, the sisters had plenty to talk about.
...
2:30 PM.
Deng Shilan’s family returned home.
“Dad, Mom, it’s getting late, I’ll head back first!” said Deng Shilan’s eldest daughter, Bu Dafang.
Deng Shilan and her husband, Bu Erzhu, were not well-educated. They had five children, and their names were quite simple: the two daughters were called Bu Dafang and Bu Xiaofang, and the three sons were named Bu Dashan, Bu Zhongshan, and Bu Xiaoshan.
Bu Dafang had married into the Shan Tang Village of Bai Ping Brigade three years ago and was now the mother of two children.
Deng Shilan took a table of packed food from the three tables they had brought back and said to her eldest daughter, “Dafang, we can’t possibly finish all this food. Take this table back with you and share it with your in-laws and your older brother and his wife. The rest you and your husband can keep.”
Bu Dafang had separated from her in-laws the previous year. Her relationship with her in-laws and her older brother and his wife was not great, and they only maintained a surface-level harmony. Hearing her mother’s words, she huffed, “What a favor to them!”
Deng Shilan knew about her daughter’s situation at her in-laws’ place and said, “You should be more open-minded and not be too calculating. Even among five fingers, some are longer than others. Parents can’t be absolutely fair to all their children.”
Bu Dafang knew that complaining about her in-laws’ favoritism was pointless and didn’t want to ruin her good mood, so she changed the subject, “Mom, you don’t need to give me so much. Half of it would be enough.”
Deng Shilan responded, “We have plenty left at home. Don’t refuse my offer. Take more back with you; it will make you look good.”
Bu Dafang thought for a moment and decided not to refuse her mother’s kindness. After saying goodbye to her parents and siblings, she took several large packages of food and headed back to her in-laws’ house.
Thank you to all the patrons who voted for the monthly ticket. We’ve now climbed to 292nd place on the monthly ticket chart. Let’s keep pushing forward!
(End of Chapter)
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