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Chapter 166: Chapter 159: Moving Back to Gaijiatun_2
After sending the two to the doorstep of their home, Shen Yunfang secretly slipped the carriage driver a piece of money. The carriage immediately turned back, hoping to make it before darkness fell, so there was no time to invite him for a meal; giving some money was the only way to express gratitude. The carriage driver, pocketing the money, cheerily headed back to Taoshu Village.
Once back home, Dashuan’s wife was waiting, and the meal had been prepared and kept warm in the pot, which deeply touched Shen Yunfang. She introduced Dashuan’s wife to Li Hongjun.
Li Hongjun, too, was very grateful to the couple who consistently helped his wife. A smile spread across his face, which actually intimidated Dashuan’s wife and sent her scurrying away.
Li Hongjun wiped his face and said helplessly, "I guess I should keep a serious expression, otherwise, I might scare people away."
Shen Yunfang chuckled beside him but didn’t tell him that Dashuan’s wife had not been frightened away but rather struck by his charm. When Hongjun was serious, he gave off a very upright impression, but when he smiled, he was quite enchanting. Especially since eating the Essence of Life over the past month, Yunfang felt this even stronger; sometimes her own heart would pound uncontrollably because of his laughter.
After putting down their luggage, Shen Yunfang did a tour inside and outside the house; everything was fine, the firewood was replenished, and then she went with Li Hongjun to visit Uncle Shen.
Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen warmly welcomed the two of them and introduced various members of the Shen family to Li Hongjun.
They sat and exchanged a few words with the uncle and aunt and briefly mentioned the division of the Li family’s property.
This was quite unexpected. However, with Hongjun present, everyone was too embarrassed to ask for details, deciding to wait and inquire next time Yunfang visited.
"Uncle, our wedding was hasty, and we didn’t prepare everything well. We didn’t even enjoy the wedding feast properly. Now that we are back, we’d like to invite everyone to a proper meal. Uncle, do you think that’s alright?" Li Hongjun now, as the head of the family, and despite being disabled, knew he needed to take the lead in such matters.
"You really want to host another meal?" Uncle Shen looked at his new nephew-in-law, trying to discern the sincerity in his expression.
At the time of the wedding feast at the Li family’s, Yunfang had mentioned this idea, but everyone took it lightly. No one was wealthy enough to have a feast twice.
"Yes, Yunfang and I have discussed it. She’s been living here by herself, and uncle, aunt, and the other relatives have taken great care of her. Now is a good chance for us as a couple to express our thanks, to show our gratitude to you for looking after Yunfang and to all the relatives for their care for our family." Li Hongjun deliberately avoided mentioning the poor quality of the Li family’s wedding banquet and instead spoke of gratitude.
When spoken by an educated person, the same thing simply sounds different, thought Uncle Shen.
"Alright, if you’ve decided, then go ahead and invite. It’s true, Yunfang will continue her life here, and indeed, maintaining good relationships with neighbors and relatives is beneficial and harmless." Uncle Shen pondered and decided it was feasible, "Have you prepared everything you need for it?"
"There’s not much to prepare. Aunt Wang still owes me a pig’s head; with that, we’ll have our meat. There’s nothing special about vegetables around this time. We still have cabbages, potatoes, and radishes in our vegetable cellar. I also dried some vegetables in the autumn, which should be enough for a few tables." Shen Yunfang said with a smile.
Aunt Shen’s eyes lit up at the mention of slaughtering a pig for guests.
"Okay, today is the fifteenth, it’s too rushed to do it immediately, so let’s set the date for the eighteenth. I’ll help you make the arrangements," decided Uncle Shen.
"That’s great, thank you for going through the trouble for us, Uncle," said Li Hongjun politely.
"Oh, it’s nothing, Yunfang lost her parents early on, so we ought to look after her," Aunt Shen interjected, "Yunfang, you’re going to hold the banquet at your place, is there enough space for it?"
Shen Yunfang hadn’t actually considered this question, "We only have room for one table in the east room. Uncle, how many tables should I set up?"
Uncle Shen calculated the numbers in his mind and gave an estimate, "At least two tables." And that was under the assumption that only adults would attend, excluding children.
"Well, that means we’ll have to take turns eating at your place, which could be quite troublesome," muttered Aunt Shen as if to herself.
Li Hongjun gave his wife an imperceptible glance before asking, "Aunt, do you have a better idea?"
Aunt Shen pursed her lips, then smilingly said, "Oh my, I just love to worry unnecessarily. I was thinking, with your place being small, it would be troublesome to serve in shifts. If you trust me, why not have it at my place? Both the east and west rooms can accommodate a table each, and even the kang can fit a small table. If children come, there’s space for a separate table for them as well."
"That would be wonderful, Aunt. You’re such a great cook, but it’ll be tiring for you," exclaimed a delighted Shen Yunfang.
"Hehe, it won’t be too tiring, a few younger daughters-in-law could help me out," Aunt Shen reveled in the compliments of her cooking.
"Oh, but would Yunxiu have any objections to using the east room?" Shen Yunfang suddenly remembered another issue. Yunxiu, who stayed in the east room and was known for her domineering demeanor, did not like others touching her things. Would she allow her room to be used for the banquet?
"She’s not at home, she’s gone to the Capital with her partner, we don’t need to worry about her," Aunt Shen said cheerily, pride evident in her tone.
Shen Yunfang was truly surprised, but she didn’t show it outwardly.
Afterward, she and Aunt Shen began to discuss the dishes and quantities for the wedding feast.
"Alright, I’ll bring the grains needed for the banquet to Aunt’s place tomorrow, thank you for the trouble," Li Hongjun offered.
Aunt Shen’s eyes crinkled into a smile, insisting it wasn’t necessary, "We’re all family; there’s no need to be so precise."
Shen Yunfang would only listen to those words but would not take them literally.
