038 – Upset

There were more than twenty people but the hall had not enough room, so four tables were set up outside. Although the autumn sun was up the sky, it was not fierce but rather warm on the body basking under the sun.

Lei Tie greeted the guests and took them to their seats, while Qin Mian directed to serve the dishes in the kitchen. Aunt Wang effortlessly moved out one steamer basket of sweet-smelling steamed buns, which were still piping hot. Qin Mian served the dishes on the tables with Sister Zhang and saw Du Shi, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi sitting at the table very well-disposed, which drawn a mocking smile on his lips.

Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang looked at each other at a loss and shook their heads. It was no wonder Lei Tie and Qin Mian had to separate from that family.

The guests had even looked at Du Shi and the two with strange eyes, but these three were completely unaware of it. Their eyes were solely on the dishes in Qin Mian’s hands.

There were four dishes on each table: stewed rabbit with potato, stewed pheasant with mushroom, stir-fried crown daisy and stir-fried eggplant. Each course of dishes was served in a small basin, wrapped in a strong meat flavor which made people unable to shift their gazes.

“Everyone, please, no need to stand on ceremonies.” Lei Tie stood up to say a few words before sitting back down.

Everyone smilingly said: “Won’t stand on ceremonies.” In their heart, they thought Lei Tie and Qin Mian were honest people. The quantity of meat in both meat dishes was ample, unlike some stingy people who when they treated the guests, the meat in the meat dishes was only a smidgen with vegetables being the majority.

Qin Mian said: “All the steamed buns are here, everyone is self-served. I won’t serve one by one, so that you won’t feel uncomfortable.”

Zhang Dashuan voiced out: “Lei Tie’s wife, you can rest assured that we won’t stand on ceremonies.”

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Du Shi took a large piece of boneless pheasant meat to put it into her bowl and then another piece of rabbit meat for fear that she would be slower than others. She swept a glance at Qin Mian and said as if it was a matter of course: “Eldest’s wife, go call your father.”

The guests couldn’t help fell into silence and looking at each other. On such a large construction site, who wouldn’t discover Lei Daqiang was not there in the morning?

Wu Di sniggered inwardly and inquisitively looked at Qin Mian, somewhat curious to how he would reply.

Qin Mian kept his cool, “Mother, father has always been very good to me and Brother Tie, and we bear in mind. It’s just that he hasn’t come yet probably because he’s not well and resting at home. It’s very cold these days, easy to catch cold if you’re not careful. I think we shouldn’t ask father to come here, so as to avoid the wind. But don’t worry, I’ve left food for him and little sister, so take it along when you go home. I’ll come to see him later with Brother Tie.”

Du Shi choked up and glared at Qin Mian coldly.

Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang both carried a smile in their eyes. Qin Mian used words to stop Du Shi and they felt their irritation vented out.

Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli bowed their heads in shame. In fact, they knew exactly why Lei Daqiang didn’t come. Inwardly, they blamed Lei Daqiang; if you want to put on airs, don’t choose this time. The two looked at each other, somewhat helpless.

Qin Mian acted as though he was unaware of Du Shi’s glare, taking Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang to a brand-new small square table to sit down and rather apologetically said: “Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang, if you don’t mind, you two can sit here. It’s a bit quieter.” This small square table was the extra woods from the cart Lei Tie made, which was not much. Therefore, Lei Tie used it to make a small square table.

Naturally, Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang knew what he meant by “quieter”, so they both were relieved. They didn’t want to sit with Du Shi and her company. After all, they were from the same village, who didn’t know Du Shi and her company? Besides, after the fuss they made priory, the two didn’t want to sit around with Du Shi to find trouble for themselves. How could they blame Qin Mian when they were inwardly rejoicing? It was just that they never made out Qin Mian to be very attentive. Although it was a small table, there were also four dishes on the table with enough quantity for them to eat and would still have many left.

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“Don’t say that. Giving this table for both of us is exceedingly most welcome.” Aunt Wang, whose character was straightforward and generous, said cheerfully.

Sister Zhang also repeatedly agreed, “Exactly. Lei Tie’s wife, don’t be busy. Go have a meal, too. ”

After Qin Mian had properly arranged things, he sat down beside Lei Tie. The empty bowl in front of him had already been filled with dishes for him. He smiled at Lei Tie before picking up his chopsticks to eat.

Although the occasion was made awkward by Du Shi, there were Zhang Dashuan, Lei Xiangren, Lei Xiangyi and Wu Di with their glib tongues, whom soon broken the rigid atmosphere. People joked and chatted freely, the atmosphere was very lively.

Stir-fried crown daisy and eggplant were vegetable dishes, but they were stir-fried with lard oil, the flavor was precise to the finest detail. After a meal, there were almost no leftovers on the four tables. Everyone was satisfied with the food and didn’t delay the time. After a short rest, they went to the construction site.

Du Shi, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi didn’t mention anything about staying to help clean up. They left carrying the meal Qin Mian prepared for Lei Daqiang and Lei Chuntao.

After Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang washed the dishware, they cleaned up the kitchen neat and tidy.

Sister Zhang said: “Lei Tie’s wife, we’ll go back if there’s nothing else to do here. We’ll come back tomorrow morning.”

Qin Mian came over with two bowls and smilingly said: “Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang, you guys have worked hard. These are the unfinished food on the small table. If you guys don’t dislike it, take it back. Brother Tie and I both have a large amount of food intake, with this much it is not enough for us to eat in the evening.”

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The people of farmer household weren’t choosy that much. Although it was leftover food, it was also good food. Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang happily accepted, thanked him and left together. They walked while talking about what Du Shi, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi had done today, which invoked their dislike even more.

Sister Zhang disdainfully said: “Normally, doing that in their home is not an issue. Today, so many people are present, yet Du Shi and her two daughters-in-law are still doing it. It really makes people unable to look on.”

“Who said no, ah? Their family’s fourth son still hasn’t been match. Du Shi is not afraid that with her reputation spread out, no one wants to be their family’s daughter-in-law?” Aunt Wang chimed in.

“Heehee.” Sister Zhang laughed with her mouth covered, “In any case, if I have a daughter, I will never marry her to their family. You didn’t see Zhao Shi’s appearance at lunch today, wishing she could have two mouths.”

The two had gone far away but it couldn’t deter Qin Mian’s good hearing ability, who heard them crystal clear and couldn’t help bursting with laughter. He wondered if he could think of a way to prevent Du Shi and her company from coming. They weren’t even willing to do anything, why should they be allowed to freeload? It would take half a month to build the house at the latest, were they going to come over for lunch every day? It’s no big deal to let people take advantage of it, but letting people he didn’t like to take advantage of it, Qin Mian would be upset no matter how he thought about it.

However, when he thought about it, if the three thick-skinned people weren’t allowed to come, he didn’t know what they were going to do, so he gave up devising a plan. That’s fine, just put up with it some more. After the house and the courtyard were built, it wouldn’t be so easy to take advantage of their family again.