Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Mrs. Wang’s Banquet
255 Mrs. Wang’s Banquet
This is too valuable; I can’t accept it, Yunniang thought. She carefully took off the glasses and handed them to Zhao Zhitong. "You should take them back. These are too precious; I really can’t accept them."
Zhao Zhitong waved her hand, quickly thinking of an excuse. "They’re not valuable at all. I made them especially for you, Grandmother. Please, just wear them."
After saying that, afraid Yunniang would refuse, Zhao Zhitong turned and ran off.
In the end, Yunniang, feeling she had no other choice, took the glasses and went to see Zhao Dong and Sun Mei.
Zhao Dong and Sun Mei already knew about Zhao Zhitong’s Space Mall. When they saw the presbyopia glasses, they understood immediately.
Sun Mei smiled and said, "Just accept them. It’s a token of the child’s affection."
Zhao Dong also chimed in, "Yes, yes, just take them. They’re not anything valuable."
These words were meant to comfort Yunniang. While the glasses weren’t particularly expensive in modern times, they were undoubtedly rare items in this era.
With both of them persuading her, Yunniang finally accepted the generous gift. She silently committed this act of kindness to her heart, resolving that if the Zhao Family ever needed her, she would step forward without hesitation, even if it cost her life.
"Sister-in-law Dong! Sister-in-law Dong!"
The voice of Shi Tou’s wife, Mrs. Sun, came from outside the gate.
"Tongtong, go open the gate," Sun Mei called out from the kitchen, where she was kneading dough for steamed buns. Hearing the voice, she poked her head out and called to Zhao Zhitong, who was in the courtyard.
"Oh, okay!"
Zhao Zhitong was sitting on the swing reading a book. Hearing her mother, she put down her book, ran to open the gate, and sure enough, Shi Tou’s wife was standing outside.
Zhao Zhitong immediately greeted her sweetly, "Auntie!"
Shi Tou’s wife smiled. "Ah, Tongtong, you’re getting prettier and prettier! Where’s your mother?"
Just as she finished asking, Sun Mei came out of the kitchen, her hands covered in flour. "I’m steaming buns! Quick, come in, come in."
Seeing Sun Mei, Sun Liuniang smiled and walked into the courtyard. Zhao Zhitong obediently closed the main gate.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, Sun Liuniang eagerly pulled Sun Mei towards the kitchen door and started talking.
"Sister-in-law Dong, I just heard some news about Mrs. Wang’s family. Guess what!" Sun Liuniang pulled Sun Mei closer, ready to gossip.
Seeing Shi Tou’s wife’s eager expression, Zhao Zhitong knew there was village gossip to be heard. She put down her book and ran over to listen to Sun Liuniang.
Sun Mei played along and asked, "What is it?"
Sun Liuniang lowered her voice slightly. "It’s about the youngest daughter of Mrs. Wang, your step-mother-in-law. I heard Lady Zhao returned today."
Sun Mei didn’t seem particularly concerned. "Doesn’t she often come back to see her mother?"
She had seen Lady Zhao several times in the village, so she wasn’t surprised.
Sun Liuniang said, "Ah, this time it’s different. I heard that Mrs. Wang took her daughter to the Village Chief’s house today. She said her son-in-law wants to invite our entire Zhao Clan for a meal."
This did surprise Sun Mei a bit. "That’s quite a grand gesture."
The Zhao Clan was large, with more than half the village sharing the surname Zhao.
Sun Mei asked, "Is Mrs. Wang willing to spend that much?"
Given Mrs. Wang’s usual stinginess and her habit of taking advantage of others, she doesn’t seem like someone who would agree to this.
Sun Liuniang pursed her lips and smiled. "Well, she’s not as high and mighty as she used to be."
"Previously, because of what happened with her son Zhao Chun, your family always had the upper hand over Mrs. Wang’s side, didn’t they?"
"Now that her son-in-law has become wealthy, everyone she wanted to impress already knows, allowing her to hold her head high. I think this dinner invitation is likely an attempt to win over the clansmen and regain some prestige."
Sun Mei nodded, thinking that sounded plausible.
Her son-in-law has become successful, and now he’s inviting the whole clan to dinner. That would certainly boost Mrs. Wang’s prestige.
Sun Liuniang snorted. "She’s always stirring up trouble. Her son was just released, and instead of keeping a low profile, she’s showing off. Spending her son-in-law’s ill-gotten money like that—doesn’t her conscience bother her at all?"
Sun Liuniang and Sun Mei chatted at the kitchen door for a little longer before Sun Liuniang prepared to go home.
"I see you’re steaming buns," Sun Liuniang said. "You should get back to it. I’ll head home now. No need to see me out; go on, get busy."
After saying this, she waved her hand and left.
Sun Liuniang’s information turned out to be quite accurate. Before long, everyone in the clan received an invitation from the Zhao Family Old House.
By evening, Xiao Wang personally came to Zhao Dong’s Residence.
When Da Bao smelled Xiao Wang, he started barking in the courtyard. If Zhao Zhitong hadn’t been holding him tightly, he would have lunged.
After Sun Mei opened the gate, Xiao Wang briefly stated her purpose.
She was inviting them to a banquet at their home the next day.
Hearing the dog barking, Xiao Wang timidly glanced into the courtyard. "Second sister-in-law, you absolutely must come tomorrow. Mother said that if you don’t show up, she’ll have me come back to get you. She absolutely insists you be there."
It seemed they were determined to have her attend.
Seeing Sun Mei nod, Xiao Wang left as if fleeing, terrified Da Bao might dart out and bite her.
Sun Mei shook her head, closed the gate, and walked back into the courtyard. She said to Zhao Dong, puzzled, "Mrs. Wang is so strange. We’re on such bad terms with her, and she even had us removed from the clan register. Now she sends Xiao Wang to personally invite us to a banquet. I wonder what scheme she’s plotting."
Zhao Dong and Zhao Cheng were moving dried firewood into the woodshed. This was their precious supply to keep them warm throughout the winter.
Hearing Sun Mei, Zhao Dong said casually, "What scheme could it be? Her son-in-law is successful now, so she just wants to show off in front of us and score a point, that’s all."
Sun Mei chuckled. "I suppose so. Just wait and see how much she’ll boast tomorrow."
Zhao Zhitong asked, "Then, Mom, are we going? If we don’t, will Zhao Ji’s mother come and bother us again tomorrow?"
Sun Mei thought for a moment and then said, "Let’s go. They’re offering a free meal, so why not? I’d like to see what tricks they have up their sleeves."
The next day, as soon as it was light, the Zhao Family Old House was already bustling with activity.
Inviting the entire clan to a meal was a considerable undertaking; tables were set up all the way out onto the street.
The banquet was to start at noon.
Sun Mei went quite late. It was almost time for the banquet to begin when she finally left with Zhao Ya and Zhao Zhitong.
Zhao Dong and Zhao Cheng didn’t go; only Sun Mei went with Zhao Ya and Zhao Zhitong.
By the time they arrived, many people were already there, and nearly every table was full.
Sun Liuniang and Tian Cuihua were sitting at one table. Seeing Sun Mei from a distance, they waved to her. "Sister-in-law Dong, over here! There are still seats here!"
Zhao Zhitong also saw Sun Liuniang and the others and tugged on Sun Mei’s sleeve. "Mom, it’s Aunt Shi Tou and Aunt Lei Zi."
Sun Mei saw them too. She nodded and led Zhao Zhitong and Zhao Ya over to their table.
As soon as they sat down, Sun Liuniang asked quietly, "Sister-in-law Dong, you actually came! I thought you wouldn’t make it."
Sun Mei smiled. "Yesterday, Xiao Wang came to my house to invite me. She said if I didn’t come today, she’d have to come and get me again. Since they went to the trouble of inviting me, wouldn’t it make me look petty if I didn’t show up?"
Sun Liuniang nodded. "That’s right. Don’t worry, let’s just eat our fill and then leave. What kind of tricks can Mrs. Wang possibly play?"