The food was too delicious, and I accidentally ate a bit too much.
Perfectly, there were some leftover scraps from making clothes, and Sister-in-law One and Sister-in-law Three said it was enough to make several pairs of shoe tops. Ling Chengyan directly tossed them to the two and asked for a pair of shoes each for her and Xia An, leaving the remaining for them to take charge of.
Assigned with this task, the two sisters-in-law were quite pleased. There wasn't a small amount of leftover fabric. After setting aside the materials for two pairs of shoes, it was enough to make a new pair of shoes for each of the youngsters. Compared to the brightly colored floral cotton cloth, they preferred the thick and durable dark blue twill fabric because it was wear-resistant, allowing the boys to wear them a few more days.
After measuring the feet of the mother and daughter, the two sisters-in-law discussed cutting the shoe tops while Ling Chengyan picked up Little Shi Tou and took her leave.
The eldest sister-in-law, Qu Cui, personally saw the three of them out, whispering, "When you go back, just say a word or two. Don't get angry with them. It's not worth it."
As she spoke, she handed over a bucket, "Take it back and let everyone have a taste."
Ling Chengyan said, "Don't worry, auntie; I know my limits."
But she didn't accept the bucket of fish, "Forget it, bringing it back at this time wouldn't end well."
Qu Cui thought about it and realized it was true. If they brought the fish back after the meal, the Second family might really grumble in their petulance.
Alas, forget it.
The eldest sister-in-law didn't insist, put down the bucket, and saw the three of them out.
"See you tomorrow, grandaunt," Xia An waved goodbye.
The eldest sister-in-law laughed, "Xia An, Shi Tou, see you tomorrow."
As soon as they entered the main gate, Ling Chengyan sensed a stifling atmosphere in the Second family's courtyard.
A dozen people, young and old, crowded in the main room eating, a lively scene. Yet, when the three of them stepped in, it was like the mute button was pressed, suddenly becoming silent.
Xia An, feeling uneasy, instinctively hugged Ling Chengyan's leg, sticking tightly to her.
Ling Chengyan patted her head, took her into the eastern wing.
The washed and sun-dried diapers hanging on the line were not collected. Ling Chengyan put down Little Shi Tou, lit the oil lamp, then went out to pick up the diapers. Despite the dim light, Ling Chengyan immediately sensed something was wrong. She brought the diapers inside, and under the lamp, she saw they were full of dirt, with clear footprints and cut up with scissors. The thin, old fabric had been torn into shreds, some even turned into ragged strips! They couldn't be used as diapers anymore!
Ling Chengyan calmly patted Xia An's head, "Stay inside and look after your brother. I'll be back in a bit."
Xia An blinked, nodding vigorously in agreement. Then she watched her mother carrying a pile of tattered, dirty diapers out, closing the door.
Moments later, a clatter—chaotic noise erupted from the main room!
Ling Chengyan's gaze swept over the men and women in the room. Some were dumbfounded; others glared in anger after recovering from shock. Of course, some looked guilty, shifting their eyes, wanting to escape but not daring, wanting to hide but having nowhere to go.
Ling Chengyan threw the diapers onto the ground, creating a mess where the torn diapers became even more conspicuous.
"Second family, you've turned rebellious, dare to flip the table…" The cowardly eldest Wang Lianzhong, who had been staying quietly as a turtle, jumped out, pointing at Ling Chengyan and shouted.
Ling Chengyan's sharp gaze swept over, as sharp as a knife, causing the red-faced Wang Lianzhong to fall silent, the rest of his words stuck in his throat.
"I say, Second Sister-in-law, no matter what, you shouldn't waste the food, right?..." The ever-smooth talker Third Brother Wang Lianhua finally spoke up.
Ling Chengyan interrupted him directly, "If they won't let me live peacefully, why should I let them?"
"You… you shrew!" Zhou Xiuying clung to the inner room doorframe, gasping as if about to stop breathing, and screamed this phrase hoarsely.
Yet, Ling Chengyan remained calm, walked over, and said, "These are ruined, can't be used anymore, I still need to take a piece of fabric."
Her demeanor was calm, her words serene, as if she was completely unaffected by the tense atmosphere in the room.
"You, you… Eldest and Third, go call your uncle to come, let's split up the family, and kick this unfilial descendant out." Wang Guizhang on the kang clapped the edge noisily.
Wang Lianzhong and Wang Lianhua responded this time, obediently heading out.
Ling Chengyan paid them no heed, walked straight to the inner room, directly to the cabinet in the corner.
Wang Lianxiang huddled in the corner of the doorway, trembling, not daring to utter a sound. Wang Guizhang, his leg injured, couldn't move. But Zhou Xiuying, disregarding her 'indignant to death' act, energetically rushed up to stop Ling Chengyan, "What are you doing? This is outright robbery… Eldest's, Third's, you two…"
Ling Chengyan didn't even turn her head, lifted Zhou Xiuying lightly with one hand, dropped her back on the kang, then turned her gaze to stop the advancing Sister-in-law Shao Darong, "I just originally intended to take a diaper. If anyone dares to come up, for each one more, I'll take another item!"
Shao Darong looked at the two elders on the kang, and the shivering Wang Lianxiang under it, for once showed wisdom, and smartly retreated: This wasn't her mess, so why would she court trouble?
The Second family wasn't as gullible as before, since injured her head, she'd become as prickly as a hedgehog, a careless touch would prick.
Ling Chengyan opened the cupboard, and indeed it was packed to the brim. Disregarding a few old clothes and bedding, there were prominently two new brightly-colored quilts and several pieces of colorful cloth, along with snacks, sweets, brown sugar, white sugar, and several transparent glass jars. She'd seen these in the department store, bright fruits made into 'cans'.
What surprised Ling Chengyan the most was that there was even a straw basket in the corner of the cupboard, nearly filled with eggs, roughly estimating at least fifty.
Ling Chengyan casually took out a piece of new cotton cloth with a white background and floral prints, clanged the cupboard shut.
Returning to her room, Ling Chengyan tore a piece of the old shirt in the box as a diaper for Little Shi Tou. As for the new fabric, she put it away, planning to ask the sisters-in-law another day to help sew Xia An a summer shirt to change into.
Just as she finished and was about to take out the dirty diapers to wash, a sound of footsteps approached, it was Wang Lianzhong and Wang Lianhua returning with Uncle and several other elders.
Ling Chengyan greeted Uncle, Wang Futang, holding a dry tobacco pipe, his face amicable, said, "I was told there was a matter, so me and your Fifth Grandpa, Seventh Grandpa, came over to have a look." Skipping any parental or in-law titles, it must be said that Wang Futang understood people's hearts and was quite open-minded.
Ling Chengyan also greeted the elders, "Fifth Grandpa, Seventh Grandpa, please come inside and sit."
She said this, then stepped forward to open the door for the elders, moved and set chairs, turned and came out, poured a few bowls of sugar water, placed them down, and quietly withdrew.