Qi Jiao looked at her mother, then at her father, before reluctantly pulling her two younger brothers to kneel before their eldest uncle.
"Eldest Uncle, please calm your anger."
Qi Yuanshan looked at the three children, his brow furrowed.
"Eldest Uncle, if you don't calm down today, you can beat up my father another day."
Second Brother Qi thought, this cotton-padded jacket is letting in a draft.
"Eldest Uncle, I think you shouldn't just beat up my father. You should beat up those people from my maternal grandparents' family too. Especially..." Qi Jiao glanced at Qi Wangshi, who had been lying on the ground, not daring to make a sound.
In Qi Jiao's opinion, it was fine for her mother to pocket Eldest Uncle's silver and spend it on her siblings. After all, Eldest Uncle had sent it himself, and they hadn't snatched it.
Even if Eldest Uncle was angry, they had their reasons.
But it was wrong for her mother to give this money to her maternal grandparents' family. Why should Eldest Uncle's money be spent by those people from her maternal grandparents' family? They didn't have the surname Qi.
She had thought it through. From now on, their family should not try to take advantage of Eldest Uncle. If Eldest Uncle didn't treat their family as enemies, they should be grateful.
She would definitely go back to her maternal grandparents' home to get the money back.
If they didn't give it back, she would report them to the authorities. That was Eldest Uncle's money, and it should only be spent by their family, not by others.
Especially her maternal aunt, that bandit. No matter what, Eldest Uncle's money could not be spent by her.
Qi Jiao had decided. In a few days, she would have her parents take them back to their hometown to demand the money from her maternal grandparents' family.
No one present knew what Qi Jiao was thinking.
After Qi Yuanshan finished beating Second Brother Qi, he looked at Qi Wangshi. "Wangshi, you are a sister-in-law. I, as your elder brother-in-law, cannot personally lay hands on you. It would not be proper."
Qi Wangshi was overjoyed to hear this, thinking she had passed this hurdle.
Just as Qi Wangshi was congratulating herself, she heard Qi Yuanshan's low voice.
"Qi Wangshi, this matter is not over. I will hold this debt against you for now. When Xiao He gets married, I will have Xiao He's wife beat it back, with interest."
Thinking of the way that little black girl beat people, Qi Yuanshan's gloomy mood suddenly brightened.
"Qi Wangshi, just wait for Xiao He's wife to settle the score with you."
Qi Wangshi thought, she was afraid of her elder brother-in-law. What was this Xiao He's wife? She wasn't afraid.
Village Elder: "Yuanshan, have you arranged for Xiao He's engagement?"
"Eldest Uncle, not yet. But I've found a little girl for Xiao He, and Xiao He likes her too. Just as soon as their family's matters are settled, I will take Xiao He to propose."
"That's good, that's good. Xiao He only has one elder brother, so he should find a wife who can hold her own."
"That little girl is definitely one in a hundred, no, even one in a thousand, you might not find another. She is also sharp and decisive, she acts immediately."
Qi Wangshi suddenly had a bad premonition. She remembered that little brat receiving the silver notes, and then like a dog being chased, giving the silver notes to that little girl. She felt uneasy.
She also thought of the indifferent look that little girl gave her, and felt even more uneasy.
Fu Xinci, however, didn't have time to pay attention to them. Today, their family was making dumplings. There were many people, so they made a lot.
To eat dumplings sooner, almost everyone in the family joined in.
Tian Shi also suggested, "Sister-in-law, let's make the dumplings bigger today. That way, we can make them faster."
Zhong Shi also agreed, "Otherwise, when will we finish?"
Fang Shi felt that what they said made sense, and smiled and nodded in agreement.
The warm-hearted sisters also came to help. Although the Meng family didn't treat them as servants, they themselves dared not act like masters.
Seeing that there were many people working, Fang Shi and Zhong Shi moved the tables and kneading boards from the east side room (kitchen) to the open space outside.
"This way it will be easier to work, so you don't bump into each other."
Tian Shi had just finished chopping the meat filling. Fu Xinci looked at the two jin of meat filling in the large clay pot, then at the large amount of cabbage, and reminded Fang Shi, "Mother, isn't there a bit too little meat filling?"
Zhong Shi didn't think so. "It's good enough that we can have dumplings to eat."
"Yes, Second Uncle is letting us use white flour today. This is already festive food." Tian Shi felt that following Second Uncle's family was the right decision.
Fang Shi looked at her daughter and tentatively asked, "Ci'er, how about we dig out a few more clams and put them in?"
"Hmm, I think that's a good idea." Fu Xinci said, then went to the low jar to scoop out clams.
Fang Shi kept reminding her from behind, "Ci'er, wash the shells thoroughly. The soup inside is the freshest, and it will taste great in the dumpling filling."
"Mother, I know."
When they started making dumplings, Grandpa Meng remembered Qi Yuanshan. "Xiao He, go and call your father to come and eat dumplings."
"Grandpa Meng, my father definitely won't be able to come."
Grandpa Meng thought that Xiao He's family had visitors from their hometown, so he didn't say anything more.
Looking at the elder gentleman, he could see that the three grandparents and grandchildren were honest people. He didn't mind adding a few more pairs of chopsticks.
However, thinking of Xiao He's eccentric uncle and aunt's family, Grandpa Meng didn't even want to give them a bowl of dumpling soup.
It was rare that they were so disliked by Grandpa Meng, their family was truly outstanding.
With so many people, the work was fast, especially after Xu Shi and Meng Xiaohe were called over. The dumplings on the covering lids increased continuously.
Ke'er, who was tending the fire in the kitchen, said loudly at the right time, "Aunt, the water is boiling."
"The water is boiling, perfect. Let your mother go and cook the dumplings."
"Okay!"
"Aunt, add some salt to the boiling water before putting the dumplings in. This way, the dumplings won't break their skins when they're cooked."
"Oh, Xinci, there's such a thing?"
"Yes, I heard it from others."
"Then let's try it today."
Bao'er also knew that they were eating dumplings today, so he sat obediently next to his second great-grandmother, his eyes fixed on the white flour dumplings on the covering lid.
"Bao'er wants to eat dumplings too?"
"Mhm mhm." Bao'er nodded vigorously, then pointed at the covering lid that Tian Shi was holding, and said to Grandpa Meng with a flattering smile, "Great-Grandpa, eat."
"Okay, Great-Grandpa and Bao'er will eat together."
"Mhm mhm." Bao'er loved to hear this the most. He leaned against his Great-Grandpa and waited patiently.
Yu'er also wanted to eat dumplings. After hearing his grandfather's words, he quickly came over and leaned against his grandfather's other side, saying, "Grandfather, Yu'er wants to eat with Grandfather."
"Okay, Yu'er and Grandfather will eat together."
Because the kitchen was full of steam, Tian Shi lifted the kitchen door curtain and hung it on the door.
As the boiling water continued to bubble, the dumplings in the pot gradually floated to the surface. The aroma of dumplings also slowly drifted out from the kitchen door.
Yu'er and Bao'er couldn't help but sniff their little noses. Bao'er even stood up, holding his Great-Grandpa's leg, and clear liquid dripped from the corner of his mouth.