The Return Gifts Eaten Clean

The bowls of rice with cured meat wafted the distinct aroma of cured meat, its rich savoriness spreading through the air, making it irresistible to those who had never tasted such delicacies. The sisters no longer cared about anything else; even if they might get beaten after eating, they felt it was entirely worth it.

Yu Lao Er and his wife looked at the scene in astonishment. They did not understand what was happening, nor did they know where the two bowls of cured meat rice their eldest daughter placed before them had come from, so they dared not touch them.

Instinctively, they looked toward the elders sitting at the head of the table, and indeed saw that the couple's expressions were extremely unsightly, not to mention the others who were also beginning to show their discontent.

Yu Jingyi was the first to shout, "Why do you get to eat rice? I want to eat too! Give it to me now!" His voice was high-pitched, finally jolting everyone into realizing the anomaly.

Old Madam Yu immediately stood up, slapped the table hard, and demanded angrily, "Where did this rice come from? Yu Jin, did you steal the rice and cured meat from my room to cook? You thieving brat, let's see if I don't beat you to death!"

The finely sliced pieces of cured meat mixed into the bowls of rice were clearly visible. To farmers, rice with cured meat was a luxurious dish. Normally, they didn't even dare to use much oil, only wiping the pot with an oily rag, let alone cooking a dish of cured meat rice like this.

Even though the Yu family was relatively well-off, they would never squander resources like this.

Yu Lao San secretly signaled his eldest and second sons to remain silent.

The eldest son of the Third Branch, Yu Jingzhong, was fifteen this year, while Yu Jingxin, the second son, was thirteen. Both were energetic young lads. As for Yu Jingyi, who was five, he was still innocent and playful. The two older brothers usually followed their father and elders to work in the fields.

The entire Third Branch of the Yu family was calculating, but being young, the boys had been a bit agitated at first. However, at this moment, the old couple had already stepped forward to demand answers, so there was no need for them to interfere.

Yu Lao San understood the situation and kept his two sons from speaking.

As for the youngest son, who was only five, it was only natural for him to clamor for food upon seeing his older cousins eating so well.

Yu Jin flushed, about to argue back, but Yu Li quickly replied, "This is the return gift. My mother-in-law had me bring it back."

Hearing this, everyone was stunned, thinking they had misheard.

The return gift?

Then they heard Yu Li continue, "Grandmother, didn't you tell me to bring back the return gift? I had Second Sister cook it all, so everyone can have a taste. It can be considered as me bringing it back to you." She picked up a piece of cured meat from her bowl and continued, "It's all food; it has to be cooked sooner or later anyway, so we might as well cook it today."

Everyone: "..."

What kind of bizarre logic was this?

Old Madam Yu was so angry her mouth almost twisted out of shape, especially seeing the sisters of the Second Branch still eating happily, completely unaffected, which made her even more furious and heartbroken. This was fine grain, and there was even cured meat!

They didn't even dare to eat such good things themselves, intending to bring them to the county town for Yu Lao Da, Jingde, and Jingli to nourish their bodies.

Yet now, they had been eaten clean by these girls.

Old Madam Yu the more she thought about it, the angrier she became, her breathing turning shallow as her temper flared. She stood up in a rage, groped for a cane by the wall, and marched toward Yu Li and her sisters, cursing as she went, "Eat, eat! Are you all reincarnated starved ghosts? You damned girls, how dare you eat like this!"

Seeing Old Madam Yu erupt, Old Master Yu and the members of the Third Branch just watched coldly, none of them stepping in to stop her.

The members of the Third Branch sneered in their hearts: 'These daughters of the Second Branch are truly bizarre. They actually dared to cook the return gifts from the Fu family. Not only did they cook it, but they also served six bowls piled high with cured meat rice, leaving only a layer of scorched rice for the rest of us. What a bunch of incomprehensible paupers!'