"Can I also ask Mom to serve me a bowl?" Er Zhu inquired, his mouth watering.
Chen Xiaosang responded, instructing him in a serious tone, "We will all eat together at dinner. Tonight, we're having stewed old hen and ribs; they're incredibly tasty."
The sound of the three boys slurping echoed around as they pondered about when dinner would be served.
Carrying her short legs, Chen Xiaosang was off to treat her other brothers with some sausages. The three boys quickly trailed after her.
Being with Dad (or Uncle), meant just hearing him snore. Being with Aunt, however, meant getting delicious food!
Just like offering a treasure, the four kids served the cooked pig sausages and received unanimous praise.
Old Chen returned from the village chief's home, having repaid a debt, and saw his sons and grandsons sitting in the courtyard, encircling Chen Xiaosang.
"Why haven't you guys taken a nap?" Old Chen questioned as he entered the yard.
"Dad, come eat some sausages!" The boys joyously invited Old Chen. "They're so good!"
Chen Xiaosang rushed to Old Chen's side, her face beaming. "The sausages made by my sister-in-law are so tasty. Dad, you should try them too."
As she was about to serve the sausages, she noticed the bowl was empty. "They've all been served out," she confessed sheepishly.
"You mean there's nothing left for me?" Old Chen asked, displeased.
Chen Xiaosang glanced aside, "Dad, you returned last, so you're just one piece short."
Old Chen glared at his sons and grandsons. Everyone had their share except him.
Chen Xiaosang pulled Old Chen to sit on her stool, patting his hunched back soothingly. She said in a clear, child-like voice, "I'll fetch one for you, Dad. It's specially for you!"
Old Chen's mood lightened, and he lifted Chen Xiaosang onto his lap. "We'll eat at dinner."
"No way, Dad can't be left out." Chen Xiaosang slid off Old Chen's lap, hugged her bowl tightly, and dashed into the kitchen with her short legs.
Old Chen was content, puffing on his dry tobacco, his sons and grandsons looking agreeable in his eyes.
A villager passing by sniffed the air, "Smells delicious! What's cooking in Uncle Bao Lai's house?"
"We're stewing a chicken," Old Chen answered with a smile.
"Uncle Bao Lai, you truly cherish your sons," the villager admired, "You're even willing to stew chicken when Dashu and the others come home."
Chen Baolai, smiling, shook his head, "They've had it tough recently, carrying heavy bags at the dock, becoming so thin. If they don't replenish their strength, they'll fall sick."
The man nodded in agreement, his eyes frequently darting towards Chen's kitchen, chatted a bit more with Dashu, and then left.
The aroma of the grand meal being cooked in Chen's house wafted across half the village.
Every passerby paused to ask about it. Even the neighbouring children drooled towards the kitchen before being called back home by their parents.
Old Chen felt cheerful. The summer tax was paid, his sons were back, his grandsons looked healthier, and all recent troubles were behind him.
At mealtime, the table was laden with dishes of chicken, fatty intestines, and pork liver soup. With a magnanimous gesture, he brought out the pound of wine that Chen Xiaosang had bought and began to enjoy it with his four sons.
Wu Shu, the youngest, was eager to join in, but his father and older brothers gently dismissed him, arguing that he was too young.
Left with no other option, Wu Shu joined Xiaosang and his three nephews in a good-natured contest to see who could eat the most meat.
Seven days had passed since Bao Lai mom pass away, and Old Chen was no longer observing a meatless diet. He picked up a chicken head to savor.
Chen Xiaosang delicately placed the big chicken drumstick her mother had given her into her father's bowl. She solemnly advised, "Father, you've been working so hard lately. You need this big chicken drumstick to replenish your strength."
Old Chen's heart swelled with pride at his daughter's thoughtfulness. He attempted to return the drumstick to Chen Xiaosang.
Clutching her bowl tightly, Chen Xiaosang declined, "I don't want it. And neither do the three brothers, right?"
The three Zhu brothers, nodded in agreement as they continued stuffing their mouths with meat. They accepted their aunt's words as law.
Mrs. Li gently encouraged Old Chen, "Accept your daughter's filial intent, you should eat it."
Unable to resist the combined persuasions, Old Chen finally relented. He picked up the drumstick and began to eat. This was his first chicken drumstick since the birth of his eldest son, Da Shu.
With considerable effort, Chen Xiaosang managed to place another drumstick into her mother's bowl. Her eyes sparkled with mirth as she said, "Mother, you've been working so hard too. You deserve this big chicken drumstick!"
Mrs. Li's eyes crinkled as she beamed, "Look at how considerate my daughter is. Oh, she truly is the apple of my eye."
Chen Dashu shook his head with mock sorrow, "Aren't us brothers humans too? We don't have a little sister giving us meat."
Quick to soothe any perceived slight, Chen Xiaosang served each of her five brothers a generous portion of meat, comforting them with tender words, "My brothers, you've all been working so hard. You've all lost weight. You need to eat more meat to regain your strength."
With such a caring sister, the brothers couldn't possibly feel hard done by.
Even Sishu, the fourth brother, was inspired to put in a few more days of labor at the docks.
Chen Xiaosang then served her two sisters-in-law some pork ribs. She hurried over to them, taking their hands in hers as she said, "My dear sisters-in-law, you both have been working so hard too, managing the household and all. I promise to earn more money in the future so you can enjoy more meat!"
Dashu's wife enveloped Xiaosang in a warm hug, almost wishing she could plant a loving kiss on her right then and there.
The second brother's wife, however, had tears welling up in her eyes.
Seeing this, Mrs. Li gently tugged at her clothes, reminding her of the celebratory mood.
Ershu's wife managed a weak smile, "Xiaosang is so sensible, it makes me happy."
How fortunate they were to have such a considerate young sister-in-law.
Dashus wife let go of Xiaosang and pointed at Ershu's wife.
Chen Xiaosang understood and leaned against Ershu's wife. She stood on her tiptoes and grabbed her sleeves to wipe her tears."Second Sister-in-law, don't cry."
Ershu's wife sniffled, her face softening into a relieved smile. "I won't cry," she said.
She then lifted Xiaosang onto her lap, helping her to pick the food.
Once the meal was over, everyone's belly was full.
Rubbing her round tummy with her little hands, Xiaosang exclaimed, "I'm so full!"
Mrs. Li took her hand, leading her in circles around the courtyard to help digest the hearty meal.
Meanwhile, the three boys followed them around, belching from their own full stomachs.
While the two sisters-in-law cleaned the table, Old Chen relaxed in the yard with his five sons, enjoying the cool breeze.
"Starting tomorrow," Old Chen began, "Dashu will take Wushu to the pier to sell braised pork, Ershu will take Shishu to the bun shop to sell soup, and Sanshu will stay home with me to collect the remaining hemp."
At this, Shishu seemed distressed. "Father, can't I go with Big Brother?" he asked. He feared going with Second Brother, who was his nemesis.
Old Chen spoke in a relaxed tone, "You will indeed go with your Second Brother."
"You can rely on me, Father. Shishu won't be lazy under my watch," Ershu reassured, casting a sideways glance at Shishu.
Shishu was anxious. He wanted Xiaosang help, but she was busy chatting with her mother, oblivious to his plight.
By the time Xiaosang finished her walk and felt tired, Mrs. Li had prepared a bath for her. Xiaosang vigorously scrubbed her short legs with her small hands.
After bathing, she stood still as her mother wiped the water off her body, dressed her, and tucked her into bed.
All the while, she had been eagerly waiting for her father to discuss the matter of the three boys studying. But before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
Old Chen entered the room to find her already fast asleep and snoring softly.
"Our summer tax has been paid," he told his wife, "It's time we find a suitable match for Sanshu. It's convenient for him to work from home with me, and he's of age now."