Chapter 564: 564: Stuck in the Heart

When Li Rou’s mother saw her daughter’s behavior, she froze for a moment before quickly walking over, “Xiaorou, what are you doing?”

“Nothing. Our house is poor, we have to change the old habits.” Li Rou stood by the chopping block and looked at the three people in front of her, speaking in an apathetic tone, “The wedding feast is over. You all should go home. Our family needs the food.”

“Oh my, what nonsense about your house this and your house that, I am your mother!” Li Rou’s mother lightly poked Li Rou’s shoulder, somewhat forcefully and then brushed Li Rou aside with a strong and swift move of her arm.

She took out a cloth bag from her arms and swiftly stuffed the steamed buns and pork that Zhu Hongyun’s mother had just packed into her own bag. “You silly girl, didn’t you see that the prince came today? Our fortunes can change in a sneeze, without you lifting a finger.”

“After raising you all these years, I can’t even have a piece of meat?”

She scolded while lifting the cloth bag onto her shoulder. Then, with her other hand, she pulled Li Rou to the side, all the while smiling apologetically at Zhu Hongyun’s mother, “My dear sister, don’t pay any attention to this silly girl. Take, we each get a share.”

Hearing these words, Zhu Hongyun’s mother gave a heavy humph, rolled her eyes, rushed to the chopping block, picked up the knife, and chopped off another piece of meat.

Zhang’s mother saw this and moved over as well. The two of them, in silent agreement, took their own portions.

Just then, another figure appeared at the kitchen door. It was a relative from the Qian family, the granddaughter of Qian’s brother, a shy thirteen-year-old girl. Seeing everyone with their bags, she shyly smiled and stuffed the remaining buns and meat into her own bag.

All four families took their share. Satisfied, they left the kitchen with beaming smiles, greeting the people of the Tong family before climbing onto their respective donkey or ox carts, and headed home.

Soon, only the Tong family remained in the courtyard.

Li Rou looked bitterly at the empty courtyard and went inside to talk to Zhang’s mother.

After hearing about what had just taken place, Zhang’s mother also felt angry and stifled.

Speaking frankly, Qiao Xiaomai’s dowry contained only two boxes. Would they dare to touch what Yang Ye had brought over?

Even if you gave them ten times the courage, they wouldn’t dare!

Others only knew that they had now married Qiao Xiaomai, a woman who could build good relations with the prince. But the difficulties they had gone through were known only to them!

Taking a deep breath, Zhang’s mother said, “Let Qiao Xiaomai take care of dinner tonight.”

A new bride must cook several meals to show off her skills to her husband’s family. Afterwards, the cooking responsibilities usually rotate among the family members.

But whether the Tong family will separate in the future and how then the cooking duties will be divided is a discussion for another day. For now, the meals for these next few days should be handled by Qiao Xiaomai.

“Where are Qiao Xiaomai and the third son?” Zhang asked again.

“They have returned to the Qiao’s house.”

Unable to help herself, Zhang slapped the pillow angrily. Damn it, those two were supposed to bring good fortune to the newly married couple. But now the wedding feast had ended and the guests had dispersed without her having seen the newlyweds.

“My chest hurts, you may leave, I need to rest.” Zhang rubbed her chest.

She was actually having chest pains now.

Out of anger.

Li Rou sighed, stood up, and left the room.

She then went to the kitchen.

The steamed buns and pork had been completely divided. Only the usual stuff was left in there. She went then to Third Master Tong’s room. The two boxes that Qiao Xiaomai had brought were placed on the stool at the head of the bed. From the relaxed demeanors of Qiao Changfu and Qiao Changkang, it could be deduced that there was nothing valuable in these boxes.

Qiao Xiaomai didn’t bring anything from what Yang Ye had given her, to this home.

After all the efforts to marry Qiao Xiaomai into the Tong family-

Why did she still feel so suffocated?