On the sixth day of the first lunar month, when Yang Ruqing celebrated her birthday, everyone gathered at Yang Huazhong's house for a meal. On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, Xiaojie went to Zhang's house in town 'to visit'.

Yang Ruqing brought along her adopted sons, Luo Baobao and Chen'er. Xiao Hua and Xiaoduo accompanied them with Feng'er. Huangmao Dajie brought along Xiao Shunzi as well. All of them went to Zhang's family with Xiaojie.

I went there after breakfast and came back after noon.

When going there, it was two carriages. When returning, it was also two carriages.

>

Elder Sun had calculated the auspicious time long ago and, taking Mrs. Sun and Yang Huazhong with her, waited at the roadside outside their house.

Upon seeing that it was still two carriages returning, Big Sun's face immediately turned sour.

"I heard Sun saying to someone, 'When visiting another family, the return gift should be several baskets of goods. But this Zhang family doesn't even give a return gift?'"

"Thanks to the fact that we prepared so many things for the family reunion last time, it's really excessive!" she said.

Mrs. Sun softly soothed her eldest daughter-in-law, "We haven't even gotten off the car yet, don't worry!"

As the words were spoken, a carriage arrived at their doorstep. First out of the lead carriage was Chen'er, followed by Baobei.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Chen'er and the baby smiled and greeted Da Sun Shi and Sun Shi, then returned to their own courtyard together.

Then Xiaohua carried Feng'er, and Sun quickly picked up Feng'er and held him in her arms, teasingly saying, "Feng'er, were you a good guest today? Did you miss grandma?"

Xiaohua and Xiaoduo were giggling merrily at the edge.

Seeing that Xiaojie was not in the front carriage, Da Sun immediately went to the back one.

The horse-drawn carriage behind, Yang Ruqing got out first, then helped the chubby Da Jie get out. After Da Jie got out, Zhang Ban poked his head out.

Seeing the elder Mrs. Sun standing by the carriage, Zhang Ban was stunned and mumbled, 'Mother-in-law...'

The sound had just left her lips, and before it could reach Da-sun's ears, Xiaojie popped her head out from inside.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Upon seeing Da Sun come, Xiao Jie cried out sharply, her voice drowning out Zhang Ban's.

Mrs. Da Sun responded to Xiao Jie with a nod, but her gaze remained fixed on Zhang Ban. Though a smile still lingered on her face, it gradually grew colder.

"It's good that you're back." Big Sun said to Xiao Jie, then turned and went into the crowd in front to hug Xiao Shunzi. She didn't even bother to greet Zhang Ban to come in.

Behind, Xiaojie secretly pinched Zhang Ban's arm and whispered, “Why didn’t you call me mother?”

Zhang Ban then turned his head and whispered to Xiao Jie, "I just called out! My voice was too quiet, maybe Mother-in-law didn't hear."

Xiao Jie rolled her eyes. "Your voice is like a mosquito humming, my mother is used to loud voices, she definitely can't hear it. Can you not shout a little louder?"

Zhang Ban flushed red, showing a hint of nervousness. "Xiao Jie, has my mother-in-law been upset with me? What should I do? Should I chase after her again and call out to her louder?"

Zhang Ban was about to take a step forward when Xiao Jie pulled him back.

“You idiot! You didn't hear, you didn't hear! I'll just explain it to my mother later. You recklessly rushed up there and shouted a greeting, what do you think you look like?!”

Zhang Ban awkwardly scratched his head.

Xiaojie said, "Next time, just remember to speak a little louder..."

"What are you two whispering about? Xia Jie, why don't you invite Zhang Ban in for some tea?"

Mrs. Sun gave Feng'er to Xiaohua to take home for an afternoon nap, and she herself smiled and walked over to greet Zhang Ban into the house.

Zhang Ban gave Sun Shi a forced smile and raised his voice: "Thank you, Auntie, for your hospitality. I have something to attend to at home, so I won't go in. I'll visit another day."

Sun said, "We're already at the doorstep. There's no need to rush even for a bowl of tea!"

Then Zhang Ban turned to Xiao Jie.

Xia Jie smiled busily and said, "Aunt, just let him be. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Mrs. Sun smiled slightly and didn't insist.

Zhang Ban then left. Sun Shi said, "Did you have your uncle drive you back to town?"

Zhang Ban said, "It's fine, I can walk back quickly."

Xiao Jie said, "Auntie, just go with him. I'll see him off and be right back. Auntie, please go into the house!"

Xiaojie pushed Sun toward the entrance of the courtyard. Sun smiled helplessly and, with a wave to Zhang Ban again, turned back into the courtyard.

Here, Xiaojie said to Zhang Ban: "Come on, I'll accompany you to the front."

Now that there were no other people around, Zhang Ban also felt more relaxed. He smiled at Xiao Jie and nodded. The two walked side by side, whispering to each other as they went.

I don't know what Zhang Ban said, but it made Xiao Jie laugh. The setting sun cast their silhouettes on the ground behind them, stretching into two long shadows. Looking at it this way, they seemed quite harmonious.

But, the atmosphere in Sun's main hall was quite discordant at this moment.

Sun watched as Da Jie and Huang Mao carried in several bundles, her face darkening.

"When a woman from another family goes to her husband's home for the first time, the gifts are all carried on poles. For each person who goes, there is a red envelope and a new set of clothes."

>

"Besides other fruits, snacks, food, fish, cigarettes, wine, and rice cakes, there are still many things not included!"

“This is all you’re giving? Is this how you treat the Sun family’s reputation? Are you just not interested in Xiaojie at all?” Dà Sun shi was quite upset and started shouting.

Sun was looking through several bundles on the table, and upon hearing this, she smiled and said: "Sister, don't be so quick to get angry. Take a look at what's inside first!"

>"Humph," said Mrs. Da Sun, "A few sets of fabric, it's obvious they are for Chen'er, the babies, Xiao Shunzi, Feng'er, and the other children. Then what about the other adults going? There aren't any?"

"Little Jie's grandpa likes to drink, Little Jie's father likes to smoke, Little Jie's brother likes stationery. Has the Zhang family given anything? Such a petty household!" Big Sun said again.

Sun shi said, "Sister, the children all have clothing and red envelopes. All the adults going together also have a red envelope each. You see!"

Sun grabbed a handful of red envelopes and showed them to everyone.

Old Sun glanced at the things on the table and said to Da Sun Shi, "You shouldn't dwell on these things. Our family is living well these days, so there's no need to be bothered."

Think back to when we were at Sunjia溝, remember when your sister came to Old Yang's house for the wedding, Old Yang's family gave half a basket of eggs!

"And me and your mother weren't we still overjoyed to prepare a dowry for your sister and give it to Qing'er's father!"

When it came to talking about her own wedding and leaving home, Mrs. Sun gave an awkward smile.

"Father, that was many years ago. How can you compare it to now?" Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate!

Old Sun said, “Why can’t we compare? These years, apart from our few families, haven't the other folks been just the same?”

"Back then, you could buy two eggs for a single penny. Now, decades later, you can only buy one egg for a penny. Not much of a change, is it?"

A genius in one second: m.