Soon, Mrs. Sun had made a full bowl of noodles and also cut some pork belly which she braised in red sauce. She poured the meat with its gravy over the noodles and sent them to Old Yang's room.

Old Yang was leaning against the bed, with Yang Huazhong accompanying him in conversation. Little Old Yang also came over.

A few people were talking, and from Lao Yangtou's demeanor it seemed he was still calm. Tan Shi was also in the room, sitting on one side, her hand resting on a cane, her face tight and silent.

Sun greeted Old Yang, and sent him a bowl of noodles.

The braised pork belly is very similar, with three parts lean to seven parts fat, including the skin. It's marinated in soy sauce until it's bright red. This is Lao Yangtou's favorite dish.

“If only there were a cup of wine,” Lao Yang sighed.

Yang Huazhong said, "Father, you are still taking medicine now. The doctor said no drinking."

"To be frank, that medicine is useless. It's expensive and harmful, doesn't cure your leg, and just tortures you! You'd be better off giving me some alcohol so I can enjoy a few good years of peace!"

Yang Huazhong accompanied the smile, but did not agree with Lao Yangtou's words.

“The doctor’s prescription is not just for treating your leg, but also for adjusting other aspects. Once you finish this course of medicine, Dad, you'll be able to drink again. Just bear with it for now!”

As he spoke, Yang Huazhong passed the chopsticks to Lao Yangtou's hand.

Old Yang had no choice but to give up. He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of braised pork, chewing it mouthful by mouthful like he was eating glutinous rice cakes.

On the side, Old Yang saw this and smiled, saying: "Brother, even though your legs can't touch the ground, you live a pretty enviable life!"

Old Yang chuckled, "What's there to envy? I envy you for being able to run and walk!"

Old Yang shook his head and waved his hand: “Your third brother and the others are filial, they treat you well. Look at how well you're taken care of! Many old men in our village can’t even eat enough, and when they get sick their children and grandchildren don’t even treat them.”

“Do you know Old Man Zhang? He caught a cold the other day, coughing day and night. His wife is fed up with his noise and has sent him to the firewood shed. He’s not even allowed into the main room.”

“The old man was pitiful. He coughed day and night in the firewood shed, with no one even offering him a bowl of water. I guess if he died, no one would know.”

Hearing this, Old Yang's head was shocked.

"Alas, it's pitiful to grow old! When one is ill in bed for a long time, there are no filial children. I wonder how long my third son and his family can hold on." The old man said, then raised his eyes to glance at Yang Huazhong.

Because Little Lao Yang was there, Yang Huazhong smiled somewhat awkwardly.

Little Lao Yang stepped forward to smooth things over: "Brother, you're overthinking it. Your third son and the others are the most filial sons. Just rest assured!"

Yang Huazhong nodded repeatedly.

Old Yang also smiled and said to Yang Huazhong, "You have to go and say hello to Zhang Lao Han's son-in-law when you get back. You can't just ignore the lives of the elderly. As the headman of Changping Village, you have to take care of this matter and prevent such unfilial and perverse behavior from spreading in our village."

Yang Huazhong nodded again: "Father, rest assured, even if you don't order me to, I wouldn't let this go unchecked."

At night, Mrs. Sun set the dinner on the table. Yang Huazhong took Old Yang's portion and sent it to the guest room. Yang Huamei suddenly came over.

"Why are you here at this hour, Meili? Have you eaten?" asked Mrs. Sun.

Here is the translation of your content: Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Before Yang Huamei could speak, Tan shi spoke first.

"What kind of question is that? Anyone who comes here at this hour must be starving. A sensible person would think of that." she said.

Mrs. Sun blushed a little and hurriedly asked Yang Huamei to sit down, going to add her chopsticks.

Yang Huamei finally spoke: “Third Sister-in-law, no need to bother. I can’t eat. I just came over for a quick visit to see my parents, that's all.”

I just got back from the county clinic. Father only mentioned it casually, he mainly wanted to come over and see Mother.

It had been ten days since she last saw her mother. In the past, Yang Huamei wouldn't have given it much thought, but now, for some reason, as she grew older, she found herself wanting to see her mother more and more.

Upon hearing this, Tan’s face broke into a loving smile, and she extended her hand toward Yang Huamei. "Come, sit by your mother."

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

Then Yang Huamei came over and sat down as instructed.

Tan's withered fingers traced Yang Huamei's face inch by inch, "You've lost so much weight, you look gaunt. Your eye sockets have sunk in, your cheekbones are prominent, and your chin is pointed..."

Yang Huamei held Tan's hand and squeezed out a tired smile: "Mother, I haven't lost weight, I've always been like this. This is intentional."

“Why?” Tan asked, puzzled. “Aren’t you exhausted from working hard for Bai lately?”

Yang Huamei smiled and shook her head: "It's not fashionable to be fat now. Women look better when they are thin. I see the wives and daughters of those wealthy families in the county town. They clearly have so much money, but they deliberately don't dare to eat or drink too much, just to be thinner and look better in their clothes."

"Don't talk nonsense!" said Madam Tan. "In my opinion, you were prettier when you were a young girl at your parents' home. You were plump and white, so pleasing to the eye! Wherever you went, people loved you."

Yang Huamei blushed.

Sun eventually still went to get the bowl and chopsticks to give to Yang Huamei, "Mei'er, come sit down and eat some with me."

"Third Sister-in-Law, I just said I couldn't eat." Yang Huamei said.

These days have been really tiring, accompanying Dabai through a rollercoaster of hope and disappointment.

Missing home, feeling extremely exhausted both physically and mentally, but my appetite is completely gone, I don't feel like eating anything.

"Mei'er, you might as well have a few bites. Tonight I made braised pork. Just consider it as accompanying me and your mother for a meal," urged Mrs. Sun.

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

Yang Huamei, hearing this, could only pick up her chopsticks.

Tan was very pleased and kept serving Yang Huamei with braised pork.

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"Your taste follows your father. You used to love braised pork the most, come on, eat more, it'll help you grow."

Yang Huamei saw the increasingly piled-up braised pork in her bowl, and for some reason, she suddenly felt a churning sensation in her stomach.

“Mother, I can’t go on…” She put the bowl back on the table, covered her mouth and turned to run outside the main hall. Then came a bout of darkness and nausea.

In the main hall, Tan was dumbfounded.

“This meat… it’s so delicious, what’s wrong with Merle?” she mumbled.

Mrs. Sun said, "Perhaps her stomach is cold, so she feels nauseous when she sees the oil-fried dishes. I'll go take a look at her."

Sun also turned and left the room.

After a while, she came in supporting Yang Huamei. Yang Huamei covered her chest with one hand, still looking very unwell.

Tan's pale eyebrows shot up. "Mei'er, you wouldn't be pregnant, would you?"

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