In the premium room on the third floor of the Shiyouji Restaurant.
The cup in Manager Li's hand slipped and fell to the floor. His eyebrows shot up as he stared in surprise at the servant standing before him. "You're saying Miss Song's parents have both passed away?"
The kitchen servant nodded emphatically, feeling both admiration and pity for Song Jinzhao in his heart.
"This humble one followed Miss Song all the way to Song Family Village, about twenty li outside the city. In a dilapidated courtyard, I saw three children, one still in swaddling clothes."
"After some inquiries, I learned that Miss Song's father was killed by a falling rock while working on the canal construction over twenty days ago. Her mother went into early labor upon hearing the news and passed away."
"According to the villagers, Miss Song's uncles originally planned to marry off her younger sister for a 'joy-bringing' wedding to a sick child in the same village. They even intended to give away her newborn baby brother to outsiders. It was only because Miss Song firmly objected that they didn't succeed."
Li Zien sat in the seat of honor, silent. He hadn't expected Song Jinzhao's family circumstances to be so tragic. No wonder she was unwilling to travel far from home.
With younger siblings only ten years old and an infant, being away for two or three months was unthinkable—even a single night away would be worrisome.
Manager Li recalled everything from the first time he met Song Jinzhao until now. All those game animals were hunted by her herself.
"Young Master, should we still ask her to go to Dianyun?" Given such circumstances, one could say she couldn't move an inch.
Li Zien gripped his folding fan tightly. A pang of sourness welled up in his heart, gnawing at his soul and filling him with a sense of guilt towards Song Jinzhao.
"Let it be. In such a situation, it's simply impossible for her to leave home."
When he had been scheming, he hadn't known her parents were both gone. To be able to earn money and support her siblings under these conditions was truly arduous and difficult.
Manager Li lowered his head, thinking to himself: Miss Song really has it hard. It's fortunate the Young Master is no longer insisting.
Meanwhile, Song Jinzhao, who was preparing ingredients for the evening feast at home, remained completely unaware of what had transpired at the Shiyouji Restaurant.
Between the eldest and second uncle's families, there were eleven people in total—six adults and five children. Adding herself and her twin younger siblings, the evening meal would require at least ten dishes, otherwise, they simply wouldn't have enough to eat.
As the sun began to set, Old Lady Song arrived first with Elder Aunt Song and the siblings Song Yongnian and Song Qiaoniang.
The two women walked into the kitchen, and their hands, which had been rolling up their sleeves, paused for a moment when they saw the meat and chicken on the floor.
Old Lady Song picked up the slab of pork belly from the wooden basin and said to Song Jinzhao, "This meat must weigh at least three jin. Cut half a jin for tonight, and preserve the rest with salt for you all to eat slowly."
Song Jinzhao, who was chopping vegetables, looked up and blinked. "Grandma, with over a dozen people, half a jin of meat would only be a couple of bites each. I specifically bought this to cook for tonight."
Old Lady Song felt a pang of frugality. "That's just too much." No ordinary family ate two or three jin of meat in one meal.
Song Jinzhao insisted, "Everyone has lost weight from the hard work of carrying water and irrigating the fields these past few days. This meal is my token of gratitude. If the hospitality is lacking, I'd be too ashamed to ask for Uncle and Second Uncle's help again in the future."
A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of Elder Aunt Song's lips. With her eldest niece's words, their efforts these past few days felt worthwhile.
Helping relatives was no problem; the fear was encountering heartless, ungrateful kin.
It seemed Song Jinzhao was a good one. They could visit more often in the future.
The three of them busied themselves in the kitchen. In the small room, Song Yongnian and Song Qiaoniang held their cups of goat's milk, reluctant to drink.
Song Shixue looked at them with expectant eyes. "Big Sister specifically added honey to it. It's very sweet."
Knowing there would be many children coming in the evening, Song Jinzhao had specially prepared a pot of goat's milk. Since children have a sweet tooth, she had also added wild honey gathered from the mountains.
Song Qiaoniang watched with envy as Song Anhao babbled on the bed. "I'm so jealous that Anhao gets to drink such delicious goat's milk every day, with no strange taste at all."
Song Shixue shook her head. "The goat's milk Anhao drinks can't have honey added to it. It's bland and not tasty at all."
With two strangers now in front of her, Song Anhao's eyes darted around rapidly, finding everyone a fascinating sight.
The family of five from the second branch had arrived together with Old Man Song and Oldest Song.
As soon as she entered, Second Aunt Song headed straight for the kitchen. Seeing several meat dishes already prepared, she couldn't help but drool.
Putting on an act, she sat by the stove to add firewood. "Elder Sister-in-law, you should have called me when you came to help. I ended up arriving so late."
Old Lady Song, who was carrying a plate, snorted coldly. "If you had any consideration, you'd have realized Jinzhao couldn't manage alone. How shameless to arrive right at mealtime."
Second Aunt Song's throat tightened. She averted her gaze and shoved another large piece of firewood into the stove, nearly poking the bottom of the pot.
"It's just that fetching water these past few days has worn me out. I slept the whole afternoon and didn't notice the time."
The small kitchen couldn't comfortably hold four people, and Elder Aunt Song couldn't be bothered to argue with her sister-in-law. She turned and left the kitchen, carrying Song Anhao to stroll around the courtyard.
After gulping down his goat's milk, Song Yaozu looked up and asked Song Qiming, "Is there more? I'd like another bowl."
Song Qiming nodded. "There's more. I'll get some for you."
Just as he was about to take the bowl, Song Yaozu nimbly stood up. "Where is it? I'll get it myself."
Song Shixue pointed to the next room. "It's on the low table outside."
Song Yaozu quickly slipped into the adjoining room. There he saw Second Song holding the clay pot, his mustache still stained with goat's milk. "Dad!" he exclaimed in shock. "How could you drink all the goat's milk!"
Second Song didn't see anything wrong with it. He licked the remaining milk from his lips. "If you can drink it, so can I. Besides, it's quite sweet."
Hearing the commotion outside, Song Laidi immediately began urging Song Pandi. "Hurry up and drink. Drink faster!"
Song Pandi picked up her bowl and swiftly finished the remaining half-bowl of milk, as if afraid someone would snatch it from her.
Song Yaozu returned to the room, fuming. Seeing their empty bowls, he slumped onto a stool in defeat. He should have drunk his faster.
Old Man Song, who had heard the ruckus from the yard, scowled and scolded Second Song. "You, a grown man, should be ashamed of yourself, fighting with children over a drink."
Second Song tried to explain. "Father, there really wasn't much left."
Standing near the doorway, Song Qiming bit his lip, his eyes shifting uneasily. Second Uncle is lying. There was still nearly half a pot left.
Second Aunt Song, who had hurried out from the kitchen, looked at the empty clay pot, pursed her lips, and went back to the kitchen. She should have gone to the main room first.
Once the dishes were laid out, Old Man Song was just about to say a few words when Second Aunt Song's chopsticks already stabbed into the largest piece of braised pork.
Old Lady Song's face turned cold as she rapped Second Aunt Song's hand with her chopsticks. "No manners! Your father-in-law hasn't even picked up his chopsticks, and the host hasn't spoken yet, and you're already eating?"
Second Aunt Song shook her stinging hand, grimacing. "Mother, my stomach hurts from hunger. If I don't eat now, the food will get cold."
Old Man Song glanced expressionlessly at Second Song, feeling utterly helpless inside.
The second branch was hopeless, destined to remain like this.
He spoke with righteous indignation, "You all saw how much thought Jinzhao put into this meal. From now on, don't keep whining over every little thing you do. Family should support each other, especially you elders."
The couples from the first and second branches glanced over the dishes on the table.
Braised pork belly, deep-fried pork ribs, poached chicken, and red date chicken soup—four substantial main dishes alone.
The remaining six dishes included stir-fried eggs with cucumber, which on any ordinary day would already be considered a rare and generous treat.
Not to mention such hearty white rice, without a single grain of coarse millet mixed in.
This meal was far too rich; the silver spent on it must have been considerable.
