Chapter 104: Packing Food
No matter how reluctant Zhang Xiuping was, her relatives and closest sisters eventually left.
When the other guests departed, they each carried a dish of five-flavor meat, a piece of braised pork, and two pieces of fried tofu, all tied together on a bamboo strip.
However, when sending off the bride's family, in addition to the five-flavor braised pork and fried tofu, each person also received a red envelope. Deng Shirong was not stingy with the amount, giving each person ten yuan.
After all, when they had visited earlier, they had received a red envelope of 8.88 yuan. For the wedding gift, it was only appropriate to give a larger amount, so ten yuan was fitting.
Deng Yunzhen, who was not yet married, didn't fully understand the bride's emotions at this moment, but she had seen similar situations in the village. Typically, when the wedding guests left, the bride would often shed tears, and some would even cry loudly.
Seeing her sister-in-law crying, she could only comfort her: "Sister-in-law, don't be sad. You'll be back in three days, and you can visit anytime you want in the future."
Zhang Xiuping wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said with red eyes, "I know, but I just couldn't help crying when I saw my relatives leaving."
Deng Yunzhen nodded and said, "I understand. Many brides in our village feel this way when they get married. It only takes a few days to get used to it."
While Deng Yunzhen comforted her sister-in-law, Deng Shirong approached his third sister and said, "Third sister, there's so much food left. I'll pack some for you to take back so it doesn't go to waste."
Deng Shilan initially wanted to decline but swallowed her words. After all, her brother was right. There was no way to finish all the food if it was left behind. These were all delicious dishes, and it would be better to take some home rather than let them go to waste.
Thinking this, Deng Shilan nodded and said, "Alright, I'll take some back."
"Then I'll go tell Yuntai's two uncles and ask them to take some as well."
"Go ahead."
Soon, Deng Shirong approached his two brothers-in-law and repeated what he had told his third sister.
As close relatives, they knew it would be wasteful to leave the food behind, so the two brothers-in-law agreed.
Deng Shirong then took out oil paper and old newspapers and began packing the food for his relatives.
The seafood had been eaten up, but there were still plenty of main dishes left, such as meatballs, egg rolls, boiled chicken, boiled duck, braised pork, stir-fried pork, sweet lotus root, and bamboo shoots. As for the vegetarian dishes, they were less important. In this era, people didn't lack vegetarian dishes but rather meat and oil.
Therefore, Deng Shirong focused on packing the hearty dishes. He wrapped them first in oil paper, then in old newspapers, and tied them with thin hemp rope.
There were fifteen tables of food in total. Deng Shiron packed three tables' worth for his third sister's family. He didn't pack more because it would be too much for them to finish, and that would also be wasteful. Three tables' worth was enough.
Similarly, Deng Shirong packed three tables' worth for each of his two brothers-in-law.
That left six tables' worth of food for his own family.
Of course, his family alone couldn't finish all the food, but they would need to hire many helpers the next day, so the food wouldn't go to waste.
After packing the food, his third sister's family and the families of his two brothers-in-law said their goodbyes and left.
After the wedding guests left Thatchfield Village, the elders discussed the banquet hosted by the Deng family. It had truly been an eye-opening experience. They had never heard of such a sumptuous wedding feast before, and the food had been incredibly delicious.
Especially the three seafood dishes—their flavors were unforgettable!
In addition, the banquet with fifteen tables was a grand scene they had never witnessed before.
In short, after today's wedding banquet, they would have bragging rights to share with the village gossips for a whole year.
The four Zhang brothers didn't join the discussion. They simply carried their things and continued on their way.
After all, from today onward, their only sister was truly married.
When they saw their sister crying earlier, they too felt a pang of sadness. Unfortunately, no matter how reluctant they were, they couldn't stay overnight. They had to leave with their elders, carrying a slight sorrow.
Unlike the four Zhang brothers, while the eldest and second wives of the Zhang family were reluctant to part with their hardworking sister-in-law, they also knew that only by marrying her off could she help their family.
Therefore, on the way back, the two sisters-in-law walked side by side, whispering to each other.
At the back were Ou Guofang and Ou Guohua. The two sisters were also whispering, but their topic wasn't the bride and groom or the sumptuous feast. Instead, they were discussing Deng Changyuan and the other young men in Thatchfield Village.
Although Ou Guohua and Deng Changyuan hadn't yet been formally introduced by a matchmaker, through the intermediaries Deng Yuntai and Zhang Xiuping, the two parties had already decided to get to know each other.
As for Ou Guofang, the elder sister, she had also kept her eyes open today, looking for someone suitable among the young men of Thatchfield Village.
Thus, on the way back, the sisters had plenty to talk about.
At 2:30 in the afternoon, Deng Shilan and her family returned home.
"Dad, Mom, it's getting late. I'll head back now," said Deng Shilan's eldest daughter, Bu Dafang.
Deng Shilan and her husband, Bu Erzhu, were not well-educated. They had five children and gave them simple names. Their two daughters were named Bu Dafang and Bu Xiaofang, and their three sons were named Bu Dashi, Bu Zhongshi, and Bu Xiaoshi.
Bu Dafang had married into Mountain Pond Village in White Duckweed Brigade three years ago and was now a mother of two.
Deng Shilan took out one of the three tables' worth of food she had packed and said to her eldest daughter, "Dafang, we can't finish all this food. Take some back and share it with your in-laws and your brother and sister-in-law. You and your husband can keep the rest."
Bu Dafang had separated from her family last year. Her relationship with her in-laws and brother-in-law's family was strained, maintained only superficially. Hearing her mother's words, she snorted reluctantly, "They're really getting a bargain!"
Deng Shilan knew about her eldest daughter's situation and said, "Try to be more open-minded about some things. Not everything can be perfectly fair. Parents can't treat all their children equally."
Bu Dafang knew it was pointless to complain about her in-laws' favoritism. Not wanting to ruin her good mood, she changed the subject and said, "Mom, you don't need to give me so much. Half is enough."
Deng Shilan replied, "We still have plenty at home. Don't refuse. Taking more back will also give you some face."
Bu Dafang thought about it and decided not to refuse her mother's kindness. After saying goodbye to her parents and younger siblings, she took several large bags of food and returned to her husband's home.
(End of this chapter)