Due to Zhou Xueli’s wedding, the Old Zhou family was brimming with joy and bustling with excitement that day, with large red "happiness" characters posted everywhere, and even the main gate was adorned with festive couplets; the faces of those who came to the banquet or to help out were all smiling.
Old Lady Zhou also had a beaming smile, dressed in festive attire, sitting in the main room, entertaining and joking with the guests.
Madam Lu was also sitting inside, her reason being a hand injury that prevented her from doing any heavy work. As for how she got injured, the official story given to outsiders was that she had accidentally slipped and twisted her finger while going out to the lavatory at night.
This excuse was only believed by the visiting relatives, as the neighbors knew all too well about the drama that had occurred, and they were privately snickering about it.
Old Lady Zhou watched her incessantly crack melon seeds with proficiency, her eyelids were twitching in waves, and her anger was slowly rising.
But she knew what day it was, and to lose her temper with her eldest daughter-in-law at such a time would not only be embarrassing for her but would also bring shame upon herself as the mother-in-law, and it could even upset her youngest son, the bridegroom.
So, holding back her anger, Old Lady Zhou said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, the bride will soon be brought back; go to the kitchen and check how the preparations for the dishes are going."
Madam Lu replied, "Mother, rest assured, your daughter-in-law has just looked in on them, and everything is in good order." Speaking thus, she spat out another melon seed shell.
Old Lady Zhou’s forehead throbbed with a prominent vein, and she looked at her intently before saying, "Then you should also start seeing to the beginning of the feast; go on, I can take care of entertaining the guests here."
Madam Lu really wanted to find an excuse but, sensing her mother-in-law’s stern gaze, her heart skipped a beat, and she hastily stood up, "Your daughter-in-law will go attend to it right away." After making her apologies to the friends and family, she walked out.
Behind her, the group of older wives heaped compliments on their own matriarch, such as how fortunate she was to have two daughters-in-law to serve her, boastings of many children and grandchildren, and so on.
Madam Lu curled her lip, idly cleaning her ear and sashaying toward the kitchen.
Upon arriving at the kitchen, Madam Lu simply took a quick look around, soon bored, yet not daring to sit idly in the main room. When her own maternal family, her mother and sister-in-law, nieces and nephews, arrived, she hurried out to greet them, her face full of delight as she led them into the main room.
Even though Old Lady Zhou had no fondness for this eldest daughter-in-law, with so many relatives present, it wouldn’t look good to badmouth her. So, when the in-laws arrived, she naturally received them with open arms and effusive joy, taking her hand to sit down and engage in small talk.
The younger children quickly became restless, and Madam Lu had Zhou Xiuer and others take them out to play, anticipating a lively scene when the bride arrived.
Inside and outside the house, there was a jubilant and noisy atmosphere, filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
Before long, Zhou Xiuer hurried in, excitedly shouting, "Grandma, mother, my aunt and Wufu are here!"
At the mention of these two, the expressions on both Old Lady Zhou and Madam Lu’s faces turned quite unsightly.
After such a major commotion the day before yesterday, they still dared to come, they still had the nerve to show up? Did they not have even the slightest sense of how unwelcome they were?
Madam Lu’s face filled with furious anger as she stood up, ready to burst out, but one glare from her mother-in-law, thick with warning, made her hesitate.
The others present were also aware of what these two represented and kept silent. They watched the faces of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, with an air of someone waiting for the show to begin.
Old Lady Zhou took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, they are your dear little aunt and niece after all; as the eldest sister-in-law, you should go welcome them."
Madam Lu nearly leaped out of her skin—what, she was expected to welcome those two who were practically mortal enemies?