Packing Up After the Banquet

The Evans Family had a table to themselves, their eyes shining at the feast of chicken, duck, and fish laid out before them.

Grandma Evans stuffed her mouth with braised pork knuckle, drooling as she pretended to be haughty, "Oh my, is this all we get to eat? Why not serve something better?"

The rest of the Evans Family didn’t bother responding to Grandma Evans; they simply buried their heads and ate ravenously.

When they finished eating, Grandma Evans wiped her mouth and said to her daughters-in-law, "I see Lily’s family has plenty of food left over. We should help them eat it so it doesn’t go to waste!"

Helen Parker and Susan Evans immediately understood, darting into the kitchen like a flash.

Mrs. Charlotte Evans stood awkwardly, unable to move. She felt ashamed to crash the banquet and then raid the kitchen for leftovers.

"Why are you just standing there? Acting all high and mighty! Do you think you’re some rich lady from the city?" Grandma Evans snapped at Mrs. Charlotte Evans with a glare.

Mrs. Charlotte Evans lowered her head and gently clutched Arthur Evans’s sleeve, remaining silent.

Mrs. Barker was still eating by the stove when she suddenly saw Helen Parker and Susan Evans storm in. The moment they entered, their eyes locked onto the remaining meat in the kitchen, and they began snatching it up like hungry wolves.

Mrs. Barker panicked and scolded, "What are you doing? Isn’t the banquet enough? Now you’re snatching food too!"

Helen Parker shoved Mrs. Barker to the ground, snapping, "What’s it to you? Even eating can’t shut you up! How is this stealing? I’m taking Evans Family’s food, so how is that stealing?"

Helen Parker pushed Mrs. Barker out of the kitchen, then she and Susan Evans grabbed a large cloth, stuffing all the edible food into their bundles until they were bulging.

Mrs. Barker wiped her tears angrily, "This whole family’s nothing but bandits! How can they bully people like this!"

Lily rolled her eyes at her two aunts, who acted like bandits. Did they even know what it meant to be penny wise and pound foolish? Behaving so shamelessly in front of everyone—who’d want to associate with them after this?

The Evans Family left, patting their full bellies and carrying several bulging bundles of food.

The Village Chief and the other villagers stared in disbelief; several outspoken villagers cursed the Evans Family for being shameless.

Helen Parker smugly hugged her stolen bundle, shouting, "Why are you yelling? You’re just jealous my family gets to eat meat tonight! If you’ve got the guts, go take some from the kitchen yourselves!"

But Lily blocked the door: "Did I say you could take my food? Put it down!"

Helen Parker clung to the food. "What’s wrong with taking a little? You’re so stingy!"

Lily sneered, "These are for the other villagers to take home for their children. Your whole family came, ate, drank, and still have the nerve to pack up leftovers?"

The other villagers caught on, and a crowd of women surged forward, frantically grabbing at the bundle in Helen Parker’s arms. Chaos erupted as hands pulled and tugged at Helen and Susan Evans, tearing their clothes and messing up their hair. All the food they had painstakingly packed was snatched away.

Helen Parker cried out for help, but faced with so many villagers, she didn’t dare provoke their anger. Empty-handed, she slunk away in defeat.

Lily’s family’s banquet was over, and there were still some dishes left on the table.

The village was poor, and most families would save the leftovers from banquets to eat slowly. But Lily didn’t want her family eating leftovers. She saw the young wives and sisters-in-law staring longingly at the table and smiled generously: “Take whatever you want. There’s only three of us, and we can’t finish it all before it spoils.”

The young wives and sisters-in-law swallowed nervously, “Really? Lily, you’re really giving us these leftovers?”

Lily nodded, “Of course. I should thank you all for helping clean up the leftovers—otherwise, it’d just go to waste.”

The young wives and sisters-in-law smiled shyly, knowing Lily was saving their pride. She made it sound like they were helping out, even though she was really doing them a favor.

So everyone packed up the leftovers and stayed to help clean the tables, wash dishes, and scrub pots. With so many hands, the job was done in less than half an hour, leaving the place spotless—even the kitchen pots gleamed. Lily’s family didn’t have to lift a finger.

“Lily, we’re heading home!” The village women left together in small groups.

Lily leaned against the door, smiling as she saw them off. She was about to go inside when she heard a man behind her call, “Lily…”