Just as Su Li had guessed, the Su family members had already shut the courtyard gates and were practically cursing out Zhang Mu and Wu Caiwei's ancestors up to eighteen generations.
Zhao Shi was hopping mad in the courtyard, furious like a toad: "That bastard Zhang Mu, how come he invited the whole village but not our family! Why! We're from the same village, why single us out!"
Su Daqi slowly walked out of the house; the tattooed characters on his face had healed, leaving behind ugly scars that vaguely formed a word.
Su Daqi squatted under the eaves, tightened his trouser waistband to ease the rumbling hunger in his stomach.
Zhao Shi kept cursing: "I saw with my own eyes several baskets of live chickens and ducks, buckets of fish, and even a whole slaughtered pig being carried to Su Li's courtyard! Surely for the full-month banquet! That little kid's full-month party is being thrown like the emperor's birthday! Having money is great, but who knows if that kid will even survive!"
Zhao Shi's mind dwelled on those chickens, ducks, and fish, her mouth watering. She hadn't tasted meat in months, only coarse food and steamed buns.
Su Daqi's stomach growled loudly; angry, he punched his belly twice and cursed, "How dare you speak, woman! If it weren't for that good-for-nothing daughter of yours causing trouble, nearly killing the pregnant Wu Caiwei, would they have not invited us to the feast?!"
Zhao Shi got angrier, dizzy from hunger, rushed inside and cursed at Su Meixiang: "You useless thing, what good are you? A prodigal, all you do is eat at home, causing the family to miss even a bite at the feast!"
Su Meixiang's half-disfigured face twisted fiercely, her one eye flashing coldly: "Blame me? Now you want to blame me! It's all your own doing! If you ungrateful old folks hadn't kicked out Su Li, the cash cow, and Fourth Uncle, the wealthy man, would our family have ended up like this?!"
As soon as Su Meixiang spoke, the elders were speechless, stomping their feet in regret.
Many late nights, they regretted their past decisions, but unfortunately, there's no medicine for regret.
Suddenly, from a nearby room came a baby's cry. Liu Ru shouted angrily: "You old woman, hurry up and check your grandson, he's wet himself again!"
Zhao Shi hurriedly stopped scolding Su Meixiang and went to tend to her little grandson.
Now, this child was the family's only hope.
Zhao Shi changed the baby's diaper quickly while Liu Ru watched coldly, not even lending a hand. Zhao Shi seemed used to Liu Ru's attitude and efficiently finished the diaper change, then held the baby to soothe him.
Liu Ru glanced at Zhao Shi and spat venomously: "I really was blind to marry into your family! You’re worse than animals! The baby’s full month has passed, and don’t talk about a banquet, I can’t even afford a single egg a day during my confinement! That scoundrel Su Shimao is never home, who knows what nonsense he’s up to!"
Zhao Shi dared not retort, only lowered her head and continued soothing the baby.
Seeing Zhao Shi acting like a mute, Liu Ru angrily twisted her arm: "I didn’t get to eat a single good thing during my confinement. I’m going to that Zhang Mu’s son’s full-month banquet!"
Zhao Shi shrank back and whispered: "If you want to go, then go. It’s just that they didn’t invite us."
Liu Ru fumed thinking about how unlucky the Su family was in the village.
She glanced at the child in Zhao Shi’s arms and sighed. Whether invited or not, she had to go to Zhang Mu’s son’s full-month banquet!