Chapter 152
The steaming dumplings, plump and white, were neatly arranged on plates. A bowl of minced garlic mixed with fragrant vinegar and a spoonful of bright red chili oil filled the air with an enticing aroma.
Two tables were gathered with people. Mayor George Clark, the eldest present, raised his glass and cleared his throat. "Ethan rarely comes home, and now Luna is leaving for university in the provincial capital. Consider this a farewell feast. The men can drink, and the ladies should enjoy the food."
Laughter filled the room as everyone picked up their chopsticks. Andrew Smith bit into a dumpling, and rich meat juices burst in his mouth. The filling—a perfect mix of lean and fatty pork with chives—was so delicious he couldn't stop. He tried another with fennel, its unique aroma lingering pleasantly.
A sip of liquor, then a bite of stir-fried tripe. The meal was thoroughly satisfying.
After several rounds of drinks, Mayor George was swaying drunkenly and had to be supported home by Clara Clark and Lily Clark. Ethan and Andrew were also flushed from drinking. Luna had the three boys help them inside to rest.
In the yard, Luna and her sister Luna cleared the dishes. Worried there wouldn’t be enough, they had made extra dumplings, leaving two plates uncooked. Since raw dumplings didn’t keep well, the sisters boiled them all, rinsing them in cold water to prevent sticking for the next meal.
"Luna, Andrew is such a good man. You're lucky," Luna couldn’t help saying. She could tell her sister wasn’t particularly interested in him, and it would be a shame to let such a catch slip away.
Luna nearly rolled her eyes. Andrew had really won over the whole family.
"I know, sis!"
"Your attitude..." Luna sighed. "You’ve become so stubborn lately. If this continues, Andrew might lose interest."
"Sis, this is who I am. If he doesn’t like it, that’s his problem. Can fake sweetness last a lifetime?" Luna was unbothered. She had played the dutiful wife and mother in her past life—this time, she would be herself.
"You..." Luna shook her head but knew her sister had a point. Hadn’t she spent her own life yielding, only to end up like this?
In the afternoon, Andrew woke to find himself alone in the room. The alcohol had mostly worn off, though his head still throbbed slightly. The yard was quiet, and his freshly washed clothes swayed gently on the clothesline.
Luna had just returned from Clara White’s place. The old woman had suddenly summoned the siblings, and Luna had braced for another round of drama.
To her surprise, Clara seemed like a different person, clutching Ethan’s hand with tears in her eyes. "Ethan, Grandma knows she was wrong before..."
Ethan awkwardly wiped her tears. "Grandma, don’t cry. It’s bad for your eyes."
"I still have some money saved. Take it for your wedding," Clara insisted, pressing a cloth bundle into his hands.
Ethan refused. "Keep it for yourself. I can save up for my own wedding."
But the old woman was adamant. "Take it! Grandma has realized... I’ll be counting on you kids from now on..."
Luna watched coldly, suspicion gnawing at her. What’s this old woman scheming now?