Chapter 152: Were Neatly Arranged on Plates

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 Martin Reed, the eldest present, raised his glass and cleared his throat. "Daniel rarely comes home, and now Elena 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. Adrian Stone 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 Martin was swaying drunkenly and had to be supported home by Helen Reed and Emily Reed. Daniel and Adrian were also flushed from drinking. Elena had the three boys help them inside to rest.

In the yard, Elena and her sister Elena 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.

"Elena, Adrian is such a good man. You're lucky," Elena 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.

Elena nearly rolled her eyes. Adrian had really won over the whole family.

"I know, sis!"

"Your attitude..." Elena sighed. "You’ve become so stubborn lately. If this continues, Adrian 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?" Elena was unbothered. She had played the dutiful wife and mother in her past life—this time, she would be herself.

"You..." Elena 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, Adrian 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.

Elena had just returned from Agnes Ward’s place. The old woman had suddenly summoned the siblings, and Elena had braced for another round of drama.

To her surprise, Agnes seemed like a different person, clutching Daniel’s hand with tears in her eyes. "Daniel, Grandma knows she was wrong before..."

Daniel 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," Agnes insisted, pressing a cloth bundle into his hands.

Daniel 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..."

Elena watched coldly, suspicion gnawing at her. What’s this old woman scheming now?