As usual, after finishing her round of admonishments, Old Mrs. Xu first checked on her son-in-law and several grandchildren. She then accompanied her daughter to the West Outer Room of the main house, only leaving after she saw her daughter and sister-in-law start chatting.
And when she came out?
Her granddaughter, Xu Changqing, had already taken the things from the pushcart and arranged them on the square table in the outer room. A pile of what was obviously little clothes and pants was placed on a stool next to the table.
"Grandma?" Xu Changqing called out softly. She pointed to the west room, then to her own mouth. "Could you take over from here? I want to go get Dad first."
The food in the house was now pretty much under Old Mrs. Xu's control. Even the large bag of fine grains and the big earthenware basket of eggs that she had packed last night to take to the county seat were in the east room.
