After cutting a basket of moldy bean dregs into strips and spreading them out to dry in the sun, the women sat down under the peach tree with their needlework. A moment later, Mrs. Zhang also emerged from the kitchen.
"Mom, come sit with us," Liu Yunlan said, quickly getting to her feet to greet her.
Mrs. Zhang first dusted herself off a few times, then smiled at Mrs. Yang and said, "Her grandma here wasn't allowed to tend the fire, so I got shooed out. What's so tiring about stoking a stove? I'm no stranger, how could I really act like a guest?" She sat down next to Liu Yunlan as she spoke.
