At the Yan Residence's front courtyard, Yan Zhigao and a host of colleagues and friends were lively as they enjoyed yellow wine and feasted on hairy crabs.
In the back courtyard of the Yan Family, Madam Li was leading a group of ladies who also ate with great joy.
Because there was an abundance of hairy crabs sent over, Madam Li had sent out cards to a few neighbors who were on good terms with them, and at this moment, ladies from each household were gathered at the old lady's side, telling jokes and amusing stories while slowly savoring the crab roe, crab cream, and crab meat.
In Shuangxin Courtyard, Auntie Lin leaned against the door of her room, listening to the laughter coming from Songhe Courtyard. She touched her now visible pregnant belly with a face full of desolation.
The happiness and bustle of the Yan Family, even though she had born two children and was now pregnant with another, had nothing to do with her.