As for the millennia-old puzzle of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships, Qiao Xiaomai didn't have any good solutions.
The only idea she could think of was, "Soldiers are met by generals while the water is held back by the earth," a Chinese proverb.
The fact that Mrs. Zhang came over to ask for sour plum soup was somewhat ridiculous when said aloud.
But if she refused, it would be even more ridiculous.
As she was younger, considering Tong Sanlang's case, she decided to do it!
Qiao Xiaomai agreed to do so, and Mrs. Zhang still had a gloomy face, drenched with worry.
She had been disciplined by Tong Xingda that morning, but he hadn't hit her hard.
The first reason was that Tong Sanlang restrained him and second, if he beat her and made a mess of things, then it would surely result in costly repairs and lose one more laborer.
Therefore, she was mostly hurt superficially. By midday, Tong Tiehu ordered her to return to cook lunch.