The arrival of Li Yuanshan and her husband cheered the old lady up considerably.
The old lady pulled her third daughter aside for a long, heart-to-heart talk, finally venting the frustration she had bottled up for days. By dinner that evening, she was smiling much more; it seemed her daughter's company was truly effective.
Dinner was prepared by Yuan Si, her husband, and Zhao Xiangguo. It was a magnificent feast, and the family enjoyed a lively meal together.
After dinner, Li Yuanshan made an excuse to step out. Everyone knew she was going to her eldest sister's place. It had been this way for a few years; the eldest sister basically never stayed for meals at their mother's house anymore. This meant when Yuanshan, the third sister, came to visit their mother, the two of them wouldn't meet. So, after dinner, she would go over to her eldest sister's place by herself. After all, as the younger sibling, it was proper for her to pay her big sister a visit.
