Mrs. Fang escorted Sang Wan to the wing room, apologized for her departure, and asked all the aunts and young wives to keep Sang Wan company while she went off to busy herself with arranging lunch.
Sang Wan ordered the maids that followed to take down the sunflower seeds, candy, pastry, and other items they had bought, arrange them on trays, and set them out on various tables inside and out for everyone to enjoy while chatting.
Outside, Chang Huan and the others unloaded the cart full of fish, meat, chickens, ducks, vegetables, and the essential ingredients from oils to sauces to wine. Everyone lent a hand, with Mrs. Fang directing the bustling activity.
Inside, the gathering of daughters-in-law and aunts grew even more joyful as they chattered away to Sang Wan, adding their own exaggerations to the events of the past few days.
