That evening, a whole row of vehicles was parked outside Old Mrs. Li's home—besides the bicycles, there was even a car. The neighbors finally realized just how capable the already formidable Old Mrs. Li truly was. No wonder she always carried herself with such confidence.
That night, everyone, whether they had business there or not, made sure to pass by her house. They were just helping count the bicycles outside the courtyard to make sure the number was right—doing the police's worrying for them. Such a tough job.
It was even livelier inside than out. In the middle of the room, Old Mrs. Li had set up a large table laden with ten dishes she had whipped up—six meat and four vegetable. All were served on large platters piled high, looking incredibly generous, and they tasted even better, earning endless praise from the guests.
In those days, any dish made with a generous hand for salt, oil, and seasonings was guaranteed to be delicious.
