Li Qiao snorted, "During New Year's, brother-in-law mentioned bringing two pounds of meat, and I heard you grumbling. You said, tsk tsk tsk! A family of five comes over, and they bring just two pounds of meat. They're taking mud from a swallow's beak, scraping iron from a needle's point, coming to our house to freeload!"
Imitating Dong Lamei's disdainful expression when she spoke, Li Qiao raised her arm, tucked her hands in, and spat on the ground: "Unfilial descendants!"
She didn't understand the meaning of taking mud from a swallow's beak, scraping iron from a needle's point, or freeloaders at the time.
Later she asked the educated youth.
They said it meant exactly what it sounded like: taking mud from the mouth of a swallow, scraping iron off a needle tip, scolding someone for being stingy. Freeloading means shamelessly eating someone's food without paying.