After dinner, Wang Guizhi took Shen ng into the house. She and Shen Fugui were very pleased with Lu Xiangxiang and also quite satisfied with Uncle Guai and Aunt Juying as in-laws. The main thing was that they were reasonable people. Since the family was reasonable, they naturally didn’t want to mistreat the girl. They were willing to provide everything that could be thought of.
"We can’t say that it’ll be better than others, but it definitely won’t be worse. If Xiangxiang also takes a liking to Xiaobin, we’re a hundred tis willing on our end. Your two sisters-in-law are sensible people, too, and won’t fuss about whether Xiaobin’s wife gets more or less. Just let the family take a breather, and they’ll make up for what her parents provide later on, mother will absolutely be fair and just."
"It’s a good way of thinking on your part. I’ll ask Uncle Guai and Aunt Juying when I go back. But thankfully today is just a visit to relatives. Otherwise, if we went back, Xiangxiang’s troubleso second sister-in-law would start causing a scene again."
Wang Guizhi also let go of her worries. As long as Xiangxiang was willing to marry over, let her second sister-in-law make a scene if she wants. It wouldn’t concern them—she’s already married off. As her maternal sister-in-law, she couldn’t still be in control, could she?
"Let’s not bother with all of that. Her second sister-in-law is none of our concern. Just live our own lives well and let her cause trouble as much as she wants!"
On the way back, Uncle Guai and Aunt Juying couldn’t stop praising Shen Xiaobin to Shen ng, saying he was tall, handso, worked efficiently, and just seed like a clever kid. Lu Xiangxiang, sitting in front of them, blushed crimson with embarrassnt.
"How about it, Xiangxiang? What do you think of Xiaobin? If you think he’s alright, you should try getting to know him. No need to rush into an engagent or anything. You have to see if this person really suits your tastes."
Lu Xiangxiang pursed her lips and nodded ever so slightly. She didn’t quite understand the aning behind Sister-in-law ng’s words, but she wasn’t in a hurry to decide either. Shen Xiaobin really seed quite nice, even better than the previous fiancé her family had arranged, especially with Sister-in-law ng, a mature young lady like her. She had heard what Sister-in-law Qin Lan and Sister-in-law Xiao i had said.
Aunt Wang was a rare gem of a mother-in-law. After the New Year, the old couple even spent money for the children’s schooling. As long as the production team distributed red envelopes, she would give each child two fen for pocket money before dividing the rest among the grown sons. Although she took most of it back, the money was enough to buy so miscellaneous items. If they went back to their mother’s family to visit relatives, she’d even help arrange things!
Such a family is hard to find even with a lantern. Her heart was also content. Aside from anything else, just having Shen ng, this fine eldest daughter, she felt it was worth it.
"Oh my, how can we not be in a hurry? I’ve heard from your mother that the girl Xiaobin was supposed to be engaged to still has feelings for him and is constantly urging the matchmaker to co over and plead her case. Does Xiaobin truly not have any lingering feelings for her? Can he really forget about that girl?"
"What’s there to not forget? He’s not willing himself, and no one is forcing him. Aunt Juying, not to ntion anything else, that girl is even more formidable than Huang Maochun. Your family only has Huang Maochun to be wary of, but with that girl, aside from the daughters, the entire family is intimidating. If Xiaobin still agrees, he must be ready to abandon his own parents and siblings and beco their son-in-law because my parents won’t acknowledge him anymore, and of course, neither will I. Just thinking about the current ss is enough to imagine how chaotic things would be in the future. If he’s still willing, then he’s not thinking clearly."
Aunt Juying said nothing, gazing towards the distant mountains, her thoughts drifting away. When Lu Xingchang and Huang Maochun were planning to get engaged, she felt everything was perfect. But sohow, engagent arrangents always had issues. She and her husband had gone back and forth to Huang Maochun’s house several tis, each ti bringing lots of gifts. When they finally set the date for the engagent, the sparks from the firecrackers almost set half the hill on fire. Ah! She thought perhaps the Lord above was also trying to prevent it. If only heaven had made it clearer then, their family wouldn’t have beco a laughingstock.
After Shen ng finished saying this, the atmosphere suddenly cooled down. Lu Xiangxiang thought it over and looked at her mother, then turned to Sister-in-law ng and said, "Sister-in-law ng, I think you’re right. Xiaobin says he has no feelings for that girl—that they were set to be engaged after only a few etings and then it turned so ugly. Both of us believe we shouldn’t go public with this. Like you said, we should clandestinely observe."
"Good, that’s the right attitude. Aunt Juying, pardon my frankness, but for the well-being of your family, you should really split the household soon. I saw Sister-in-law Jin Zhu and Tian Mi this morning, both looking very haggard. They must be feeling awfully oppressed inside."
"I’m not going to hide it from you, Xiao ng, I already talked to the village chief and the Secretary about this. We’ll handle the separation when we get back, and we’ll agree to any requirent as long as we can split off and live independently."
Zhenping glanced at Shen ng, who pretended not to see his suspicious gaze. For her, this was also about preparing to leave early. Whether Shen Xiaobin and Lu Xiangxiang could end up together or not, getting Uncle Guai to agree to the split was a good thing.
A couple of days went by, and on this particular afternoon, Shen ng was knitting a scarf at the doorway of the central room, occasionally glancing at the few kids doing their howork. Zhenping was cooking, when suddenly, the yard gate was kicked open with a loud "bang," and Lai Zi’s mother, looking fiercely angry, dragged Dezi into their presence.
"You heartless, blackhearted little runt, have you gone blind? How dare you bully my precious grandson like that? You ungrateful brats born without a mother’s care, I am going to teach you a little good-for-nothing scoundrels a lesson today, god damn it!"
Lai Zi’s mother was about to rush into the central room with the wooden stick she held, aiming for Mingyang, when the three kids instantly stood up and dashed out like a flash, too quick for her to react. Every morning they were now exercising with Zhenping, and with the well-provided food at ho, their physical fitness was particularly great.
"Run, I’ll make you run!"
"Aunt, what are you doing? It’s pretty normal for kids to fight and play, why are you taking it so seriously? The other ti, wasn’t Ming Kai also bullied by Dezi? We didn’t make a big deal out of it. You’re overreacting!"
Shen ng spread her arms in front of the three kids, while Ming Kai was squatting alone at the base of the wall, not moving. As Lai Zi’s mother moved towards Shen ng, Ming Kai suddenly threw a stone at her, hitting Lai Zi’s mother right on the chin.
"Ouch, my dear mother! You little bastard, how dare you hit ? I’ll smash your face!"
"Oh dear, you evil spirit, are you trying to make suffer alone? I won’t live anymore, I’ll go down to the netherworld, and you will not rest in peace..."
Lu Mingkai sat on the ground, slapping his thighs and waving a piece of rag around, crying and singing non-stop.
Shen ng: "..."
The three little ones: "..."
Lai Zi’s mother was dumbfounded by his words, too. It was kind of Shen ng’s fault – so old man in Lu Family Village had died a few days back, and the family had even hired a suona band. Out of curiosity, Shen ng had taken Lu Mingkai over, and the youngster not only rembered the novelty of the suona band but also the old lady’s mourning song.
One day, Shen ng was sleeping soundly when suddenly she felt ticklish on her nose. She opened her eyes to a blur of white, with her dear big boy beside her, crying and singing sorrowfully.
That day, the sun was particularly scorching, Zhenping’s smack on Lu Mingkai’s bum was particularly heavy, and Lu Mingkai’s crying was particularly loud!!!
Reviews
All reviews (0)