Chapter 66: Returning to Mother’s Home

Shitou sat on the bicycle, thrilled beyond belief, as he had never ridden such a brand-new bike before and it was incredibly beautiful, “Mom, little aunt’s bicycle is really nice.

If only Hu Zi and I could ride it every day.”

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu smiled and said, “Wait until you and Hu Zi study hard, and when you get to junior high school in the future, Mom will buy you one.”

Shitou’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

The three of them rode the bike to Eldest Sister-in-law Xu’s mother’s house, chatting and laughing along the way.

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu’s mother’s house was also in a county, not their own but the neighboring one.

Fortunately, it wasn’t far away, and it took her about two hours to get there on her bike.

“Mom, you’re not working today?” Eldest Sister-in-law Xu rode into the yard and saw her mother washing vegetables at the tap.

At that moment, Mother Zhao was chatting with a neighbor, all smiles, but when she saw her daughter return, her face turned to one of worry, and she quickly wiped her hands and rushed over, “Why are you back at this time?

Are your mother-in-law and little aunt bullying you again?” Because of her concern, she didn’t even notice how her daughter had come back or the things she was carrying.

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu held up the things in her hand with a smile, “If I were being bullied, would I be able to come back carrying things?”

Mother Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing the pork and fabric in her daughter’s hands, she was so shocked she couldn’t close her mouth, “It’s not even a holiday, and your mother-in-law actually let you bring back so much stuff.

Oh my, is this red fabric for us to take home? Your brother has set a wedding date, and I’ve been worrying about where to get some red fabric to make them new clothes.

This fabric of yours is right on time.” Mother Zhao’s face bloomed with joy.

The woman who was just chatting with Zhao a moment ago saw Eldest Sister-in-law Xu carrying things and riding a bicycle and suddenly felt a bit envious, “Yo, Lingzi, your mother-in-law is so generous today.

What’s the deal, she’s not asking your mom for some favor, is she?”

Upon hearing this, Mother Zhao instantly went on guard and said worriedly to her daughter, “Lingzi, if it’s too difficult, your dad and I can’t handle it, but if it’s a small matter, we might be able to help out.”

Shitou puffed out his chest and glared at the woman who had just spoken, “My grandma doesn’t need any favors, my mom just missed my grandma.

My little aunt said grandma always helps our Xu Family, and now that our family has some money, she let my mom bring some things to show respect to my grandma.”

This was not what Xu Ying had told him, but Shitou felt that was the idea.

With that statement, the woman who had spoken before, now looked embarrassed, “Really? Your rural grandma turned out to be such a kind person?”

She pursed her lips and turned away, taking her clothes back with her.

Mother Zhao chuckled, “Don’t mind your Aunt Wu, she’s just jealous of you.”

Aunt Wu’s family was similar to theirs, having married off a daughter to the countryside. However, her daughter was a sent-down youth who couldn’t handle the hardships and hence married out.

Her own daughter was foolishly willing to marry into the country.

They seemed to get along on the surface, but Mother Zhao knew exactly what Aunt Wu thought.@@novelbin@@

It was just that she felt more pitied, thinking they shared a common plight. Now that her daughter was showing filial piety, the Wu family was not pleased.

They could be displeased all they wanted; as long as her daughter was showing her filial respect, she was happy.

“Go back quickly, your eldest sister-in-law’s family will be here soon, we go through the process, and the marriage will be set,” said Mother Zhao, her face alight with happiness. Her eldest son, now in his twenties, was finally getting married.

“Oh, then I’ve just happened to come at the right time, catching my big brother’s happy day,” said Eldest Sister-in-law Xu with a face full of joy, jokingly.

She felt much more relaxed compared to being at the Xu Family’s, with fewer scruples, speaking whatever came to mind, her brows were all smiles.

“Isn’t that just fortunate, today we have a nice meal waiting, Mom has been saving up meat and fine flour for a while, today we’ll really splurge,” said Mother Zhao, a look of tenderness in her eyes when she looked at her daughter.

“Right, Shitou mentioned that your in-laws are quite wealthy now, what’s that about?”

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu went on without stopping: “My husband and my second brother have started teaching at the commune schools, and now my little sister also started working at a restaurant in the county town.

Our family is basically all workers now, doesn’t that mean we are rich? Lately, my sister often goes up the mountain, and she always brings back some game. Just look at Shitou and Hu Zi.

Those two rascals have been eating well every day for the past month, and they’ve both put on quite a bit of weight.”

Mother Zhao believed they were eating well every day; as soon as she stepped through the door, she saw her two grandsons had gained a noticeable amount of weight, their faces rounder with chubbiness.

She also believed that the second son of the Xu Family went to become a teacher, not to mention Mrs. Xu’s feisty character, the people of the Xu Family were quite clever.

But as for the youngest Xu working at a State-owned Restaurant, she was a bit skeptical: “Lingzi, Xu Ying really started working at the State-owned Restaurant? What does she do, is she just a temporary server or something?”

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu had anticipated her mother would respond this way, and quickly explained: “She’s been hired as a head chef, a permanent staff, how could she be temporary?”

At that, Mother Zhao’s mouth hung open in surprise, her eyes as wide as eggs: “You’re not kidding me, are you? With Xu Ying being as lazy as she is, pampered by your mother-in-law to the point she wouldn’t dip her fingers in plain water.

Has she ever even been in a kitchen, or can she cook at all? You wouldn’t be just teasing your mom, would you?”

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu felt quite wronged: “Mom, my dear mom, how could I possibly lie to you about this?

My younger sister really doesn’t cook much, but when she does, it’s incredibly delicious; you have no idea, it’s tantalizingly tasty.”

Shitou joined the conversation at just the right moment: “Grandma, my little aunt’s cooking is so delicious. You’ve not had it before, the dishes she makes are even more delectable than what the emperor eats.”

After thinking for a while, Shitou boasted: “Such meals can only be found in heaven, only when my little aunt descends from the heavens like a fairy can such exquisite meals be made.”

Mother Zhao glanced at her grandson and felt a bit of anticipation.

The mother and daughter sat together chatting away, and time was already getting on. Eldest Sister-in-law Xu and Mother Zhao went into the kitchen together.

The two started getting busy with the lunch preparations.

Around half-past ten or almost eleven, Brother Zhao’s fiancée’s family arrived.

Upon hearing the voices, Mother Zhao quickly washed her hands and ran out, greeted by the beaming faces of her relatives.

“Relatives, come sit inside quickly. Yinghe, come over here. Shubo will be off work and back soon.

My daughter is back at her mother’s house today. I was worried just a few days ago about where to buy some red material, but she brought the fabric with her.

There’s plenty of it. When the time comes, we can make an outfit each for Yinghe and Shubo to wear on their wedding day; it’ll look so festive.”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Cheng’s honest face broke into a genuine smile.

Meanwhile, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Cheng family entered the courtyard, her eyes scanning the Zhao Family members up and down: “Sister, how many rooms does your family have?”

Mother Zhao spoke truthfully: “One for me and the children’s father, one for Eldest Son and the third son, and there’s one where my married daughter used to live.

But now that Eldest Son is getting married, I’m having the third son move into my daughter’s room.”

Mother Zhao had just discussed this matter with her daughter, and Eldest Sister-in-law Xu had no objections. The eldest brother’s marriage was important, after all, and he didn’t come back to his mother’s home often.

No room, then no room it was.