Chapter 707 - 365: The Doting Grandmother

Chapter 707: Chapter 365: The Doting Grandmother

In the afternoon, Juhua’s maternal grandmother, Mrs. Wang, came to see her, leading little Hulu by the hand along with her second aunt, Lin Family. Liu Yunlan followed behind, carrying an earthenware pot.

Pu Pao saw them from the kitchen doorway and hurried to call out toward Juhua’s window, "Young Madam, your grandmother is here to see you with little Hulu! And your second aunt has come as well."

From the kitchen, He called out, "Grandmother is here? Go on inside and have a seat. I’ll be right there as soon as I get these buns steaming."

Mrs. Wang chuckled and said, "You’re busy. We’ll let ourselves in. Don’t trouble yourself; we don’t want to keep you from your work."

Liu Yunlan said to Pu Pao, "Pu Pao, go get two clean bowls and spoons. I’ve brought some fish soup for your Young Madam. Have her and your mother each drink a bowl while it’s hot."

Pu Pao agreed, delighted, and turned to head into the kitchen.

Hearing the voices, Juhua came out of her room to greet them. She called out to the white-haired Mrs. Wang, "Grandma!" Then she turned to Lin Family and greeted her, "Second Aunt."

Mrs. Wang came forward, beaming. "Ah! Did you just wake up? We were going to come earlier, but Yunlan said you take an afternoon nap, so we waited until now. She brought you some fish soup she simmered. Quick, come have a bowl."

She (Mrs. Wang) had brought Laishou to attend the school in Qingnan Village back in early September. However, Juhua was in her month of postpartum confinement and couldn’t easily receive visitors, so Mrs. Wang hadn’t come by often. Lin Family, on the other hand, was using Banli and Cong’s full-moon celebration as an opportunity to deliver a gift and visit her younger son, Laishou.

Juhua was just about to thank Liu Yunlan when she heard little Hulu call out in a clear, crisp voice, "Juhua—"

This stunned everyone for a moment. Then they heard him add, "Auntie!"

Juhua couldn’t help but let out a giggle. ’This kid, saying it in two parts like that... It sounded so awkward!’

Mrs. Wang and the others burst out laughing. Liu Yunlan gently chided her son, "Hulu, don’t say it separately. You have to say ’Juhua Auntie’ all together, understand?"

Hulu looked a bit baffled, as if he only half-understood. He wasn’t actually as quiet as everyone assumed. While he was silent most of the time, he could be surprisingly sweet-tongued with familiar people, catching them completely off guard—just as he had by calling out to Juhua. Seeing everyone looking at him with beaming smiles, he called out to her again, "Juhua—Auntie!"

Juhua stifled her laughter and said to Liu Yunlan, "Let him be. It’s not easy for him to speak so clearly at his age." Then she added, "Grandma, Second Aunt, please sit down. Pu Pao, please ladle out a bowl of soup for your mother."

Pu Pao hurried forward to take the pot from Liu Yunlan, setting it on the table. After lifting the lid, she ladled out two bowls of soup. She handed one to Juhua, who was sitting in a wooden chair, and then carried the other to the west room for her mother. ℯℯ𝘭.

Juhua took a small sip of the milky-white fish soup and praised, "Sister Yunlan, this fish soup is so rich and fragrant. There’s so much left! Grandma, you all should have a bowl too. Hulu, come here and let Auntie feed you some."

Hulu shook his head vigorously. "No, Auntie drink."

Liu Yunlan praised him, "Our Hulu is so well-behaved and sensible, not fighting with his auntie over food. Auntie needs to keep up her milk supply to feed the baby brother and sister." Hulu giggled and leaned against his mother, watching Juhua drink her soup.

Mrs. Wang smiled kindly and said, "We already had fish for lunch—red-braised. This soup was simmered especially for you."

Lin Family’s eyes darted about. She said to Juhua, "Tsk tsk! Juhua, you two are so generous. That Liu Heizi’s family—you give them food, lodging, and even wages. You don’t even leave his wife out when it comes to soup. I don’t know what good deeds she must have done in a past life to have the fortune of finding employers like you."

Juhua frowned slightly and said, "She’s helping me nurse Banli. My milk supply isn’t enough for both babies."

Lin Family laughed. "But what about the lodging and the wages? I heard you’re even building a separate house for them to live in? Juhua, how about your second uncle and I come work for you? Our dozen or so mu of land at home don’t bring in much money anyway. This way, you can keep the good fortune in the family, and I could be nearby to look after Laishou."

Mrs. Wang was both shocked and furious. She shot Lin Family a harsh glare and snapped, "You short-sighted fool! ’Good fortune’? What good fortune? Do you think you can just come here, not do any work, and live off Huai Zi and Juhua? Do you think they’re that stupid?"

Juhua looked at Lin Family with amusement and said slowly, "Second Aunt, Uncle Liu’s family works from dawn till dusk. They’re on call even in the middle of the night. Even Pu Pao has to tend the fire, cook, and watch the children. Do you want to do that kind of work? And that’s not all. Most importantly, if they make a mistake, I can beat them and scold them. I could even turn around and sell them. Are you willing to be treated the same way?"

Lin Family was dumbfounded. Of course, she wasn’t willing. ’She was just envious that the Liu Family got to eat and live so well. But to expect good food and lodging without any effort? Juhua would have to be crazy to agree to that. Even a charitable hall would only give out a bowl of thin porridge, and nothing more.’