Chapter 708 - 365: The Doting Grandmother (Part 2)

Chapter 708: Chapter 365: The Doting Grandmother (Part 2)

Mrs. Wang said to her daughter-in-law with exasperation, "People only sell their children and land when they have no other way to survive! Your family is perfectly fine, with over ten *mu* of land, yet you’re still not satisfied. You complain you don’t earn enough and now you want to become a servant? Have you lost your mind? Who has it easy making money? Qingmu, Huai Zi, his eldest aunt and her husband—are any of them not busy from dawn till dusk? Or do you expect money to just fall from the sky while you sit at home?"

Liu Yunlan, listening from the side, pursed her lips in a smile but said nothing.

Just as Juhua finished eating, Pu Pao came in to clear the bowl and chopsticks. She stole a quick glance at Lin Family, then hurriedly lowered her head and left. She had clearly overheard Lin Family’s words.

After the grandmother and grandchildren had chatted for a bit, Mrs. Wang urged Lin Family to head back. "Those two, father and son, are at home with no one to look after them. Who knows what they’ll manage to scrape together for their meals. You should leave soon, that way you’ll get home before dark and won’t be late making dinner."

Lin Family muttered reluctantly, "Why don’t I just wait a bit and have Qingmu take me home in the carriage!"

Mrs. Wang glared at her. "Take you? So he can drop you off and then come back in the pitch dark? Why can’t you ever think of others? Your nephew is still out working in the fields! A little walking won’t kill you."

Seeing the old lady was angry, Lin Family said quickly, "Alright, alright, I’ll go. Mother, I’ll have to trouble you to look after Laishou, then. His eldest aunt is busy all day long, and his older cousin’s wife has to watch Hulu. You’re his grandmother, so please take good care of him. Remember to make sure he has enough clothes, shoes, and socks. If he needs anything, just send word and I’ll have it delivered."

Juhua was surprised to hear this. ’How did she become so sensible all of a sudden?’

Mrs. Wang’s expression softened, and she nodded. "I know all that. I’ve been looking after him since he was a baby; I know what he needs better than you do. Now go home and take good care of your husband and son. Keep a close watch on the house, and keep Laicai on a tighter leash. Don’t let him go to Xiatang Market unless he has a good reason—that place is full of trouble."

Lin Family nodded again and again in agreement. She said goodbye to Juhua and Liu Yunlan, added a few more parting words, and then finally left.

Liu Yunlan went with her, saying, "Let me see you out, Second Aunt. Hulu, you stay here with your auntie and Great-Grandma. Mommy will be right back."

Hulu nodded and snuggled into Mrs. Wang’s lap, fidgeting contentedly.

The two ran into He at the doorway, which led to another round of pleasantries before Lin Family finally departed.

He came in carrying a plate of steamed buns, offering them to Mrs. Wang with a smile. Pu Pao brought a clean bowl and chopsticks so they could eat.

Juhua split a bun with her chopsticks, picking up a small piece to feed Hulu. "Grandma," she asked Mrs. Wang, puzzled, "I feel like Second Aunt has changed. She still sounds like her old self sometimes, but those things she said just now... they didn’t sound like her at all."

Mrs. Wang glanced at He, embarrassed, and chuckled weakly. "You silly girl, don’t give your mother-in-law a reason to laugh at our family. He," she said, turning to her, "this second daughter-in-law of mine is a bit of a handful, you have to keep a close eye on her. But she’s really just loose-tongued and likes to grumble. She’s lazy, and... a bit short-sighted..."

The more she spoke, the more ashamed she felt. ’Are those all her flaws? Hardly. Still, at least she’s afraid of me. She wouldn’t dare disrespect an elder.’

He saw the look on her face and quickly smiled to smooth things over. "I’ve heard Juhua mention it. It’s not like she’s a terrible person. Some daughters-in-law are disrespectful to their mothers-in-law—now *that’s* something to truly despise. If you, as her elder, keep a close watch and continue to guide her, everything will be fine, won’t it? Honestly, we’re all a bit rash at times. When my own mother-in-law was alive, she was always teaching me things. And my own mother just gave me a lecture yesterday!"

Hearing her words, Mrs. Wang’s face lit up with a smile. "That’s exactly right," she said. Turning to Juhua, she added, "You said she didn’t sound like herself earlier, but that’s because you don’t see her often. She’s really changed for the better. She’s become quite diligent with her work at home, and she takes good care of Laicai and Laishou. She brought so many clothes, shoes, and socks this time—all things she stayed up making for Laishou by lamplight. She still falls into her old habits sometimes, but now when I lecture her, she actually listens, unlike before when it went in one ear and out the other."

Juhua smiled. "That’s wonderful. Change takes time."

’Looking at her grandmother’s white hair, Juhua’s heart ached. Just a tiny bit of improvement from Lin Family was enough to make her this happy. It was a classic case of a mother-in-law desperately hoping her daughter-in-law would make something of herself. Juhua wondered what kind of tangled fate the pair shared in a past life to make them less like a mother and daughter-in-law and more like a real mother and daughter in this one. Yes, that was it. Mrs. Wang treated Lin Family like her own child—disciplining her strictly, yet endlessly forgiving her shortcomings.’

After they chatted and laughed for a while longer, He went back out to her tasks. Mrs. Wang turned to Juhua again, her face beaming. "Laishou is studying so hard. When his lessons are over in the evening, he doesn’t go anywhere. He just stays at his desk practicing his characters. He only plays with little Hulu for a bit after he’s all finished. Qingmu told me that his teacher praises his intelligence, too."

Juhua smiled. "Laishou has always been a well-behaved and clever boy. Who knows, maybe he’ll even earn the title of Scholar one day. Imagine how much honor that would bring you, Grandma!"

Those words were music to Mrs. Wang’s ears, and her entire face relaxed into a broad smile. In the past, she might have offered a humble protest, but now... ’With Qingnan Village suddenly producing three Scholars, why not my grandson? I’ve seen that Little Shitou before, and I don’t think my own grandson is the least bit inferior.’ It was for this very reason that she had swallowed her pride and personally asked Yang Family to let Laishou come over to study.

’In her heart, she felt a little ashamed. After all, it wasn’t entirely reasonable to force her daughter to help her son’s family like this. The palm and the back of the hand are both made of flesh, and her daughter’s household had plenty of its own troubles, not to mention little Hulu was still so young. But for Laishou to have a chance at success, she had to swallow her pride. That’s why she had come to look after Laishou herself, to lighten the burden on Yang Family.’

She kept herself busy all day long at the Zheng Family home, always looking for more chores to do, as if it could lessen the guilt she felt for imposing Laishou’s education on them. Yang Family had tried to persuade her to rest several times, but she wouldn’t listen. When Laishou was at school, she would keep a close eye on little Hulu, tend to the chickens and ducks, and sweep the courtyard spotless. Afterward, she would sit under the eaves with her needlework, the very picture of contentment.