Chapter 50: Grandson is not far away

Xie’s father and Xie’s mother woke up at their usual time, made breakfast, ate a simple meal, and Xie’s father went to feed the pigs and chickens.

Xie’s mother took her clothes to the well to wash them. After washing and drying them, she went to Uncle Xie’s house, Xie’s father’s elder brother, to find Aunt Xie.

Xie’s father and Uncle Xie were brothers, but they separated their households after Xie’s mother entered the family, with the support of Xie Ye and Xie Nai.

Living under different roofs, they had fewer petty conflicts, so their relationship had been good for years.

Xie’s mother and Aunt Xie had an even better relationship, often gossiping together.

Their relationship was considered rare among sisters-in-law in the village.

Aunt Xie was feeding chickens in the yard when she saw Xie’s mother come over and was surprised: “Aying, why are you here again? Do you want more eggs?”

Yesterday, Xie’s mother had come to their house to exchange eggs.

“If you have them, I would like to exchange some more,” Xie’s mother replied casually. Yesterday, she didn’t know how well Xie Qingxiao and Lin Xiangyi’s business was doing, so she was still worried about money and only exchanged ten eggs.

Now that the business was so good, Xie’s mother was happy and naturally became generous.

“Before your daughter-in-law came, you saved your own eggs to exchange for things. Now you’re coming out to exchange eggs. Aying, you and your second brother are too generous to your daughter-in-law,” Aunt Xie laughed:

“You’re exchanging so many eggs to raise her, do you want to have a grandson soon? But it’s true, your daughter-in-law looks too weak, you have to nourish her well if you want a grandson.”

“Isn’t it?” Xie’s mother thought of something and suddenly smiled so much she couldn’t close her mouth. She leaned close to Aunt Xie’s ear and whispered, “You don’t know, my Ah Xiao and his wife are so loving, they make noise until late at night. I estimate that the grandson is coming soon!”

Aunt Xie’s old face turned red, and she scolded, “You old shameless woman, why are you paying attention to your son and daughter-in-law’s business?”

“I didn’t pay attention on purpose!” Xie’s mother quickly defended herself: “Ah Xiao always goes out to fetch water late at night, how could I not know why?”

Xie’s mother wasn’t like Xie’s father, who could fall asleep as soon as he hit the bed and sleep like a dead pig.

She was getting older and her sleep was light. Any slight movement could wake her up.

Xie Qingxiao went out to fetch water every night, Xie’s mother knew why without even thinking.

“Alright, alright, I know you’re not like that. But that’s good. Before, Ah Xiao was so stubborn, I couldn’t imagine him getting married like this. On his wedding day, he looked at his wife with that look, ugh, it was so sticky,” Aunt Xie looked like she couldn’t bear to watch:

“You used to worry that Ah Xiao would be a bachelor, you really overthought it! But now, you can rest assured, your worries are gone.”

“But,” Aunt Xie thought of something and straightened her face, “Aying, I’m telling you, you can be good to them, but you can’t indulge them! You and your second brother can’t support them for a lifetime, they have to stand on their own two feet. Also, don’t let Ah Xiao’s wife become like your eldest son’s wife… that would be really not worth it.”

“Sister-in-law, I know. But I think Ah Xiao’s wife is a good one. Although she’s not as diligent and obedient as your Xiao Mei, she’s grateful and has been pretty good to me and her father-in-law so far,” Xie’s mother said.

“But how come I heard that she and Ah Xiao haven’t done any work these days?” Aunt Xie frowned, “The whole village is saying that they’ve been running to the county every day, leaving all the work in the fields to you and your second brother.”

Xie’s mother immediately laughed: “They do go to the county every day, but Ah Xiao and his wife aren’t doing nothing!”

“They’ve started a small business in the city, they can earn some money to support themselves! They’re just a little busy.”

“I came here today to ask if you and Guoqiang’s wife are free? If you are, come over and help. Ah Xiao and his wife said they won’t ask you to help for free, they’ll pay one yuan a day.”

Aunt Xie???

She was stunned, her mind couldn’t process it.

Ah Xiao and his wife weren’t working, they were doing business in the city and making money?

And then they were asking her and her daughter-in-law to work? And paying them?

“Aying, you’re not fooling me, are you?” Aunt Xie asked.

“Why would I fool you?” Xie’s mother’s expression was quite proud.

She knew about the rumors in the village these days. Before, everyone said that her Ah Xiao was useless. After he married Xiangyi, everyone said that Xiangyi was also lazy, and that they would have a hard time in the future.

Now Xie Qingxiao and Lin Xiangyi went out to do business, could support themselves, and earned a lot of money. If they told others, they would be shocked! She finally had her moment of triumph.

“Can you do business outside now? Isn’t it dangerous?” Aunt Xie asked anxiously.

“Yes, I heard that many people are doing business now,” Xie’s mother quickly told Aunt Xie what Xie Qingxiao and Lin Xiangyi had told them, and then briefly explained the braised meat that Xie Qingxiao and Lin Xiangyi were making.

Aunt Xie finally confirmed that Xie’s mother was telling the truth, and said, “Helping is fine, the fields aren’t very busy now, but forget about the money. What’s the relationship between our two families? Ah Xiao still calls me elder aunt…”

“Sister-in-law, don’t say that. If you come to help for a day or two and don’t take money, I won’t be polite. But I don’t know how long it will take, they’re willing to pay, so you should accept it,” Xie’s mother said, “Don’t say you, even me and his father, they have to pay us.”

“They’re paying you and your second brother?” Aunt Xie asked in surprise.

“Yes, I said no, but they said they were afraid that the eldest brother would think we were biased, so we thought about it and accepted it,” Xie’s mother said with a helpless tone, but the smile on her face couldn’t be hidden.

Aunt Xie sighed, she really believed what Xie’s mother said just now, Lin Xiangyi was indeed a good person.

She could think so thoughtfully, she must be a reasonable person.

“Alright, we’ve already had breakfast, you go back first, we’ll pack up and come over,” Aunt Xie agreed.

How could she not agree? Putting aside their relationship, one yuan a day, in the village, who wouldn’t fight for it?

She knew that Xie’s father and Xie’s mother were giving them this opportunity to make money because of their relationship.

“Okay,” Xie’s mother smiled, exchanged another twenty eggs with Aunt Xie, and then went home happily.

Aunt Xie was also a practical person, she immediately called her daughter-in-law, Su Xiao Mei, and told her about it.

Then she gathered everyone in the family, briefly arranged the work at home, and took Su Xiao Mei to Xie’s house.

At this time, Lin Xiangyi had just woken up and was brushing her teeth under the eaves. Xie’s mother had already told her that Aunt Xie and Su Xiao Mei would come over.

Seeing Aunt Xie and her daughter-in-law coming, she spat out the foam in her mouth and smiled, “Elder aunt, Xiao Mei, why did you come so soon?”