Chapter 10

The Lin Family’s Old House

After returning home, Zhang Qinfang’s heart was pounding. She wondered how her mother-in-law would scold her for instigating the two children.

With the whole family present, if her mother-in-law scolded her in front of them, what face would she have left? Those two children were really something else.

She did it all for their own good, yet they immediately went and told their mother. It serves them right if they’re not liked by their own mother, given how stingy she is with her sons.

Such a mother is better off replaced. But they were quick to turn around and tell their mother what she said.

Zhang Qinfang contemplated and concluded that when her mother-in-law returned, she would inevitably get a scolding, but being scolded was nothing compared to losing face.

So, she dared not face her mother-in-law and pretended to feel unwell, retreating to bed.

Qian Aifen had followed Zhang Qinfang back home, so naturally, she overheard Zhang Qinfang’s excuse of feeling unwell. She rolled her eyes at this, then approached Lin Guofeng and whispered in his ear, “When we arrived at Third Sister-in-law’s house just now…”

She recounted what she had heard. “Now, I reckon Third Sister-in-law is afraid of Mother-in-law and has hidden away in her room under the pretense of feeling unwell.”

The men of the Lin family were generally uninvolved in family matters and tended to keep to themselves, known for their honesty.

In the Lin family’s old house, household affairs were mostly decided by Lin Mother. Even though the family hadn’t formally split yet, their individual households were still under Mother-in-law’s jurisdiction, including Lin Guofeng’s.

Hearing Qian Aifen’s words, he sighed helplessly, “You women always find trouble. Everything was going fine, but you just had to stir up some drama.”

“I didn’t stir up anything,” Qian Aifen retorted. “I’m not stupid. Regardless of how Third Sister-in-law is, Third Brother is the most promising one in our Lin family.

I have to show some respect to Third Sister-in-law for the sake of family dignity. In the future, if our children need Third Brother’s help, it’ll be easier to ask for it.” Her thoughts were clear as day.

A little personal loss meant nothing compared to their children’s futures. Besides, she hadn’t really lost anything. Even though her in-laws lived with them, their income was used to subsidize the children’s meals, so they were benefiting from the situation.

Therefore, her mother-in-law often took care of the third branch and bringing their children to the old house for meals wasn’t a big deal.

Furthermore, if they have a falling out with their third sister, how can they ask for help from their third brother in the future? You know, the third sister and the third brother are like peas in a pod.

Would the third brother help them and not his own family?

Lin Guofeng said, “My third brother isn’t someone who’s easily swayed. If in the future, the kids need his help, and if I swallow my pride and ask for his help, he’ll definitely lend a hand if he can.”

Listening to her own husband speak so confidently, Qian Aifen didn’t agree.

She saw the men in the Lin family as easily influenced, even her father-in-law was silent, letting her mother-in-law decide everything.

And then her own husband, everything in their small family was her call. Looking at Lin Guoliang, the second brother, who was also taciturn, could Lin Guodong be an exception?

Qian Aifen didn’t say much to her husband; anyway, she had her own way of doing things.

“Where’s Zhang Qinfang… where’s Zhang Qinfang?”

Lin’s mother came in angrily. Seeing the whole family in the yard, she didn’t see the second daughter-in-law at first glance.

She immediately looked at Lin Guoliang and asked, “Where’s your wife?”

Lin Guoliang didn’t know why his mother was angry. She had just returned from the third son’s house, so it must be that the third daughter-in-law had angered her again.

“She said she wasn’t feeling well and was lying down in the room.”

Upon hearing this, Lin’s mother gave a cold smile. “I saw her looking fine just now. How come she’s suddenly not feeling well? Since she’s unwell, there’s no need to eat lunch. Eating plain food like this won’t make her feel any better.” So, she’s not feeling well, huh? She wanted to see how long she could endure.

With that, she took two apples and two zongzi into the kitchen and neatly locked them in the cupboard.

The whole family looked at the things in her hands, all eagerly watching.

The youngest, Lin Hai, had the biggest sweet tooth. Seeing something delicious, he couldn’t resist saying, “Grandma, what’s that? I want to eat.” As he spoke, he even licked his lips.

Lin’s mother said impatiently, “Didn’t the steamed sweet potatoes satisfy your appetite just now? These are given to me and your grandfather by your third aunt as filial piety, and you’re not included.” She said it firmly enough for everyone in the house to hear.

It was a way for everyone to know that her kindness towards the third family wasn’t without reciprocation, even if this reciprocation might only happen once, even if it happened because the third daughter-in-law was scared by the second daughter-in-law’s words.

Lin’s mother was still happy about it.

Given by the third daughter-in-law? Lin’s father was curious when he saw his wife coming back with apples and small zongzi, but no matter how curious he was, he didn’t dare to think it was given by the third daughter-in-law, as her pockets were always one-way.

So, when he heard his wife’s words, his surprise was evident in his eyes.

Qian Aifen patted her son’s head. “It’s time for lunch. Eat well and then go play with your siblings. They’re waiting for you.”

Lin Hai was only curious because he saw his grandmother had something delicious. He hadn’t eaten this before, even if he had eaten zongzi before, he had forgotten the taste.

So, he didn’t insist on eating it when his mother spoke. However, as soon as he heard his mother’s words, he said again, “This morning, I played eagle catching chicks with Yi Bao and Er Bao. Yi Bao is so clumsy; he played the mother hen, and many of us chicks were caught by the eagle. Later, some people didn’t want Yi Bao to be the eagle anymore, and Er Bao and Yi Bao quarreled with Zhuang Xiaopang. Zhuang Xiaopang said he eats eggs every day, and Yi Bao and Er Bao don’t get to eat. Yi Bao and Er Bao said they eat meat and drink meat soup. Mom, I also want to eat meat, drink meat soup, and eat eggs.”

Qian Aifen couldn’t promise her son this. She wasn’t in charge yet, and eating meat, drinking soup, and eating eggs weren’t decisions she could make.

However, Lin’s mother, upon hearing her grandson’s words, said, “It’s almost the end of the month, when we harvest in autumn. We’ll fry a few more eggs then, and everyone can have some.” As for meat, forget about it; there were no meat coupons.

Speaking of meat, she remembered today’s visit to the third family, where there were several dumplings in the two precious bowls.

Looking at them, the third daughter-in-law finally acted like a real mother.

The Lin family’s lunch was finished quickly. After eating, a few girls cleaned the table and washed the dishes, while Qian Aifen secretly took her youngest son out.

Zhang Qinfang’s stomach growled with hunger, but she didn’t dare to go out. When Lin Guoliang entered the room, she quickly said, “Head of the family, I’m hungry. Could you please bring my food in?”

Lin Guoliang sighed, “Do you still have any food? There’s nothing left in the pot.”

“What? Then what am I going to eat for lunch? Why didn’t you leave me any?” Zhang Qinfang was unhappy, and her voice couldn’t help but raise.

Why shouldn’t she be allowed to have lunch? She worked hard when she went to work.

Lin Guoliang doubted, “Did you make our mother angry? I noticed she asked about you as soon as she returned from the third family.

When she heard you were sick and lying in bed, she didn’t say anything about calling the barefoot doctor for you.

Instead, she said plain food isn’t suitable for sick people to eat. Something doesn’t seem right to me.”

Zhang Qinfang felt a bit guilty, but she gritted her teeth and didn’t admit it. “What? I made Mom angry? How could I provoke her when I’m sick? Mom must have been angered by the third daughter-in-law at the third family.”

Lin Guoliang thought it was possible, but then he felt it didn’t add up. “But that’s not possible. When Mom came back from the third family, she brought two apples and two zongzi. If the third daughter-in-law made Mom angry, why would she give Mom food? Mom even said it was the third daughter-in-law’s filial piety towards her and Dad. I saw how happy she was; she definitely didn’t get angry at the third family.”

Seeing her husband’s logical analysis, Zhang Qinfang pretended not to listen, “Stop muttering. Hurry up and bring me a sweet potato. I’m starving.”

“All the food in the house is locked up by Mom. Where can I get sweet potatoes from?” Lin Guoliang was also helpless.

Zhang Qinfang’s eyes lit up, “Then go dig some sweet potatoes from our own plot. It’s about time for the sweet potato harvest.” The more she talked, the more reasonable it sounded. She added, “Dig a few extra to keep at home. When we’re not full, we can fill our stomachs with them.” Why hadn’t she thought of this before?

“Well…” Lin Guoliang hesitated.

“What’s this all about? Just dig a few more sweet potatoes. We have three acres of our own land; are you afraid it will be dug out?” Zhang Qinfang was annoyed. “Even if I can endure hunger, our son might get hungry too.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll go dig,” Lin Guoliang agreed. He thought that digging a few sweet potatoes wasn’t a big deal.

Meanwhile, Lin’s father and mother were also discussing today’s events, actually, it was Lin’s mother who was talking, and Lin’s father was listening.

“…How could the second daughter-in-law say such things?” Lin’s mother recounted how Zhang Qinfang instigated the children to change mothers. “It’s fortunate that the third daughter-in-law told me directly instead of causing a scene here. If she had caused a scene, our family’s reputation would have been ruined.”

Before Lin’s father could speak, Lin’s mother continued, “But this incident probably scared the third daughter-in-law too. She gave each of the three kids a bowl of dumplings for lunch.”

When she went, one of the bowls for the third child was already empty, but it was clear it was meant for the third child. “I noticed there was quite a lot of dumplings in each bowl.

When I went, there were still five or six in each bowl for the first and second child, so she must have given around ten dumplings in total. Not only did she give dumplings to the three kids, but she also gave me apples and zongzi.

This is truly a first in five years. You know what she said at the time? She said I’ve always been fair, and I don’t take advantage of you, Mom, taking care of the children is also hard work for you, so take this to avoid any unpleasant words from the second sister-in-law in the future.

Oh my, I really wanted to say at the time, she’s a fair person? Isn’t that a joke?”

“Well, it’s good if the scare from the second daughter-in-law worked,” Lin’s father commented.

“Indeed, it’s good,” Lin’s mother agreed. “But we don’t know how long this goodness will last. It would be a shame if it went back to how it was in a couple of days.”

Lin’s father added, “Who knows?” He didn’t like talking about his daughter-in-law’s affairs.

“However, even if the third daughter-in-law was scared by the second daughter-in-law’s words, the second daughter-in-law still needs to be disciplined. Can she say such things to the children? After all, she’s their aunt.” Lin’s mother regretted her past actions. She shouldn’t have favored Zhang Qinfang for the sake of convenience. Truly, cheap goods are never good.

The elderly couple continued discussing the matter, unaware that their second son, under the influence of their second daughter-in-law, was “stealing” sweet potatoes from their own land!