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Chapter 12: The Beautiful Daughter-in-law Meets Her Parents-in-law (2)
At that moment, Zhang Lanxiang was happily boiling water and preparing to kill a chicken.
Shi Qingqian felt it wasn’t good to just sit idle, but since she didn’t know how to do anything in the kitchen, she sat to the side to keep her company.
“You’ve had a long journey, go back to your room and rest,” Zhang Lanxiang said.
“Auntie, I’m not tired. Let me stay here and chat with you,” Shi Qingqian replied.
Zhang Lanxiang smiled. “Alright, let’s chat then. Our family isn’t unreasonable, it’s just the second daughter-in-law—sometimes she likes to take small advantages, but her heart isn’t bad. If she ever asks you for something, just ignore her.”
“The second son got married not long ago and was pushed into splitting off from the family. But that’s not a bad thing either—now everyone cooks and lives separately, without disturbing one another.”
Shi Qingqian smiled. “We’ll all be one family from now on. As long as it’s not excessive, I won’t mind.”
Her unspoken meaning was clear—if someone was excessive, she wouldn’t tolerate it.
Zhang Lanxiang understood perfectly, finding nothing wrong with it. In fact, she was relieved. Since her youngest son would often be away, if his wife had too soft a temper, she’d only suffer bullying. Even if she herself could help, her old bones wouldn’t last forever. A tougher temperament was better—and she was very satisfied with Shi Qingqian.
The two women continued chatting, the atmosphere becoming more and more harmonious.
Just then, Xu Huai’an returned home with his father and brothers. Shi Qingqian immediately stood up and greeted them politely:
“Hello, Uncle Xu. Hello, Big Brother, Second Brother.”
Xu’s father looked at her with growing satisfaction. “Good child, don’t be so formal. We’re all one family now.”
Xu Huaiguo and Xu Huaimin both nodded in agreement.
Seeing them back, Zhang Lanxiang quickly instructed:
“Oldest, second—you two go light the stove in the kitchen. Today you’ll both eat with us. Old man, go to Second Brother’s house and fetch the children, and tell Xu Wu and Xiu’er to come for dinner too.”
Before long, Li Guihua (the eldest daughter-in-law) also came home. The sight of Zhang Lanxiang slaughtering a chicken and steaming white rice only deepened her dissatisfaction. She muttered under her breath:
“Hmph, she’s just arrived and already being treated like treasure. Looks just like a fox spirit—who knows which wild man she’ll run off with in the future.”
“Shut your mouth,” Xu Huaiguo snapped the moment he heard her nonsense. “Today is Third Sister-in-law’s first time home. You’d better behave. If you upset Third Brother and his wife, you’ll see how I deal with you.”
“Xu Huaiguo! What did I even say? Now you want to ‘deal with me’? Go ahead—kill me! Once I’m dead, you can give Qimin and Qifan a stepmother. Isn’t that what you’ve been wanting all along?” Li Guihua’s voice grew louder, her own words feeding her indignation until she was practically shouting.
Hearing the commotion, Zhang Lanxiang stormed out of the kitchen, her face dark.
“What nonsense is this? One more word, and you can get out of this house!”
Li Guihua shrank back, intimidated, and didn’t dare speak further.
…
In the main hall, Shi Qingqian had heard every word between Xu Huaiguo and his wife. Clearly, she would have many future clashes with this eldest sister-in-law.
Seeing her silent, Xu Huai’an thought she was upset. He quickly reassured her:
“Qianqian, don’t worry. We’ve already split households. Aside from New Year or Father and Mother’s birthdays, there’s no need to gather often.”
Shi Qingqian looked at his tense expression and smiled.
“I’m not upset. I was just thinking… life ahead may not be too peaceful. But that’s alright. As long as we live well, everything else doesn’t matter.”
Xu Huai’an held her hand firmly.
“With me here, I won’t let you be wronged.”
She nodded, then asked,
“After splitting households, how do you take care of your parents?”
Xu Huai’an explained,
“After the split, Father and Mother live with the eldest brother. But they’re both still healthy. Since I’m not at home, I send them 10 yuan a month. Big Brother and Second Brother each give 5 yuan. When they’re older, they’ll live with us.”
Shi Qingqian nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a reasonable arrangement.”
Xu’s parents were not even forty yet. Barring accidents, they wouldn’t need care for at least another ten or twenty years. And in just a few years, once the reforms began, it would be easy enough to hire a few caretakers.
Soon, several children rushed noisily into the hall.
The Xu family’s grandchildren numbered five—three boys and two girls.
Xu Huaiguo and Li Guihua had two sons:
Xu Huaimin and Zhang Youdi had two daughters and a son:
Qimin, Qifan, Xiaofang, and Xiaohui all stared at Shi Qingqian with open curiosity.
Bold little Qimin asked, “Who are you?”
Shi Qingqian opened her mouth to reply, but Xu Huai’an cut in:
“This is your Third Aunt.”
Little Xiaohui peeked shyly from behind her sister, while Xiaofang clutched her hand. The girls were timid, just watching. One-year-old Qihang sat in Zhang Youdi’s arms, wide-eyed and observant.
“Go on, greet your Third Aunt,” Zhang Youdi urged.
The children obediently chorused, “Hello, Third Aunt.”
Shi Qingqian beamed. “Hello, dears. So well-behaved. Third Aunt has red envelopes for you.”
She took out the packets she had prepared in advance, handing one to each child.
“Little sister-in-law, you shouldn’t,” Zhang Youdi hurried to stop them.
Shi Qingqian waved it off. “Second Sister-in-law, it’s the first meeting. Just a small token, it’s fine.”
Still uneasy, Zhang Youdi said, “It feels so improper…”
But Zhang Lanxiang came over, smiling.
“Second daughter-in-law, since Qingqian prepared them, let the children keep them. It’s her heartfelt gesture.”
Only then did Zhang Youdi relent, telling the kids, “Go on, thank your Third Aunt.”
The children all chimed sweetly, “Thank you, Third Aunt.”
Looking at their adorable faces, Shi Qingqian turned to Xu Huai’an. In her past life, she had been too focused on freeloading at home, and while she’d had a few boyfriends, none lasted. She never married, never had children. But this time, perhaps she could put family life on the agenda.
Xu Huai’an felt her gaze and, for reasons he couldn’t explain, grew warm inside.
Zhang Lanxiang, watching the young couple’s interaction, felt gratified.
“Elder sister-in-law, I heard the third son brought back a new wife. Where is she? Let me see,” came a voice.
It was Second Aunt Zhang Xiu and Second Uncle Xu Wu.
Zhang Lanxiang quickly stood to greet them with a smile.
“Xiu’er, come in, come in. This is Huai’an’s wife—Qingqian. Qingqian, this is your Second Uncle and Second Aunt.”