Xie Jinghao lay on the kang, her pain gradually subsiding after a long while. Still, as a mother, she couldn’t help but nervously watch her belly, fearing something might happen to her unborn child.

Nearby, Liu Sanjin continued her relentless scolding, her rough, dark hands clapping as she spoke.

“You’re just asking for trouble! Pregnant and instead of staying home to rest, you’re running around every day. When I was young, I worked in the fields while pregnant and was back out there two days after giving birth. But you? Doing nothing and still having pregnancy complications. I’ll say it—you’ve got no stamina because you don’t do enough work!”

She shot an annoyed glance at Xie Jinghao.

“Are you even listening? Stop sitting there like an idiot! Get off the kang and go home. Do you think you’re so special, lying here on your sister-in-law’s bed? Let me tell you, if something happens to this baby, I’ll make Jiasheng divorce you!”

Xie Jinghao stayed silent, enduring the tirade. Next to her, Lu Mingkai sat with Xiao Gang. Seeing his mother being scolded, the boy grabbed her hand and pressed it to his face, as if trying to comfort her.

The warm, gesture eased a bit of Xie Jinghao’s bitterness. She also felt lying on her sister-in-law’s bed for too long wasn’t appropriate, so she patted Xiao Gang and tried to move her legs to get down.

Just then, Shen Meng entered the room. Catching sight of Xie Jinghao getting up, her face darkened with anger.

“What are you doing? Get back on the kang! Do you still want this baby? You can’t be moving around right now!”

Her voice was sharp and scolding as she continued:

“Tomorrow, we’ll go to the county hospital and have a doctor check you thoroughly. You’re pregnant—don’t you know you shouldn’t lift heavy things or overwork yourself?”

Liu Sanjin’s face twisted.

“…Why are you looking at me like that? What do you mean by that, huh? Who are you pointing fingers at? Going to the hospital costs money. If you are willing to spend money, take her there.”

“Mother,” Shen Meng addressed Liu Sanjin, her tone sharp. “Let me make this clear. Jinghao isn’t carrying my child or grandchild, so why would I spend my money? The harm to her pregnancy was caused by Wu Xianglan. If Jinghao needs a doctor or nutritional supplements, Wu Xianglan should pay for it!

“And you know Jiahe’s temper. If he finds out about this, there’s going to be trouble between them.”

Liu Sanjin stood abruptly, pointing at Shen Meng with an angry tremble in her voice.

“So what are you saying? That I should pay? Well, let me tell you—I have no money! Not a single cent!”

hapter 44 Mommy is doing this for you
Chapter 44: Mom is doing this for you
Xie Jinghao lay on the kang, and the pain took a long time to ease. However, as a mother, she could not help being nervous. She stared at her belly, fearing that something might happen to the child.

Liu Sanjin was still chattering in her ears, and she clapped her rough, dark hands hard.

“You are asking for trouble. Why don’t you stay at home while you are pregnant? Why do you run here every day? When I was young, I went to work while I was pregnant, and I went to work the next day after giving birth. But you are different. You did nothing and even got a miscarriage. In my opinion, you didn’t do enough work. You are a worthless person, but you still treat others as precious.”

“Did you hear me? What are you standing there for? Get off the bed and go home. You think you are lucky to be lying on your sister-in-law’s bed. But I tell you, if anything happens to you during this pregnancy, I will let Jiasheng divorce you!”

Xie Jinghao listened to her without saying a word. Xiaogang, who was huddled together with Lu Mingkai, felt sorry for his mother. Seeing that she was being scolded by her grandmother, he reached out and took her hand and put it on his face.

The tender little hands seemed to be conveying strength, and Xie Jinghao felt a warmth in his heart.

She also felt that it was inappropriate to lie on her sister-in-law’s kang all the time, so she patted Xiaogang, moved her legs and was about to get off.

When Shen Meng came in, she had just gotten up from the ground, and Shen Meng was so angry that her face turned unhappy.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and get on the bed. Do you still want the child? You can’t move now, okay? Go to the county hospital tomorrow and let the doctor take a good look at you. You’re pregnant, but you don’t know how to be careful. Don’t you know that you can’t lift heavy objects or do heavy work?”

Liu Sanjin: “…”

Why are you looking at her when you talk? What’s the point of saying this? Who are you pointing at?
“Being pregnant is precious, and you still need to go to the hospital. Going to the hospital costs money. If you are willing to spend money, take her there. Even if you take her to eat dragon meat, no one will care.”

Shen Meng just pointed out her point. Not to mention that people have different physiques, even if you are in good health, you cannot do heavy work when you are pregnant. You will find out when you are old, and there will be a lot of problems. She herself used to be a daughter-in-law, and when she got old, she started to torture her daughter-in-law.

“Mom, what you said is not right. Jinghao is not pregnant with my child, not my grandson, so why should I spend money? Her problem of fetal movement causing harm to her body was caused by Wu Xianglan. Wu Xianglan must pay for Jinghao’s doctor’s treatment. Mom, you know Jiahe’s temper. If he finds out, they will have a big fight!”

Liu Sanjin stood up and pointed at Shen Meng and said, “What do you mean? You want me to pay, but I’m telling you, I don’t have any money. I don’t have a single cent.”

She was afraid that Shen Meng would ask her to pay, so she was about to leave.

“Mom, Jiasheng will be back in a few days. If Jinghao has any problems, the Lu family will be in turmoil. The Lu family has been making a big fuss lately and has become a joke in Lujia Village. How will you explain this to Dad later.”

Lu Changzhu is a very proud man. If he comes back and knows that there is one lively party after another in his home, Liu Sanjin will definitely have a hard time.

Liu Sanjin turned her head and looked at Shen Meng, gritting her teeth in anger. She fumbled with her waistband, yanked out a crumpled ten-yuan bill, and threw it to the ground with a glare.

“Don’t call me ‘Mother’ anymore! I don’t have the fortune to bear that title from you. I won’t set foot in your house again—next time I do, you might just kill me!”

With that, she stormed out of the courtyard.

Outside, Zhou Jiaojiao and Lu Jiaxuan had been waiting. Seeing her emerge in such a state, they rushed forward.

“Mother, how is Third Sister-in-law? Is she feeling better?”

“Mother, are you feeling cold? You’re shaking a little.”

Liu Sanjin felt a wave of sadness seeing her considerate son and daughter-in-law after being so agitated inside.

“Let’s go home,” she said. “I’m going to give Wu Xianglan a piece of my mind. That troublemaker has humiliated our family enough! If your elder brother finds out she bullied Mingyang and the others, there’ll be hell to pay for all of us!”

“Mother,” Lu Jiaxuan interjected quickly, “this mustn’t get out of hand. Even if Sister-in-law doesn’t write to Brother about it, Dr. Lu or someone else surely will. I’ve told you before—I want to work in the commune office, and only Brother can help make that happen. Don’t make him angry!”

Liu Sanjin sighed heavily, understanding the situation.

Even if she didn’t like Mingyang, Mingliang and Mingfang, she had always done it in private and had never openly. Shen Meng was right. The Lu family did gain a lot of benefits because of these three children, but people outside didn’t know about it. People outside just thought that the Lu family was using their own food to feed these three outsiders.

After talking so openly tonight, the Lu family has really lost all their face and dignity.

“Shen meng wants to take Jinghao to the county hospital and making Wu Xianglan pay. If Jiahe finds out, it’ll surely lead to a fight. He’s been out every day, busy with building that new house…”

Sighing, she glanced at Zhou Jiaojiao and added, “I gave ten yuan to Jinghao just now to settle the matter. Jiaxuan, your mother does all this for you. I wouldn’t part with that money otherwise. It hurt to give away ten yuan, but if you get that commune job, you’d better show your respect. Give your wages to me to manage, okay?”

Zhou Jiaojiao’s eyelids twitched at her words, heart aching for the ten yuan. But she knew the job was more important.

“Mother, don’t worry. Once Jiaxuan gets the job, his wages will be yours to manage. You’ve done so much for us.”

She buttered up Liu Sanjin with sweet words, even holding her hands tightly.

“Mother, you’re the best. No one’s ever treated me so kindly before. In the future, Jiaxuan and I will take good care of you. You won’t have to do anything.”

Pleased, Liu Sanjin smiled.

“Good, good. Work hard with Jiaxuan to give me a big, healthy grandson, and I’ll be the happiest mother alive!”

“Mother~” Zhou Jiaojiao blushed, giggling.

Lu Jiaxuan, seeing how well his mother and wife got along, felt deeply satisfied. If he secured the commune job, life would be much smoother.

Meanwhile, Shen Meng picked up the ten yuan and handed it to Xie Jinghao.

“Take it. If you’re still unwell tomorrow, we’ll go to the county hospital. If you feel better, we’ll just take a walk around and come back—this money will stay with you as your personal savings.”

Xie Jinghao quickly pushed the money back.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, I can’t take this. If I keep it, Mother will find and take it no matter where I hide it. Even if I stash it on the roof beam, she’ll sniff it out.”

Shen Meng thought for a moment and nodded.

“Fair enough. I’ll hold onto it for now. Even if she digs up the house, she won’t find it.”

Xie Jinghao looked at her gratefully.

“Well, I better go get my kitchen knife from the locust tree before someone steals it.”

Xie Jinghao: “…”

You’re so good to me. You even used a kitchen knife for my sake!