Font Size:
Zhang Wanyou saw the wine his daughter had brought and his face lit up with more wrinkles. “My daughter is the best. She still remembers to buy me some wine. It’s hard for your family to still think of us. Your older sister isn’t as considerate as you. She’s always comparing herself to others and trying to come out on top.”
Geng Lianhua sighed. “Ah, our eldest daughter is meticulous in her life. But as long as they are doing well, we’re fine with it.”
Zhang, the old man, grumbled, “Being meticulous depends on the situation. She’s been like this for so many years, and I haven’t seen her bring a few bottles of wine. Ah, my daughter is the best. Our Qianqian is the best. She even knows how to make wine for her grandpa. My granddaughter is the best.”
This was the first time Wang Qian had heard her grandfather complain about her aunt’s stinginess in front of them. It seemed that Zhang Hua was indeed stingy.
So, in a very flattering manner, she asked her young uncle to bring her to Zhang Wanyou and used her little hand to touch the old man’s face. “Grandpa, don’t be angry. Getting angry can make you age faster. Aunt has always been like this. You should be the bigger person. When I earn money, I’ll buy you some wine and delicious food.”
When people grow old, whether they are male or female, they are still children at heart, and sometimes their personalities are not much different from those of children. With Wang Qian’s coaxing, Zhang Wanyou was particularly happy and laughed heartily. “Listen to this, I’m so blessed. My granddaughter hasn’t even grown up yet, and she’s already talking about buying me wine. Qianqian is the best. Come here, grandpa will give you a hug.”
The next day, the worms in her stomach were indeed eliminated. It was hard to imagine that such long worms had grown in her small body.
Early in the morning, the four adults went to the seaside to catch the early tide. Unlike in summer, some places were already freezing in winter. They were reluctant to take Wang Qian with them, so they left her at home alone to watch the house.
It’s not a good sign when there’s no one watching the house. Wang Qian’s long-unseen aunt came to the door. “Hey, Qianqian is here. Where are your mom and them? Why isn’t anyone home?”
Zhou Ping glanced around. Wang Qian didn’t have a good impression of her aunt. Although they had little interaction, her first impression wasn’t favorable.
“Aunt, Grandma and them have gone to the seaside. Do you need anything?” Zhou Ping withdrew her gaze and said, “Nothing, I heard you guys came over, so I came to see. But your mom, she’s something. It’s almost New Year’s, and she’s still hanging around her parents’ house. But considering your family’s situation, it’s understandable. Without doing so, you wouldn’t be able to get through the New Year.” Zhou Ping treated Wang Qian as if she were a seven-year-old who didn’t understand anything. The mocking tone irritated the pseudo-child Wang Qian. However, it was almost New Year’s at her maternal grandparents’ house, and she couldn’t upset the elderly.
In a cold tone, she replied, “Aunt, I understand what you mean. I’ll convey it to the adults verbatim when they return. Also, I have a saying for you: ‘Wealth and poverty are not permanent. Things change over time. Remembr, no one can predict what will happen.'” After saying this, she stared directly at Zhou Ping’s eyes. She didn’t believe that her aunt could remain composed after hearing this.
As expected, Zhou Ping looked incredulous. She never dreamed that a seven-year-old child could understand her words. Moreover, the child’s rebuttal left her speechless, and the look in her eyes made her feel a chill down her spine. It wasn’t the gaze of a child; it was cold and even carried a hint of warning. She wasn’t sure if she had misunderstood, but when she looked at Wang Qian again, her eyes had returned to a calm and serene state.
Today, Zhou Ping came over to take advantage, wanting to see what good things her little sister-in-law brought for her mother-in-law. However, after searching around, she didn’t find anything, which made her feel dissatisfied with Zhang Lan and her family. However, Wang Qian’s response made her feel that her words were inappropriate.
She quickly put on a fake smile, but Wang Qian could see through it. “Qianqian, your aunt misspoke just now. She’s probably still unwell from a cold or fever, talking nonsense. You don’t need to learn from adults. I’ll leave now.”
Zhou Ping almost fled. Today, she had witnessed the power of her little sister-in-law’s daughter. This girl was not to be trifled with. She needed to be more careful with her words in the future. She had hoped to gain some benefits from the two old ghosts. It was too early to offend these people.
As the annoying aunt left, Wang Qian felt a bit tired. Couldn’t people live without scheming? She retreated into the warmth of the kang bed, her mind filled with all sorts of chaotic thoughts. She didn’t even notice when Zhang Lan and the others returned.
“What are you daydreaming about, little girl?” Grandpa Zhang Wanyou climbed onto the kang and gently tapped her nose.
The group, who had been outside in the cold for a while, came in to warm up. Wang Qian looked up and said, “Grandma, just now Aunt came over and looked around your house. I guess she didn’t find anything good and said some sour words to me, but I saw her off.”
Although she didn’t want to stir up conflict between the mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law, there were some things that needed to be said to let her grandparents know what was going on.
Geng Lianhua chuckled and said, “Qianqian, don’t pay her any mind. She’s just used to taking advantage. I’ve hidden away the things you brought, so she won’t get any advantage. I’m not foolish. I can let her take some advantage, but there are limits. I still have your young uncle, who isn’t married yet. I’m not going to focus on them. I have my eldest son, your mother, and if all else fails, I have you. I’ve seen through those people and can’t rely on them. When you have money in the future, you can take care of me in my old age.”
The old lady was half-joking, but Wang Qian responded seriously, “Grandma, you and grandpa should live well. When I grow up, I’ll definitely take care of you in your old age. If my young uncle doesn’t take care of you, I’ll grab a kitchen knife and go to their house to seek revenge for you.”
The first half of her statement was serious, but the latter made even Zhang Weiguo unable to hold back his laughter. “Little girl, don’t worry. I won’t give you that chance. I’ll definitely take care of my own parents.”
Zhang Lan hugged Zhang Weiguo’s shoulder. “Little brother, I love hearing you say that. Don’t be like your older brother in the future.”
Zhang Lan didn’t say anything about Zhang Weiguo’s family, and everyone understood. “By the way, Lan’er, you and the kids should pack up and head back soon. I won’t keep you for lunch. You have a lot to take care of at home. You and Qianqian should get ready. I’ll pack some things for you.”
Today, they didn’t have much to bring back, so packing up was quick. Zhang Lan wrapped them both up tightly and discreetly slipped ten yuan to the old lady, insisting that she buy something nice for herself. After much refusal, Geng Lianhua finally accepted.
As they set off on the journey back home, even though everything was stored in the space, the road was truly cold, with the chilling wind cutting through to the bone.
“Mom, why don’t you go into the space to take shelter for a while? I’ll walk with you for a bit, or else we’ll both be cold,” Zhang Lan suggested.
However, Zhang Lan firmly disagreed. She couldn’t let her daughter walk alone in the wilderness. If Wang Qian went into the space, she wouldn’t be able to leave her mother behind. In the end, they both entered the space to take shelter from the cold, then continued on their way. They finally made it back home around noon after a rushed and slow journey.
When Mingyuan and the others saw Zhang Lan’s figure in the yard, they all cheered and rushed out. “Mom, why were you gone for so long? We missed you.”
The little ones pouted and complained, and Zhang Lan put down what she was carrying and picked up her son. “Mingyuan missed Mom. It’s Mom’s fault for being delayed by something.”
When Wang Zhenhe and the others saw the mother and daughter return, they quickly came out to help with the things. Wang Zhenhe picked up the shivering Wang Qian and hurriedly ran into the house, taking off her shoes and tucking her into the warm kang bed.
“Sweetie, are you feeling better?”
Wang Qian was truly chilled to the bone and took a while to warm up. “Dad, it’s really cold outside. You almost couldn’t see your daughter.”
After walking the mountain road, Wang Qian finally realized the hardships faced by Zhang Weiguo. In such cold weather, he steadfastly made regular visits. At this moment, she felt grateful and admired her young uncle.
“Sweetie, you shoudn’t go out next time. If you get sick from the cold, where will I find such a good daughter?” W said.
Wang Zhenhe vigorously rubbed her small feet.
“Dad, have you all been doing well at home these past few days?”
At this point, Zuo He also climbed onto the kang and sat beside her. “Little sister Qianqian, we’ve been doing well, but we’ve missed you.”
Accustomed to being together, the sudden absence of one of them made the group feel incomplete.
The return of the mother and daughter brought liveliness back to the home. The siblings, who had been a bit listless these past few days, regained their energy, and the house was once again filled with the laughter of children.
Hao Lianchun couldn’t help but remark, “Lan’er, this child really can’t do without her mother. You didn’t see how unhappy the siblings were these past two days. Even Zuo He couldn’t find joy. It’s heartbreaking to see.”
“Mom, give the deworming toffees you bought to my siblings right away,” Wang Qian remembered this matter while on the kang. The issue of children having worms in their stomachs couldn’t be delayed. It needed to be addressed promptly to avoid affecting their nutrient absorption.
Zhang Lan quickly distributed the toffees she had in her pocket to the siblings. Mingyuan simply ate it like candy, while Zuo He just held it in his mouth. “Qianqian, why aren’t you eating?” he asked.
Everyone had taken their share except for Wang Qian. Zuo He found it strange. ” I’ve finished mine. The worms in my stomach have been eliminated, so I don’t need to eat anymore. We’ll have it again in the spring to ensure there are no more worms in our stomachs.”