Chapter 16 A Father-in-Law’s Growing Affection

“Dad, Big Brother, Second Brother, where are you going?”

Zhou Yubai, carrying Shen Chuning, had just reached the entrance of the Shen family’s courtyard when he saw Shen Qingsong, Shen Zhengxu, and Shen Zhengliang hurrying out.

The three men saw Shen Chuning being carried by Zhou Yubai.

After a moment of surprise, they became anxious.

“Ningning, what happened?”

“Where are you hurt?”

Seeing her father and brothers’ worried expressions, Shen Chuning felt a sweet sense of happiness.

“Dad, Big Brother, Second Brother, I’m fine, I just got a few blisters on my feet. Brother Yubai took me to the clinic.”

The Shen family’s father and sons breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Yubai carried Shen Chuning directly into the house.

After putting her down, he handed the medicine to Shen Qingsong, “Uncle Shen, this is Chuning’s medicine.  She needs to drink Huoxiang Zhengqi Water again tonight, but not tomorrow.  The hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and Yunnan Baiyao are for her feet.”

Zhou Yubai carefully explained to Shen Qingsong how to treat Shen Chuning’s foot wounds.

He especially emphasized that the gauze stuck to the skin must be soaked with hydrogen peroxide before being removed, not pulled directly.

Shen Chuning tried several times to say that she was old enough to handle her minor foot injury, but she couldn’t interrupt.

“Okay, okay.” Father Shen repeatedly agreed, his eyes full of satisfaction as he looked at Zhou Yubai.

People say that a mother-in-law’s affection for her son-in-law grows with time.

Now, this father-in-law felt the same way.

He had always worried that after he was gone and his three sons had their own families, no one would take care of Ningning, and she would suffer.

Now, with such a caring son-in-law, even if he passed away someday, he wouldn’t worry.

After Zhou Yubai left, Shen Zhengliang looked at the things in the room and asked in surprise, “Ningning, did you buy all these things yourself?

Did you ride the bicycle back?”

“Ningning can ride a bicycle now, Ningning is amazing!”

Before Shen Chuning could speak, Shen Zhengxu praised her unreservedly, as if comforting a child.

Shen Chuning felt embarrassed and explained how she had walked to town, got blisters halfway, and Zhou Yubai had helped her the rest of the way.

The Shen family’s father and sons once again expressed their satisfaction with Zhou Yubai.

Shen Qingsong stood up, “Eldest, Second, you two stay home and take care of your sister. I’ll go to Tan Mujiang’s place to see how your sister’s dowry is coming along.

I need to urge Tan Mujiang to hurry up. Your sister’s wedding is urgent.  We should take as much dowry as possible, we can’t let the Zhou family look down on your sister.”

Shen Qingsong said, happily going out.

Shen Chuning took the fabric from her purchases and gave it to Shen Zhengxu, “Big Brother, this is the fabric I bought for you, Second Brother, and Dad. Take it to Auntie He and have her make new clothes for each of you.”

Auntie He lived next door and was one of the few families in the village with a sewing machine.

Villagers who needed new clothes either made them themselves or asked Auntie He for help.

Auntie He charged ten eggs for a garment.

Shen Chuning asked Big Brother to go to Auntie He’s place for another important reason: in her dream, Auntie He’s daughter, He Hui, ended up marrying her eldest brother.

He Hui was a good comrade, a good wife, and a good sister-in-law.

Everything that happened in the dream was her fault!

Thinking of that dream, Shen Chuning’s eyes dimmed.

Shen Zhengxu took the fabric, feeling touched but also reproaching, “Ningning, I have plenty of clothes, you just need to buy for Dad and Second Brother. Why waste money buying for Big Brother?”

Shen Chuning knew Big Brother would say this, so she pushed him, “Big Brother, just go quickly.  Do you want me to limp around?”

Shen Zhengxu said helplessly, “Alright, alright, Big Brother will go.”

Shen Zhengliang came out of the kitchen with a bowl of egg custard, carefully scooping it with a spoon and blowing it to the right temperature before feeding it to Shen Chuning, “Ningning, come, eat some egg custard, replenish your strength.”

“If you want to buy anything in the future, tell Second Brother, Second Brother will buy it for you.  You’re so frail, why did you think of walking to town by yourself? If it weren’t for Zhou Yubai…”

Hearing her brother’s nagging, Shen Chuning felt a warm current in her heart, but she couldn’t help but laugh, “Second Brother, stop nagging, you’re more verbose than Dad.”

Shen Zhengliang gave her a helpless but doting glare, poking her forehead, “You, you.”

Shen Chuning hugged her brother’s arm, “Second Brother, I don’t just want to buy things myself, I want you to take me to the free market!”

She told Shen Zhengliang about not buying enough cotton at the supply and marketing cooperative.

Before Shen Zhengliang could refuse, she clung to his arm, “Second Brother, I’m getting married soon. If I don’t even know how to buy things after marriage, even if Brother Yubai doesn’t say anything, my mother-in-law will dislike me.”

Hearing this, Shen Zhengliang felt a little melancholy.

His cherished sister was getting married, and she would belong to another family.

He touched Shen Chuning’s hair, “Okay, Second Brother will take you to the free market to buy cotton, but you have to promise Second Brother that you absolutely cannot go to the free market alone, understand?”

“Rest assured, Second Brother, I promise to keep my promise!” Shen Chuning playfully saluted.

On the other side, at the Zhou family’s house.

Sun Fengjiao, after washing her clothes, approached Xia Yue’e, who was drying vegetables, “Yue’e, did you hear?  The third son took Shen family’s girl to town today.

Wow, that bicycle was loaded, and they even brought back a brand-new bicycle.  We married into the Zhou family, why is the difference so big?”

Xia Yue’e glanced at her sister-in-law, “Big Sister-in-law, do you feel wronged? If you feel wronged, go complain to Mother! Or complain to Big Brother, ask Big Brother to buy you a cart of things, a bicycle!”

Xia Yue’e had complained to her mother-in-law about Shen Chuning’s dowry and had been scolded.

Her mother-in-law even threatened to divide the family.

If the family really split because of her, wouldn’t Zhou Lao’er kill her?

Sun Fengjiao, having been rebuked by her sister-in-law, felt embarrassed and mumbled, “Hey, hey, you’re so anxious. I just told you, I didn’t say I would go to Mother. Why are you so anxious?”

Next door, Lin Shulan hurried into Zhou Yubai’s small courtyard.

“Third son, I heard you went to town with Shen family’s girl to buy things today?”