pjbooks Is Chapter 128 really necessary?
Is Chapter 128 really necessary?
"You're really shameless."
When Lin Baoya talked about how great her in-laws were, Qi Jiaojiao's face flushed. She didn't even have a boyfriend yet, and Lin Baoya was saying such things.
"I'm not thick-skinned. Those who always criticize other people's affairs are the ones who are thick-skinned. They don't know their own limitations."
In short, both the aunt and niece on the other side were on edge. However, Bao Ya only referred to Qi Jiaojiao; she didn't consider Lu Xuefen an outsider. At least in her daughter's home, she, as the mother-in-law, shouldn't be considered an outsider.
However, Lu Xuefen didn't think so. She felt that Bao Ya was indirectly criticizing her for meddling in her daughter's family affairs.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became even more tense.
Lu Xuefen couldn't stand it anymore. One word was unreliable, the other was shameless. If she continued, who knew what that brat would say next.
Even if she was worried about her daughter, she couldn't act superior in her son-in-law's house when her mother-in-law came. It would be awkward if others found out.
Lu Xuefen wanted to find an excuse to leave, but she felt suffocated. She couldn't swallow the insults she'd been given for so long by a country girl.
"Mother-in-law, this is my niece, Jiaojiao. Wanyun's belly is getting bigger every day, and I'm worried about leaving her alone at home, so I asked Jiaojiao to come and stay with her for a few days. What do you think..."
She knew Qi Jiaojiao was the type to stir up trouble out of thin air, and wanted to keep her around to cause trouble for the Jiang family. This would also save her daughter-in-law from giving her the cold shoulder whenever she saw Qi Jiaojiao.
"It's alright, Auntie, let her take care of your sister-in-law. We can stay at the guesthouse, it's close to the hospital, and we can make some nutritious food for my brother to help him recover."
Bao Ya thought Lu Xuefen's suggestion was excellent. If you can't get along, don't force it. You'll only see each other a few times in your life, so why bother?
Xu Wanyun has her family taking care of her, which is definitely much better than having a mother-in-law she's only met twice. Aren't those postpartum depression victims who jumped off buildings mostly cared for by their mothers-in-law during their postpartum period?
Bao Ya felt she was being too thoughtful, and pulled Liao Chunhua and Jiang Yuan to go to the guesthouse.
Jiang Cheng only paid himself a fixed salary with no bonuses. It was a good thing that he could take care of one less person.
Lu Xuefen was getting a little flustered. She only wanted to annoy them a bit, not to let them shirk their responsibilities. Why were they going along with it?
"No, in-law, that's not right. Besides, Jiaojiao won't be staying for more than a few days. Wanyun will still need your help in the future."
"this……"
Liao Chunhua, who had been silent, hesitated and looked at Bao Ya. She was at a loss for what to do, but she knew that her eldest daughter-in-law didn't like her, so she decided to listen to her younger daughter-in-law.
"It's alright, Auntie. We'll come back when you're no longer willing to take care of us. It won't be a problem."
What kind of talk is this? What does it mean to be unwilling to serve? Lu Xuefen never expected a country girl to speak so irritatingly.
Bao Ya just felt that the mental health of the new mother was the most important thing, and that her own family was closer to her. If she hadn't specifically asked for them, she would have tried not to come back and cause any trouble.
Before she could say anything more, Bao Ya had already pulled Jiang Yuan and Liao Chunhua out the door.
"Mother, why don't you go back with Bao Ya? I'll stay here and take care of my brother. I'll go back once he's better."
On the way, Jiang Yuan frowned and told Liao Chunhua that even if he was stupid, he could see that his sister-in-law and her family disliked his mother. He also felt some resentment towards his older brother.
"What can you do? When your sister-in-law goes into postpartum confinement, I'll have to come and take care of her. Since you're already here, how will people feel about your brother if I leave early? Why don't you take Baoya back, and I'll stay here by myself?"
Liao Chunhua sighed as she thought of her eldest daughter-in-law, thinking that after taking care of her during her postpartum period, she would try not to disturb their lives. As for her eldest son, she would just pretend that he had never been born.
"No, Mother, I'll stay with you. Once my eldest brother is better, my third brother will come to pick us up. I'm worried about leaving you here alone."
Bao Ya quickly stopped them, explaining that she had come out to work and that if she went back before even starting her job, Jiang Cheng would definitely not pay her.
It's too hard to find a job that pays 200 a month. I have to make it to a month and a day no matter what.
They returned to the guesthouse to rest for a while and inquired with the staff. They learned that the hospital could lend its kitchen to patients' families for one cent per visit. The three of them then went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought tomatoes, eggs, and noodles.
That evening, the three of them went to the hospital again. When Jiang Yuan opened the box of tomato and egg noodles, Jiang Tao couldn't help but drool when he smelled the sour aroma of tomatoes.
"What are you making?"
Upon smelling the aroma, Wang Xiao craned her neck to look in this direction. Having stayed in the ward all day without moving, she had no appetite for food, but the sour smell made her mouth water.
"Tomato and egg noodles: Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water, peel off the skin, chop the flesh, stir-fry it in a pot, add water and cook, then add the noodles, and finally sprinkle with beaten eggs."
When Bao Ya saw that Sister Wang was also there, she directly told her how to make it. It was simple to make and nutritious.
Fang Mingda watched Jiang Tao eat with relish, then looked at the egg noodles in his own lunchbox and instantly lost his appetite. Both had eggs and noodles, so why was there such a big difference just because of the lack of a tomato?
As she listened, Sister-in-law Wang took notes, and even told Wang Xiao that she would make this for him tomorrow as well.
The three of them didn't tell Jiang Tao about their family matters. After he finished eating, the three of them went to the hospital cafeteria for a meal and then returned to the guesthouse.
To everyone's surprise, the next morning, Xu Wanyun came to the guesthouse looking for them, insisting that they go home to stay.
Liao Chunhua felt that it was not good for her eldest daughter-in-law to stay in the guesthouse, so she went back with her.
Jiang Yuan is leaving tomorrow. Bao Ya will see him off before going back, since the young couple won't see each other for more than a month.
The next day, Bao Ya saw Jiang Yuan off and went to Jiang Tao's house, intending to have breakfast and then decide whether to go back to stay there. But as soon as she entered, she saw Liao Chunhua tidying up the bedding on the floor, and her mind went blank.
When she received Bao Ya's gaze, Xu Wanyun panicked for a moment. She hadn't expected Bao Ya to arrive so early, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Bao Ya's back. Haven't eaten yet?"
"Mother, what's with all this bedding on the floor? Is there not enough room on the bed?"
Bao Ya ignored her and went straight over to ask Liao Chunhua.
Jiang Tao's house has two bedrooms, both with double beds, and the child is staying at Xu Wanyun's parents' house. Bao Ya doesn't understand why Liao Chunhua has to sleep on the floor.
"My cousin isn't used to sleeping with strangers, and I'm a restless sleeper, so my aunt had to make do with sleeping on the floor. She said she didn't mind."
Qi Jiaojiao spoke nonchalantly, her schadenfreude undisguised, as if she were deliberately waiting to see them make a fool of themselves.
Bao Ya's gaze towards the two sisters grew increasingly cold. Just yesterday, she had thought Xu Wanyun was simply someone without her own opinions. Adding to this, the difference in their habits made her unwilling to get along with her mother-in-law from the countryside.
But even if you're unwilling, you still have to put on a show. There's no deep-seated hatred involved; is it really necessary to stand by and watch your mother-in-law be treated so badly by your cousin? What good will it do you?
"Baoya, it's okay. It doesn't matter where you sleep. It's just one night, it's no big deal."
Liao Chunhua knew her younger daughter-in-law's temper to some extent and didn't want them to have conflicts because of her two daughters-in-law.