Chapter 89 - 78: The Give and Take of Human Relations

The two sisters, Zhang Meili and Zhang Meihao of the Zhang family, had long finished the shower ceremony and were holding Little Ping’an, following Lin Lishan back to the west wing to find Zhou Jiao. Grinning, the outspoken elder sister Zhang Meili said to Zhou Jiao, "Jiao Jiao, how does it feel to miss out on the fun since you’re in confinement? Today Ping’an was wailing quite loudly, it’s a good sign." Zhou Jiao urged them to find seats, "Big sis, second sis, haven’t you eaten? Why don’t you eat before coming in? You’ve met my mom, right? I just told my mom you were all coming over today. What about the kids?" Laughing, Zhang Meili teased, "Earlier Xiao Wu told me that’s your mom, and I was taken aback. Auntie looks way too young and pretty, I almost called her grandma but couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I called her Auntie instead. Auntie, don’t blame us for being impolite. We’re here to spend some good time with Jiao Jiao this visit." Lin Lishan gently put Ping’an down on the furnace bed, turned around, and said with a smile, "I’m old? Still young? You two sisters are the pretty ones, looking just like your mother." Zhou Jiao secretly covered her mouth, "Mom, did Xi Zi come to see you today?" "He did, and I told him if his grandma agrees, he can tag along, but he has to behave, otherwise if he runs off, he could get lost and wouldn’t be found." Zhou Jiao laughed heartily and said to the Zhang Meili sisters, "Last night Xi Zi wanted to accompany my mom to the provincial city, so he sought his uncle for help. In the kitchen, he said something that left his uncle stumped. Here, let me mimic it for you, ’Uncle, you are okay with grandma driving alone? I see my aunt is worried, that’s not right. My uncle often says you have to make the mother-in-law at ease, so the wife is happy.’ ’I think your mother-in-law is way too young, about the same age as my mom, and very pretty. Grandma going out needs protection. It can’t be someone too old or too young.’ How was that? I almost laughed myself to death." Everyone burst into laughter, finding it very amusing. Lin Lishan picked up a diaper to put on the tray and said with a smile, "For those few words, I have to take him along, that kid is clever, he’s trying to get his uncle’s approval." The two Zhang sisters found it hilarious as well. "That kid understands how to talk circles around you, but taking him along is a hassle for Auntie, just ignore him." "It’s not a hassle; we’re just driving there anyway, and having such a little guy as company ensures it won’t be lonely. And also, you think he won’t think of other ways? That kid is smart." Just then, a group of children stormed in from outside, each calling out to them, gathering around the furnace bed to watch Ping’an and chattering away. The two pounds of candy bought that day were distributed, and Zhou Jiao didn’t have much else to give out, "Have you all had noodles yet?" "Little Aunt, we already ate, it was delicious, had meat." "Little Aunt, I ate too, I had three pieces of big meat. My mom said I can’t eat anymore, or my stomach will hurt." Zhang Meili hastily shouted for a halt amidst the jabbering, "You all take your time, didn’t you get some candy earlier as you left? How come you’re back in again? And those of you smaller ones, don’t jump around after seeing the baby on the bed. Why didn’t you greet grandma as you came in?" Zhang Ziwen glanced at his mom and awkwardly smiled, "Mom, I saw the baby’s grandma and thought she was about your age, didn’t know how to greet her?" "Haha, you silly boy, it’s all about the generations. Why does your nephew call you uncle even when he’s the same age as your dad? You should greet grandma now." The children together shouted "Grandma" loudly, making Lin Lishan laugh heartily; she quickly took a handful of paper currency from her pocket, "You’re all good kids, you all have candy, so grandma will give you money, one for each, save it to buy snacks." "No need, we have candy already." "Thank you grandma, we ate already, can’t take it." "Grandma, I already got the candy you gave, I can’t take more." Zhang Meili and Zhang Meihao quickly grabbed Lin Lishan’s hand, "Auntie, please don’t do this. Once the New Year comes and you give out red envelopes, they’ll definitely take it; right now, they won’t accept it, see, they’re all running off." Lin Lishan was helpless, she couldn’t possibly chase after them to give out money, and there were also lots of village kids outside who came. She thought she’d check in the provincial city later to see if there were things the kids might like. "Alright, no need to hold on to me, they all ran off, I’m not going out either." The three of them looked at the clothes sent over at the foot of the furnace bed and helped sort them out, organizing them tidily. Zhang Meili looked at a beautifully crocheted little sweater with blue and white threads intertwined into diamonds, a pattern she hadn’t seen before, "Jiao Jiao, who gave this? This sweater took a lot of effort." Zhou Jiao glanced at it, recognizing it at once, "It’s from my friend Zhao Yuanyuan, the daughter of Zhao Dashan, from the defense department. She and two other boys are close friends of ours; she couldn’t get off work this afternoon, so she hurriedly dropped it off and left." Zhang Meihao checked out several pairs of tiger head shoes, raising them up, "Look, the shoes are also exquisitely made; they probably come from her family too. There’s a wrapped leather one, inside with a set of cotton clothes and pants. Quite a hefty gift." Lin Lishan took a closer look, finding them indeed beautiful, "Yes, that’s definitely from Zhao Dashan’s family, right? Jiao Jiao, remember to stay in touch with their family." Zhou Jiao’ glanced at the sweater and the clothes, nodding," I know, Mom, during our wedding she gave quite generously too. She was my bridesmaid." Zhou Jiao thought for a moment and asked Zhang Meili, "Big sis, our great aunt sent a basket of eggs, clothes, and shoes over - heard from big sister-in-law she gave more than she did with the other kids before. Maybe you can mention it to mom, I bet she’s already left by now. Her family isn’t well-off, perhaps consider what gifts to give back." Zhang Meili stood up, "Alright, good thing you remembered, I’ll go right away. Great aunt is like that, she doesn’t want mom in a difficult position, and lately her family’s been doing better than before, hence she’s giving more." Zhang Meihao saw the mother and daughter somewhat puzzled, so she explained to them, "Great aunt, she doesn’t like taking advantage of others, years ago her family faced hardship, Xiao Wu once visited and brought back a big bag of grains over, afterwards during festivals, Xiao Wu always gifted wild chickens or rabbits. She’s grateful to Xiao Wu; otherwise, her elder daughter-in-law would come today." Zhou Jiao nodded and asked her, "I remember her family’s from the mountains; how did Xiao Wu manage to send wild chickens and rabbits?" Zhang Meihao was amused and helpless, "Do you think families in the mountains don’t lack wild game? That’s not true, it depends on the mountains and whether the family has anyone who can hunt. Isn’t it true that in grandpa’s family, only those two uncles were left? They weren’t allowed to go up the mountains for fear of danger. Now none of the children can hunt, like our eldest and second brothers, the best they can do is pick up what was left by luck on the outskirts." Xiao Wu was clever since childhood, hunting with grandpa and dad. Grandpa was an old hunter, nearly taught him all of his skills. Dad used to go up the mountains often too, now he doesn’t dare enter deep mountains. When he was young, dad and mom pampered him, not letting him go, but when he was gone for a while, they’d find him with a bunch of wild chickens and rabbits. The most impressive was the time with a sika deer, and since then dad made a deal with him that he could only stay at the Daqing Mountain’s foothills and not venture further. Otherwise, he was too daring. Didn’t he ever mention this in front of you?"