Chapter 76 - 76 76 Inducing Labor

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Inducing Labor Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Inducing Labor Zhou Shuhuan was seen carrying a bundle of clothes on his left hand, but the other hand was empty, not to mention high-grade tobacco, liquor, or sweets; he didn’t even have a single pack of noodles.

Visiting one’s in-laws during the New Year and showing up empty-handed could really make people laugh their heads off.

Moreover, besides Qin Jinlian and Liu Cuihua, there were also quite a few villagers who had heard about the city son-in-law’s return to Shenjiagou and had come over to watch the excitement.

Dozens of eyes were watching the scene unfold.

In terms of appearance alone, Pei Yang had already won by a large margin, and his manners were so meticulous that no one could find fault with them.

In contrast, Zhou Shuhuan fell short in every aspect, even lacking the most basic manners.

The people of Shenjiagou were quietly shaking their heads at the son-in-law from the Liu Cuihua family.

Liu Cuihua’s face couldn’t look any uglier, while Zhou Shuhuan was so embarrassed he didn’t know where to put his hands or feet.

To be fair to Zhou Shuhuan, he hadn’t planned on visiting his in-laws, but Shen Baolan insisted on coming back, and he had accompanied her out of concern, originally with good intentions.

But Ma Sufen hated her daughter-in-law Shen Baolan to the bone and hoped to drive her out of the house, naturally not preparing any gifts for her return visit.

And since the financial reins of the Zhou family were held by Ma Sufen, Zhou Shuhuan’s meager funds were barely enough for travel expenses, let alone to buy some fruits.

Pei Yang was a man of honor, ready to stand up for his brothers in times of trouble.

“Shuhuan, don’t just stand there, take your stuff.

I’ve been carrying it all the way for you.”

With that, he shared half of the tobacco, liquor, and sweets he was carrying.

He had prepared these items for good luck, all in even numbers, which gave him a chance to act generously on the spur of the moment.

Zhou Shuhuan also quickly caught on and took the items from Pei Yang’s hands.

“Brother Yang, thanks for the trouble.”

“What’s there to thank me for?

If it’s inconvenient for you to take care of your wife, of course, I should lend a hand.”

Seeing the items in Zhou Shuhuan’s hands, Liu Cuihua’s expression eased up considerably, but Qin Jinlian wasn’t pleased.

As if she couldn’t tell that her son-in-law was covering for Liu Cuihua’s son-in-law.

“Oh, how coincidental, the items your son-in-law bought are exactly the same as those bought by my Pei Yang.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that Pei Yang bought them for him.”

This time Shen Baolan didn’t play dead and jumped right in, “Auntie Qin, Pei Yang and Shuhuan grew up together wearing the same pair of open-crotch trousers.

They share blessings and troubles alike, so what’s the big deal in helping to buy some things?”

Pei Yang, not wanting Zhou Shuhuan to lose face, also chimed in, “That’s right, Shuhuan and I are as close as brothers, even sharing a bowl to eat at times.”

Qin Jinlian couldn’t swallow her pride and wanted to say more, but Shen Mingzhu had run out of patience.

“If you have something to say, can’t you talk about it at home?

I’m nearly frozen to death.”

Pei Yang also quickly said, “Mom, let’s go back first.

Mingzhu is feeling unwell from the car ride.”

Only then did Qin Jinlian, reluctantly, take her family of three back home, casting a harsh glance at Liu Cuihua before leaving.

Liu Cuihua, not to be outdone, rolled her eyes in return and also called for Shen Baolan and her husband to head home.

The villagers of Shenjiagou dispersed to their respective homes, chatting and judging the two sons-in-law as they went.

Although Qin Jinlian was unhappy, her displeasure was directed at Liu Cuihua; she was still quite fond of her city son-in-law, Pei Yang.

As soon as she entered the house, she called someone out to tend to Pei Yang, and also fetched an old hen from the chicken coop to make a special meal for him.

A large pot of chicken stewed with taro roots, along with leftover fried fish, meatballs and tofu from the New Year, managed to make a fairly sumptuous spread.

The Shen family treated Pei Yang, the city son-in-law, like an honored guest, immediately opening the bottles of wine he had brought, with Shen Jianguo and his two sons accompanying Pei Yang for a drink.

Qin Jinlian kept piling dishes onto Pei Yang’s bowl, stacking it as high as a small hill.

The two sisters-in-law warmly entertained Shen Mingzhu and Pei Ziheng, but Mingzhu didn’t have much of an appetite, and given that the dishes were quite ordinary, she only ate a few bites and then stopped.

It was the same with Ziheng.

Having lived in the city since he was young, and used to delicate foods, he found rural life quite hard to adapt to.

Eldest sister-in-law Du Juan, who had experience with childbirth, noticed that Ziheng was not used to the coarse grains of the countryside and suggested to Shen Mingzhu, “We have eggs at home.

How about I go make an egg custard for Ziheng?”

Mingzhu turned her head to ask Ziheng if he would like some.

Ziheng nodded.

So, Du Juan got up and went to the kitchen.

The smile on Qin Jinlian’s face across the table faded slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

After the meal, Shen Jianguo and his two sons sat with Pei Yang on the heated brick bed to drink tea.

When the effects of alcohol had mostly worn off, they took Pei Yang outside.

An urban son-in-law doesn’t come home often, and it was important to show him off to the villagers, a chance to boast.

Qin Jinlian and the two sisters-in-law cleaned up the pots and pans while Mingzhu had Ziheng play with Daya.

She then slipped into the room of her eldest brother and sister-in-law to rest.

She didn’t want to sleep in her brother and sister-in-law’s room, but her own had been taken.

As for why she didn’t rest in the second brother and sister-in-law’s room, firstly she wasn’t familiar with them, and secondly, she still harbored resentment about her room being occupied.

Rural homes had heated brick beds that were incredibly warm, and Mingzhu quickly fell into a deep sleep.

That was until Qin Jinlian woke her up—

“Don’t bother me, let me sleep,”

Mingzhu murmured irritably, turning over to continue sleeping, but Jinlian was not so easily dismissed.

“Stop sleeping, get up.

I have something to ask you.”

Mingzhu, with her eyes still closed, didn’t want to pay attention, but Jinlian went on to say, “What about the cigarettes, alcohol, and sweets that the son-in-law gave to Liu Cuihua’s son-in-law?

Just given away like that?”

With her eyes closed, Mingzhu replied, “The items were bought by Pei Yang.

He can give them to whomever he wants.”

“Easy for you to say.

Originally, those things were brought for our family.

Pei Yang was generous enough to give them away, but when they came into mine and your dad’s hands, there was so little.

If the son-in-law brings so little on his first visit, the village will certainly gossip!”

There would be no more sleep for her now.

Mingzhu simply sat up cross-legged, “If that’s how it is, next time I won’t bring Pei Yang back.

If we bring too much, it pains his heart; if we bring too little, you’re unhappy.

We might as well not come back at all.

That way, everyone’s happy.”

Jinlian raised her hand and slapped her lightly, “You ungrateful girl, siding with outsiders after only half a year of marriage?

I really raised you for nothing!”

Mingzhu snorted coldly, “When you were collecting the betrothal gifts, you didn’t say you raised me for nothing, did you?”

Jinlian choked for a moment, her eyes glancing at Mingzhu’s flat belly, “Baolan’s belly is already so big, why are there no signs from you yet?”

Mingzhu thought to herself, Pei Yang and I have only held hands; if there were any stirrings in my belly, that would be truly extraordinary.

Unaware of her thoughts, Jinlian kept babbling, “You need to hurry up while you’re young and it’s easier to give birth.

Only the child from your own belly is truly yours.

No matter how much love you pour into others’ children, they won’t be as close.

Don’t be foolish…”

“Whether I have children or not is my own business, so mind yours.

If you’re so anxious to hold a baby, either urge my second brother and his wife or just have another one yourself.

Have two or three, it’s none of my concern…”

Outside the door, Pei Ziheng listened to the conversation inside with an expressionless face, his dark eyes shrouded by a cold frost.