After Cheng Su sent the old man to the guesthouse to rest and returned ho, she felt the atmosphere was a bit subtle, especially with her mother-in-law, whose face was so unpleasant that Cheng Su suspected she might have swallowed a fly.
But she couldn’t worry too much, the ti for the banquet was near, and she still had to organize things at the restaurant.
"... I’ll feed Xiao Qi first and then go to the restaurant to prepare. You, Elder Sister, can bring everyone over later!" Cheng Su said, taking Qi Xiaoqi from her mother’s arms.
Qi Fenglian naturally agreed.
"I’ll pack a bag and take it over too." Mother Cheng followed her daughter into the room and closed the door.
"What’s going on? My mother-in-law’s face seems quite ugly?" Cheng Su asked as her mother busied herself.
Mother Cheng picked up the backpack Cheng Su had prepared for taking the child out and stuffed a couple of small clothes inside. She sat down and, in a low voice, mimicked what Sister-in-law Song had said.
"... It’s just not right. You know Xiao Qi’s temperant; since he was born, when has he ever made trouble for you or ? All the neighbors praise him for being obedient and easy to handle. He rarely cries, but today, you see, as soon as he gets in your mother-in-law’s hands, he cries miserably. This afternoon’s crying spells in this month of confinent combined don’t even match today’s. Don’t dismiss Sister-in-law Song’s foul mouth, but so children really can see unclean things!" Mother Cheng said reverently, "Do you think it’s possible..."
"Mom! Things like that don’t happen, stop saying that!" Cheng Su, surprised, quickly stopped her, saying, "I guess it’s just the ointnt sll on her leg that the child doesn’t like!"
Mother Cheng murmured, "I don’t think so. Didn’t they say your mother-in-law was crushed by the old lady when the accident happened?"
Won in the countryside are very superstitious and scrupulous about these things, so Mother Cheng was convinced that Sister-in-law Song was telling the truth.
Listening, Cheng Su felt even more displeased, saying, "Mom, let’s not talk like that, none of it’s true."
Mother Cheng pouted, "Fine, then we won’t say it, anyway, the child knows what’s what." She mumbled for a while and then busied herself collecting the bottle and other things.
After she left, Cheng Su looked at her son and asked, "What’s the matter with you, really? Did you see sothing bad like your grandma said?"
Qi Xiaoqi stared back at her, his eyes bright and innocent.
Seeing this expression, Cheng Su’s heart softened, she couldn’t help but pinch his chubby little cheek, and said, "It’s about enough, don’t let your dad feel bad, she is his mother after all. Your grandma’s leg ended up like this because she suffered while trying to take care of us."
It’s not that she’s generous, but she rembers this kindness.
Qi Xiaoqi babbled, reaching for her hair, giggling loudly.
Cheng Su laughed too, saying, "But son, I’m really quite pleased, you’re standing up for your mom, it wasn’t in vain that I walked through Ghost Gate to give birth to you, suffering all the pain, you know how to care for your mom!"
Whether Qi Xiaoqi understood or not, he just laughed.
Cheng Su patted his forehead, feeling deeply satisfied; having a son, this little creature connected to her by flesh and blood, perhaps now she wanted nothing more, even if she didn’t get along with her mother-in-law or whether the relationship may lead to divorce.
That’s probably how Hualing felt back then, having a child and everything else didn’t matter, she understood now.
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