With school starting and Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the mooncakes from the Joy Soon Loy Restaurant were already selling like hotcakes. Cheng Su also began sending out holiday gifts to maintain relationships in various places. For distant places like the Capital and Guangcheng, she had to send them via the post office.
As her business grew, so did her network of connections, and Cheng Su received quite a few holiday gifts herself.
She discussed with Mother Cheng about how to send gifts to their hometown and whether to invite her father to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival together, as he was alone there, and it seemed too lonely. This year, Cheng Zhi and her third uncle also said they wouldn’t be able to e home for the festival.
"Who spends the festival at their daughter’s place? It’s inappropriate. If you invite your dad here, then what about your in-laws? They’re also back home without any children by their side," Mother Cheng scolded.
Cheng Su couldn’t stand such talk about not being able to celebrate at her daughter’s house and said, "What’s wrong with celebrating at your daughter’s house? Are daughters not your children too? Let me tell you, you can’t have this kind of mindset. A daughter is also like a son; she’s your child too, and you should be able to celebrate wherever you want. Besides, you’re helping me take care of Xiao Qi, so celebrating here is normal." She pulled Qi Xiaoqi over and asked, "Xiao Qi, don’t you agree?"
Qi Xiaoqi was flipping through a ic book. Hearing this, he looked up and nodded, "Yes."
Mother Cheng found it amusing, hugged him, and kissed him, saying with a laugh, "How old are you, little one, to know what’s right or wrong?"
It was indeed surprising; after turning a year old, Qi Xiaoqi seemed particularly smart and could speak more fluently. Now, he could even form sentences to express his desires.
Qi Xiaoqi hugged her arm and said in his childish voice, "Grandma spends the festival at home... not going back to the hometown."
"Oh my, you even know about going back home, my little darling." Mother Cheng’s heart melted. Hugging him, she couldn’t bear to let go, as who could refuse such a sweet child, especially one she had raised herself?
"See, even Xiao Qi wants you to stay at home for the festival. So, it’s settled," Cheng Su said. "As for my in-laws, we can invite them over too. Anyway, we’re free now, and it will be lively."
Mother Cheng hesitated and said, "I still don’t think it’s quite appropriate." After thinking it over, she proposed, "How about this: Invite your in-laws over for the festival, and with Xiao Qi here for a while, I’ll go back home to spend the festival with your dad and also to pay respects to the gods, as it’s been a while since I’ve done that."
"Mom, isn’t that just a hassle? Why not just celebrate here? Who could say anything?" Cheng Su was unhappy.
"You silly girl, do you understand? I’m only thinking of you. Don’t you think people might say you’ve married but only care about your own family and only invite your side of the family to your home for the festival? How does that make your in-laws feel?" Mother Cheng tapped her.
Cheng Su said, "Mom, I’m your own daughter, so it’s normal for me to be close to you. Besides, I did say I’d invite my in-laws too, didn’t I? You insist on going back home for the festival and letting them e here. You usually help me with Xiao Qi, can’t you even celebrate a festival?"
"It’s not that we can’t, it’s just a bit unfortable. Especially your mother-in-law, she’s someone who thinks too much. Even now, when I’m looking after Xiao Qi, she’s probably not very happy, if not for her bad leg. Wouldn’t she be peting with me to take care of Xiao Qi?" Mother Cheng said, "Instead of letting people talk behind our backs, it’s better to be sensible so that everyone gets along well."
Cheng Su rolled her eyes and said, "So you know her leg is bad and she can’t help me. Mom, stop arguing with me. I’ll go and call Dad to have them e over."
Mother Cheng wanted to say something, but Qi Xiaoqi had already jumped in, calling "Grandma" in a sweet, coaxing manner, and the mother and son cooperatively played their parts in perfect harmony.
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