Aunt Chen quietly opened the door with a small bowl of noodles, seeing her asleep deeply. She sighed to herself, wondering what was going on. It’s already tough being pregnant, and yet she still roams around the streets.
She gently nudged Zhou Jiao, softly calling her: "Jiao Jiao, wake up, go sleep next door."
Zhou Jiao, groggily woken, saw Aunt Chen’s worried face and smiled apologetically: "I accidentally dozed off, what ti is it?"
"Not even half an hour," Aunt Chen replied, picking up the bowl. "Quickly eat a few bites and continue sleeping in your mom’s room."
Zhou Jiao shook her head, "I won’t be able to sleep at night. Is my mother-in-law chatting with them?"
The faint voices outside were indeed them chatting. Aunt Chen nodded, regretting waking the child, thinking she should have just covered her with a blanket.
"Your mother-in-law said I don’t need to prepare much tonight, what do you think?"
"Listen to her, she wants to train those two."
Aunt Chen lowered her eyes with disapproval. Training daughters-in-law to go to Beijing? That’s a joke, it’s more like going to a remote village. They’re making a fuss over nothing.
But she rembered her place; it wasn’t her turn to speak on this matter.
After Zhou Jiao finished speaking, she shook her head amusingly, "We just need to treat them courteously. Aunt, when you have ti, tell those two more about the courtyard’s happenings. Like how one family overnight beca prisoners, or another took sothing they shouldn’t have and talked out of turn, now living in so village."
Aunt Chen smiled knowingly.
"That’s exactly what my mother-in-law ans. She’s worried those two might cause trouble for Old Zhang’s family."
"No wonder... it seems your mother-in-law is quite sensible. Alright, I’ll handle it properly."
Seeing Aunt Chen happily exit the room, Zhou Jiao exhaled slowly. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that as the younger sister-in-law, she wasn’t suited to play the villain. It’s better to let soone else give the reminders and hope the two of them listen.
"Big sis, why aren’t you out shopping? It’s boring at ho. I’ve arranged things this morning and got two days off. I can keep you company shopping now."
"Work is important, don’t let it interfere with your duties..."
Hearing her mother’s voice outside, Zhou Jiao raised an eyebrow, stood up, and left the study.
Lin Lishan, upon seeing her daughter, hurriedly asked, "Are you hungry? Want to eat sothing first?" After saying this, she smiled at Mother Zhang, "The doctor says Jiao Jiao has a small appetite. For the baby’s sake, she should eat small als more often."
"Give Jiao Jiao more bone broth, make it thick and let her drink it like water. When she was pregnant with Ping’an, she loved it. Back in the days when there was nothing to eat, I drank bone broth during pregnancy too, and all three of my sons grew tall and strong. It wasn’t until Xiao Wu ntioned that bones are good for calcium that I realized it’s beneficial."
"Really?"
"Yes. Don’t let her eat too much at, if the baby gets too fat, Jiao Jiao will suffer during childbirth. We’ll nourish the baby well during the month of recovery. Back then, she didn’t rest well after childbirth, this ti we’ll make up for it, preventing ailnts when she’s older."
"That’s wonderful. Big sis, I really don’t know anything about this. You’ll have to teach over these two days."
"As long as you don’t mind my nagging. Little sis, I brought a lot of at bones, don’t worry if you run out. Xiao Mi is coming back from Beijing; I’ll have her bring so."
Lin Lishan quickly waved her hand, "No need to trouble yourself, we can buy at bones here. It’s too much hassle to owe favors in your hotown."
Mother Zhang smiled mysteriously, "Little sis, did you forget our old neighbors? The Wang family!"
"It’s better not to trouble others, we can’t find at, but we can definitely find at bones here. If you keep asking the Wang family for help, in the future, if they ask for a favor, it’ll be uncomfortable for you. Besides, handling all those bones is a huge task for a delicate girl like Xiao Mi."
Huang Xiaomi quickly chid in, "Aunt Shan, I don’t mind at all, I’d look for any excuse to co over for so good food."
"Nonsense, you’re welco anyti. Don’t listen to your big aunt. Carrying all those heavy bones will wear you out, especially in sumr. You’ve just transferred here; you need to get along with your colleagues first. Bringing too much can take up space and sll weird; they won’t be pleased."
Huang Xiaomi smiled gratefully. She could distinguish genuine words and didn’t expect her cousin’s mom to be so considerate.
"Do you have a boyfriend yet?"
Noticing her mom’s growing curiosity, Zhou Jiao tugged at her, "Mom, she’s a young lady; she’ll feel embarrassed."
Lin Lishan saw Huang Xiaomi’s flushed face and laughed heartily.
"Cousin, it’s fine. Aunt Shan, I don’t plan to marry yet."
Hearing this, Lin Lishan disapprovingly said, "A girl has only a few years to find soone good. When you get older, all the good n are taken. You can ask your big aunt about it."
Mother Zhang glared at her niece, agreeing, "Isn’t that the truth? Besides Xiaomi, there’s still Xia He at ho, these two girls are giving my two older sisters headaches."
"So, no boyfriend yet?"
Zhou Jiao smiled apologetically at Huang Xiaomi and tugged at Lin Lishan, "Mom, can you help find Ping’an’s red jacket?"
Lin Lishan, putting aside her curiosity, followed her pull and turned back to Mother Zhang, saying, "Big sis, you make yourself comfortable. I’ll change and co right back."
"Go on, I’ll wait for you."
"Take your ti, be careful in your condition. Which red jacket, the one with embroidered tiger or the colt? Where are Xiao Wu and Ping’an? I haven’t seen them."
Entering the bedroom, Zhou Jiao casually closed the door, "No idea, they were gone when I ca out. Mom, will taking leave cause issues?"
"No, I’m saving up vacation days for when you give birth."
Hearing this, Zhou Jiao felt reassured, sprawling on the bed, enjoying the comfort with her eyes closed.
"You must be exhausted, right? Did you pull in here for a reason?"
Zhou Jiao patted the bed, "Mom, lie down for a bit, we can go out later."
"Wouldn’t it be inappropriate with your mother-in-law here?"
"Aren’t you changing clothes?" Zhou Jiao turned over and whispered in her ear, "Mom, don’t play matchmaker, especially for Xiao Wu’s two cousins."
"Your mom’s not dumb."
"So you know why?"
"You cheeky girl, are you calling your mom dumb?"
Zhou Jiao chuckled softly, "I just find it troubleso."
"How could I not know? If they marry well, it’s no big deal, but if things don’t go smoothly, your mother-in-law would bla , I’d be crazy to get involved. Even if she begged , I’d refuse."
"That makes sense. But my mother-in-law wouldn’t make things difficult for you. I’m more worried about those two saying sothing and asking you for introductions."
"Don’t overthink it, leave it to mom. You focus on your pregnancy. Your dad already instructed last night. Such a small matter is no trouble for . They’re just sisters-in-law, not Xiao Wu’s parents."
Hearing this, Zhou Jiao wasn’t sure what her dad told her mom. But seeing her mom’s high spirits, she didn’t ask further. She understood her father well. At most, he’d ask her mom to be cautious and not too generous.
"You rest for a bit. I’ll call you for dinner. I’ll keep your mother-in-law company. Why did she bring her daughters-in-law here? I wanted to take her for a walk around the nearby city. Now that’s ruined."
Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but laugh silently. This was her mom!
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