Lady Zhou is a very shrewd old woman. According to common sense, such a person shouldn’t say bad things about soone’s mother in front of their daughter, especially when the mother and daughter have a good relationship. However, Lady Zhou cannot be judged by common sense.
This is also one of Lady Zhou’s common tactics.
In front of Da Niuniu, she disparages Lady Chiang. But her real intent is to belittle Lady Chiang so that Da Niuniu’s loyalty lies only with her, just like how Lian Yaya trusts her now.
"Did you just say this one thing?" Lady Chiang asked Da Niuniu again.
"She was badmouthing you, and I got angry. I told her she was talking behind people’s backs." Da Niuniu pursed her lips before speaking again.
So, this was what Lady Zhou considered defiant. If it had been any other old woman, even if they were displeased, they would have just given a few remarks and moved on. But Lady Zhou was no ordinary old woman. Lady Zhou’s temper is only subdued in front of Lian Shouxin’s family, so how could she tolerate Da Niuniu saying such things to her?
Lady Chiang sighed deeply, gently stroking Da Niuniu’s head.
"Niuniu, haven’t I told you before? Just listen to what she says and nod if she asks you sothing. Don’t say anything unless asked, and tell afterward." Lady Chiang said softly to Da Niuniu.
"Mom, she said those things about you, and I got angry and couldn’t hold it in." Da Niuniu whispered.
Da Niuniu is wiser and more sensible than other kids her age, but no matter how wise and sensible, she is still a child and can’t be as composed and restrained as an adult.
A child’s instinct to protect their mother is innate.
Lady Chiang felt both gratified and pained hearing Da Niuniu’s words. She was gratified that Da Niuniu dared to defend her even in front of Lady Zhou. But it pained her that, as a mother, she couldn’t protect her daughter.
"Niuniu, next ti sothing like this happens, if you don’t want to listen, find an excuse to leave and don’t say anything against her." Lady Chiang taught Da Niuniu in a low voice again.
"Mom..." Da Niuniu looked up at Lady Chiang.
"Who’s right or wrong is not up to us to argue. It’s not worth getting scolded by her, understand? Haven’t I told you this several tis before? If we can appease her, we do; if not, we avoid her." Lady Chiang said.
"Mom," Da Niuniu snuggled into Lady Chiang’s embrace, "do we have to live like this forever? Other grandmothers aren’t like this... My great-aunt never scolds Er Ya Gu and treats her very well."
Lady Chiang just patted Da Niuniu’s back to comfort her, saying things will get better in the future.
"Mom, my grandmother doesn’t like ." Da Niuniu whispered to Lady Chiang, "Sotis she thinks I don’t see it, but she glares at fiercely. She’s not like that to Yaya Gu. She even sneaks good food to Yaya Gu and scolds behind my back."
"Niuniu, you still have ." Lady Chiang could only hold Da Niuniu for comfort, "our days will get better in the future."
"Mom, you always say ’in the future,’ but when will ’the future’ actually co?" Da Niuniu asked.
Lady Chiang was speechless.
Perhaps tired from crying and lulled by Lady Chiang, Da Niuniu yawned and soon dozed off. Seeing Da Niuniu asleep, Lady Chiang’s face darkened, her eyes turning cold.
She knew Lady Zhou didn’t like Da Niuniu because Da Niuniu was smart and close to her, unlike Lian Yaya, who believed whatever Lady Zhou said and almost forgot her own parents.
Da Niuniu is not only smart but also not very afraid of Lady Zhou. In this family, others dare not defy Lady Zhou, but Da Niuniu speaks freely, often displeasing Lady Zhou. When she was present, she could help nd things, but when she wasn’t, Da Niuniu would suffer.
After suffering, she would still have to apologize to Lady Zhou afterward.
Over ti, no matter how much she comforts her, how could Da Niuniu remain unaffected? Would her child always have to grow up in such an environnt, unable to tell right from wrong, only timidly obeying others, and would she have to live a life of compromise and humiliation?
No, that won’t do. Lady Chiang thought, she doesn’t want to live like this forever, and she doesn’t want such a life to ruin Da Niuniu.
Lian Yaya, and the other children’s images — Lian Zhizhi, Lian Manman, and Lian Yeye — flickered in Lady Chiang’s mind. No, she must not let her child grow up like that.
Even if her child isn’t of noble birth, she is still her treasure, not to be degraded into a little slave or servant.
But what could she do about Lady Zhou? Given Lady Zhou’s robust health and energy, living to a ripe old age seed almost a certainty.
Lady Chiang lowered her head, sinking into thought.
After a while, Lady Chiang gently placed the sleeping Da Niuniu at the edge of the kang, fetched a thin quilt to cover her, then tidied her clothes before leaving the room.
When she reached the east room, Lady Chiang was all smiles again, as if nothing unpleasant had happened before.
"Grandmother, I see it’s getting late. Why don’t we start cooking so we can rest earlier in the evening?" Lady Chiang said to Lady Zhou.
Lady Zhou looked up, glanced out the window, and nodded to Lady Chiang.
"Wash the rice and prepare the al." Eating and resting early was precisely to Lady Zhou’s liking.
...
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