"Cooking?" Xu Chunyan was stunned. Xiao You couldn’t even bathe himself and sotis needed her to feed him. The idea of Xiao You learning to cook seed like a complete fantasy to her.
"That’s right, cooking. First, teach him how to cook, then teach him how to look after his little sister. Once he’s learned, have Jing San bring Xiao Duo back over. He and his wife don’t have ti to look after her, so Xiao You can help. Besides, Xiao Duo will be starting school soon. She’ll be in class during the day, and Xiao You can watch her when school lets out. He won’t have to watch her anymore once Jing San and his wife are off work." Grandpa laid out the plan perfectly clearly.
Xu Chunyan was terrified. ’Have Xiao You take care of Xiao Duo? Is that even possible? It would be a miracle if Xiao You didn’t bully her.’
When Grandpa saw that Xu Chunyan was silent, he just went on, "If you’re not saying anything, I’ll take that as a yes."
"Haha..." Xu Chunyan gave an awkward laugh. She didn’t argue with Grandpa, mainly because she didn’t dare.
When Mr. Xie saw his mother walk toward Jie Jingchen and his wife’s room, he was startled and rushed to stop her, but Jie You called out to him.
"Grandpa, I don’t know how to write this word," Jie You said, holding his notebook and tugging on Mr. Xie’s hand, wheedling. "Grandpa, please write it for ."
"Xiao You, be a good boy. Grandpa’s busy. Go ask your granny to teach you," Mr. Xie said, patting Xiao You’s head.
"No! I want Grandpa to teach !" Jie You latched onto Mr. Xie’s leg.
Mr. Xie could only watch helplessly as his mother entered the room belonging to Jie Jingchen and his wife. It was too late to stop her. ’Oh well,’ he thought, ’I’ll just have to wait and see what happens.’
"Dad, what’s going on?" Jie Jingjue asked, erging from the kitchen after washing the dishes.
Mr. Xie was in no mood to talk to him now. He handed Jie You over to him. "Help Xiao You with his howork."
"Dad, you can’t be serious," Jie Jingjue said, looking at Mr. Xie in horror.
"Do I look like I’m joking?" Mr. Xie asked, his expression stern.
Jie Jingjue cried out in misery. "Dad, my second sister-in-law is the teacher! You want to help Xiao You with his howork? You really give too much credit."
"You can’t even help an elentary schooler? What are you going to do when you get married and have kids of your own? How will you help them with schoolwork when they’re older?" Mr. Xie aid a kick at Jie Jingjue, but he dodged it.
"My kids’ mother can help them," Jie Jingjue said with confidence.
Mr. Xie was livid. "And what if your kids’ mother is illiterate?"
"Would I marry an illiterate woman? Do you think I’m crazy?" Jie Jingjue glanced at Jie You, who was still clinging to his father’s leg. He’d rather live next to Jing San and his wife than his second brother and sister-in-law, all because of this little demon.
"You never know what life will throw at you. Don’t be so absolute," Mr. Xie said, glaring at Jie Jingjue.
"Dad, was there anything else?" Jie Jingjue asked. When Mr. Xie didn’t answer, Jie Jingjue beat a hasty retreat.
"Grandpa, I don’t want Fifth Uncle to teach ! I want you to teach !" Jie You whined, squirming his chubby little body.
"All right, all right. Grandpa will teach you," Mr. Xie conceded with a sigh, leading Jie You toward the main hall.
Qin i sat by the window while Jie Jingchen leaned against the doorfra, his arms crossed. They both watched the old woman sitting on the edge of their bed. Her wrinkled hands road over the bedding, touching this and that without a word.
Qin i didn’t understand what Granny was doing, but Jie Jingchen knew perfectly well. ’The more Qin i finds her dirty, the more Granny will go out of her way to annoy her.’
"Granny, have you had your fill of touching things?" Jie Jingchen asked with a sigh.
Granny didn’t answer or even look at Jie Jingchen. Her gaze was fixed provocatively on Qin i. As if just touching wasn’t enough, she gave the pillow Qin i slept on a firm squeeze.
Qin i t Granny’s provocative stare, finding it completely baffling.
"You two chat. I’m going to the bathroom," Qin i said, getting up and heading for the toilet.
"Jing Si, look at this! Look at the kind of wife you married! She thinks I’m dirty! She acts like I’m dirty right in front of you. Who knows how she scorns behind your back." Granny sounded deeply hurt. ’She can look down on for anything else, but she can’t say I’m dirty.’
’How am I dirty?’
’I bathe often, wash my hands and feet constantly, and my clothes are always clean. Among all the other elderly folks, I’m practically the cleanest one. And yet, Qin i dares to act like I’m dirty.’
’Has Qin i ever even seen an old person who’s actually filthy?’
"Granny, are you trying to make things difficult for her, or for yourself?" Jie Jingchen asked.
He had been secretly watching Qin i’s expression. Ever since Granny ca in, she hadn’t shown a trace of disgust—only resignation. And it wasn’t just Qin i who felt resigned; he felt the sa way watching his grandmother barge in.
’Forget whether or not Qin i actually thinks Granny is dirty. Even if she does, so what? Granny is *his* grandmother, not Qin i’s. He can’t even bring himself to like her, so how could he possibly force Qin i to?’
’It’s normal to feel disgusted by people you don’t like. Besides, Granny really does have a certain sll about her.’
"She thinks I’m dirty! Well, the more she disdains , the more trouble I’ll make for her! She likes washing bedsheets? Fine, I’ll give her more than enough to wash. I won’t just make her wash the sheets, I’ll make her wash the pillows and the comforter too!" Granny bellowed.
"Granny, have you considered that since I’m ho, she’ll just ask to do the washing?" Jie Jingchen pointed out. ’And if Qin i asks to wash them, can I really say no?’
Granny was stunned. She pointed a trembling finger at Jie Jingchen. "You... Your wife finds dirty, and not only do you not reprimand her, you’re encouraging this behavior! Jing Si, tell the truth. Do you also think I’m dirty? Is that why you won’t let and Grandpa stay in the room next to yours?"
Jie Jingchen raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose. A thoughtful glint flashed in his cool eyes. "Granny," he asked, "if I say yes, will you and Grandpa go ho?"
"Hmph!" Granny snorted resolutely. "We will not."
’Jie Jingchen admitting he found her dirty didn’t even make her angry. Compared to that, Qin i’s behavior was far more hurtful.’
’The more they disdain , the more I’ll make their lives miserable.’
"Granny, stop making trouble. I’ll help you back to your room." Jie Jingchen had no more energy to deal with his grandmother. He knew exactly how difficult she could be; Qin i had already fled to the bathroom to escape.
’A month isn’t a long ti, but it’s not short, either. With Granny around stirring up trouble, it’ll be impossible to have any peace.’
’Aunt Zhang wasn’t even a blood relative, and she still managed to turn the house upside down. A blood-related grandmother would be even worse. Aunt Zhang and Granny weren’t even in the sa league.’
’Go back to my room? Not a chance. I haven’t caused nearly enough trouble yet.’
Granny waved her hand dismissively and kicked off her shoes. "Tonight, you can go sleep with your grandpa. I’ll sleep with your wife. It’ll be a perfect chance for you to bond with your grandpa, and for to bond with my granddaughter-in-law."
Jie Jingchen’s expression turned thunderous. His hands clenched into tight fists as he stared at Granny with a nacing gaze.
A triumphant look spread across Granny’s face. This grandson was always roasting her without rcy, shutting her down and making her lose face. Now, finally, she felt a sweet rush of vindication.
"ACHOO!" Granny sneezed, then crudely wiped her nose.
Jie Jingchen gave up on the idea of a verbal assault. He took a deep breath, turned his head, and yelled, "Mom!"
Hearing Jie Jingchen call for his mother, the color drained from Granny’s face. This was her daughter-in-law’s courtyard, not her own turf, so she wasn’t on solid ground. Despite her domineering claims that this courtyard belonged to the Jie Family, she knew deep down that trying to take over her daughter-in-law’s property was indefensible and would only earn her contempt.
"What are you calling your mother for?" Granny demanded, sitting bolt upright and glaring at Jie Jingchen. ’This grandson of hers has even less Wude than she does.’
’Her eldest son, Mr. Xie, cherished his wife, Qiao Yanqiu. He had defied her countless tis for Qiao Yanqiu’s sake, to the point that she didn’t dare make things difficult for that daughter-in-law of hers.’
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