Last night, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming didn’t go back to their own home, but stayed at her parents’ place. It was the first time for both of them to stay at her parents’ house—Xiaoxiao after traveling through time and Yang Ming as the new son-in-law.
"Yang Ming, what was that all about? At the dinner table just now, you kept calling them ’dad’ and ’mom’ so affectionately."
Xiaoxiao’s curiosity was piqued because she noticed that her dad wasn’t as averse to Yang Ming anymore. There must be something up with that.
"Oh, your dad said I’m a country bumpkin and I shouldn’t call them ’father-in-law’ and ’mother-in-law.’ I should call them ’dad’ and ’mom.’
When Xiaoxiao heard this, she slapped her thigh with laughter. Recalling Yang Ming’s manners, she found it hilarious. Her dad was too funny, "Exactly, when have I ever called your parents ’mother-in-law’ or ’father-in-law’ with such grand titles? Hahaha!"
The more Xiaoxiao talked, the more she laughed, "You with your all fancy and proper ’father-in-law’ and ’mother-in-law’! It sounds so awkward, hahaha."
"..." Is it that funny? Isn’t that how everyone addresses them? Why does it all change when it’s the wife’s family? Besides, it was also his first time having in-laws!
"My dad meant that calling them ’dad’ and ’mom’ would be more intimate."
While he was thinking, they heard a knock at the door.
"Daughter, son-in-law, are you two asleep yet?"
It turned out to be Xiaoxiao’s mother. Xiaoxiao immediately went to open the door, "Mom, no, what’s up? Is something the matter?"
"I need to have a word with your husband!"
"..." What’s going on here? Her dad just had a talk, and now her mom’s coming to chat. Xiaoxiao was utterly confused, "Yang Ming, my mom’s asking for you!"
Yang Ming didn’t expect his mother-in-law to come looking for him, and he was also perplexed. So, he stepped out. What on earth did his mother-in-law want to talk about?
Xiaoxiao’s mother didn’t really want to come over either, but hearing the loud noises from her daughter’s room, she was anxious. The heart of a mother ached.
It was all that damn old man’s fault for talking so long without addressing the important issues. Now she, a woman, had to bring up such a delicate topic. Just the thought of it was mortifying.
"Son-in-law, don’t take this the wrong way after I say this, but as a mother, I’m doing this for your own good."
"Sure, mom. Go ahead!"
"Xiaoxiao hasn’t reached the age of ’hairpinning’ at sixteen yet. Could you possibly..." [Out of necessity for the plot, let’s set the age at 16; please don’t delve too deeply, as after my research some places consider it 15, others 16.]
"She hasn’t even had her menstrual period yet!"
"..." Yang Ming hadn’t expected his mother-in-law to talk about this, and although she hadn’t said it outright, he understood, "Mm, I won’t touch her."
After Yang Ming returned to the room, he felt a bit down. Even if he wanted to touch her, his wife wouldn’t allow it, and now even his mother-in-law was intervening in this matter.
But maybe his mother-in-law was right. Xiaoxiao was yet to have her hairpinning ceremony, too young, and he had perhaps been too eager.
When Xiaoxiao saw Yang Ming come back, she could tell he seemed quite downcast. What had her mom said? He had been so upbeat after talking to her dad!
"Yang Ming, what did my mom want from you?"
"..." How should he answer that? His mother-in-law said she was not ready to be touched and he couldn’t tell her that. Oh right, her mom also mentioned her menstrual period!
"Mom said you haven’t had your period!"
"..." Geez, her mom is such a man’s man for being able to bring up such a topic! Even she felt embarrassed.
"Right, what is a ’period’?"
"Pfft!" Xiaoxiao was drinking water when she heard her bargain husband’s question and instantly sprayed it out!
Could her bargain husband be any more innocent? He’s so old and still clueless about this stuff. He’d even tried to make a move on her before, and she seriously doubted his ability.
The more Xiaoxiao thought about it, the more she figured her bargain husband probably really didn’t know. She chuckled with a ’heh heh’ and just couldn’t stop laughing.
"..." Is it really that funny? So, what exactly is a ’period’?