There weren’t many relatives leaving from Grandma’s house, except for the elder uncle, second uncle, and people from mother-in-law’s side. Xiao Wan had visited her parents’ home the day before yesterday, so on the sixteenth of August, she went to the market early in the morning and bought a lot of groceries.
By around ten o’clock, mother-in-law Shen Qing came with her youngest son Hu Dong. According to Grandma, mother-in-law had two children. Last time they met, Hu Lijuan, the elder daughter, was sixteen and in her third year of high school. The youngest son, Hu Dong, was already fourteen and about to start high school. He greeted Lin Wan shyly as Saozi and then fell silent.
After mother-in-law arrived, she chatted with Grandma for a while and then went into the kitchen.
Lin Wan saw her come in and quickly stopped what she was doing, calling out "Mom."
Shen Qing still showed little expression and replied, "What are you planning to cook?"
"Mom, I can manage on my own. You should go chat with Grandma."
"It’s no trouble. Let me help you chop the vegetables. Your second aunt will be here soon."
In fact, not much was prepared. Since it was hot, Lin Wan mostly prepared cold dishes.
"How are you getting along with Xiao Yi?"
Shen Qing’s sudden question nearly caught Lin Wan off guard. "Quite well. He’s very considerate."
Mother-in-law usually maintained a detached attitude as if things didn’t concern her. No matter what was happening, she did her own thing and ignored what others said, often speaking softly.
Shen Qing nodded slightly with her head down and softly replied, "Hmm." Her hands never stopped moving the knife. "He’s been sensible since he was young. If there’s anything, you young couple should discuss it well and live a good life. He’s someone you can rely on."
A rare bit of advising, which never happened in the previous life. Thinking back, during Mid-Autumn last time, she returned from school but hid in her room. Grandma and mother-in-law handled the meals.
Later, after the elder aunt arrived, she often took the opportunity to criticize subtly, saying Lin Wan was lazy, even calling her a burden to Han Yi. She said Grandma had to serve one person after another, speaking really harshly.
For all this, Lin Wan often blamed Han Yi. Mother-in-law also lost face because of it.
Around eleven o’clock, second aunt arrived with Shen Jie. Second uncle was busy with a case and couldn’t rest even during the holiday. Shen Jie was nineteen, had graduated high school, and was already working, seemingly at a newspaper. Shen Jie had an older brother, who was twenty-two and working out of town.
At elder uncle’s house, besides Shen Rong, there was an elder brother who worked at a textile factory and had married two years earlier. His wife also worked at the textile factory.
The elder uncle’s family arrived just in time for the meal. In fact, although his house was the closest to Grandma’s, they were the latest to arrive. Lin Wan well understood why the elder aunt came, wasn’t it to slack off and just eat a ready-made meal?
The elder uncle and aunt came with Shen Rong, while the eldest son Shen Boxu and his wife went to the mother-in-law’s house.
"Xiao Wan has quite the skill, certainly befitting someone who runs a restaurant," remarked the elder aunt. When did she become someone who compliments others in this life?
"Indeed, even a simple smashed cucumber tastes better than mine. Surely because she runs a restaurant," second aunt laughed.
"Xiao Wan, your family must have made quite a bit from the restaurant. I heard that speculation and profiteering are now more lucrative than stable jobs, no wonder Xiao Yi married you," joked the elder aunt, yet a flash of disdain in her eyes towards Lin Wan was still noticeable.
"Big sister-in-law, you can’t say that. Nowadays, the country encourages private enterprise. Providing for oneself through one’s own efforts is commendable. The era of speculation and illegal profiteering is over," Fang Xin couldn’t stand by. When she first got married, mother-in-law didn’t boss her around much, but the elder aunt did try to assert control over her.