63: Chapter 62: The Dilemma of Being a Daughter-in-law 63: Chapter 62: The Dilemma of Being a Daughter-in-law As soon as the words left her mouth, Lin Baojuan realized the illogic in what she had said, but it was too late to take them back.
The layers of gauze on her face might have concealed her expression, but they couldn’t hide her embarrassment.
Her mother-in-law was going crazy outside, and there was no way for her to smooth over this lie!
“…Troublemaker, you eat plenty of grain, drink plenty of water, but you don’t lay an extra egg.
What’s the use of raising a troublemaker like you?
I’m going to sharpen my knife tomorrow and slaughter you, let’s see if you can still go out and cause trouble!
It’s better to feed myself than to feed others’ gossip.
Run, and let’s see where you can run to…”
In the yard, Baojuan’s mother-in-law’s tirade at the chickens continued…, only the volume had increased another notch.
Lin Baojuan suddenly sat up straight, swung her legs, and was about to get out of the kang bed.
“What are you doing?” Zhao Yulan stopped her, “Over the years, you’ve given so much to help us out.
This time, after what Chuxia has been through, how could she not be upset?
She’s not berating you, she’s annoyed that we’re taking advantage of your kindness, and bringing disaster upon you.
On a fundamental level, she pities you.”
“Sister-in-law…” Lin Baojuan’s eyes revealed a bitter smile, “You don’t have to save face for me.
Since you’ve seen what happened, I don’t want to hide it from you anymore.
My in-laws prefer to have many children, but these years my belly has been quiet, and they’ve grown more disdainful of me.”
Zhao Yulan’s brows furrowed: “Aren’t Dajiang and Xiaoxiang their grandchildren?”
“They want more children to gain face,” Lin Baojuan let out a heavy sigh, “With Qingshu being their only son, they indeed cherish having many people around.”
“How many is too many?” Lin Baohe snorted, “Just Chuxia alone, and we are still content!”
“Dad…” Chuxia couldn’t help but smile, “I’ve realized Dad doesn’t talk much, but he’s really good at reassuring people.
The things he says are also particularly heartwarming!”
“Dad is speaking the truth.
Of course, it would be the best if we could have another child to keep Chuxia company, but if it’s not meant to be, Dad and Mom have no complaints.
Life’s fulfillment isn’t measured by the number of children one has; it’s something one cannot force.”
“Chuxia, your dad is telling the truth.
Knowing that we can’t have more children, I’ve always felt quite distressed, but it was your dad who consoled me, saying that having you, we should be content.
He even compared us to Fifth Guarantee Household Fourth Grandpa Luo from our village.
That old couple had three sons and a daughter.
However, the eldest drowned in a bayou at the age of nine, the second died of dysentery at four, the third fell off the kang and died at nine months old, the fourth was stillborn, and after that, they couldn’t conceive again.
In their old age, they were left with nobody; when they died, there wasn’t even anyone to smash the funeral pots for them.”
When compared to them, your dad and I would rather have just one child.
As long as you live a peaceful life, we’ll be quite content.”
Originally, Zhao Yulan’s story was quite sad, yet somehow, Chuxia felt it was amusing.
She couldn’t help but show a hint of a smile: “Dad, if Fourth Grandpa Luo could hear you using him as an example, do you think he might climb out of his grave to settle scores with you?”
Lin Baohe coughed awkwardly: “I was just worried, didn’t want your mother to be heartbroken and make herself sick.”
Lin Baojuan looked enviously at Zhao Yulan: “Sister-in-law, my brother may be poor, but he has a kind heart and knows how to care for others.
If Qingshu were even half as caring as my brother, I would be content.”
The door was thrust open.
Baojuan’s mother-in-law stood at the entrance, her face holding a smile that was not quite a smile, looking at Lin Baojuan: “Qingshu’s wife, by the sound of it, you’re dissatisfied with our family’s Qingshu?”
Faced with her sudden appearance, Lin Baojuan was not at all surprised, and spoke calmly: “My brother and sister-in-law have finally come to visit, and there you are outside, making insinuations and smashing bowls, expecting a reaction, now you’ve come to address it in person?
Fine, let me say it in front of you, Mother.
The affection my brother shows my sister-in-law, Qingshu couldn’t match if he were multiplied by ten.
Over the years, whenever you felt discontented, Mother, you took it out on me.
When has Qingshu ever defended me?
Other than consoling me in private, he doesn’t dare utter a word against you in public.
My brother may be straightforward, but nobody dares to mistreat my sister-in-law and Chuxia, including my own parents.
I truly envy my sister-in-law.
Mother, you can go back and repeat my words to Qingshu.”
“Her brother and sister-in-law…” Baojuan’s mother-in-law looked at Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan with the same semi-smile, “Now that you are here, she finally has some support.
If I weren’t so frail, she might even come to strike her mother-in-law.”