Zhao Lanzhi’s smile froze on her face. She had longed for a daughter-in-law to come into the family like one yearns for the stars and the moon, and now the daughter-in-law couldn’t have children? "You’re already thirty, children the same age as you can even go buy soy sauce on their own. How can you... No, I need to talk to Ningning."
"It’s my decision, it has nothing to do with Xiao Ning."
Dressed, Sheng Ning considered how she would face the awkwardness outside, when she faintly heard the voices. She pursed her lips, feeling a great turmoil inside.
This fool, without asking her, how did he know she wouldn’t want to have children?
"Ahem..." Sheng Ning coughed deliberately, making Zhao Lanzhi stop her following words. Seeing Sheng Ning come out, Zhao Lanzhi’s face was filled with a smile, "Ningning, are you awake? Did you sleep well last night?"
Sheng Ning glared resentfully at Xu Qigang, and managed a smile despite the soreness all over her body, "Very well, thank you, Mom."
Her use of that term of address pleased Zhao Lanzhi immensely; the gloom from her momentary childlessness vanished. Delighted, Zhao Lanzhi handed Sheng Ning a red envelope from her person, "Here you go, this is a fee for calling me ’Mom’."
"No need to be polite, we’re family. You go wash up and brush your teeth, I’ll get you some food."
"That won’t do," Sheng Ning hurriedly stopped Zhao Lanzhi, insisting on going to the kitchen herself until finally Xu Qigang couldn’t stand it anymore and, wrapping one arm around her waist, whispered, "It’s alright, let my mom do it."
Laughing, Zhao Lanzhi walked away, teasing her own son halfway through her departure, "Ah... as expected, like a magpie with a long tail..."
Xu Sheng looked at each other, both seeing helplessness in each other’s eyes.
"You shouldn’t have done that," Sheng Ning leaned half her weight against him, trying to alleviate some of her bodily soreness.
Xu Qigang placed a large hand on her waist, gently kneading, "It’s alright. My mom really can’t cook; she will probably only cook today. After that, it’ll be your turn to cook."
"Really, I’m not fooling you," Xu Qigang thought for a moment, his face showing a wry expression tinged with unbearable memories, "The food I ate when I was small was never fully cooked—it was always underdone."
"Hahaha..." Sheng Ning laughed out loud at his comment, "Then why don’t you cook for yourself?"
"Um..." He pondered for a moment, "I... I never cook."
"Then who cooks in your family?"
"As a child, I would often mooch meals elsewhere... Later, when there was no other way, we just made do..."
"Then who cooks in your family?"
"As a child, I would often mooch meals elsewhere... Later, when there was no other way, we just made do..."
When Zhao Lanzhi’s meal was brought over, Sheng Ning was dumbfounded. Was this... pig feed? Why was it such a black lump?
"This is left over from yesterday’s feast. Almost all of it was taken by the neighbors. This bit I especially selected as the best, containing chicken and greens and a little rice made into a rice casserole. Try it; it should taste good," Zhao Lanzhi eyed her own rice casserole with satisfaction.
"Hehehe... Mom, how could I let you cook! Next time, let me do it." Please, let her do it next time.
"You are the new bride. You must be very tired. I have confidence in my son’s capability..."
"Cough, cough, cough... You guys eat slowly, I still have to make a trip to the county town." Having said that, he promptly beat a hasty retreat.
With so many friends sent to the county town last night, he definitely needed to go and greet them today. For those who lived far away, arrangements must be made. Additionally, some friends had come from the South and hadn’t been seen for years, so a gathering was in order.
Sheng Ning vaguely remembered him mentioning this the previous evening while she was half asleep, and had gotten up to send him off before returning. Looking at the dark lump on the table, she really couldn’t bring herself to eat it.
"Mom... you rest, I’ll do the housework."
"It’s alright. You just need to help me out."
Because of yesterday’s feast, the house was still quite messy. This mainly involved returning borrowed pots, pans, ladles, tables, and chairs to neighbors. Xu Qigang had taken it upon himself to carry the heavy items back to their owners early in the morning.
The lighter kitchen utensils, awkward for a man to return, were left in the courtyard. In the Northern countryside, it was considered improper for a man, the head of the household, to engage in such tasks. It would reflect poorly on the woman’s domestic virtues, and she would be criticized wherever she went. Zhao Lanzhi, having been born into a landlord family, rarely ventured outside not only because of this but also because she was not skilled at farm or housework, which she often botched.
During the cold winters, it was typically Xu Xianxiong who would be seen getting up early to open the door. When Little Yama grew up, it was he who would rise early for exercise and to open the door.
Having grown up in the countryside, Sheng Ning knew all this all too well. She simply couldn’t stomach the dark lump, but fortunately made do with a couple of sugar-heart poached eggs she managed to eat before joining Zhao Lanzhi in work.
Xu Xianxiong had left early in the morning to take relatives home. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law worked in tandem—one boiling water, the other washing—and were busy for half the day before they managed to get all the pots, pans, and ladles washed clean.
Sheng Ning worked quickly and efficiently, her dishes sparkled when she was done.
When Zhao Lanzhi emerged from the kitchen and saw the spotless dishes piled neatly on the ground, she nearly dropped her jaw in surprise.
"Ningning, you are really amazing."
Sheng Ning smiled shyly, basking in the feeling of being admired by her mother-in-law. She couldn’t help but raise the corners of her mouth, preparing to showcase her skills at noon to earn even more admiration.