Chapter 43 - 15: "Heavenly Mother-in-Law

Chapter 43: Chapter 15: "Heavenly Mother-in-Law

"Hey, have you all noticed? That woman from Chenghuai’s family has been acting a bit strange lately! She’s actually started looking after her kids. I wonder what she’s up to," said Granny Zhao, another one of their neighbors. "Da Zai and his brothers are all good kids. It’s a shame they’re stuck with such an unreliable mother."

Her own daughter-in-law had given birth to three girls in a row, so she was quite envious of the Gu Family’s boys.

That was also why Granny Zhao, despite her terrible reputation in the village for being a gossipy and mean-spirited person, was surprisingly decent to Da Zai and his brothers, and had even given them food before.

Da Zai and Er Zai arrived at the Gu Family’s old house again.

The Gu family members were eating.

They were all stunned to see the two boys.

Gu Xing’er sneered.

’I knew it. Lin Zhao is just a hypocrite. How long did the act even last? Not even two days, and she’s already dropped the pretense. Heh.’

The first thing Mother Gu said was, "Da Zai, Er Zai, have you eaten yet? If not, hurry and sit down. Grandma will make you something to eat."

Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang exchanged a look, their eyes filled with resignation and a flicker of displeasure.

’Is our third sister-in-law neglecting her kids again?’

Despite their dissatisfaction, the two sisters-in-law didn’t let it show. Da Zai and Er Zai were just little kids; what could they know? If their own mother wouldn’t look after them, there was nothing they could do.

Er Zai announced loudly, "No need! My mom cooked. She sent us to deliver some fish with pickled cabbage. We’re going back to eat after we drop it off."

As he spoke, Er Zai and his older brother placed a small bamboo basket on the table and lifted the lid. In an instant, a rich aroma wafted out.

At the smell, even Da Zai and Er Zai, who had already tasted it, couldn’t help but gulp. The other members of the Gu Family found it even more irresistible. The adults were better at hiding it, but the children stared at the bowl of fish with fiery gazes, swallowing repeatedly.

"Third Aunt is the best!" Tie Chui exclaimed, then added with a sigh of regret, "Why am I not Third Aunt’s kid?"

His mother, Huang Xiulan, felt the urge to smack him.

Gu Yuanshan (Eldest Gu) roared with laughter and teased his young son, "Nothing to be done about it. Who told you to get born into the wrong family?"

Tie Chui sighed with dramatic sorrow.

Er Zai was in a hurry to get back to his own meal of fish with pickled cabbage, so he urged his grandma, "Grandma, please transfer the fish to a bowl. I need to go home to eat!"

"Silly me, I forgot." Mother Gu slapped her forehead and hurried to the kitchen to get a bowl.

It wasn’t that she was overreacting. Her third daughter-in-law had been married into the Gu Family for almost six years, and in all that time, she and her old man had never received so much as a wild vegetable bun from Lin Zhao. For the boys to suddenly deliver fish was both unexpected and shocking.

After Mother Gu had transferred the fish, Da Zai placed their now-empty bowl back into the small bamboo basket, put the lid back on, said a quick goodbye to his grandparents and the others, and left with his younger brother.

The two little boys held a grudge; they ignored Gu Xing’er the entire time.

Gu Xing’er grumbled and whined internally but didn’t dare say anything out loud.

She was afraid her mother wouldn’t give her any of the fish.

The Gu Family in the old house hadn’t split their household, so food rations were limited. Mother Gu portioned out the meals every day to avoid conflicts and prevent certain people from endlessly indulging their appetites.

This bowl of fish with pickled cabbage was also to be divided by Mother Gu.

She first served a portion to the head of the household, Father Gu, and herself.

Then she served her two sons, followed by her two daughters-in-law, and finally, her grandchildren.

There was no portion for Gu Xing’er!

Gu Xing’er watched as all the fish in the bowl was served, leaving only the oily broth. She was very unhappy and felt deeply wronged.

She didn’t dare make a scene, only saying, "Mom, you didn’t give me any."

Mother Gu, having steeled her heart to discipline Gu Xing’er, didn’t even glance at her. "There’s none for you," she said.

"Why not?!" Gu Xing’er trembled with anger, her voice shrill.

The younger Gu generation tacitly covered their ears. ’Auntie is so noisy.’

"You ask me why? This fish with pickled cabbage was sent by Da Zai and Er Zai’s mother. You do nothing but scowl and sneer at them, yet you still expect to eat the food their mother made? How can you be so thick-skinned!" Mother Gu felt her daughter had been spoiled rotten by her grandmother, making her utterly shameless and detestable.

’I have to correct this infuriating personality of hers!’

Gu Xing’er was scolded into silence.

Mother Gu wasn’t finished. "The fish came from Da Zai and Er Zai’s maternal uncle, so it has even less to do with you."

With that, she ignored her immature young daughter and lowered her head to savor her third daughter-in-law’s excellent cooking.

"Using pickled cabbage for fish is really something else. The flavor is sour and spicy—so appetizing." Mother Gu had been cooking for half her life, but this was the first time she learned that fish and pickled cabbage could be cooked together.

Seeing that everyone in the family had fish except for her, Gu Xing’er angrily shoved her bowl away and shot to her feet, the wooden stool scraping loudly against the floor.

"I’m not eating!"

She ran back to her room in a rage and slammed the door shut with a BANG.

Not a single member of the Gu family, young or old, even batted an eye. What could they do? Gu Xing’er threw a fit every other day; the whole family was completely desensitized.