Chapter 784 - 404: Speaking Frankly

Chapter 784: Chapter 404: Speaking Frankly

After cutting a basket of moldy bean dregs into strips and spreading them out to dry in the sun, the women sat down under the peach tree with their needlework. A moment later, Mrs. Zhang also emerged from the kitchen.

"Mom, come sit with us," Liu Yunlan said, quickly getting to her feet to greet her.

Mrs. Zhang first dusted herself off a few times, then smiled at Mrs. Yang and said, "Her grandma here wasn’t allowed to tend the fire, so I got shooed out. What’s so tiring about stoking a stove? I’m no stranger, how could I really act like a guest?" She sat down next to Liu Yunlan as she spoke.

Mrs. Yang laughed. "So you know you’re not an outsider? Then why stand on such ceremony? In-law, and I’m not trying to criticize you—Yunlan knows I’m a very straightforward person—you’re here to see your daughter. She’s pregnant. All you need to do is sit and talk with her. Why are you always bustling about trying to help? This pregnancy has been rough on me, and this baby gives me no end of trouble. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be letting you lift a finger. You’re just afraid your daughter will get tired, aren’t you? Let me be frank, and I hope you won’t take offense. Yunlan is carrying a child of my Zheng Family. His father and I treasure this baby more than anything, so how could we possibly not look after her properly? I’m a direct person, and I’m saying all this so you can set your mind at ease. If you get upset after hearing me out, then my good intentions would be wasted."

Mrs. Zhang hadn’t expected Mrs. Yang to be so direct. Her face flushed red as she said awkwardly, "My dear in-law, what are you saying? Since Yunlan married into your family, she’s eaten well and dressed well. You treat her like your own daughter. How could I not be at ease?"

Liu Yunlan felt a bit embarrassed as well. She had noticed her mother’s anxiety, but she’d been too busy these last two days arranging daily chores with Aunt Ma and Niuniu to find a private moment to talk. She never expected her mother-in-law to be so blunt and just air everything out.

Seeing Mrs. Zhang’s discomfort, Mrs. Yang let out a soft laugh. "Don’t be embarrassed, In-law. All children are their parents’ greatest treasure. It’s only natural for you to worry. I wasn’t blaming you. I just wanted to clear the air so you could be at ease. That way, you won’t go home and still be sick with worry over Yunlan."

Juhua watched Mrs. Yang, thinking, ’Mom is straightforward, but she’s not entirely without tact. Why is she being so blunt today?’

She held Cong in her arms and whispered to Hulu, who was nestled beside her, "Do you remember what I just taught you? Go over it with your little brother again. It’ll make him happy, and you’ll remember it better too."

Hulu nodded obediently and moved closer to Banli, reciting in his childish voice, "Swallow, little swallow, your tail is like a pair of scissors..." while pointing at the swallow’s nest under the eaves.

Juhua hadn’t taught him anything complicated. It was just simple things like, "Swallows fly back in the spring and leave in the fall," "Doggies go WOOF WOOF to guard the house; kitties are for catching mice; chickens and ducks lay eggs for Hulu to eat steamed," and so on. She was helping him get familiar with the world around him, and practice his language skills at the same time.

While she taught the little one, she kept her ears pricked, listening to the two in-laws talk.

Liu Yunlan smiled at Mrs. Zhang and said, "Mom, I’m doing very well. I have a good appetite. In fact, Doctor Yun said it’s not good for me if I don’t move around enough. It’s different for my mother-in-law; she doesn’t have a choice. No one wants to be stuck in bed—your whole body gets sore just from lying there!"

Seeing her daughter-in-law join the conversation and not wanting to embarrass Mrs. Zhang further, Mrs. Yang changed the subject. "In-law, when is Yunlan’s little brother getting married? We’ll have to be there to toast the happy occasion."

Mrs. Zhang, relieved that she had dropped the previous topic, replied happily, "It’s set for the end of the sixth month. It was originally scheduled for the twenty-second of this month, but then the Emperor passed away, so we had to reschedule."

Mrs. Yang said comfortingly, "A few months’ delay is no big deal. Once your daughter-in-law joins the family, you’ll be able to live a life of leisure, In-law. I hear from Yunlan his fiancée is a capable woman?"

A pleased expression appeared on Mrs. Zhang’s face. "She seems to be a quick and capable sort, much like my Yunlan." Her daughter’s competence was her greatest source of pride. In truth, she would have been perfectly satisfied if her future daughter-in-law was half as capable as her daughter, but she had to maintain appearances.

Mrs. Yang played along good-naturedly. "Then you’ve really lucked out, In-law. Who wouldn’t love a daughter-in-law like Yunlan? I often say that our Qingmu must have accumulated good fortune for several lifetimes to marry Yunlan. She’s beautiful, fertile, and has such a generous and capable way about her. As her mother-in-law, I can’t find a single fault with her. If Yungen marries a wife as outstanding as his sister, then you, In-law, can just look forward to a wonderful life ahead."

This unreserved flood of praise from her mother-in-law made Liu Yunlan blush beet-red. Mrs. Zhang, on the other hand, was overjoyed, but at the same time, she sighed inwardly, ’A girl like my Yunlan? Do you think you can find someone like that just anywhere? Yungen’s wife could never be half as good as his sister. Then again, Yungen can’t compare to Qingmu either.’