Chapter 171: This child is really good, hardworking, unlike the ones at home...

It was the first time that Yao Taotao saw such a warm room.

She had seen mud houses, such as those in Yaowangzhuang, and broken brick houses covered with newspapers, such as the slums in the south of the city.

I've also seen red brick houses that were painted white but then covered with writing and had to be covered with newspapers, like the house I used to rent near the woolen mill dormitory.

The only thing she had never seen before was the house in front of her, with blue bricks and white tiles, green trees and white walls. It was very simple and poetic, especially the layout of the room, which made her stunned.

The rosewood furniture is unique in style. There are two flower stands on the left and right of the window. They are made of the same material but different styles. One is small and exquisite, and the other is grand and dignified.

The vases placed on it also have their own characteristics.

On the left is a pot of forsythia, and on the right are the four gentlemen - plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum - arranged in an orderly manner.

There are still a few pots of daffodils on the windowsill. The winter flowering period has passed, and only the green leaves like garlic sprouts are left, swaying in the breeze.

Looking next to it, there is a pair of three-door cabinets made of bright red rosewood, which together have six doors. Except for the two middle doors that are covered with dressing mirrors, the other four doors are all hung with detailed paintings.

She was not very good at appreciating things, but at first glance, she felt that it was the work of a master and had an extraordinary aura.

Looking at Xu Wei and Zhou Juan's beds, they are actually proper step-out beds, also made of red rosewood, with a very unique style. There are also auspicious dragon and phoenix carvings on the headboard, which have good meanings.

As for the desk, dressing mirror, chair, etc. next to it, they are all made of the same material. The entire room looks like a whole, which makes people sigh that the ancestors of the Xu family must have been wealthy.

Yao Taotao was a guest, so she couldn't look around the room too greedily. She just glanced at it and said with a smile, "Teacher Xu, I got you three sample magazines."

Xu Wei had a broken rib and couldn't get up easily. The bed at home wasn't rockable like the one in the hospital, so he had to lie down and talk to Yao Taotao: "Three books? That's great. I'll keep one for myself, send one to Professor Chang, and leave the other for the Agricultural College as a collection."

Yao Taotao walked closer and handed him the sample magazine. "This is my first time giving a practical report with the children. I'm really sorry for my poor performance. If you find any mistakes, please tell me and I'll correct them as soon as I get back to avoid misleading the students."

Xu Wei took it with a smile and flipped through it. "You're welcome, Teacher Yao. I hadn't remembered to buy this issue of the magazine yet. It's a good idea for you to bring it to me. Thank you very much. Please have a seat. Tell me how you would like to arrange the next few practical activities. I might be able to add some ideas."

While speaking, Xu Wei gave Zhou Juan a look, but Zhou Juan ignored him and just kept crying.

Fortunately, Xu's mother came in with tea and quickly brought a chair to Yao Taotao: "Teacher Yao, please sit down. You're welcome."

After all, Xu Wei and Zhou Juan are both Yao Zhizhi's friends, and friends of friends are naturally friends as well.

Xu's mother was very enthusiastic and did not neglect this young person who was willing to work hard because of Yao Taotao's parents.

In her opinion, children cannot choose their parents, but they can choose the path they want to take.

Yao Taotao’s current status is entirely the result of her own hard work. Even though she has a pair of parents who hold her back, it does not affect the impression of this young woman in Xu’s mother’s mind.

What a pity! If Zhou Juan could work half as hard as Yao Taotao, she would definitely be able to become a leader in the publishing house.

Oh, comparing yourself to others makes you feel nauseous.

Xu's mother came over with a smile and pulled Zhou Juan out. Her son said they were busy and asked her not to spoil the mood.

Zhou Juan had an illusion that she was the outsider.

She was very unhappy, but she didn't dare to get angry with her mother-in-law, so she had to go outside to the yard to sulk.

Xu's mother glanced at him and reminded him, "You're so sullen all day long, it's not good for the child. Your father-in-law and I haven't said anything about you after this incident. Who are you showing off to?"

Yes, he didn’t say anything to her, but he gave her a cold look. She apologized a lot, but he just refused to forgive her.

Zhou Juan is not a fool, so how could she not notice the change in her mother-in-law's attitude?

She didn't want to quibble. After all, it was her fault that Xu Wei got beaten. If she hadn't acted like a troublemaker and ran out so late at night, nothing would have happened.

But she didn't do it on purpose, so she just turned around and broke the branch of the jujube tree in front of her. Since she couldn't convince her mother-in-law, she took it out on the tree. Is that okay now?

In the end, Xu's mother still couldn't stand her and asked, "Why did you break off the newly sprouted date tree branch?"

Zhou Juan was so angry that she just left.

Go visit the neighbors next door, so as not to get sick from staying at Xu's house.

It turned out that people were having dinner next door, so she went there at the wrong time. After chatting for a few minutes, she came back.

Everyone knew that she was causing trouble and causing Xu Wei to get beaten, but no one wanted to pay attention to her. Moreover, it was dinner time and the Xu family hadn't started eating yet. It was obvious that Zhou Juan was a person who only needed food to be served to her, and no one liked her.

She was really hated by everyone, so she had to go back.

As soon as I reached the kitchen door, I heard my mother-in-law muttering, "Oh, this daughter-in-law is really something. She can't even cook at home. You and I, the two elders, have to serve her after get off work. What a big deal."

"What should we do? It's not the first day that you knew she couldn't cook." Father Xu was also helpless. He had to admit that when he first fell in love with this daughter-in-law, he also wanted Zhou Ying's help. Only when Director Hu fell, they could breathe a sigh of relief and stand up straight.

So they were willing to tolerate the fact that Zhou Juan couldn't cook.

But what about now? Zhou Juan had caused their precious son to be beaten half to death, and their tolerance had been exhausted.

Father Xu also began to dislike Zhou Juan.

Unfortunately, Zhou Ying had a high status, so the old couple could only be angry and did not dare to mention divorce.

Besides, there is no precedent of divorce in the Xu family, so no matter how angry they are, they can't bring themselves to do so.

My biggest wish now is that Zhou Juan behaves herself and stops making trouble, and just stays at home to take care of the pregnancy and child.

As for cooking, hey, the old couple are only in their forties and are not too old to do it, so they should do it themselves.

In her anger, Mother Xu didn't drain the water out of the vegetables and put them directly into the pot. The hot oil splashed from the water droplets splashed all over her hand. Mother Xu cried out in pain and quickly changed her hand to cook.

A more perceptive daughter-in-law would have come to help, but Zhou Juan just stood there in the yard, continuing to argue with the jujube tree that had grown a few green leaves.

Yao Taotao was discussing the next practical activity with Xu Wei in the room. When she heard the noise, she quickly stood up and said, "Aunt Xu seemed to call out. I'll go check it out."

When they got to the kitchen, they saw several red burn marks on the back of Xu's mother's hand. Yao Taotao quickly took the spatula and said, "Auntie, let me do it. Go and rinse it with cold water. Do you have any granulated sugar at home? After rinsing, apply a layer of granulated sugar and it will stop hurting soon."

"White sugar? Will it work?" Xu's mother only knew that applying rat oil could cure burns. This was the first time she heard that applying white sugar could be used.

Yao Taotao explained while stir-frying the vegetables, "Yes, it can. I heard that white sugar can create some kind of osmotic pressure on the surface of the skin, preventing the growth of bacteria. I'm not sure if it's true, but I've tried it and it works very well. Go ahead."

Xu's mother was very surprised. She didn't realize that little Yao was so knowledgeable.

He quickly went to the well to fetch a bucket of water to cool his burned right hand.

Turning around and looking at Zhou Juan standing there, he was furious: "Didn't you hear what Xiao Yao said? Can't you help me find some sugar?"

"How would I know where it is?" Zhou Juan was depressed. She didn't cook, and all these things at home were kept by her mother-in-law.

Xu's mother was so angry that she didn't want to pay any attention to her and turned around to look for her on her own.

He quickly found a bag of sugar under the altar in the main hall, opened it, and applied a layer on the back of his hand.

She tried it with a skeptical attitude, but she didn't expect it to really work.

By the time Yao Taotao poked her head out of the kitchen and asked her how to cook the pork, the burning sensation in her hands had disappeared.

I quickly went to the kitchen and took a look: "I wanted to make twice-cooked pork, but my hands were burned. Let's not bother, just braise it directly."

"It's okay, Auntie, I'll do it. You take a rest. This is easy. I know how to cook it. Do you like spicy food?" Yao Taotao had already sliced ​​the pork belly skillfully.

Mother Xu looked at the child and couldn't help but feel warm in her heart. This child is so good, hardworking, proactive, optimistic and cheerful. Unlike Zhou Juan, who needs to be coaxed all day long and cries at the slightest provocation, which is very annoying.

I quickly replied, "It's food. Our family can all eat spicy food."

"Mom, I don't eat spicy food." Zhou Juan was depressed. It seemed that her family didn't include her?

It's really bullying.

Yao Taotao smiled and said, "Then let's have one spicy and one non-spicy. Auntie, go and have a rest. I'll do it."

"What are you going to do with your own lunch at home?" Xu's mother really wanted to rest for a while. After all, although her hand didn't hurt anymore, it was still red.

Yao Taotao smiled and said, "It's okay. Everyone in my family can cook. No one will go hungry when I'm not around."

"That's great." Xu's mother was very envious. It seemed that Xiao Yao's family was very harmonious and knew how to share the pressure with each other.

Look at the ancestor in her family, oh, it’s so infuriating.

Soon, Yao Taotao served the non-spicy twice-cooked pork, added chili sauce, and stir-fried it.

Finally, sprinkle with chopped green onions and garlic leaves and serve.

After finishing her work, Yao Taotao washed her hands and said, "Auntie, Uncle, I'm going back. My child is still sick at home. He refuses to take medicine if I'm not here."

"You already have a child." Xu's mother was a little curious. She had heard a little about Yao Zhizhi's family affairs. She knew that she still had contact with Yao Taotao, but she was unfamiliar with everything else.

But after all, she was not in the south of the city, and she had not inquired about Yao Taotao's family affairs in detail.

Yao Taotao smiled and said, "No, Auntie, it's the child of one of my younger sisters. That younger sister got into trouble and died in prison. If I don't raise her child, who will? My eldest sister and fourth sister both have their own children, and my third sister isn't married yet. It wouldn't be nice to have her bring up a burden and delay her in finding a husband."

"You are such a kind-hearted child." Mother Xu was very moved. This little Yao is really full of advantages and looks better than Zhou Juan.

The only drawback may be her parents, who are death row inmates, which will affect the political review of their descendants. What a pity.

Xu's mother quickly picked up the bowl and chopsticks and picked up some non-spicy twice-cooked pork: "Hurry, take it and go back to feed the child. Sick children need to eat some meat to get better quickly. It just so happens that this is not spicy."

"Auntie, I feel embarrassed. I have some at home, and Teacher Xu is injured and needs to recover. I won't accept it." Yao Taotao refused to take it. She was still riding her bike, and how could she ride with a bowl in her arms?

Xu's mother insisted on giving it to her, so she thought of a way. She found a long and thin basket used for harvesting peas, which was just big enough to put the bowl in. This kind of basket was tied with a rope, so she could carry it on her shoulders when working in the fields. It was also perfect for carrying it on her shoulders while riding a bike, or hanging it on the front of the bike.

She brought this back when she went to the countryside to help her sister-in-law plant beans. She forgot to return it, and it came in handy today.

Yao Taotao had no choice but to accept it: "Then I'll go back, Auntie. I'll bring you a basket tomorrow. I have to take the child to get an IV drip tonight, so I won't come."

"Hey, don't worry, just come whenever you are free." Mother Xu smiled and sent her to the door.

When I returned to the main hall to eat at the dining table, I saw Zhou Juan's sad face and instantly lost my appetite.

Just pick up some dishes and eat in the inner room, out of sight and out of mind.

Zhou Juan started crying again and ran to Xu Wei's room to question him, "What does your mother mean? Does she look down on me? Does she like Yao Taotao? It's just cooking a meal. What's the big deal? I'll just learn."

Xu Wei was speechless. His mother didn't say anything, right? The old lady was scalded, and others helped cook a meal. Isn't it normal for the old lady to express her gratitude?

He didn't hear anything.

This Zhou Juan is becoming more and more unreasonable.

He was so angry that he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. Let her cry all she wanted, he was still in pain and didn't have the energy to deal with her little mood.