Pei Zhi went to the kitchen and went to the stove to start a fire.

"Alright, you don't know how to start a fire. You'll burn the pot again."

Pei's mother grabbed her, preventing Pei Zhi from touching the firewood or anything like that.

"Go beat seven eggs, mix some flour, and I'll fry seven egg pancakes in a bit."

Seven egg pancakes mean one for each person.

"I'm not eating egg pancakes anymore. I just ate eggs this morning, and they're a bit too greasy. Six will be enough."

Pei's mother pointed at Pei Zhi with her hand, "You brat, you're already tired of eating eggs? You've really had too many good days."

Pei's mother deftly chopped and washed the vegetables. "When you live in the city with your son-in-law, who usually does the cooking?"

“He cooks breakfast, but we don’t eat at home for lunch or dinner. He usually eats at the cafeteria, while my brother and I eat out.”

Pei Zhi and Pei Wang are busy running the clothing store every day, and she's too lazy to cook for herself.

“You don’t seem like people who live a normal life. Who gets married and doesn’t cook every day?” Pei’s mother couldn’t help but start nagging.

Pei Zhi let it go in one ear and out the other.

"Did you and your sister-in-law have a fight?"

"Don't mention her, it makes me angry." Mother Pei said angrily, holding a spatula. "She's been married into the family for several years and hasn't had any children. I haven't said anything to her. But she's involved in those underhanded practices. If she gets arrested, our whole family will be disgraced."

Nowadays, the prevailing belief is that feudal superstition is unacceptable.

Pei's father is also a village head; if someone reports them, their family will definitely be made an example of.

"My sister-in-law is just anxious. You don't know how awful the women outside are to say."

A woman has been married for almost six years and still hasn't had a child.

I wonder what those gossipy women outside are saying.

My sister-in-law is usually very hardworking and dutiful at home.

It's probably because I feel like I haven't had children, and I can't stand up straight.

“She didn’t have any children, and I’ve never mistreated her. Every holiday and New Year, I’ve always given her money to go back to her parents’ home.”

Pei's mother believed that she was a fairly considerate mother-in-law.

"Alright, alright, don't be angry anymore. Your sister-in-law also wants a child."

As she spoke, Pei's mother sighed, her eyes fixed on Pei Zhi, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"Mom, just say what you want to say?"

After thinking for a moment, Pei's mother shook her head. "Never mind, let's cook first."

Pei Zhi was busy mixing the noodles, while her mother was cooking.

I prepared a fish, some vegetables, and egg pancakes; the table was quite full.

After the dishes were served, Pei Zhi went to help get bowls and chopsticks and serve rice.

"Xiao Jiang, want some wine?"

"No, no, no, Dad, I won't drink anymore. I can't hold my liquor."

Pei's father didn't force him. The eldest son took the bowl, poured some water, and drank with his father.

When Sister-in-law Pei brought out the food, her face darkened when she saw the dishes on the table.

There aren't so many rules at home; at mealtimes, whoever waits for whom is responsible.

Sister-in-law Pei was a little annoyed. She put the bowl on the table, making quite a noise.

Pei's father gripped his chopsticks, and his expression immediately changed.

Pei Laoda hurriedly said, "What are you doing? Why are you making such a commotion while eating?"

"Hmph." Sister-in-law Pei snorted, clearly not having listened.

When Pei Zhi and her mother came out with the bowls, they noticed that the atmosphere was a bit strange.

Pei's mother asked, "What's wrong? Is the food too salty?"

Jiang Qingyuan complimented, "No, no, Mom's cooking is delicious."

"Then eat more, eat quickly." Pei's mother said, picking up a piece of egg pancake and putting it into Jiang Qingyuan's bowl.

There were two pieces left on the plate, and Pei's mother picked one up and put it in her own bowl.

"Mom, there are seven people in total, why are you making six egg pancakes?"

Sister-in-law Pei cried out in grievance, "Just because I haven't had children, does that mean I can't even eat a piece of egg pancake?"

Boss Pei hadn't noticed before that there were only six egg pancakes.

Pei Laoda immediately took the food from his bowl and said, "Here, here, have this. It's just an egg pancake, what are you doing?"

Pei Zhi explained calmly, "Sister-in-law, Mom was going to make seven pieces, but I said I ate eggs this morning and they were a bit too greasy, so I didn't want to eat them today and she didn't make any for me."

Sister-in-law Pei snorted, "Who knows if you're taking your mother's side?"

Boss Pei couldn't stand it anymore and slammed his fist on the table.

"What do you mean by that? What do you mean by 'your mother'? Isn't she your mother?"

Sister-in-law Pei also chimed in, "If she were my mother, she wouldn't be so heartless. I told her I wanted to go to the city for medical treatment and to give birth, why didn't she help me?"

“Over the years, I haven’t had a child, and people inside and outside the family have been pointing fingers at me. I can’t hold my head up anywhere.”

“I told my mom to give me money to go to the city for medical treatment, but she wouldn’t give it to me. Then my second son and younger sister wanted to go to the city to do business, so she gave them the money.”

Pei Wang hadn't expected that he would be involved.

"Sister-in-law, how do you know that Mom gave me the money to start my business?"

Sister-in-law Pei pointed to the inner room, "As soon as you came back, the place where Mom keeps her wallet was moved. If she didn't take money for you, what was it?"

"Mom, you can't be so biased. Pei Xing and I have been working hard on everything, but you only favor the younger one."

Pei's mother was so angry that her face turned ashen. She clearly hadn't expected to be scolded by her daughter-in-law.

Pei's father slammed the bowl to the ground, saying, "If you can make it, then make it. If you can't, then go back to your own home."

"Don't even mention it. Ah Wang, we didn't take any money from you in our business dealings. Even if we did, you wouldn't have the right to speak here."

Sister-in-law Pei was startled and immediately fell silent.

Pei's mother lowered her head and cried. Pei Zhi had no choice but to go over and hug her to comfort her.

Pei Wang said coldly, "Sister-in-law, Mom went to the city with me to ask a doctor before, and he said that there is not much hope for your treatment."

"Mom didn't tell you because she was afraid you'd feel bad. If you're still not convinced, we'll go to the city later and take you for a checkup to see what the doctor says."

Pei slapped his knee. "Look at you, how come you always have so many little schemes up your sleeve?"

“My younger sister and I are doing business. Mom gave us money, but we didn’t take it. We started by setting up a street stall. I could afford that small amount of money.”

Pei Wang pointed to the inner room, "The wallet you mentioned was moved. My brother-in-law and I each gave Mom 100 yuan today as holiday money for Dad and Mom."

Pei the eldest pulled on Pei the sister-in-law's arm, "Come here, quickly apologize to Mom and Dad."

Sister-in-law Pei murmured a couple of times, but couldn't say anything.

"Never mind, never mind," Mrs. Pei waved her hand. "Let's eat first."

Jiang Qingyuan quickly grabbed a broom and cleaned up the debris on the ground.

Pei Wang went to the kitchen, brought out a new bowl, and poured wine for Pei's father.

After the meal, everyone dispersed.

Sister-in-law Pei was washing dishes in the kitchen, while Father Pei, having drunk too much, went back to his room to sleep.

Pei Wang was furious: "Brother, you should keep a closer eye on your sister-in-law. Mom has a good temper, but she shouldn't be bullied like this."

Since the other party was his sister-in-law, and a woman at that, Pei Wang couldn't very well lecture her.