Granny Liu sat at the table watching Liu Taohua eat heartily and said with a smile, "Mother-in-law, now that you're back, stay a few more days. Let Xuemei show you around."

"Yes, that's what I was thinking too, but I have to go back to take care of my daughter-in-law. She's about to give birth, and I'll feel at ease if I'm not there to look after her. Also, please don't call me 'mother-in-law' anymore; it sounds too formal. Why don't you just call me Peach Blossom?"

"Okay, then you can call me Acui." The two smiled and settled on the form of address. Although they were in-laws, they hadn't really spent much time together. They had only met twice, when their child got married and when Panpan was born. So you could say they were strangers.

Liu Taohua was really hungry, and she quickly finished a bowl of noodles. "Acu, your noodles smell so good. No wonder Xuemei always says you're a good cook. She's gained several pounds from eating them."

"Haha, right? Cooking is my only hobby. Since you like to eat, I'll cook a few of my signature dishes for you to try these next few days. You know, I asked you to come when we first moved here, but you always said you were too busy. See, this place is much better than the village. Tomorrow we'll go grocery shopping together. I know where to buy fresh and cheap vegetables, and..."

When Granny Liu talks about her area of ​​expertise, she could go on and on. All she needs now is someone to go with her to buy cheap vegetables and grab cheap eggs at the supermarket.

"Hey, you know, even a single scallion costs money in this city. Money really doesn't last long."

Granny Liu was talking about where to find cheap vegetables, while Liu Taohua was hearing that even a scallion cost money; the two were temporarily on different wavelengths.

“Sigh, I thought the same way when I first came here, but I got used to it. After all, you earn money in the city and spend it in the city.”

Liu Taohua thought about it and realized it made sense. In the village, they couldn't earn much money all year round, so they could only save a little bit of food.

As she pondered, she thought of her youngest son again. Since he was her in-law, she wasn't afraid of being laughed at, so she told Liu Cui about her grievances.

"I'm not being unreasonable, I just think it's not worth it to raise someone's child for free. I said a few more words, and look how angry they got. My heart is completely broken."

Granny Liu had already heard Xue Mei talk about this before. If it were her son, she would be angry too, but she couldn't add fuel to the fire now, so she could only comfort him:

"Peach Blossom, as the old saying goes, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Look, your Xueshan is about to become a father. Just think of it for the sake of your grandson. You can't let him be born without a mother."

I've met Le Rong a few times. She's very clever, but she made a mistake when she was young. She's a pitiful child. Just consider it an act of kindness; she'll be grateful when she grows up.

"I don't want her gratitude. Sigh, she's a pitiful wretch. I heard from Xuemei that even if we send her back, she won't have a good ending."

You know, I'm not a heartless person. They should have just told me clearly from the beginning. Why did they have to keep everything hidden? How could I not be angry?

Liu Taohua was trying to find a reason for herself, thinking that she was a very reasonable person, and if they talked to her nicely, would she refuse?

“Yes, I know you’re the kindest-hearted one, Peach Blossom. Xue Mei also said that you love children the most,” Granny Liu added, echoing her sentiments.

“I was thinking, if Yuanyuan’s household registration is registered in our family, she’ll be one of our family members. We can’t give it to her if her older brother and sister-in-law come to ask for it again.”

Liu Taohua was also saying this to Zhang Xuemei, who knew her daughter would convey her meaning to her youngest son.

"No way, didn't her older brother and sister-in-law say that Yuanyuan is bad luck for their biological children? How could they possibly ask for them back?"

Granny Liu thought that if Sister-in-law Le had given birth to a daughter, or if Yuanyuan were a boy, she might really want to go back, but in reality, Yuanyuan was a girl, so she probably wouldn't.

Liu Taohua looked at them mysteriously, "Xuemei is too young to know, but you should have heard of Acui. It means that if a family that didn't have children originally has biological children after adopting one, it means that the younger siblings brought by the adopted child are also affected. If the family abandons the adopted child or treats him badly, then the younger siblings brought by the adopted child may also be treated badly."

Hearing Liu Taohua mention this, Granny Liu chimed in, "Yes, I've heard about it. I even know someone who has. My uncle's younger brother used to be unable to have children, but he somehow brought home a child, and within two years his wife got pregnant."

After having her own child, she couldn't stand the sight of her previous child. Later, she heard that one day the child disappeared, and when people asked, she said the child had gotten lost and didn't go looking for him.

Then a few years later, the mischievous biological son went swimming in the river with the village children one summer and drowned. The river was actually quite shallow, but somehow he drowned that day. Everyone said it was retribution.

"Yes, there are quite a few things like this. That's why I said Le Rong's older brother and sister-in-law are really blinded by greed. Who knows, this child might have been brought by Yuan Yuan. They chased her away, let's see what they do next."

Liu Taohua looked very serious, as if she could already see the regret on the faces of the eldest brother and sister-in-law of the Le family.

Zhang Xuemei, who was listening intently from the side, also believed in these things. Although it is said that one should believe in science, sometimes things happen that make you have to believe that such things really exist.

Thinking this through, she decided to remind Xue Shan and Le Rong tomorrow not to tell the Le family's eldest brother and sister-in-law the address here, in case they regretted it and came looking for their child.

"Yes, yes, that's why we should be kind in our conduct and actions. Heaven is watching what people do. People as good as Xueshan from your family, Peach Blossom, are sure to receive more blessings in the future."

Granny Liu also said some nice things to Liu Taohua, but she also believed that good people would be rewarded.

"Then I'll take your kind words. As for me, I won't worry about all that anymore. I'm too old to manage things."

"That's it. Young people have their own ideas. We just need to mind our own business. Look at me, I don't care what they do. As a result, I've become more relaxed and healthy, and my complexion has improved a lot."

"Right? I was just thinking when I got here that you look as radiant as Xuemei, and you're full of energy too..."

"I'll teach you a few methods, you can do it too..."

Seeing that her mother-in-law was no longer frowning and was studying health preservation methods with her, Zhang Xuemei breathed a sigh of relief.

But while Le Rong was looking worried, Yuan Yuan was crying as she packed her clothes and said sensibly, "Auntie, Uncle, please take me home. I don't want to upset Grandma because of me."