When Zhou Ze'an was getting ready to take the children away in the afternoon, his mother took out the big jar of chili sauce and put some into a clean fruit jar.

"I made this. I remember you loved it when you were little. You could eat a big bowl of it with rice. It's been a while since you last tasted your mother's cooking, right? Bring some with you to the island."

Zhou Ze'an looked at the chili sauce she took out without saying anything for a long time. Before leaving, he pulled Qiao Yu aside to talk a few more words.

"Given my mother's personality, it's impossible for her to come to see me and only bring one local product."

Qiao Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Mom was robbed on the train?"

"Yes, it's possible."

"Can you find the stuff?"

Zhou Ze'an shook his head.

Qiao Yu: "Forget it, we don't lack that kind of stuff at home."

From the looks of it, it was probably only the bacon and salted meat that was stolen. The meat she had copied in the space over the years...she couldn't finish it all. So she didn't take it seriously.

We can't let Lao Zhou conduct a thorough investigation, can we?

The green-skinned trains of that era were already chaotic, with all kinds of people mixed together. Even if there were guards on board, those thieves were not stupid and would not act before arriving at the station. Before the guards were dispatched, they would have already escaped.

Stealing money and things is secondary. What I fear most is human traffickers.

"Well, if mom didn't tell us, let's not ask."

"Oh...then why are you telling me that?"

"Is she worried that you feel that your mother didn't bring enough things for you, and that she doesn't value you enough?" Zhou Ze'an thought for a long time before he came up with this idea.

Qiao Yu laughed angrily, "Am I such a stingy person? Getting angry over a few pieces of meat?"

Zhou Ze'an quickly said, "You are not."

"No! You are!" Qiao Yu gritted his teeth, "Get lost! Don't show up in front of me anytime soon!"

"Xiaoyu..."

Qiao Yu waved his fist, "Don't force me to beat you."

"I'm so angry that I'm sick."

"I'm even angrier when you're here! Are you going to leave or not?"

Zhou Ze'an: ...

Taking care of the children, Zhou Ze'an felt frustrated.

Mother Zhou looked at the back of the second child as he left, turned her head and said in disbelief: "Why do I feel that he looks a little aggrieved? Xiaoyu, how did you do it?"

Qiao Yu: ???

A normal mother-in-law would ask: Did you make my son angry? What are you doing?

The last curse?

Her mother-in-law is indeed... quite fashionable in her thinking.

That's right, if she were an ordinary country old lady, it would be impossible for her to raise such a promising son.

…

When Qiao Yu reported to the hospital, the hospital took her situation into consideration and assigned her to a relatively easy department, the observation department.

In the 1960s and 1970s, hospitals were short of medical resources, not to mention the crackdown on traditional Chinese medicine. There was no division of departments in county towns, but in urban areas there were detailed divisions, but Western medicine was the main focus.

Qiao Yu concealed the fact that she knew Chinese medicine, and Zhou Ze'an and the lover of the director of the Women's Federation, two people who knew the truth, deliberately covered it up. As long as she didn't reveal her actions, she wouldn't be in danger in the turbulent times.

How idle is the observation department?

Generally, patients sent to city hospitals are seriously ill. People in this era just endure the illness and get over it. Who would still come to the hospital for treatment? The observation department is for minor illnesses.

This department is like... you may not see a single patient for several months.

Very leisurely.

Qiao Yu lived a smooth life, eating sunflower seeds in the hospital, chatting with the nurse who dispensed medicine, and enjoying the ready-made food at home to nurture her pregnancy.

…

There are actually conflicts when getting along with my mother-in-law. The advantage is that she listens to what I say.

Zhou's mother was used to living a frugal life. After coming here, she worked hard but was reluctant to use oil or meat.

The first time Qiao Yu came back with a pound of fresh pork, he asked Zhou's mother to cook it all. Zhou's mother was so scared that she almost dropped the good stuff on the ground.

"So much meat? Cook it all?"

Qiao Yu nodded, "We've done it all. Mom, don't save it. Lao Zhou and I both have high salaries, and my older brothers from my mother's side send us a sum of money every month, so there's always good stuff.

If you have money but don’t spend it, what’s the point of keeping it?”

"Save it for your children to rely on in the future!"

"Don't worry, Mom. I've saved a five-digit amount for the child, so he doesn't have to worry about money when he eats."

Five digits...

Zhou's mother was fashionable in her thinking, but she had never read a book. She counted on her fingers: "One, ten, a hundred, a thousand..."

Zhou's mother was dumbfounded.

Qiao Yu raised the corners of his lips.

After that, Zhou's mother rarely interfered with her decisions.

Zhou's mother had nothing to do every day, so she would sweep and dust every room. Because Qiao Yu changed and washed clothes frequently, she would also wash them every day.

She would also clear out the land in the front yard and plant vegetable seeds. Sometimes she would go to the supply and marketing cooperative or the shopping mall to see if there were any cheap vegetables or eggs for sale.

As for Qiao Yu, he either brought back fresh meat or used the name of the state-owned hotel to pack up some cooked food from the space.

After cleaning the house, Zhou's mother had nothing to do, so she went to chat under the big tree at the gate of the compound.

After a month like this, not only did I look haggard, but I even gained some weight.

Because it is not exposed to wind and sun, the skin feels less rough.

Oh, Qiao Yu also gave her a box of vanishing cream.

Qiao Yu was thinking that even if you hire a nanny, you have to pay her, not to mention that Zhou's mother is Zhou's biological mother. She has done her best and is responsible, so you have to repay her, right?

Zhou's mother didn't dare to use the vanishing cream after receiving it.

She is so old now, why does she still use a young girl's lotion?

When did Qiao Yu realize that Zhou's mother was useless?

While eating, she casually asked, "Mom, is the vanishing cream I gave you good?"

"Yes, it works well."

As soon as she heard it, she could tell that something was wrong with Zhou's mother.

Looking up at the other person's expression, Qiao Yu smiled, put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up and went to Zhou's mother's room.

The box of vanishing cream was in the cupboard, not even opened.

Zhou's mother thought she was angry and said, "Xiao Yu, I'm old, I don't need these things. Don't worry about me taking them back to give to my eldest son's wife. She doesn't deserve them..."

Qiao Yu interrupted and said, "Mom, let's eat first."

At the dinner table, Zhou's mother frequently looked at her expression.

Qiao Yu sighed and said, "Mom, I'm not angry, really."

"Are you really not angry?"

"Really?"

Qiao Yu knew that Zhou's mother wanted to leave the vanishing cream for him when she left.

How could she want that?

But she always has a way of dealing with people.

To deal with a crazy extreme, she just needs to behave even more extreme than the extreme. To deal with a mother-in-law like Zhou's mother who is so cautious and even looks at her daughter-in-law's face...

We have to do it tough. We have to do it tough.

You have a plan, but I have a ladder.

See whose face this box of vanishing cream is used on in the end.

As a result, after washing up that night, when Zhou's mother returned to the room, she felt something was wrong.

When she turned around, she saw Qiao Yu standing behind her, staring at her.

At first glance, it's a bit scary.

"?? Xiaoyu? Why are you following me?"

Qiao Yu: "I've made up my mind, Mom."

? Decide what?

"I watch you every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to bed."

???

Seeing her mother-in-law's puzzled expression, Qiao Yu's smile gradually widened: "Watch you apply the vanishing cream. If you don't apply it, I'll help you. But...

You know I have big hands and I don't know how to handle it. If you think I've done too much and can't finish it on my face, you can evenly apply it on your hands, arms, feet, etc."

Zhou's mother was successfully threatened: ...

I give up.