Upon recognizing her as Gao Baoliang's mother, everyone immediately smiled at her.
"Welcome, welcome, please come inside."
Gao Baoling took the snakeskin bag from her hand and went into the house.
Zhao Xiulian, Gao's mother, did not stand on ceremony. She marveled at the grandeur of the courtyard house and stepped over the high threshold into the yard.
Now that the weather is warmer, the table under the big locust tree has been brought out again, becoming an important place for everyone to hang out after get off work.
Zhao Xiulian was invited here to sit down and rest.
Everyone went to pack their things, while Gao Baoliang and Yang Lu stayed behind.
Yang Lu smiled sweetly at her and called her "Mom".
Zhao Xiulian chuckled and looked at her stomach.
"Have you had someone check it out? Is it a boy or a girl?"
Yang Lu's smile froze. "The doctor won't tell you."
"Then go to a private clinic outside, they'll tell you the answer for a little money."
Zhao Xiulian said with great experience.
Gao Baoliang took out the two live chickens from the snakeskin bag. After several days of train travel, the chickens were on the verge of death and emitted a foul stench.
He quickly moved the chicken away from Yang Lu.
"Mom, what's the point of knowing about men and women? Just accept whatever comes to mind."
He felt that his mother shouldn't care about this.
Zhao Xiulian, however, said seriously, "We can't be indifferent. When your older brother and sister-in-law had their children, the one-child policy hadn't been implemented yet. It didn't matter if it was their first child. Anyway, if they had more children, they could have a son."
"Your situation is different now; you can only have one child. What if it's a girl..."
The thought of only being able to have one daughter visibly darkened her expression.
At this moment, Wang Xiufen brewed a bowl of Pu'er tea, handed it to her, and greeted her with a smile:
"A daughter is good too, she's like a warm cotton-padded jacket."
Zhao Xiulian forced an awkward smile and didn't reply.
He turned to Yang Lu and said, "I'll find out about it tomorrow and take you to see it. I'll feel at ease once I see it for myself."
Yang Lu understood what she meant: it was about favoring sons over daughters.
She looked at Gao Baoliang with a hint of resentment.
Gao Baoliang washed his hands and came over, putting his arm around her shoulder, and said to his mother:
"Mom, stay here a few more days. I'll show you around the capital. As for Lulu, don't worry about her."
Zhao Xiulian's face darkened further. She had come all this way to see her grandson, and now that she was in such a daze, how could she leave in peace?
Wang Xiufen, being about the same age as her, sat down, intending to offer some advice. However, Zhao Xiulian then looked at her son and asked:
"Where do you live? Let me come into your house and take a look."
Gao Baoliang then told her that this courtyard belonged to Jiang Ning's family, and his courtyard was next door.
However, he is currently planning renovations and has not yet moved back.
"That won't do. You have your own house, why live in someone else's?"
Zhao Xiulian's tone was very harsh.
Wang Xiufen thought she was afraid of trouble, and quickly said:
"It's alright, it's not much trouble, it's just a matter of cooking one more meal."
Zhao Xiulian sighed:
"She's pregnant, so she should eat better. How can she eat communal meals?"
Wang Xiufen felt a lump in her throat. Well, the other person had no intention of appreciating her kindness at all.
"I'll go check on the kitchen," Wang Xiufen said, making an excuse to leave.
Gao Baoliang was furious and said to his mother:
"Mom, we're living in someone else's house and eating here every day, how can you talk like that!"
Aunt Wang treated Lulu and me like her own children. It's one thing to be ungrateful, but to say such hurtful things is quite another.
Zhao Xiulian, seemingly unconcerned, took a sip of tea, then her expression changed again.
"Look at how stingy city people are with their hospitality; they just offer a few tea leaves. Unlike us in the countryside, where we serve roasted beans and sesame seeds..."
She started rambling on and on.
Gao Baoliang had no choice but to push her out.
"Mom, let's go stay in that courtyard instead. There's no room for you here."
Zhao Xiulian, being supported by him, said defiantly:
"Then remember to bring the chicken over later. It's a free-range chicken that I raised with great difficulty. It's very nutritious, and I want to feed it to my grandson."
Yang Lu was seething with anger and didn't follow.
A moment later, Zhao Xiulian's scream came from the other side again.
When she saw Grandpa Ji, she was very unhappy that a former landlord was still living in the courtyard. If Gao Baoliang hadn't stopped her, they would have definitely started arguing.
As soon as they left, Jiang Ning changed into a comfortable set of home clothes and came over, asking Gao's mother why she had left.
Yang Lu shrugged with a wry smile; she couldn't very well speak ill of her mother-in-law.
When Wang Xiufen came out, she spoke her mind.
"Lulu, your mother-in-law is no pushover. I never expected Baoliang's mother to be like this."
Jiang Ning understood the meaning behind her mother-in-law's words, and seeing Yang Lu's furrowed brows, she quickly took her arm.
"Okay, pregnant woman, don't be angry. The baby will feel it. Not every mother-in-law is as good as my mother. After all, she is Baoliang's mother, so we still have to be polite to her."
Wang Xiufen was overjoyed to hear her daughter-in-law subtly praising her.
"If you keep saying that, I'll get arrogant. Lulu, you'll be staying here, so please don't feel awkward."
Yang Lu was moved: "Thank you, Aunt Wang, thank you, sister-in-law."
However, soon after, Zhao Xiulian called her from the doorway next door, saying that she hadn't had dinner yet and asked her to make her something.
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiufen wanted to go out and beat someone up.
They came here wanting to give Yang Lu a hard time!
Jiang Ning stopped her:
"Mom, Gao Liang will definitely protect Lulu, so don't worry. Did you eat a bit too much for dinner? Let's call my mom and go for a walk to digest."
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