Liu Ercui rolled her eyes at the sight of the person who had arrived, annoyed. "Go away, do you think my belly is a balloon?"
The woman immediately retorted sarcastically, "I knew your belly was padded. Is it really worth it to grab some supplies? You're just trying to make sure everyone knows you're from the countryside. You're so short-sighted."
Liu Ercui spat on the ground, "None of your business! Don't spout nonsense here!"
Liu Ercui had often been met with sarcastic remarks, so she hadn't taken them to heart.
Unexpectedly, the woman seemed extremely resentful towards Liu Ercui, her eyes filled with hatred as she looked at her.
"It's none of my business! You've ruined Dr. Qiao's life! If it weren't for you, would she have died so young!"
Dr. Qiao was the doctor Liu Ercui's man had dated. Although many years have passed, most people in the building have heard of her.
Upon hearing the name "Doctor Qiao," Liu Ercui immediately exploded.
Is this ever going to end?!
Is she destined to never escape that man surnamed Qiao in her lifetime?
And it was someone surnamed Qiao who stole her man, so how did it become her fault...?
"The person is gone??" Liu Ercui asked, her face full of confusion.
The woman sneered, "That's right! Doctor Qiao's reputation was ruined because of you, so he had to change careers! He didn't have a good life after that either, and he even died of illness the other day."
Most people just watch the show and chat about Liu Ercui and Doctor Qiao's affair casually over tea and after meals.
The woman in front of her had a good relationship with Dr. Qiao before, and a few days ago she happened to hear that Dr. Qiao had died of illness. Now that she saw Liu Ercui living a comfortable life, she couldn't help but feel indignant on behalf of Dr. Qiao.
"If you hadn't ousted Dr. Qiao, she would have had a smooth life and probably wouldn't have gotten sick at all!"
Liu Ercui stood there dumbfounded, unusually not retaliating with a curse.
The woman said a few words, but seeing that Liu Ercui remained silent, she smacked her lips and left, looking bored.
Qin Hanshu called out, "Sister-in-law Er Cui?"
Liu Ercui slowly looked at Qin Hanshu and murmured, "I've never even seen her face, how did I become the one who harmed her?"
Qin Hanshu frowned and said, "Don't take other people's nonsense seriously. The one who controls life and death is the King of Hell. How could you have that ability?"
“That’s true…” Liu Ercui seemed to have taken Qin Hanshu’s words to heart, but she was noticeably quieter on the way back.
Cao Jing added, "Sister-in-law Er Cui, today is New Year's Eve, and the children have all returned from their hometown. Cheer up."
The twins from Liu Ercui's family were brought to our home some time ago, and will be sent back to their hometown after the Chinese New Year.
Only when she thought of her child did Liu Ercui cheer up.
The three boys in Liu Ercui's family were very noisy; as soon as you entered the building, you could hear them playing and fighting.
Liu Ercui scolded her sons, who were jumping up and down the stairs, "Go home! Don't make noise outside! Do you think this whole building belongs to you?"
Although her three sons were mischievous, they were quite obedient to Liu Ercui, and upon hearing this, they obediently went home.
Only Yue'er ran down the stairs and walked towards Qin Hanshu and the others.
"Mother Er Cui, Yue'er, please help."
This was because they saw that Liu Ercui had a lot of things in her hands and wanted to help her carry them.
Human hearts are made of flesh and blood. Little Yue'er is cute and sensible, much more considerate than her son. Liu Ercui had long since genuinely accepted this adopted daughter.
Moreover, pregnant women are especially soft-hearted. Thinking of how Yue'er lost her parents at such a young age, Liu Ercui felt even more affection for her.
“You’re too young to lift heavy things, Mom can do it,” Liu Ercui said.
Yue'er blinked her pitiful eyes, "Mom?"
Since entering the family, Yue'er has been adding the names before Liu Ercui and Zhang Lei when addressing them, so as to distinguish them from her former biological parents.
This was decided by Zhang Lei, and he hasn't changed Yue'er's surname yet, saying that he can't let Yue'er forget her biological parents.
But at this moment, Liu Ercui called herself "Mom," which confused Yue'er.
Liu Ercui laughed and said, "Look at me, I misspoke, it should be 'Ercui Mama'."
After her initial confusion, Yue'er's expression hardened, and she looked at Liu Ercui and called out, "Mom!"
Liu Ercui was taken aback.
Yue'er asked again, "Mommy, can I call you Mommy and Daddy like my brothers do?"
Although Yue'er was young, she was aware of her difference in the family. She didn't want this difference and wanted to be like her brothers.
Liu Ercui didn't dare to make the decision herself, and only said, "Go back and ask your father, Zhang Lei."
The moon obediently nodded.
When they parted ways on the second floor, Yue'er politely waved goodbye to Qin Hanshu and Cao Jing.
Goodbye, Aunt Qin. Goodbye, Aunt Cao.
Cao Jing smiled and said, "Goodbye, Yue'er."
Qin Hanshu smiled at Yue'er, then took out his key to open the door.
Seeing that Aunt Qin didn't say goodbye to her as warmly as Aunt Cao Jing, Yue'er pursed her lips and followed Liu Ercui upstairs dejectedly.
Qin Hanshu didn't notice Yue'er's little mood at all. She sat down at home for a while, and then Zhou Weiguang brought her breakfast.
Zhou Weiguang bought white porridge and steamed buns, and she put some of Qin Feiyang's pickled vegetables on a plate.
"Feiyang will be back early today to cook the New Year's Eve dinner, so you don't need to go and help out."
Qin Hanshu glanced at him. "What? You think my cooking isn't good?"
Zhou Weiguang quickly shook his head, "How could that be? I'm just worried you'll overwork yourself. Haven't you been complaining of back pain these past few days?"
Qin Hanshu shook her head, "It's just a little sore, not really painful."
Zhou Weiguang: "Anyway, you can rest. My brother-in-law has already assured me that he will cover all the New Year's Eve dinner today."
Qin Hanshu smiled at him and didn't say anything more. Even if Zhou Weiguang didn't say anything, Qin Feiyang would basically never let Qin Hanshu and Cao Jing go to the kitchen when he was home.
Qin Feiyang likes to tinker in the kitchen, so he has more kitchen utensils than Qin Hanshu, making cooking more convenient.
After lunch, Qin Hanshu took the ingredients she needed and went to the apartment across the hall.
Cao Jing said, "We've prepared plenty here, enough for us to eat. You don't need to bring any ingredients."
"I brought things that you don't have here." Qin Hanshu put the things away and placed the fish in the basin.
This live fish has been kept in the basin for several days, and because there is space and water, it has been thriving.
Looking at the lively fish jumping around in the basin, Cao Jing said fearfully, "We have to wait for Feiyang to come back and kill the fish."
Qin Hanshu said, "It's alright, I'll do it."
As he spoke, Qin Hanshu rolled up his sleeves.
Cao Jing was amazed by the swift and decisive movements.
Qin Feiyang returned at three o'clock in the afternoon. After returning, he chased the two of them out of the kitchen and closed the door.
Qin Hanshu and Cao Jing exchanged a smile and decided to let him be.
The two women, an aunt and a sister-in-law, packed a plate of melon seeds, brewed a pot of tea, turned on the radio, and chatted idly while listening to the broadcast.
The whole house exudes a warm and cozy atmosphere.
But Liu Ercui's house upstairs was a completely different story.
Zhang Lei glared at Liu Ercui with resentment, gritting his teeth as he said, "You instigated Yue'er to call you 'Mom,' do you want her to forget her own mother?!"
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