"Mom, I'll listen to you. I'll consult you about things in the future. I just think that if little fifth brother is well dressed and there are some extra clothes, the two brothers shouldn't be too different in size. Otherwise, they are brothers and they can't just take care of themselves." She knew that she had to integrate into this society and this family, and she still had a lot to learn, but she wasn't worried because her mother-in-law was very nice.
"You two young couple are both good people. I hope they will remember your kindness. As long as your brothers' families are doing well, your father and I will feel relieved." Zhang's mother sighed. Her son Xiaowu has always valued friendship since he was young. He married a good wife and was never stingy with his parents-in-law and nephews and nieces.
The eldest sister-in-law Huang Cuilan and the second sister-in-law came in together, "Mom, we are taking advantage of your younger sister-in-law. Why do you have to join in the arrangements? Xiaowu is still young, and we need more money to support our family after the division of the family property after the Chinese New Year. Jiaojiao, your second sister-in-law and I will accept it this time, but you can't do this again next time."
She said, smiling and touching Ping An, looking at Mai Sui, "Mai Sui, is the milk good? Do you want to give some to Auntie?"
"You don't know Jiaojiao yet. She treats you as her own brothers and sisters-in-law. If she wants to give something, you just accept it. I'm happy to see you three getting along so well. Look at those sisters-in-law in the village who are quarreling with each other and even brothers are enemies.
The aunts in the village all praise you. I also think that you sisters-in-law are good. Since your grandfather's generation, we sisters-in-law have never had any quarrels. Your aunt is a kind person who helps anyone who has problems. Your aunt is cold to others, but she is the first to come forward to help your father and his three brothers.
When your grandfather was alive, he often said that filial piety wasn't about the number of sons, but the number of daughters-in-law. Filial piety from sons is fake, while filial piety from daughters-in-law is real. Before he died, he even thanked the three of us sisters-in-law, saying that a harmonious family brings prosperity.
Huang Cuilan and the other three smiled thoughtfully at each other. Zhou Jiao said to them, "I envied my second sister-in-law's cooking skills, so I asked her to help me. Don't say those polite words. Sister-in-law, don't you want to see the three brothers come out, dressed in the same color, like triplets? I feel happy just thinking about it. Mom, don't you agree?"
The woman in the room thought about it and it was true. Usually everyone wore either black or blue, and they all looked the same when walking on the street. This army green was rarely seen in the village, and when they stood together they would look like three twins. Thinking about it, she burst into laughter, and Mai Sui laughed along with everyone else.
After everyone finished cutting the cloth and deciding on the pattern, Zhang's mother saw that there was nothing for her to do here, but she was also worried about her husband and son, so she left first, leaving the three of them to take care of each other. "Okay, I'll go check on them. You guys can take advantage of this rare free time and stay together and chat for a while. You don't have to go out and clean up the kitchen."
As they walked, he winked at Zhou Jiao and glanced at her pillow. This was because he was afraid that she would be stupid enough to take out everything, as she still remembered what was under her pillow.
Zhou Jiao bared her teeth at her. How could she be so silly? She laughed out loud, "Okay, mother is leaving. Sisters-in-law, let's get going. The sewing machine is in the small living room outside, and the brown sugar and red dates are in the cabinet drawer at the entrance to the small living room. You can use them as you please. I can't get up, so I won't accompany you. Little Wheat Ear, can you stay with your aunt?"
Huang Cuilan didn't hesitate to go to the small living room with Lin Juhua to make clothes. Xiao Maisui nodded and pulled Zhou Jiao's clothes, "Auntie, I want to drink more, but if I drink, my little brother will have no milk to drink."
"Didn't grandma give you something to drink? Auntie put it with grandma so it's for you to drink." That shouldn't be the case. Her mother-in-law is not that kind of person.
Mai Sui carefully looked at her face, and that look made Zhou Jiao feel distressed. She was so young but could already read people's faces. She had never seen the innocence of a child. She was as timid as a young wife. "Eat, eat! Grandma gave my sister and me a drink each, and said we should wait for my brother to come back and drink together."
"Little Wheat Ear is such a good boy! You can drink my milk here, little brother. Do you understand? Can I bring you some milk powder?"
Little Wheat Ear hurriedly shook his head and quickly looked around the small living room. As if to make sure that no one over there could hear him, he waved his little hands like chicken claws, "Auntie, I won't take it home. My mother will see it and it will be gone. Many brothers and sisters are crying, and my mother is crying too. I am crying too. I don't like to cry there."
Zhou Jiao was at a loss for words. She couldn't even explain it clearly. She was smart and knew that she would take it back to her mother to give away, and she would have nothing to drink.
"Well, when you want to drink wheat ears, bring your sister Mai Miao to your aunt's place and drink here, okay? You can't drink it at night. If you drink it, you will wet the bed and your mother will beat you." Zhou Jiao quickly assured her.
"Okay, let's drink together, brother." Little Wheat Ear nodded obediently and went to play with her little brother.
This child is really sensible. Zhou Jiao remembered that there was her favorite Dove white chocolate in the space, but the packaging was obviously leaking. Zhang Guoqing should have brought back two pounds of candy today. Look at her short stature, she can't even climb down the kang.
"Then wait until your uncle comes back and gives you some candy."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm obedient. I'm very good. My grandma, my uncle, my dad, my grandpa, my sister, and many others all say that I'm good." The little guy counted on his fingers, probably too anxious to count or express himself.
Zhou Jiao laughed non-stop after seeing this, "Yes, Little Wheat Ear is very well behaved. That's why I want to give you candy."
In the small living room, the eldest sister-in-law was cutting the last piece of cloth, and the second sister-in-law was operating the sewing machine. The two of them worked together very quickly.
Strangely enough, my second sister-in-law, Lin Juhua, was a very quick learner. She would learn anything she got from just looking at it. The sweaters she knitted were the most fashionable in the village. She would often go out and knit a sweater for someone she saw wearing.
No one could match her dexterity. She cooked the best meals, but was very fussy about the oil. Her mother-in-law was terrified of her, and since she would steal food back to her parents' home, she was kept out of the kitchen except during festivals, and was forced to focus on feeding the pigs.
Zhang Guoqing once joked that the pig food cooked by his second sister-in-law was probably better than the food in his family.
She has many shortcomings, but also has advantages, such as her broad-mindedness. She can be gritting her teeth one moment, but be open-hearted the next moment. Especially towards her own man, she is obedient and loving. She does what her man says without hesitation. Except for secretly taking coarse grains back a few times, she would never take the money in the family even if she saw it. This is her advantage. If she was really dishonest, who would dare to get along with her?
She's a bit of a gossipmonger, but she doesn't make things up. She's just a bit loose-lipped, easily tricked into revealing things, and can't keep them to herself. But when it comes to matters of life and death, she knows what's important. She's a bit vain, loves to show off, and enjoys comparing herself to others.
You say she's lazy and gluttonous, completing all the household chores assigned to her, but even when she has nothing to do, she won't look for work. Rural wives often work non-stop for a year after marriage, and most, like my sister-in-law, make hemp rope in their free time to supplement the family income. She, on the other hand, won't do any chores beyond her responsibility, preferring to chat with her sisters in the village. She's a bit selfish, arguing with others, but after complaining, she becomes heartless and lives a life of mediocrity.
Perhaps it was due to the patriarchal environment in her mother's family, and her upbringing there, which was very patriarchal. She took good care of her son Shitou, fearing that he would suffer any harm. Fortunately, Shitou grew up with his brothers in this family and did not develop a spoiled personality. She had little patience for her youngest daughter Mai Sui. In her words, she was blessed to be born in the Zhang family, and she was still spoiling her. She was very dissatisfied with her mother-in-law who often gave the two little girls special treatment and complained about it behind her back.
The Zhang family is generous and magnanimous, and they are warm and righteous. The straightforward Zhang family members do not like Lin Juhua, a woman who loves to compare, love to compete, and is petty and narrow-minded.
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