"It's alright, she'll get used to it after a while. Let her go to the hardware store first; she won't cause trouble there." Qin Xiaoyu led Zhou Yue to the hardware store. The color TVs hadn't arrived yet, so there wasn't much business.
Soon after, Zhou Yue's laughter could be heard coming from that room, and it was particularly noticeable.
Qin Xiaoyu sighed. As long as you're happy, watching a comedy to pass the time is fine.
In her office, she looked out the window; the coalfields stretched as far as the eye could see in the distance. Too much had happened yesterday; she needed time to process it all.
After this ordeal, her mindset seemed to have changed a lot, and she unconsciously started thinking about someone.
After getting the address from her cousin-in-law, Qin Xiaoyu drove off without saying goodbye.
Grandma Hanhan's family home is a bit remote, almost on the edge of the city. This area is the dormitory of the sugar factory; you can tell how profitable the factory is just by looking at the dormitories.
The houses were crooked and dilapidated, built wherever there was space. Some were mud-brick houses, overgrown with weeds, and the windows and doors were much smaller.
Qin Xiaoyu got out of the car, wanting to ask for some information, when suddenly she saw a small door open in front of her, and a thin old lady walked out.
She was carrying a huge bucket of swill, which was so full that it spilled as she walked, splashing a lot of swill onto her shoes.
She just kept struggling forward, completely ignoring everything else. The garbage dump had already piled up into a filthy iceberg. She tried to take a few steps up it, but her foot slipped, the bucket overturned, and she tumbled down with it.
Qin Xiaoyu hurriedly went to help him up.
"It's nothing, it's nothing." The old lady tried to stand up, but when she looked up and saw Qin Xiaoyu in front of her, she blurted out, "It's you?"
"Mom?" Qin Xiaoyu blurted out.
"What did you call me?" Grandma Hanhan asked in surprise, tears streaming down her face. Her legs ached so badly that she couldn't stand up, so she turned her face away and sobbed, "Don't call me that, I'm sorry."
"You take a year to empty the swill? Where are you hiding from the world again? The child has pooped! Come back and clean it up!" A head that looked like a bird's nest poked out from the small door, cursing as it walked out.
"Come here, Mom." Qin Xiaoyu went over and helped Hanhan's grandmother up.
"Who are you?" The young woman sensed something was wrong, squinted, pulled her clothes tighter, and leaned closer.
"Xiaoyu, go back. I'm too ashamed to go back. Don't worry about me." Grandma Hanhan pushed Qin Xiaoyu away and limped off to collect the swill bucket.
"Oh my, is this the widow Tang?" the young woman exclaimed in a sarcastic tone.
"Watch your mouth." Qin Xiaoyu stared coldly at her, and the young woman became frightened and suddenly ran back.
"Mom, come with me. We can't stay here any longer." Qin Xiaoyu pulled Grandma Hanhan towards the car.
"Little Fish, you... I..."
“Mom, I’m not a saint. I’ve hated you and resented you too. But we had a bond in the past. I can’t be heartless. Since I’ve called you Mom, you’re my Mom. Let’s go.” Qin Xiaoyu helped Grandma Hanhan into the car.
"I still have things."
"No, what's the point of keeping those things?" Qin Xiaoyu turned the car around.
The small door opened again, and several women, young and old, poured out, chasing after the car.
A thin, dark-skinned woman was blocking the front of the car, so Qin Xiaoyu had to step on the brakes.
"Just like that, you left?" The young woman came over and banged on the car door.
"What's wrong?" Qin Xiaoyu pressed down on Hanhan's grandmother and got out of the car.
"Your mother-in-law has been staying with us for days, and we've been providing her with food and drink. How could you just take her away like that?" the young woman said, her eyes slanted.
"Ha, what a fine promise of providing food and drink! I think your family would be better off hiring a free nanny."
"Hey! How can you talk like that? That's bullshit!"
"Don't try that on me. Haven't you heard of Widow Tang's reputation? You think you can mess with me? You're not worthy." Qin Xiaoyu took a step forward, and the young woman, feeling guilty, retreated.
"But you can't just leave like that! She even broke one of our baby bottles! We need to pay for it!"
"Pay up! You're not leaving until you pay up! Run me over!" The old woman in front of her also adopted the demeanor of a shrew.
"Here's some money, go buy some paper to burn," Qin Xiaoyu said, pulling out her wallet. The women's eyes widened, staring at her greedily.
Qin Xiaoyu pulled out a handful of small bills and threw them forcefully into the distance. The north wind swept the money away in all directions. The women scattered in a panic, scrambling and crawling after them to pick up the money.
Qin Xiaoyu jumped into the car and drove away.
"Look at what I've done, it's so shameful. How can I face my wife?" Grandma Hanhan sobbed.
"Mom, I have to blame you for this. But you've always been too naive, so it's understandable that you were taken advantage of by those people. Let's try to live a good life from now on and not cause any more trouble."
"No, I'll never see that woman again! They told me that Hanhan doesn't even call me 'Grandma' anymore, and she'll never acknowledge me again. I was just angry for a moment."
"Mom, everyone has a heart. If you treat Hanhan well, how could he not treat you well?"
"Little Fish, I never dreamed that you would take me home. If I ever do anything to betray you again, may I be struck by lightning!" Grandma Hanhan raised her hand and swore.
Grandpa Hanhan was sweeping the yard when he saw Qin Xiaoyu enter. He greeted her with a smile, "Why are you back on such a cold day?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she froze when she saw Grandma Hanhan looking timid and hesitant behind her.
It would be a lie to say that a couple married for decades has no feelings for each other, but she has caused such a huge disaster that they dare not take her on.
Now that Qin Xiaoyu had led him through the door, he understood everything.
"My opinion doesn't count; ask Madam." Grandpa Hanhan gritted his teeth, threw down a broom, and went into the main room.
"Mom, come in and apologize to Madam," Qin Xiaoyu whispered to Hanhan's grandmother.
The eldest sister-in-law came out carrying ashes from the stove. When she saw Grandma Hanhan, she froze in the courtyard, forgetting to call her "Mom."
Grandma Hanhan rushed into the main gate. Upon entering, she saw that the madam was already sitting up straight. Grandpa Hanhan announced the news first, and the old lady had a stern face.
Grandma Hanhan's legs went weak, and she knelt down with a thud.
"Mom, I was wrong, I'll never do it again, please forgive me this time."
"Help your mother-in-law up," the lady sighed. "This is for Xiaoyu's sake. I won't teach you how to handle things from now on. You're not young anymore; you still need to learn from the younger generation how to behave."
Grandma Hanhan was so ashamed that she couldn't lift her head.
"Mom, go change your clothes."
The room was hot, and Grandma Hanhan had a sour smell emanating from her. Qin Xiaoyu saw that his wife was frowning and quickly told her to go back and change her clothes.
She left in a hurry and didn't take many clothes with her, but luckily she had some to change into.
Qin Xiaoyu then asked Hanhan's grandfather to bring the color TV from the car in. This TV was bought by Qi Si when they stayed at Song Mazi's house. The house had already been emptied, so the TV was brought over.
The television was brought in from outside, and it would take a while before it could be powered on, so Qin Xiaoyu stayed inside chatting with his wife.
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