Just as they reached the door, Zhang's mother arrived, panting heavily. Xia Liang said, "Aunt Peng, your daughter-in-law is really meddling in other people's business. You should take her back and give her a good talking to." Liu Xiaoli's mother-in-law, still blushing, said shamefully, "I'm so sorry for causing you trouble. I'll take her back right away." Liu Xiaoli could only apologize when her mother-in-law arrived; didn't she see herself being dragged out the door by Xia Liang like a dead dog? Xia Liang's mother-in-law would help her, but her own mother-in-law only dragged her down. She was even more jealous of Xia Liang: "Xia Liang, you're ungrateful, aren't you? I wonder what you'll do when your man leaves you." Xia Liang smiled and said, "If that day ever comes, I'm capable of living well on my own. I'll never depend on anyone, nor do I need anyone to support me, nor am I anyone's baby-making machine. I have children so they can see the world, not to secure my retirement. Whether it's a boy or a girl, I'll teach them independence and self-reliance, to be thoughtful people who don't need to sacrifice themselves for anyone, nor will they just leech off their sisters." Liu Xiaoli's face turned pale and then red as she was dragged home by Zhang's mother.
Xia Liang went back to finish the meal they hadn't eaten earlier. Today, Wu Ma had prepared stir-fries and hot pot. Xia Liang wanted hot pot, but Han Yulan was worried her in-laws wouldn't like it, so she had Wu Ma prepare several more stir-fries. The family's lively atmosphere returned. After the meal, the two families sat together drinking tea and watching TV. Zhao Danxiang thought for a moment and said, "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, you have to work on New Year's Eve. Why don't you come to our place for New Year's Eve?" Han Yulan thought of her daughter-in-law; her son was in the army and couldn't come home, and she was pregnant with no one to take care of her. She was about to return to work in the provincial capital. Her family felt guilty towards her daughter-in-law, and she figured she wanted to spend the New Year with her parents. She smiled and said, "Okay, then we'll have to trouble you, Mother-in-law. We can't help much, but Wu Ma will come over to help at noon." And so, the two families agreed on the New Year's Eve dinner.
On the morning of the 30th, Xia Liang sat on the bed, holding Xiao Yunxi and breastfeeding. The little one was very well-behaved; as long as she was full, she wouldn't cry or fuss, unless she soiled her diaper and wasn't changed in time, in which case she would cry a little. After feeding Xiao Yunxi, Xia Liang carried her out of the room. Her in-laws had already gone to work. When Wu Ma saw her get up, she said, "Hurry up and sit down and eat something. Did the baby just eat?" Xia Liang nodded, "Yes, she cried as soon as I was about to get up. I changed her diaper and fed her, and then she calmed down." After eating, Xia Liang wrapped the baby up tightly. Wu Ma washed the dishes in the kitchen. After washing, Xia Liang took the baby and Wu Ma and hurried to the Xia family home.
When they arrived home, Zhao Danxiang was already preparing dinner. Wu Ma went into the kitchen to help, while Xia Liang carried the child into the house. She saw Xiaoxin Ran watching TV; she wasn't sure if the little one could concentrate, but she was definitely watching intently. Seeing the child in Xia Liang's arms, Xiaoxin Ran reached out to her. Perhaps because they'd seen each other more often recently, Xiaoxin Ran wasn't afraid of Xia Liang anymore. The girl who had just been sitting on the little stool her grandfather had made for her was now crawling towards Xia Liang. Xia Liang quickly picked her up. "Silly girl, don't you know the ground is cold?" Xia Liang said, taking a towel to wipe her hands. Xiao Xinran didn't move, letting Xia Liang wipe her hands, staring intently at Xiao Yunxi in her arms. Seeing that she liked her little sister, Xia Liang smiled and said, "You two sisters, say hello." Xiao Xinran didn't know if she understood, but she leaned forward and poked Xiao Yunxi's cheek with her finger. Xiao Yunxi made some kind of "Ah~ woo woo, ah woo" sounds, and Xiao Xinran also said "Sister, sister." Xia Liang saw the two of them talking like babies, and her heart almost melted.
In the morning, Xia Liang took care of the children while Zhao Danxiang and Wu Ma prepared the New Year's Eve dinner in the kitchen. Every now and then, Zhao Danxiang would bring Xia Liang a bowl of meatballs, a few pieces of fish, and so on. She also steamed egg custard for Xiao Xinran so Xia Liang could feed her. Xiao Yunxi, on the other hand, was perfectly content with her milk. In the afternoon, everyone returned from get off work, instantly making the house several times more lively. Everyone carried New Year's gifts from their workplace, which were placed in the main room. Xia Liang saw apples, oranges, and pears, along with biscuits and candies. Her father-in-law received the most, after all, he was the head of the household. The pork belly he received was taken directly to the kitchen to make braised pork, while the foreleg meat was saved for dumplings that evening. There was also a rack of ribs that Han Yulan brought back, which Wu Ma made into Xia Liang's favorite sweet and sour ribs. After a flurry of activity, the New Year's Eve dinner began. Han Yulan took out two red envelopes first, giving one to Xiaoxinran and the other to her granddaughter Xiaoyunxi. Zhao Danxiang also took out the ones she had prepared and gave one to each of them.
That evening, in the county government compound, Han Yulan came to Xia Liang's room and saw her breastfeeding. She sat down beside her and handed her a large red envelope, saying, "This is New Year's money your dad and I prepared for you." Xia Liang smiled, "Mom, I'm a mother now, how can I accept New Year's money?" Han Yulan placed the envelope beside her, saying, "As long as I'm here, even if you're a grandma, you'll still get a red envelope." Xia Liang smiled and thanked her, "Thank you, Mom, I'll accept it." Han Yulan nodded, got up to look at her little granddaughter, and couldn't stop loving her. She thought she was the most beautiful child in the world. Indeed, one's own child is always the most beloved.
After Han Yulan left, Xia Liang also wanted to go out and sit for a while. Just as she was about to put her sleeping child on the bed, a sudden burst of firecrackers sounded outside. The little one was startled and started crying. Xia Liang quickly picked her up and tried to soothe her, but the little one continued to cry. Xia Liang became frightened; the little one was usually very well-behaved and only needed a little coaxing to calm down. She quickly took her to find her mother-in-law. Han Yulan also heard her granddaughter crying and knew she had been frightened by the firecrackers outside. She quickly took her and comforted her, carrying her around the entire room. After a while, Gu Weiguo stepped forward and said, "Come, Grandpa will take you to the study." He carried her into the study. Whether it was the good soundproofing of the study or the little one's exhaustion from crying, she quieted down within minutes in the study, though she was still sobbing. The adults around her were heartbroken. The little one's face was red from crying. Gu Weiguo carried her around for a while longer until she slowly fell asleep.
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