Don't be fooled by how glamorous the people living in the compound may seem. In reality, apart from the breadwinner holding a key position, most of their family members have formal jobs and are in slightly better financial condition than other families.
The one-child policy wasn't actually implemented yet, only showing signs of taking shape, but it was a fact that many families had a large number of children. Even the allocation of housing by any work unit could cause quite a stir; meeting requirements such as rank, length of service, and marital status wasn't enough, there was also the question of whether there was a new house available!
Therefore, the compound was not as idyllic as depicted in the novel. Instead, it was more like a large tenement, with many people living in each household, watching the neighbor's merriment one day and the neighbor's joke the next.
It's not uncommon for families like the Ling family, with several members clinging to the old man's name, to be reluctant to leave the compound, even after the work unit has allocated them housing. They still cherish the compound's former glory.
They have dozens of people, yet they're so stingy with hiring just one nanny. She's busy from morning till night, and even has to be there when someone gives birth or is hospitalized. Aunt Lu is really fed up with all the pampering. It's true what they say: the richer and more particular people are, the harder they are to please and the more petty they become!
The old lady's health wasn't very good, so she had to stay at home. This newly adopted young lady didn't have a biological mother, and her adoptive parents were focused on their shop, while her son-in-law was attending classes.
She certainly couldn't take care of everything by herself, so she naturally had to build a good relationship with the person in the next bed beforehand, at least to call a doctor or nurse if things got bad, and take turns getting water and food.
The old lady smiled and didn't let her grandson-in-law interfere. Carrying the thermos, she went to the water room with Aunt Lu while Ling Yifei was pursing her lips. "It just so happens that my baby will be staying for a few days. I'll go with you to get familiar with the area and the surroundings."
While we're at it, let's find out more about the Ling family! Let's see what kind of banner that little vixen Ke Enshu is using and what kind of power she's relying on!
As soon as the two left, the people on the opposite beds pulled open the partition with a whoosh, hesitated, and greeted Ying Yan with a smile, saying, "Ninth Master, is this your sister-in-law? She really looks like the one from Kyoto!"
The person in the other bed laughed and said, not to be outdone, "Hehe, Ninth Master, I didn't expect we'd be so destined. Look at your wife's belly, it must be twins, right?"
Ying Yan raised an eyebrow and nodded with a smile.
Several older people also brought fruits and canned goods from their homes for Ke Meiyu to try.
Ling Yifei gripped the blanket tightly with one hand, her eyelids lowered as she nibbled on an apple.
When the old lady returned with the water, Ying Yan said in a low voice, "Grandma, you stay here and watch over things. I'll go downstairs and get a few more things."
"Alright, alright, go ahead, don't keep your grandpa waiting." The old lady nodded. They had only brought two bags with them, and most of them were still in the car.
Just as Ying Yan was about to leave, the two young men accompanying her on the opposite beds smiled and went down to help.
The old lady pulled out a bag of oranges, took one for herself and gave one to Aunt Lu. "These were given to us by the parents of the children in the family. There are two big boxes of them, all saved for my baby. Pregnant women should eat more fruit so that their babies will be born fair-skinned and beautiful."
Aunt Lu smiled and thanked her, accepting the oranges. "These oranges are really good stuff. Our family gives them out during the New Year, but with so many people in the family, they're gone in no time. If we don't stock up on a box or two beforehand, we won't have anything to serve our guests during the New Year!"
"Aunt Lu," Ling Yifei said through gritted teeth, "how could you just take things from people like that? We don't need any more food!"
She was filled with hatred, because most of her current life had been taken from Ke Meiyu.
She felt no guilt. If she could take it, it belonged to her, and she should possess it with a clear conscience. Why should she grovel before this family? It's just an orange; why should she expose her true nature?
The Ling family is stingy, but her family owns a shop and doesn't lack these things at all!
Aunt Lu's face stiffened. She had been working for the Ling family for over twenty years. Her husband had originally been Old Master Ling's subordinate, but died while saving the old man. Now, the eldest son of the family, Ling, had decided to let her live with their two children in the Ling family, and also take care of the rest of the family.
She earns ten yuan more per month than the other nannies in the yard. With the old lady and Ling Laoda backing her up, no one dares to treat her and her two children as servants.
She wasn't an unreasonable person; she did what she was supposed to do and didn't say anything she shouldn't have, trying her best not to take advantage of others and to live an upright life with her children.
This Miss Ling Yifei seems to be a good person, but what she sees in others cannot be deceived.
Aunt Lu hadn't forgotten that when the old lady introduced herself to Ling Yifei, her uncontrollable disdain and condescending expression caught the attention of many people.
Despite the constant arguments within the Ling family, they still maintained certain boundaries because the child was born outside the family.
Aunt Lu said "Oh," and added, "Yifei, these oranges are for me. Whether I want them or not is none of my business."
Ling Yifei's eyes widened, clearly not expecting her to say such a thing.
"Aunt Lu, I'm hungry. Could you please make me some chicken soup porridge when I get home? Jingyuan knows I'm about to give birth, so he bought a lot of chicken, pig's trotters, and pig liver and froze them in the refrigerator."
Aunt Lu smiled and said, "The old lady told me to stay in the hospital and take care of you. Your mother and several other aunties will take turns cooking the meals at home."
"What would you like to eat? We can decide later, either when our family comes over tonight or after I get home?"
"If you're hungry, I'll go to the hospital cafeteria and see what you can eat."
Ling Yifei pursed her lips, "Then I'll trouble Aunt Lu."
Ha, now that the Ling family has acknowledged her, even if she didn't grow up in the Ling family, she is indeed the old lady's biological granddaughter. How can she let others look down on her?
An aunt who helps out at home can act arrogantly and domineeringly in her husband's house just because of her husband's job!
Did she not know what the Lu siblings were up to?
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