Chapter 478: Chapter 478: A Good Family Tradition
"What did you say? Say that again?" Grandma Si’s incredulous voice came from the courtyard.
"Dad, Mom, I said I just called the Divine Doctor. She’s coming the day after tomorrow at ten o’clock to treat Dad," the Si Family Master repeated.
"Ten o’clock? Do all young people sleep in on the weekends?" Old Sir Si muttered under his breath.
"Not at all. Comrade Su said that Yuetai Restaurant is having its grand opening tomorrow. She has to be there at nine for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, then she’ll come here to perform acupuncture on Dad before heading back to the restaurant for a meal."
"What does Yuetai Restaurant have to do with the Divine Doctor?" Grandma Si asked, puzzled.
"Well... I didn’t ask," the Si Family Master said meekly.
"Come on, dear, let’s go back inside," Old Sir Si said with a chuckle.
"Honey, why don’t we have our son book a couple of tables at Yuetai Restaurant? We can go show our support tomorrow, too."
After saying this, Grandma Si pulled her husband toward the house, only to stop suddenly at the living room entrance.
She looked at her eldest son and asked, "Eldest, you were shouting so loudly just now. Aren’t you afraid of upsetting Old Three’s wife?"
"There’s nothing I can do if Old Three’s wife is unhappy. Dad’s illness has dragged on long enough. Even the best doctors are helpless, so what can her father possibly do? His skills are inferior, yet he wants to stop Dad from getting treatment?"
Old Sir Si strongly agreed with his eldest son, nodding vigorously.
"Sigh. Eldest, you shouldn’t talk about Old Three’s wife like that. She’s had a hard life..."
The Si Family’s second daughter-in-law came out of the kitchen after washing the dishes, just in time to overhear the conversation between her mother-in-law and eldest brother-in-law.
A pang of bitterness hit her. ’For years, Old Three’s wife has been acting like she’s hot stuff, all because her father could treat their father-in-law’s illness. She’s been insufferable.’
’She doesn’t do a damn thing around the house all day. A hard life, my ass!’
But she didn’t dare say anything. After all, her father-in-law and all the sons doted on their mother.
Her mother-in-law’s word was like an ancient imperial edict. In the Si Family, she held the highest, most supreme position, like an Empress Dowager of old.
The Si Family was one of the most prominent families in the Imperial City. How could a married woman like her, whose own family had fallen into decline, dare to talk back to a mother-in-law with the status of an Empress Dowager?
Fortunately, her husband and children respected her very much. Her eldest sister-in-law and two sisters-in-law were also very good to her. She ought to be content.
Grandma Si walked back into the living room and saw her second daughter-in-law standing there with a conflicted expression, her hands still wet.
She beckoned to her. "Second Daughter-in-law, your hands are all wet and you didn’t even dry them. Come over and dry your hands."
The second daughter-in-law responded at once, but she turned and walked into the kitchen to dry her hands. "Mom, I can dry them myself."
As she turned away, her face was already streaked with tears. Her mother-in-law’s concern had struck a chord within her, leaving her feeling unsettled.
For some reason, a sudden sense of grievance washed over her, and the tears fell before she could even speak.
That’s why she hurried into the kitchen to dry her hands, not daring to face her mother-in-law.
"Dear, what was that about? Why were you offering to dry Second Daughter-in-law’s hands? She’s a grown woman, can’t she take care of herself?"
Old Sir Si asked unhappily. He couldn’t stand seeing his second daughter-in-law disobey his wife.
"I just thought she looked upset. Her daughter is married and gone, and her two sons are at the front lines, not here with her. Don’t you think we, as parents, should show her a little more concern?"
Grandma Si was very observant. The moment she entered the room, she noticed her second daughter-in-law’s conflicted expression, as if something was bothering her.
But she never would have dreamed that her second daughter-in-law was jealous of her favoritism toward the third daughter-in-law, who only knew how to be lazy and sly.
In front of the two Si elders, the daughters-in-law were all as close as blood sisters.
"Oh, dear, why are you so considerate of them? When you were young, you raised several children all by yourself."
"They have it much easier. Our big family lives together, and we have a chef and household assistants."
"If they’re in a good mood, they’ll do some chores. If they’re not, they can do nothing at all and just open their mouths to eat."
"Are you silly? How they live their lives is their own business. It’s good enough that we don’t interfere."
"Honey, what nonsense are you talking about? Isn’t it right to care for the younger generation?" Grandma Si looked at her husband with disdain.
Old Sir Si said dotingly, "Hehe, it’s all my fault. As long as you’re happy, dear, that’s what’s most important."
While Old Sir Si and his wife were talking, the Si Family Master instructed his assistant to book one large private room and one small private room at Yuetai Restaurant.
His assistant told him that Yuetai Restaurant had a total of six large private rooms, and they had managed to book the very last one.
All six small private rooms were already booked, and even the tables of all sizes in the main dining hall were taken.
"Then we’ll just have to squeeze into one large private room for lunch tomorrow. What an auspicious start for Yuetai Restaurant’s grand opening," Grandma Si exclaimed.
"Dad, Mom, please have some digestive tea." Lady Si carried a tray over to the coffee table.
She carefully set down the tray and first handed a cup of the digestive tea to her mother-in-law. "Mom, please have some tea."
Then she respectfully offered a cup to her father-in-law, and another to her husband. "Old Si, you have a cup to help with digestion, too."
"Thank you. You should sit down and have a cup, too. You can leave things like making tea to the assistants," the Si Family Master said gently.
He took the tea from his wife’s hand, placed it gently on the coffee table, and then took another cup from the tray to hand to her.
The Si Family Master had inherited his father’s fine family tradition of doting on his wife.
Lady Si delightedly took the tea from her husband and sat down beside him.
Her heart felt sweet as honey, and the smile never left her face. Even her favorite TV show held no appeal for her.
She happily peeled an orange and gleefully held a segment to her husband’s lips. "Try it, is it sweet?"
The Si family’s second daughter-in-law dried her hands and sat on the long sofa, enviously watching her in-laws and her eldest brother-in-law with his wife showing affection.
She poured herself a cup of digestive tea and sat there drinking it, her eyes glued to the television.
It was as if the show was incredibly fascinating. Whether it truly was, only she knew.
As for the Si family’s third daughter-in-law, she glared with jealous hatred at her in-laws and her eldest brother-in-law with his wife on their respective loveseats.
’Her in-laws are so old, yet they’re still shamelessly showing off their love. It’s infuriating!’
’Her eldest brother-in-law is home all the time, which is one thing, but he’s also so good to his wife,’ she thought hatefully. ’What gives her eldest sister-in-law the right?!’
’Why don’t I get treated like that?!’
She wished she could go over and give each of them a good kick.
She peeled an orange for herself, stuffed two segments into her mouth at once, and bit down hard.
The more she thought about it, the more hateful she became, and the darker her expression grew. She chewed on the two orange segments in her mouth as if they were her eldest brother-in-law and his wife.
Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She shot to her feet, rushed to the television, grabbed the remote, and turned it off with a sharp CLICK.
