Chapter 422: Chapter 218: The Missing Daughter-in-Law_2
No one answered because Zhao Xiue and Erlang had been living in town these past few days, and today they were nowhere to be seen.
"Lady He," Lady Zhou called out to Lady He, "what’s the matter? Where are Erlang and his wife? It’s so late; why haven’t they come yet? What kind of mother-in-law are you? Every day you only care about eating your fill. Can’t you think of anything serious?"
Lady He was scolded for no reason and could only roll her eyes.
"They didn’t come back for breakfast this morning. Who knows what happened. Maybe Xiue isn’t feeling well again?"
"Look at the daughter-in-law you folks picked. She’s only been in the house for a few days, and it’s either today she’s unwell or tomorrow she’s unwell, less useful than our old folks," Lady Zhou admonished Zhao Xiue in her presence, but when speaking to Lady He, she casually said, "If she’s not feeling well, even Erlang becomes restless and doesn’t come home."
"Who knows? I also became a mother-in-law, and I’ve never been served by a daughter-in-law for a day. Who can I complain to?" Lady He also had her grievances.
"If you don’t set rules for her, who can you blame?" Lady Zhou looked down on Lady He’s attitude, "Sanlang, Si Lang, go see what’s up with Erlang and his wife. We’re still waiting for her to cook a couple of dishes, for goodness’ sake..."
Sanlang obeyed and set off for town. Just as he reached the entrance gate, he saw Erlang, huffing and puffing, walking toward him. Both then went to the Upper Room to see Lady Zhou.
"Where’s your wife?" Lady Zhou demanded of Erlang as soon as she saw him.
"...She wasn’t feeling well early this morning, so I rushed to get a doctor... They said she needed a good rest, so I came back first." Erlang stuttered, perhaps because he hurried back.
"Is your wife pregnant?" Lady Zhou immediately asked.
"What, pregnant?" Erlang was taken aback.
The hint of joy on Lady Zhou’s face vanished.
"What’s wrong with your wife, did the doctor say? Why is it every three days there’s something wrong?" Lady Zhou asked.
"I, I don’t know. It’s not, I don’t quite understand, something about women’s illnesses..." Erlang’s forehead was covered in sweat.
"Didn’t you ask about it?" Lady Zhou turned to Lady He.
"I asked her, what did Xiue say again?" Lady He took a moment to think, "...I forgot, should be nothing serious. Never heard of any troubles back at her home, she’ll get better over time."
Lian Manman listened on the side with a perplexed look.
Lady Zhou was very angry, and she felt immense frustration with Lady He.
"What sin have I committed, tearing my heart out every single day worrying about you people? Not one of you can give me peace of mind," Lady Zhou bitterly lamented, then berated Erlang, "Now that you’re back, you left your wife alone?"
"Hmm." Erlang nodded, and then quickly shook his head, "No, her mother’s with her."
"Oh." Lady Zhou uttered suspiciously, then instructed Erlang to go inside and see Old Master Lian, "Let your grandfather see you’ve arrived, so he won’t worry."
Erlang headed towards the east room, and Lady Chiang, holding Niuniu by the stove, stepped aside to make way. She suddenly rocked Niuniu and burst into laughter.
Lady Zhou directed her gaze at Lady Chiang.
"...Niuniu said her second uncle smelled strongly of deep-fried meatballs," Lady Chiang explained with a laugh.
Erlang’s face turned red.
Niuniu poked her little body out from Lady Chiang’s embrace and grabbed onto Erlang’s clothes, forcing him to stop in his tracks.
"Is Niuniu craving meatballs because her nose is so sharp? Look, your auntie is right here. If your second uncle had meatballs on him, wouldn’t your auntie have smelled them?" Lady Chiang teased Niuniu with a laugh.
Lian Xiuer stood beside Lady Chiang and upon hearing this, inched closer to Erlang.
"Oh my, Erlang, where have you been to come back smelling like this?" Lian Xiuer said while fanning her nose as if trying to dispel the scent he carried from the banquet.
Erlang’s face turned from red to purple, and he frantically freed himself from Niuniu’s grip and hurried inside.
Lady Zhou’s expression darkened.
"Mom, Xiue must truly be feeling unwell and couldn’t get out of bed, that’s why she didn’t come," Lady Chiang quickly handed Niuniu over to Lian Xiuer when she saw Lady Zhou’s displeasure, "We’re still here, right? Whatever dishes need to be made, you can teach us. I can still handle a spatula, and we have several aunts here, my sisters can help too. Mom, just give us the tasks."
A smile appeared on Lady Zhou’s face, and she nodded at Lady Chiang.
...
On the sixth day of the new year, Wu Yugui’s wife, Lady Wang, led her son Wu Jiaxing and daughter Wu Jiayu to Lian Manman’s family for a visit. After sitting together for a while, the group split into several clusters. Lady Zhang and Lady Wang chatted about family matters, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi took Wu Jiaxing to the breakfast shop to work on his studies, and Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi sat with Wu Jiayu, eating peanuts and melon seeds, quietly discussing their own matters.
"Jiayu, is Third Uncle Wu feeling better?" Lian Manman asked. On the fourth day, Lian Shouxin went to Butcher Zhang’s house for a drink, and Wu Yugui was also among those invited. Wu Yugui was a well-known broker and his banquets were non-stop during the new year. He had drunk too much that day and had to be sent home by carriage. He caught a cold afterwards, which was why Lian Manman asked.
"He’ll feel better after the New Year’s festivities are over," Wu Jiayu said with a smile, "And really, it’s thanks to Fourth Uncle here who drank a lot in place of my dad that day."
"Jiayu, you must have attended quite a few banquets these days, I bet?" Lian Manman inquired. Some families invited the Wang mother and daughter together.
"I went to a few nearby ones."
"My dad said, you all went to Old Zhao’s family for a banquet on the third day?" Lian Manman chuckled.
"Hmm, did my dad tell Fourth Uncle?" Wu Jiayu nodded.
"How was the banquet my sister-in-law Xiue prepared?" Lian Manman asked with a smile.
***......*****
Approaching the end of the month, I ask for your pink support. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote at qidian.com with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
