Chapter 27 As soon as Qian Qing returned, visitors began arriving to see the Qian family's new son-in-law. Zhou Hao had arrived early on the wedding day, so many people hadn't gotten a chance to meet him. Glancing into the main room of the Qian household, they saw a young man sitting there, feeding candy to Qianqian. Dressed in a white shirt and dark blue trousers that accentuated his tall, upright figure—not to mention his strikingly handsome face—he immediately drew praise for Mother Qian: "Sister Qian, you certainly have good eyes! A young man this outstanding isn't easy to find!"

"Exactly! Qingqing is truly blessed to have found such a wonderful match."

"Qingqing herself is no ordinary woman either; the couple is simply made for each other."

Zhou Hao loved hearing others say he and his wife were perfectly matched.

At this moment, none of his usual aloofness showed. He handed out candies to the various sisters and aunties, displaying the same slightly nervous yet overjoyed demeanor typical of any new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time. Recently, Mother Qian had become much more open-hearted. Unlike before, when compliments would make her uneasy and humble, she now proudly thought: My daughter is wonderful! My son-in-law is exceptional! Qian Yu nudged Qian Qing beside her, teasing softly, "Look, Mom treats her son-in-law like her own son."

Qian Qing felt a tiny pang of jealousy; her mother had never praised her with such enthusiasm! Could it really be true that mothers-in-law find their sons-in-law increasingly pleasing the more they see them? With money in her pocket and happiness in her heart, surrounded by her granddaughter and two daughters, plus an outstanding son-in-law, Mother Qian was experiencing perhaps the happiest day of her life. Consequently, she put extra effort into preparing lunch. She cooked half of the pork Zhou Hao had brought, stir-frying several dishes from it. Since life had improved, she no longer hesitated to use plenty of oil. The crispy fried pork pieces were golden and crunchy outside, tender inside. She scooped out a bowlful first for her eagerly waiting granddaughter, then combined the remaining crispy pork with tomatoes to create a vibrant, mouth-watering sour soup dish whose aroma instinctively made one's mouth water. Additionally, she stir-fried pork belly with garlic sprouts brought by her elder daughter, cooking it until fragrant and slightly caramelized, filling the entire building with its enticing scent.

The leftover meat was minced, while long eggplants were deep-fried, then placed skin-side down in the pan. The minced meat mixture and seasonings were poured over them, slowly pan-fried over low heat. Even if the eggplant skin stuck slightly to the pan, it didn't matter; this actually enhanced the texture. … Busy in the kitchen, Mother Qian gently shooed both her daughters and son-in-law outside. Today, filled with joy, she wanted to cook everything herself. Dish after dish emerged from the wok; the plates and bowls she used were even borrowed by Qianqian from several nearby friendly households. The Qian family's apartment was a modest two-bedroom layout, with the kitchen naturally situated on the balcony. Once cooking began, the aromas lingered stubbornly, drifting through the living room, out into the hallway, and spreading into neighboring homes. The first to suffer this aromatic assault was the Wan family next door. Mother Wan angrily slammed the balcony window shut, muttering unkindly under her breath, "Eat, eat, eat! Those two old folks never stop eating! Just because it's the bride's return visit, must they make such a fuss? One might think it's the groom moving in instead!"

Over these past few days, the moods of Mother Wan and Mother Qian had completely reversed: the happier Mother Qian became, the more displeased Mother Wan grew. Previously, she'd viewed the neighbors as two big fools, yet she'd never refused their invitations, simultaneously enjoying their hospitality while secretly despising them. Living close together, the two families had genuinely been on good terms years ago. After all, both Mother Qian and Mother Wan had only daughters, making them frequent targets of gossip among the chatty women in their building. Under such circumstances, the two women had developed something akin to shared sympathy. Mother Qian always remembered this bond, believing the Wan family faced hardships and offering help whenever possible. However, Mother Wan saw things quite differently. She had borne a son for the Wan family! What right did that Old Qian woman, who had only produced two daughters, have to pity her?

She hadn't even left Old Qian a single heir—she was a complete failure! If not for her delicious cooking and Baojin constantly begging to visit, Mother Wan would have severed ties with such a family long ago. Smelling the enticing aromas wafting over, Mother Wan worried anxiously about what to do. Baojin was still playing outside; what would happen when he returned?Without the financial support from Mother Qian, Baojin threw a tantrum at every meal. In just a few days, her little Baojin's face had noticeably slimmed down! As if summoned by her words, the door to the Wan household swung open, and Wan Baojin burst in like a small cannonball, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Mom! I want to eat meat!"

"I want to eat meat from that big fool's house!"

Wan Baojin was overweight. Most boys aged eleven or twelve were already growing tall, but Baojin seemed to develop only horizontally. Shorter than his peers, his bulk equaled that of two children his age. His mother struggled to keep her balance as he tugged at her, yet she still spoke with tender concern: "My precious Baojin, stop jumping; you might hurt yourself in a moment."

She certainly wished Baojin could go over, but Mother Qian simply refused. Since the child wouldn't leave on his own, she couldn't exactly force him out, could she? A few days earlier, Baojin had done precisely this: arriving right at mealtime, he'd sit himself down at the Qian family's dining table and refuse to budge no matter what Mother Qian said. Unexpectedly, Mother Qian had straightforwardly carried the food downstairs to eat, then returned with empty bowls, leaving Baojin so furious that he rolled around on the floor screaming.

"I saw Qianqian eating candy! Mom, I want candy too!"

This was precisely what Mother Wan couldn't understand. Qian Yusheng wasn't even a boy; she was just a girl, yet Mother Qian treated her like a treasure. Ever since bringing her granddaughter over three days ago, Mother Qian had gone out daily to buy meat. When ration tickets ran out, she traded with neighbors; when meat was unavailable, she bought offal, concocting various dishes to pour money into the mouth of that "money-losing burden."

Right at mealtime, the aroma from next door would drift over, yet her own son couldn't get even a single bite. After being pestered once, Mother Qian simply started closing her door whenever she cooked, ignoring Baojin's shouts entirely. Thinking of this, Mother Wan's eyes sparkled with a new idea. Today was her son-in-law's return visit; surely Mother Qian wouldn't dare cook behind closed doors today. Just from the smell, it was obvious that the neighbors were preparing plenty of meat. Perhaps… she should let Baojin go over? Although less than a week had passed since she'd openly clashed with Mother Qian, Mother Wan already sensed she'd suffered a loss. Previously, she'd always managed to bring something back from Mother Qian's house—mostly vegetables. Mother Qian's eldest daughter grew vegetables and frequently delivered fresh produce: sweet potato leaves, pumpkins, loofahs, cucumbers, Chinese cabbage… Although urban dining tables had become much more varied since the reform and opening-up, and vegetable prices weren't high, why spend money when free vegetables were available?

Mother Wan somewhat regretted speaking her mind that day. What harm would there have been in merely deceiving Mother Qian? Securing tangible benefits for her own family mattered most. Moreover, regarding her younger daughter: according to Wan Zhenzhen, Qian Qing had started a private business at the oilfield and earned quite a lot. Therefore, today's return-visit gifts would certainly be substantial. Calculating carefully, Mother Wan decided to send her son after all. If things went well, relations with the Qian family might improve; if not, at least they'd secure a meaty meal. Either way, there was nothing to lose.

"Alright, you can go."

Baojin's earlier tantrum hadn't been seeking permission; rather, he'd tried going alone over the past few days but couldn't get the door opened. Now that his mother had given approval, Baojin felt delighted yet slightly puzzled.

"Will you knock on the door for me?"

Mother Wan affectionately stroked his hair: "Just go ahead; their door will definitely be open today."

With a cheer, Baojin dashed outside. Mother Wan called after him to give instructions, but without turning back, he shouted loudly: "No need to say it! I know: don't tell them at the big fool's house that you sent me!"

Watching her son's retreating figure, Mother Wan's eyes filled with indescribable tenderness.

"That little demon!"

After sending her son away, Mother Wan went back inside. The inner room's curtains were drawn; Wan Zhenzhen lay on the bed, sleeping soundly. Upon seeing her daughter, Mother Wan immediately grew impatient. She yanked the curtains open forcefully, letting bright sunlight flood in and wake Wan Zhenzhen.

"Mom, is it time for lunch?"

Mother Wan exploded with anger: "Eat, eat, eat! That's all you ever think about!"

Having endured scolding for so long, Wan Zhenzhen paid it no mind. Mother Wan instinctively reached out to pinch her twice, but upon noticing her daughter's belly, she restrained herself.

"When exactly do you plan to tell Wang Hua that you're pregnant?"