Chapter 29: Midnight Wan Mother couldn't carry Wan Baojin, so she could only drag him along. After panting and struggling for a while, Wan Baojin collapsed onto the ground, refusing to move any further. Wan Mother looked at the two mismatched shoe prints on her son's clothes, feeling both aggrieved and resentful. So what if someone has a son-in-law? What's there to be proud of? Doesn't everyone have one? Wan Mother dragged her son straight to her eldest daughter's home. Her eldest daughter, Wan Huihui, had married into a family working at the printing factory. Wan Mother coaxed her son up: "Don't lie on the ground, my precious baby. Let's go find your eldest sister! At her house, she'll cook meat for you!"

Upon hearing about meat, Wan Baojin immediately sat up, grabbed his mother's hand, and started running quickly. Every time his eldest sister visited home, she brought plenty of treats—milk candies and walnut cookies. Just thinking about them made Wan Baojin drool. His sister had given him so much food; surely her home must have even more! Perhaps the entire house was filled with milk candies and big chunks of meat! If that were true, he would stay at his sister's house until he ate everything before returning home. Wan Mother hurriedly pulled her youngest son along, her face flushed red as they walked briskly for half an hour until reaching the residential compound of the printing factory. Her eldest daughter had been married for several years, yet apart from one visit before the wedding, Wan Mother had never returned since. For a moment, she felt quite lost, asking several households before finally locating the right door.

It was noon, and every family was eating lunch. Wan Huihui and her sister-in-law were busy in the kitchen. Wan Mother wiped her face and burst through the doorway, her voice already trembling with tears.

"Huihui, your mother has no way out anymore—"

The family Wan Huihui married into bore the surname Wang. There were many members in the household.

At this moment, sitting inside the room were Wan Huihui's husband, her mother-in-law, and her grandmother. Wan Mother's dramatic entrance startled them all. Once they recognized her, Wan Huihui's husband immediately stepped forward to help his mother-in-law sit down. Unprepared to find so many people inside, Wan Mother suddenly found herself unable to squeeze out any more tears. She simply clung to Wan Baojin, wearing an expression of deep grievance. Hearing her mother's voice, Wan Huihui emerged from the kitchen, which surprised Wan Mother greatly. Wan Huihui wore a slightly worn outfit, her hair messy, oil stains visible on her sleeve cuffs, and she held a spatula in her hand. Wan Mother couldn't understand it. Whenever Wan Huihui previously visited her natal home, wasn't she always dressed impeccably? Not to mention earlier occasions; just last time during Wan Zhenzhen's return visit, Wan Huihui had dressed even more brightly than Wan Zhenzhen herself—in a stylish dress, with a fashionable hairpin clipped in her hair, looking far more beautiful than now.

Now, however, didn't that very hairpin seem to be resting on Wan Huihui's sister-in-law's head? Seeing her mother arrive, Wan Huihui's face instantly turned crimson with embarrassment. Wan Baojin rushed toward his eldest sister, tugging at her sleeve and shouting loudly: "Eldest Sister! Do you still have those milk candies and walnut cookies you bought me last time? I want to eat them! Hurry and get them for me! And meat—I want to eat meat!"

While clamoring for food, Wan Baojin also lodged a complaint: "Eldest Sister, ask Brother-in-law to stand up for me! Today someone kicked me twice; it hurts so much!"

At these words, the Wang family's expressions darkened noticeably. Wan Huihui's mother-in-law glanced at her pale-faced daughter-in-law, knowing full well that this foolish woman must have relapsed into her old habits again, returning to her natal home to put on a false show of dignity. Immediately displeased, she straightforwardly asked Wan Mother on behalf of the entire family: "Dear in-law, what brings you here today?"

Wan Mother regretted not instructing Baojin before entering just now, which allowed him to reveal their true intentions the moment they stepped inside. Awkwardly, she replied, "Nothing much. I just missed Huihui and came to see her."

Normally, the expected polite response would be, "Then don't leave; stay and share a simple meal with us."

However, the Wang family knew this in-law's character all too well. After all, on the very day of the wedding procession, this same person had insisted on demanding an additional fifty yuan as an entry fee before allowing the bride to leave.

"In that case, we won't keep you. Dear in-law, take care on your way."

In those days, relatives and old friends indeed helped each other whenever trouble arose. But helping out for the sake of Wan Huihui's younger brother? Better not bother.Wan's mother lacked confidence in front of the Wang family. Years earlier, when she married off her eldest daughter for the first time, her inexperience led her to thoroughly offend her in-laws on the very day of the wedding procession. It was only through Wan Huihui's repeated visits back to her maiden home that the relationship was gradually mended. Seeing Wan Huihui well-dressed and generous with money, Wan's mother had assumed her daughter held sway over the entire Wang household, which emboldened her to come seeking support. Now, however, it was clear that the one issuing commands in the room was Wan Huihui's mother-in-law. Instantly, Wan's mother dared no longer mention her plan to have her son-in-law teach someone a lesson on her behalf.

Instead, she dragged away Wan Baojin, who was loudly demanding meat. Wan Huihui's mother-in-law shot a glare at her own daughter emerging from the kitchen: "You too!"

The Wang family's younger sister stuck out her tongue; what could she do when her elder sister-in-law asked to borrow her clothes and hairpins? Turning back to Wan Huihui, her mother-in-law said, "We've never stinted on your food, drink, clothing, or daily necessities. There's no need for you to feel so aggrieved all the time."

Although the Wang family wasn't wealthy, they would never deliberately deprive their daughter-in-law. Yet Wan Huihui was foolish. In the first year after her marriage, she took large sums of household money to buy extravagant gifts for her natal family, putting on airs. Consequently, her mother-in-law imposed restrictions: if Wan Huihui wished to subsidize her birth family, she could do so only with her own share. Silently, Wan Huihui indeed began depriving herself like an old ox. The cloth allocated per person in the household was used by her to make clothes for everyone else, while her own portion was sent back to her natal home. The monthly allowance given to the young couple was saved entirely by her to buy snacks, eggs, and meat for her parents. She even took on extra knitting work, funneling every penny earned straight to her birth family. Her mother-in-law didn't know what to say.

Wan Huihui sent no cash, only goods—mostly flashy but impractical snacks bought solely for appearance and face.

"From now on, all household expenses for groceries and daily needs will be managed through the common account, and I'll make the clothes myself."

As the saying goes, "Unless one pretends to be deaf and blind, one cannot manage a household."

But Wan Huihui had deprived herself to the point of losing her human dignity, yet still found joy in it; truly, no one knew what ailment possessed her. Her mother-in-law could endure it no longer. Decisively, she tightened control to the extreme. Without money, perhaps the next time Wan Huihui visited her mother and witnessed her true expression, she might finally awaken early. After all, her mother had never shown her much kindness anyway. Upon arriving home and seeing nothing could be accomplished, Wan's mother turned and left immediately, without asking once how her daughter was faring. Why was Wan Huihui so clouded by folly, insisting on returning home merely to save face? Wan Huihui entered the kitchen without a word, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls. Every time she returned to her natal home, her mother treated her kindly upon seeing the gifts she brought. This gave Wan Huihui a sense of being cherished, as if all the grievances of her past twenty-plus years vanished instantly.

She felt just like the Qian family's daughter next door, blessed with parents who loved her. Thus, like someone addicted, she brought back increasingly more and increasingly expensive gifts each time. Whenever she returned laden with packages, watching her mother beam with pride while boasting to neighbors, Wan Huihui felt all her sacrifices were worthwhile. Her mother did love her. But now this illusion was shattered. Wan Huihui suddenly didn't know how her mother would react if she next returned empty-handed. Seeing her distress, the younger sister beside her couldn't help but say, "Sister-in-law, forgive me for saying this, but your mother clearly doesn't hold you in her heart."

Which biological mother could so comfortably accept her daughter's filial offerings without uttering a single word of concern? Her sister-in-law was excellent in every way—quick-handed and kind-hearted—yet remained blind when it came to familial bonds. **** Having met a soft rebuff from her eldest daughter, Wan's mother felt her inner fury growing ever stronger. That useless girl, Wan Huihui! Fuming, Wan's mother paced in place twice. Wan Baojin, having run alongside her all the way, was now starving. With only two yuan in her pocket, Wan's mother bought him two steamed buns, which he gnawed while holding. With the remaining little over one yuan, she dragged Wan Baojin to catch a bus. She was heading to the oilfield! If her eldest son-in-law proved unreliable, surely her younger son-in-law could be counted on. After all, Wan Zhenzhen was carrying their family's precious son!Her husband is practically mute except when he's at work; relying on him would be like jumping into the sea.

Wang Hua, however, is different. Just because of the child in Wan Zhenzhen's womb, he's willing to stand up for Baojin today!

Meanwhile, the Qian family is in high spirits. Father Qian took the afternoon off; with his son-in-law visiting, they certainly had to share a few drinks at lunch. Normally the undisputed head of the household, Father Qian has had a rough week. His wife went to stay with their younger daughter for a few days and returned as if she were a completely different person. Her temper has become unbearable; anyone who crosses her can expect no mercy. Before the meal even began, Father Qian quietly reached for his wine cup. Mother Qian shot him a glare so sharp that he instantly withdrew his hand. He then ventured a timid protest: "Our son-in-law is here; can't I have a little drink?"

Mother Qian took the bottle and marked a line on it: "Zhou Hao doesn't drink. You can have just up to this mark."

Father Qian felt aggrieved. Is life even bearable anymore? What on earth has possessed his wife?

"…Could you add a bit more? I'm not working this afternoon."

Generously, Mother Qian moved the line down five centimeters: "Just up to here."

Father Qian accepted the bottle, looking utterly dejected. Zhou Hao, ever perceptive, turned to his mother-in-law and said, "Mom, let me share a little drink with Dad."

Mother Qian's expression instantly softened into a warm smile.

"Drink as much as you like! We have room for you to stay overnight. If you get drunk, don't leave tonight; stay here with Qingqing for the day."

Father Qian was speechless. Zhou Hao pretended to pour himself some wine but actually filled his cup with water, exchanging a knowing glance with Father Qian. Father Qian was nearly moved to tears. What a wonderful son-in-law! What a wonderful son-in-law! He happily poured himself a proper cup of wine and clinked glasses with Zhou Hao. Mother Qian had put considerable effort into this lunch. She had even sliced the cucumbers in an intricate accordion pattern. The table was laden with appetizing dishes: sour soup with crispy pork, minced meat with eggplant, stir-fried pork belly with garlic sprouts, cloth-wrapped chicken, hot-and-sour Napa cabbage, deep-fried sweet potato balls, and cold cucumber salad… Huang Qianqian, who had been frightened to tears by Wan Baojin moments earlier, was now waving her little chopsticks, eating with immense delight! Watching the slender yet adorable little girl, Zhou Hao couldn't help but imagine how wonderful it would be if he and Qingqing had a daughter of their own.

Seeing the hopeful look in Zhou Hao's eyes, Qingqing felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. She had told him that in her dream, it seemed they had no children, yet Zhou Hao hadn't mentioned it at the time. But his affection for children was genuine. Could it be that he remained silent only to avoid hurting her feelings?