Chapter 220 - 220 Behind Closed Doors
220 Behind Closed Doors
Mr. Liu said, “Your mother and I don’t want you to bring any more things back. We’re at ease as long as you live a good life.”
Mrs. Liu helped her daughter pack her things. She thought of the past and said, “I gave you things to bring back to your in-laws in the past so they would value you and treat you well.”
Liu Yinyin choked up and said, “I understand, but you don’t have to worry. I will lead a good life. We need to put these dumplings in the pot and boil them.”
Mr. Liu got up and walked into the courtyard. “I’ll get some firewood and start the fire.”
Su Xuexuan and Su Xuehai played in the courtyard while Liu Yinyin and her mother went into the inner room. Liu Yinyin removed a silver tael from her purse and handed it to her mother. “Take this, Mother.”
Mrs. Liu was stunned. She looked at the silver tael and felt its warmth. “Yinyin, is this yours? Why do you have so much?”
Su Wenzhe did not split his earnings with his family. Logically speaking, he should hand some over to his mother.
Mrs. Liu wondered why her daughter had the money and why she gave it to her. Mrs. Liu’s expression changed as one silver tael was a significant amount.
Liu Yinyin explained, “My mother-in-law gave this to me. She said she wanted me to save money for myself, so I can be dutiful to you whenever I come back here.”
Mrs. Liu was in disbelief as her daughter said anxiously, “It’s true, Mother. You know me well. I would never lie.” She hurriedly stuffed the money bag into her mother’s hands as she spoke.
Mrs. Liu was still in a daze as she held the money bag. After a long while, she regained her senses and said, “Your mother-in-law is a good person.”
She carefully hid the money bag in the house because she was worried her son’s wife would suspect her of something. Furthermore, Mrs. Liu wanted her daughter-in-law to revere her.
Of course, she would not squander it since the money could help her family. She would save as much as possible for her children.
She knew how much Shen Qiuhua trusted her daughter and was impressed that Shen QIuhua had told her daughter such things.
However, Mrs. Liu was willing to spend that money on her grandson since he was an apprentice at a carpenter’s shop. She wanted her grandchildren to have skills and live a good life in the future.
“Yes, I agree that my mother-in-law is a good person.” Liu Yinyin adored the Su family very much.
Mrs. Liu sighed. “You must be dutiful to your mother-in-law in the future. Be diligent, and don’t be lazy. Only then can you live a good life.”
She liked diligent people, so she chose someone diligent and hardworking for her son to marry. They were still working in the fields, ready to go home and eat whenever the food was ready.
That way, they could harvest as much as possible during the autumn. Their conditions would also be better the following year.
“I know, Mother.” Liu Yinyin’s mother had been a significant influence since Liu Yinyin was a child and would not slack off.
“Oh, Xuexuan and Xuehai are also learning in school now. They attend Blue Mountain Academy. I brought them here today because they have two days off from school, and I don’t have much time during weekdays.”
Mrs. Liu was dumbfounded when she heard that. “T-They’re learning at Blue Mountain Academy? That’s the best school in town!” She laughed and continued, “I didn’t expect I could still enjoy life with my daughter.
“When Xuexuan and Xuehai take the imperial exams in the future, the Su family will no longer be an ordinary family. Everyone will look up to you.”
Liu Yinyin said, “Binglan said there’s a reason to gather knowledge. It’s good to learn things even if the two little ones don’t take the imperial exams. By then, everything will be easier.”
Her tone was full of admiration for Su Binglan. She had already told her parents about Su Buinglan when she entered the house, and Mrs. Liu thought it strange for Su Binglan to say such things.
“Your sister-in-law seems to be a competent person, so you should get on well with her,” Mrs. Liu said.
“Mother, I’m on excellent terms with Binglan.”
“That’s good.” Mrs. Liu thought of something and continued, “Speaking of which, your brother Dazhuang attended a private school in our village. He can earn two silver taels a month now that he’s working as a shopkeeper in town. Everyone here is envious of him.
“That’s why it’s good to learn things at school, but most families can’t afford to pay for it. They can’t even afford to pay for a single family member. It’s impressive that the Su family managed to provide for Xuexuan and Xuehai.”
Liu Yinyin nodded. “That’s right.”
While the mother and daughter spoke in their dialect, Mr. Liu said, “Yinyin, the water is boiling!”
Liu Yinyin hurriedly exited the back room with her mother and said, “We can put the dumplings in the pot now.”
She placed the raw dumplings into the pot and used a spoon to stir them gently. “This way, the dumplings won’t stick to the pot, Mother.”
Mrs. Liu watched from the sidelines and said, “Yes, I’ll remember as I watch.”
…
Liu Chengwen and his wife, Feng Sisi, were stunned when they saw the closed door.
“Why did your parents close the door, Chengwen?” Feng Sisi guessed that her in-laws thought she had overeaten recently. Otherwise, they would not have closed the door after cooking.
She stood at the door and could smell the fragrance coming from inside. “I wonder what they made.”
The couple returned a little. No one was on the streets as everyone was eating lunch at home. Therefore, the couple was unaware that Liu Yinyin had returned.
Liu Chengwen knew his wife well and said in a good-natured manner, “My parents didn’t lock us out. They would do anything for us, so don’t overthink.”
Feng Sisi said lowly, “Don’t forget, you still have a younger sister.”
Her sister-in-law used to come home for food, so Feng Sisi had some thoughts about that, especially since the Liu family did not have much food either. In addition, they had to save enough to feed the whole family for a year.
Liu Yinyin would often bring her two children with her, meaning the Liu family had three more mouths to feed. However, Mrs. Liu was in charge of the house, and Feng Sisi could not argue with her.
Still, Mrs. Liu was good to Feng Sisi and treated her well. She would not nag as long as Feng Sisi did not make any mistakes. Moreover, she had sent Feng Sisi’s son to become an apprentice carpenter, and Feng Sisi was grateful for that.
Liu Chengwen said, “I only have one sister, so it’s only right for us to help each other. Think about it. Won’t you feel sad if you return to your parent’s house and your brother and sister-in-law don’t welcome you? Put your heart out there, and my sister will remember your love.”
Feng Sisi felt comforted and thought about it. Whenever Feng Sisi returned to her parent’s place, her sister-in-law always put on a face, thinking she was an outsider. It would make Feng Sisi feel uncomfortable.
Feng Sisi would not return to her parent’s house if she did not have any excuse to do so. Instead, she would continue living a good life with her husband.
She knew she was now a Liu family member. Moreover, Liu Chengwen had a good temper and treated her well.
“All right, I didn’t even say anything, yet you can guess what I’m thinking.”