“You’re sick.” Tang Rubao rolled her eyes at Zhou Jingran, ignored him, and turned to go inside.
She slammed the door shut and bolted it.
Zhou’s mother was so angry at her attitude that she pounded on the door. “What kind of attitude is that? This is my first time here, and I have to put up with this from you?”
Afraid the neighbors would hear and laugh at his family, Zhou Jingran pulled his mother aside and said, “Mom, stop making a scene. I’ll go cook some noodles for you and my little sister.”
Zhou’s mother pointed at the door, baring her teeth as she cursed, “This daughter-in-law is disobedient, she should be beaten. You’ve spoiled her too much.”
“How can you let a man go into the kitchen? Is that a place for men?”
“She’s not some city girl, yet she dares to act arrogantly in front of me. I’ll teach her a lesson later.”
“If she won’t serve me and your sister, then divorce her and find someone more obedient.”
“Is what she just said true? Are you two getting a divorce? Did she cheat on you?”
“Ah Ran, if she cheated on you, you should divorce her immediately. The Zhou family doesn’t want a woman like her as a daughter-in-law.”
“Mom, say less.”
Zhou Jingran was already irritated, and his mother’s nagging buzzed in his ears like a mosquito, making him even more agitated.
“How can I say less? If this daughter-in-law doesn’t respect her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, the whole world should know.”
Zhou’s mother stood in the living room with her hands on her hips, staring sharply and sarcastically at Tang Rubao’s door.
It was very noisy.
Tang Rubao went to the wardrobe and pulled out two small pieces of cotton from a quilt.
She rolled them into balls and stuffed them into her ears.
Everything became much quieter.
She turned and glanced at Anlai on the bed.
Anlai was sleeping soundly.
Tang Rubao tore off two more small pieces of cotton, rolled them into balls, climbed onto the bed, and gently stuffed them into Anlai’s ears, so she wouldn’t be woken up by Zhou’s mother.
She lay down, pulled Anlai into her arms, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.
Zhou Jingran cooked two bowls of noodles for his mother and his sister, Zhou Qiong.
He sat beside them, watching them eat.
After they finished, he got up to clear and wash the dishes.
Zhou’s mother slapped Zhou Qiong. “You brat, after eating your fill, go wash the dishes.”
Zhou Jingran said, “I’ll wash them. You must be tired after sitting on the train for so long.”
“You trained all day, picked us up at the station, and even cooked for us, you must be exhausted. Let your sister do it,” Zhou’s mother insisted.
Zhou Qiong grinned foolishly at Zhou Jingran, slurring, “I’m dying… I’m dying…”
“To call washing dishes ‘dying’ what an idiot,” Zhou’s mother said disdainfully.
Looking at his mentally challenged younger sister, Zhou Jingran couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.
He reached out and pinched her cheek. “Your brother can do it. You and Mom sit and rest.”
“Hehe… brother… brother…”
“What are you doing here? Go wash the dishes,” Zhou’s mother nudged Zhou Qiong again.
Zhou Jingran’s expression darkened, his tone turning cold. “Mom, I can do it. Don’t always be so rough with my sister.”
Seeing his expression, Zhou’s mother glared at Zhou Qiong and muttered that she was a “burden.”
After washing up, Zhou Jingran told them to take a bath.
Zhou’s mother waved dismissively. “Why bathe? Old people who bathe too much die faster. No bathing.”
Zhou Jingran’s lips twitched. “Mom, what kind of logic is that?”
After several days on the train, they smelled terrible.
But Zhou’s mother was stubborn, no matter what he said, she refused to bathe.
Unable to change her mind, Zhou Jingran let them sleep in his room.
Zhou’s mother and Zhou Qiong shared the bed.
Zhou Jingran lay down on the sofa in the living room.
In the middle of the night, Zhou’s mother got up to use the restroom.
Holding a flashlight, she saw her tall son sleeping on the sofa.
Seeing how cramped and uncomfortable he looked, she was startled and exclaimed, “Good heavens! Ah Ran, why are you sleeping on the sofa instead of the bed?”
Zhou Jingran woke at her shout, sitting up abruptly. His eyes swept the room like a vigilant night hawk.
When he realized it was his mother, his alertness faded, replaced by helplessness. “Mom, why are you shouting in the middle of the night?”
Zhou’s mother walked over and questioned him, “Why aren’t you sleeping in the bed?”
“My bed is for you and my sister.”
Zhou’s mother raised her hand, pointed at Tang Rubao’s room, and said loudly, “Aren’t you going to sleep in the same bed as her?”
Without waiting for Zhou Jingran’s reply, she rushed over and pounded on Tang Rubao’s door, shouting, “You wretched woman, open the door!”
Zhou Jingran hurried over to stop her. “Mom!”
Zhou’s mother glared at him angrily. “Why should she let you squeeze onto such a tiny sofa? You’re husband and wife! What kind of daughter-in-law lets her husband sleep in the living room?”
Tang Rubao heard the commotion outside, but she had no intention of responding.
Where they slept and how they slept had nothing to do with her.
“I chose to sleep in the living room, Mom. You should go back to bed. It’s the middle of the night, don’t wake the neighbors,” Zhou Jingran said patiently.
Zhou’s mother snorted heavily, her opinion of Tang Rubao sinking even lower.
The next day.
Tang Rubao and Anlai didn’t get up until nine o’clock.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw Zhou’s mother sitting on the sofa, grinning foolishly at Zhou Qiong beside her as she said, “Xiuxiu is so outstanding, her skin is as white as snow…”
She kept praising Tu Xiuxiu.
Earlier, Tu Xiuxiu had bought breakfast for Zhou’s mother and Zhou Qiong.
She kept calling Zhou’s mother “Auntie,” which delighted her.
Zhou’s mother was overjoyed and grew fonder of Tu Xiuxiu with every passing moment.
Especially after learning that Tu Xiuxiu worked in a cultural troupe and earned a monthly salary, she regarded her even more highly.
Unlike Tang Rubao, who relied on her son for support at home and didn’t even show respect.
When she saw Tang Rubao come out, she shot her a disdainful look. “Even a pig isn’t as lazy as you. A woman like you, uneducated and unemployed, isn’t worthy of my son.”
Tang Rubao led Anlai toward the restroom.
Zhou’s mother’s sharp gaze fell on Anlai. “Who is she? How come I never heard Ah Ran mention he has a daughter?”
Tang Rubao ignored her and continued helping Anlai wash up.
But while Tang Rubao ignored Zhou’s mother, Zhou’s mother refused to ignore her.
She suddenly stood up, walked over, and tried to pull Anlai away.
Quick and alert, Tang Rubao shoved her aside. “What are you trying to do?”
Zhou’s mother pointed at Anlai, who was now shielded behind Tang Rubao. “Who is she?”
“My daughter,” Tang Rubao replied coldly.
“Your daughter?” Zhou’s mother froze for a moment. “You… you and A h Ran’s daughter is already this big?”
How did she not know?
Then her expression hardened, and harsh words spilled out without restraint.
“After all these years of marriage, you only gave birth to such a useless brat? This child is just as ill-mannered as you, she doesn’t even greet people. Is she mute?”
“What are you glaring at me for? Did I say something wrong? I’m your grandmother! You don’t even greet me, and you dare glare at me? I’ll tear your tongue out, you worthless thing!”
Smack!