After spending the past several days together, Wangzhou had improved a lot. He would speak now, though still very little. Meanwhile, Xiaojun kept running over from next door, dragging Damei, Second Sister, and Little Brother with him to look at his room.
“I moved the desk and bookshelf around. I think it looks way better now. Come take a look.”
Not long after, Qingshan arrived carrying Qinghe on his back. After seeing Xiaojun’s new arrangement, he thought it looked good too and said he wanted to go home and rearrange his own room the same way.
Jiang Xiaoyu was busy cooking. Today’s meal was still being counted under the shared expenses of the three families. Around noon, when Qian Chunmei and Director Jiang arrived, everyone gathered in Jiang Xiaoyu’s courtyard. Two tables had been set up, one for the adults and one for the children. The dishes were the same on both tables, though the children’s portions were slightly smaller.
Jiang Yousheng sampled the stir fried pork intestines, braised pig trotters, sea cucumber with scallions, and grouper stewed with tofu. He liked every single dish so much that he could not decide which one tasted best.
Wei Mancang ate nonstop as he said, “The day before yesterday my mother made braised pig trotters too, but compared to today’s, something was definitely missing. I just can’t figure out what seasoning she lacked.”
Ke Xiu laughed. “When Xiaoyu cooks it, she melts a little rock sugar into the oil first to caramelize it. She says sugar enhances the flavor. My mother-in-law couldn’t bear to use sugar, so naturally it tasted different.”
Aunt Hua shot her son with a glare. “Where are we supposed to get so much sugar to waste on cooking? Eat less. If your appetite gets spoiled, don’t expect me to make dishes like this for you.”
The moment she said that, everyone hurried to grab more pig trotters, afraid they might never get to eat caramelized braised trotters again. The dish disappeared in no time.
Mu Chengfeng did not compete with them. He silently decided that next month he would trade for extra sugar coupons and buy another jin of rock sugar for his wife. As long as Jiang Xiaoyu wanted it, he would find a way to get it.
After the meal, the bowls and plates were cleared away. Xiaojun and Qingshan naturally went with Damei to wash dishes, while Second Sister took the two younger children to play.
Taking advantage of the quiet moment, Jiang Xiaoyu brought out the household accounts, including today’s expenses. Over the past ten days, the costs for oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, staple foods, and vegetables had been kept at around five yuan per day. The total came to forty five yuan, meaning each family owed fifteen.
Aunt Hua clicked her tongue. “Weddings, funerals, and building houses are all expensive affairs. Still, this money was well spent. We shortened the construction by five whole days, saved on labor costs, and got to eat fish and meat ourselves for ten days straight. Totally worth it. I’m only worried your tastes have all become spoiled now.”
Qian Chunmei smiled at Jiang Xiaoyu. “You’re this capable, so why does everyone back in your hometown speak badly about you?”
The reason Jiang Xiaoyu dared to show off her cooking skills was because the original owner’s high school homeroom teacher had a husband who worked as a cook at the county state-run restaurant. Back then, the original Jiang Xiaoyu had wanted desperately to become a city resident, so during winter and summer vacations she apprenticed there and learned cooking. Before she could secure a job, however, Jiang Xiaoyu had transmigrated into this body.
“My grandmother never liked my father, and my parents both had soft personalities, so I had to be the strong one. I fought with my grandmother and eldest uncle all the time. Since I never listened to them, of course they said I was no good.”
Ke Xiu suddenly understood. During the ten days of building the side rooms, the fragrance of Jiang Xiaoyu’s cooking had drifted far through the residential compound every day. Some people had questioned how a young country girl could possibly know how to cook so many delicious dishes. There had even been rumors claiming she was a spy.
Since this was a military hospital, and army personnel often came here for treatment, everyone was particularly cautious about sensitive rumors.
Ke Xiu finally felt reassured. Turning to Qian Chunmei and Director Jiang, she said, “Sister-in-law, Director, Xiaoyu has talent and a foundation. Even if she’s never cooked certain dishes before, she’s read so many cookbooks that it’s not strange she knows how. If anyone keeps spreading nonsense, I’ll go with Xiaoyu to settle accounts with them myself.”
Qian Chunmei clasped Jiang Xiaoyu’s hand. “Xiaoyu, don’t be upset.”
Jiang Xiaoyu hurriedly waved her hands. Honestly, she had hoped people would ask directly. Once things were clarified, she could cook delicious food without any worries.
After the accounts were settled, Qian Chunmei said she was taking Qingshan and Qinghe to buy clothes and shoes. Ke Xiu planned to bring Xiaojun along too, and Damei wanted to go as well, so in the end all three families went shopping together with the children.
But while Jiang Xiaoyu’s entire family was out buying things, unexpected relatives arrived to visit.
Damei, Second Sister, and Little Brother’s maternal grandmother came with their second aunt. Although they knew Mu Chengfeng had transferred to the military hospital, they did not know his address, so they first went to see his stepmother, Yu Jinfeng, as usual.
The moment Yu Jinfeng heard they had come to take the children away, she suddenly felt delighted.
As Mu Chengfeng’s stepmother, her relationship with him had always been poor. Yet his late wife had treated both sides fairly. Since she and Mu Chengfeng had lived apart, she did not want to care for the children either, so the children alternated between staying three months at their maternal grandmother’s house and three months at their grandfather’s house. Every month, Mu Chengfeng paid forty yuan in living expenses for the three children. Yu Jinfeng at least fed them properly with the money, but the maternal grandmother relied on being blood family and always sent the children back noticeably thinner.
Now that Mu Chengfeng had remarried, Yu Jinfeng no longer received that money, but neither did the maternal grandmother, and that alone made her happy.
With poorly concealed smugness, Yu Jinfeng said, “You really didn’t know? My eldest son remarried. His new little wife has nothing but good points. She treats the children well and cooks incredibly delicious food. Half a month ago they even adopted a three year old boy, and the work unit rewarded them by adding another room to the house. Her cooking became so famous while feeding the construction workers that everyone in the residential compound praises Mu Chengfeng’s new wife now. If you’re thinking of taking the children away, that new wife isn’t like me. She definitely won’t agree, so don’t bother humiliating yourself.”
“He remarried? Why didn’t he tell me?” He Juzhen was stunned with anger.
Yu Jinfeng let out a mocking laugh. “He’s only your son-in-law. Once your daughter died, your family stopped having much connection to him. He didn’t even tell me about the marriage, so why would he report it to you?”
“No, a stepmother can never compare to a real grandmother. I have to bring the three children home.”
Just like Yu Jinfeng once had, He Juzhen stubbornly believed that Jiang Xiaoyu was young and would eventually want biological children of her own. As long as she took her grandchildren back, she could still negotiate child support from her son-in-law.
Yu Jinfeng had once thought the exact same thing. That was why she had tried setting Mu Chengfeng up with a cousin from her daughter-in-law’s family. In the end she had only shot herself in the foot and found her stepson an excellent wife instead, which still infuriated her.
She took out the agreement Jiang Xiaoyu had signed promising not to have children for the short term. He Juzhen was rendered speechless.
Yu Jinfeng’s gaze shifted toward He Juzhen’s second daughter. “In-law, why did you bring Ruyi along?”
The reason He Juzhen had brought her second daughter was because she wanted to test the waters with her eldest son-in-law. Back in her hometown, it was not uncommon for younger sisters to marry their brother-in-law after the elder sister died. Since they were family, they would naturally treat the children well. Mu Chengfeng earned such a high salary that if he remarried his late wife’s younger sister, he would still remain her son-in-law.
This second daughter was more obedient than the eldest. If things worked out, the children could continue staying with her permanently, and the yearly five hundred yuan in living expenses would be enough to support the whole family.
But now that her eldest son-in-law had already remarried, those thoughts absolutely could not be exposed.
Hurriedly, she explained, “Ruyi’s reached marriageable age. I wanted my son-in-law to introduce her to someone suitable. A doctor from his department would be best, so I brought her here.”
Yu Jinfeng curled her lip. Her own son had failed to get into medical school and could only become an ordinary worker instead of inheriting the family profession. That already upset her enough. If He Juzhen’s daughter married well too, this old woman would become even more unbearable.
“All the capable backbone doctors in their hospital are already married. The unmarried ones are only interns, and I doubt you’d approve of them.”
He Juzhen secretly thought a divorced man with good conditions would also be acceptable, but she did not intend to say that to Yu Jinfeng.
“Well then, in-law, you stay busy. I’ll go find my son-in-law.”
The second daughter, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. “Mom, I’m not going. I’ll wait for you at the guesthouse.”
“What nonsense is that? Why stay at a guesthouse? Your sister may be dead, but he’s still my son-in-law. Since relatives have come visiting, how could they stay at a guesthouse? We can squeeze in somewhere.”
Li Ruyi absolutely refused. The moment she heard her brother-in-law had remarried, she had nearly jumped for joy. Who would want to marry their brother-in-law and raise their late sister’s three children, unable to scold or discipline them? She would rather become stepmother to unrelated children.
Besides, her brother-in-law was so cold and stern. She had no idea how he and her sister had even gotten married. Her sister too had been ridiculous. Back then, Pan Mengping had liked her so much, yet she rejected him and insisted on marrying her expressionless brother-in-law instead.
“Mom, you said you wanted your brother-in-law to introduce me to someone. If I stay overnight at his house, what will happen to my reputation?”
After thinking it over, He Juzhen realized she was right. Her eldest son-in-law’s remarriage could no longer be changed. Taking the children away was probably impossible now, so the important thing was making sure he introduced a good match for her younger daughter.
“Then at least go see your three nephews and nieces. Otherwise people will criticize you as their aunt.”
Li Ruyi nodded. As long as she did not have to stay overnight at her brother-in-law’s house, simply visiting was fine. Mother and daughter asked around for the location of the new family compound, then took a bus over.