“Second Baby, why is your mom suddenly treating you so well now?” Shi Dan asked enviously. “My mom has never given me anything delicious to eat.”
Eldest Baby replied, “My mom has always treated us really well.”
Beside them, Er Niu giggled and said, “Shi Dan, if you want tasty food, then ask your mom to buy it for you.”
In those days, even if you had money, you still couldn’t easily buy meat. You also needed meat coupons.
Their family’s meat coupons had already been used up in the first half of the year. They wouldn’t get more until after the autumn harvest grain was handed over.
Of course Shi Dan knew his family’s situation too. He glared at Er Niu and said, “I’m not that greedy.”
“Shi Dan, stop lying,” Er Niu pointed at the corner of his mouth. “I can see your drool already! Hahaha!”
Embarrassed and angry, Shi Dan reached out as if he wanted to hit Er Niu. She dodged quickly, then suddenly noticed Li Tingyun standing behind them.
Eldest Baby and Second Baby noticed her too. They immediately ran over and hugged her legs tightly, calling out “Mom! Mom!” nonstop.
Yesterday, Li Tingyun had treated them so well—giving them delicious food and beautiful new clothes. It had made them look especially impressive in front of their little friends in the village, so now they felt especially happy whenever they saw her.
Er Niu walked over and pointed at Eldest Baby’s little dress.
“Auntie, how much did Eldest Baby’s dress cost?”
The dress had come from the pile of children’s clothes Li Tingyun had stocked up on at the maternity store before transmigrating. She herself had no idea what the exact price was.
So she casually made something up.
“It was exchanged using cloth coupons.”
People these days usually bought fabric and sewed clothes themselves to save money. Since she didn’t know how to sew, she always told others she bought ready-made outfits.
Er Niu nodded admiringly. “It’s really pretty and stylish.”
Li Tingyun simply smiled without replying.
After walking for a while, it became time for the villagers to head out for work. People were gradually making their way toward the fields.
Among the crowd, Li Tingyun spotted Father Yi and Mother Yi preparing to go to work as well.
Mother Yi also saw Li Tingyun and looked rather surprised.
The third son’s wife had never been willing to socialize around the village before, so why had she suddenly come out today?
After saying something quietly to Father Yi, Mother Yi turned and walked over.
When she reached them, Li Tingyun obediently called out, “Mother.”
“Mm,” Mother Yi answered, then glanced at Third Baby in her arms and asked, “Did Third Baby fuss during the night?”
“He was alright,” Li Tingyun replied. “Third Baby is very well-behaved. He slept straight through until morning.”
After asking a few more questions about Eldest Baby and Second Baby, Mother Yi finally asked, “Did you bring Third Baby out for a stroll today?”
Although Mother Yi asked casually, she was actually worried Li Tingyun might do something foolish.
After all, Li Tingyun had a history of emotional instability. If she carried Third Baby off to jump into the river or something, such a tiny child would suffer terribly.
Li Tingyun nodded and smiled.
“Mother, actually I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
Hearing that she was asking for help, Mother Yi relaxed slightly. At least it didn’t sound like she had lost hope in life.
“What are you saying ‘favor’ for?” Mother Yi said warmly. “Whatever it is, just say it. Mother will help you.”
“I’d like to ask you to help watch the children tomorrow,” Li Tingyun said. “I want to go into the county town.”
So it was only something small like this. Mother Yi had thought it was something serious.
Relieved, she immediately agreed.
“That’s easy enough. If you want to go, then go. I’ll come over tomorrow.”
Li Tingyun smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Mother.”
At that moment, a woman passing nearby gave a disdainful little “Tch.”
Li Tingyun turned to look.
It was Wang Yongmei, the fourth son’s wife.
Mother Yi had given birth to four sons altogether.
The eldest was Yi An, whose wife Zhao Hong had borne two sons.
The second was Yi Wu, whose wife Qin Xuehua had one son and one daughter.
The fourth was Yi He, whose wife Wang Yongmei had given birth to two daughters.
Among all the brothers, only the fourth family had no sons.
When Li Tingyun gave birth to Eldest Baby, Wang Yongmei had delivered her own child at almost the same time. Since both had daughters, Wang Yongmei had always felt their status was similar.
But afterward, Li Tingyun’s next two children were both boys.
Meanwhile, Wang Yongmei’s second child was another girl.
From then on, Wang Yongmei began feeling uncomfortable inside.
Because she only had daughters, she felt inferior to the others.
Originally, she and Li Tingyun had chatted and gotten along well enough, but after Li Tingyun gave birth to two sons, Wang Yongmei gradually distanced herself from her.
And because Yi Yang earned so much money—almost equal to the entire Yi family’s combined income—Mother Yi had always looked after Li Tingyun especially well, even more than the eldest daughter-in-law.
So deep down, Wang Yongmei harbored resentment not only toward Li Tingyun, but toward her mother-in-law too.
She could clearly feel that Mother Yi cared less about her, the daughter-in-law who only gave birth to girls, than she did about the others.
Today, when she heard Li Tingyun was going to the county town again and that Mother Yi would stay behind to help care for the children, Wang Yongmei thought about how her own daughters had never received much affection from their grandmother.
Unable to suppress her jealousy, she let out that disdainful “Tch.”
Naturally, Mother Yi heard it too. Turning around and realizing it was the fourth daughter-in-law, she frowned.
“Fourth daughter-in-law, what were you doing just now? Don’t think I didn’t hear that!”
Within the Yi family, Mother Yi’s authority was second only to Father Yi’s. Wang Yongmei normally didn’t dare act up in front of her.
Hearing the reprimand, Wang Yongmei’s face turned pale.
“No, Mother… I was just spitting.”
Mother Yi was an experienced woman. She had eaten more salt than these younger women had eaten rice. How could she not understand what Wang Yongmei was thinking?
So she said bluntly, “Third Son is gone now. Usually Ah Yun never asks us for help. I’m only helping her watch the children for one day, and look at the expression you’re making.”
Wang Yongmei quickly lifted her head and glanced at Li Tingyun, only to meet her gaze directly.
Feeling suddenly guilty, she lowered her head again and muttered softly, “Mother, I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m going to work now.”
Watching Wang Yongmei walk away, Mother Yi turned to Li Tingyun and said, “Fourth daughter-in-law is just like that—small-minded sometimes, but she’s not a bad person. Don’t take it to heart.”
Knowing that Mother Yi had always treated all the grandchildren fairly, Li Tingyun didn’t care much about Wang Yongmei’s behavior just now.
“It’s alright, Mother,” she said with a smile. “I won’t mind it.”
“Good,” Mother Yi replied. “Then I’ll head to work now. Tomorrow I’ll come to your place early.”
Watching Mother Yi’s figure disappear into the distance, Li Tingyun began thinking.
If Mother Yi helped watch the children tomorrow, then she wouldn’t be able to go work in the fields.
The other sisters-in-law would inevitably have opinions about that.
Tonight she should probably bring over some gifts or food—something to shut their mouths and keep them from complaining that Mother Yi had given up earning work points just to help babysit for her.