Aunt Lin looked at Grandma Lin. “Mom, did you hear what Yi’an just said? I have to get her permission to come back to my own parents’ house? Does she get to make all the decisions in this family?”
“That’s right. Bao’er is the one who calls the shots in this family.”
Lin Shuhe came out of the kitchen with a grim expression and looked at her. “Big Sis, my life’s already a wreck. I’m lucky just to still be alive. Lin Liangcai already married himself into another family. If he’s not worried about ending his own bloodline, why the hell should I be? So stop pretending you’re doing this for my own good. You’re just thinking about having Xinxin change his surname so everything in our family will belong to him in the future. Let me tell you right now, that’s never going to happen.”
“Everything I own belongs to Bao’er. Don’t think that just because my leg’s crippled, my brain is too, and I can’t see through your schemes. Even if your grandson’s surname is Lin, he isn’t worth a single strand of Bao’er’s hair to me. You’d better not entertain any ideas. Otherwise, from this day forward, let’s stop calling ourselves brother and sister.”
With that, he limped back toward the house.
Aunt Lin’s face darkened. “Mom, look at the way those father and daughter…”
Grandma Lin waved her hand impatiently as if shooing away flies. “Go, go, go! Get back to your own house and stop getting on my nerves. If you don’t leave this instant, I’ll get a stick and beat both you and your precious grandson.”
Aunt Lin truly was afraid she’d do exactly that. Her mother might usually seem gentle and kind, always smiling, but once she lost her temper, she really did hit people. And for some reason, Aunt Lin was her favorite target. Even after getting married, she’d still been beaten several times.
Xinxin was a little frightened of his great-grandmother. Tugging at his grandmother’s arm, he wanted to leave. With no other choice, Aunt Lin took him and left.
Great-Uncle Lin let out a sigh. “Yongzhen, you…”
Grandma Lin said, “Big Brother, I call you Big Brother because you’re older than me, not because you’re Lin Liangcai’s elder brother. Lin Liangcai is still alive. If you’re so worried about his family line dying out, then go talk to him. Don’t come talking to me. I have Shuhe. Lin Liangcai and I have absolutely nothing to do with your Lin family anymore.”
With her words reaching that point, what else could Great-Uncle Lin possibly say? He could only clasp his hands behind his back and leave.
After they were gone, Grandma Lin looked at Zhou Mingshi. “Sorry you had to witness such an embarrassing scene.”
Zhou Mingshi said, “Not at all. Every family has its own troubles.”
Compared to the Lin family, the Zhou family was far more complicated.
The weather in the height of summer was as fickle as a child’s mood, changing in the blink of an eye. Just moments ago the sun had been blazing overhead, and now dark clouds blanketed the sky. Everyone hurried to gather up the medicinal herbs. Before they had even finished, raindrops came pelting down with a loud pitter-patter.
They worked even faster. By the time all the herbs had been carried back inside, everyone was soaked through.
Looking at the damp medicinal herbs, Zhou Mingshi asked, “What should we do with these herbs?”
Grandma Lin smiled at him. “Don’t worry. We have a drying machine at home. We can just dry them. Your clothes are all wet. Hurry upstairs and get changed.”
The group headed upstairs.
After changing into dry clothes, Assistant Chen entered his boss’s room to collect the clothes he had taken off and wash them. Hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, he wasn’t the least bit surprised.
When Zhou Mingshi came out after his shower, Assistant Chen went in to gather up the dirty clothes. Thinking of Miss Lin, who had argued with her aunt earlier, he could not help saying, “Miss Lin looks so quiet and reserved. I never expected her to have such a temper.”
Zhou Mingshi said, “Everyone has a temper. Never underestimate anyone.”
Assistant Chen grinned. “I wouldn’t dare underestimate Miss Lin. She doesn’t even take you serious…”
Before he could finish, his boss shot him a look. He immediately clamped his mouth shut, picked up the clothes, and hurried out.
After closing the door, he gave himself a light slap on the mouth. He had accidentally blurted out what he was really thinking.
After changing her clothes, Lin Yi’an went to the kitchen. Ye Lingzhi was helping chop vegetables while her parents were cooking. She asked, “Dad, Mom, why does Aunt want Xinxin to change his surname? The Zhang family treasures their grandson so much. Did Uncle, Cousin, and Sister-in-law all agree to it?”
Liu Zhengying snorted. “Your cousin’s wife is pregnant again. When they went for a checkup, goodness, it turned out to be twins. She was worried sick and didn’t want to keep them. Your aunt secretly paid for an ultrasound, and it showed they were both boys.”
“Your aunt has the old generation’s way of thinking. She couldn’t bear to let your cousin’s wife have an abortion. Your cousin’s wife cried herself sick and kept insisting she didn’t want them, saying they couldn’t afford to raise them. Of course, your aunt and uncle refused to agree. They told her to give birth first, and that they’d raise the babies themselves…”
Lin Yi’an understood her cousin’s wife completely. Her aunt’s family wasn’t well off financially. Anyone in that situation would be overwhelmed.
Liu Zhengying continued, “Three boys. They’re not that easy to raise. So your aunt started setting her sights on our family.”
“They’re not short of sons anymore, so naturally they’re willing to let one grandson change his surname to Lin. They’re willing, sure, but they should first ask whether we want him. They’ve come over several times already, but we’ve never agreed.”
After a pause, she added, “Today they even dragged your great-uncle into it. The old man’s getting senile. He just has to stick his nose into everything.”
As she spoke, she looked at Lin Yi’an. “Bao’er, if your father and I had wanted a son, there was a little boy years ago whose parents had both passed away. People wanted us to adopt him, but we refused. If we didn’t adopt a child back then, we’re certainly not going to let your father adopt someone else’s grandson now. What era are we living in? Why care so much about things like that?”
“Life has finally gotten better. I’d have to be foolish to go looking for trouble. Instead of wasting my time on that, I’d rather take better care of myself.”
She had been born small and never grew very tall, while Lin Shuhe had been born with a bad leg. Both husband and wife had their own disabilities. Since childhood, they had endured more scorn and contempt than anyone could count. Their hearts had become tougher than most people’s, and they had also learned to see things more clearly than most.
Having Bao’er by their side in this lifetime was already the greatest blessing they could have hoped for. They neither dared nor wanted to ask for anything more.
Lin Shuhe chuckled. “Exactly. Not every child is as sensible as our Bao’er. Look at the families in the village. First they worry about finding their children jobs, then they worry about getting them married. Once they’re married, they start worrying about raising grandchildren. They worry about everything. Do they think children are that easy to raise?”
“Your mother and I have worked hard for so many years. It’s about time we enjoyed a peaceful life.”
Lin Yi’an smiled. “Mom and Dad, you really do have such a healthy outlook. You deserve to enjoy yourselves.”
Once the meal was ready, the family gathered around the dining table. Lin Shuhe looked at Zhou Mingshi and said, “I wonder if you’ll be used to home-cooked food like ours.”
Zhou Mingshi looked at the dishes spread across the table. “It looks great. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.”
Lin Yi’an said, “They’re all just simple home-cooked dishes. They may not be as refined as what a professional chef would make, but they’re full of the warmth of everyday life…”
Zhou Mingshi smiled. “Each has its own charm.”
With that, he picked up a piece of goose meat, placed it in his bowl, and ate it slowly.
When he finished, Lin Shuhe looked at him expectantly. “Well? How is it?”
Zhou Mingshi pulled out a napkin and dabbed the corners of his mouth before saying, “The meat is firm yet tender, pleasantly chewy, and the flavor is excellent.”
Lin Shuhe beamed. “The goose was cooked over a wood-fired stove. The high heat makes all the difference. If you like it, have some more.”
Zhou Mingshi nodded.
Assistant Chen thought it was delicious as well. He had grown up in the countryside himself, and after following President Zhou for so many years, he had tasted all kinds of fine cuisine. Yet this goose, rich with the comforting flavor of home cooking, still stirred a sense of nostalgia in him.
After the meal, Assistant Chen and Ye Lingzhi cleared away the dishes, while Lin Shuhe and Liu Zhengying sorted through the gifts Zhou Mingshi had brought.
Looking at the pile of items, the couple felt troubled. Bird’s nest, donkey-hide gelatin, sea cucumber, ginseng, American ginseng… there were all kinds of nutritional supplements, along with those sent by Bao’er’s biological parents. How could they possibly finish all of it? Besides, some of those things weren’t meant to be eaten casually.
Liu Zhengying looked at Zhou Mingshi. “Next time, don’t bring so many things. We won’t be able to finish them.”
Zhou Mingshi said, “It’s fine. You can always give some away.”
Liu Zhengying was speechless.