Chapter 57: Desperate to Repay the Debt

Chapter 57: Will Repay Even at the Cost of One's Life

"So delicious, Little Sis, how did you think of adding white pepper to this slippery chicken soup? Hehe, this stuff is rare. Luckily I know an old tree. This soup is truly fresh. Having meat really makes a difference."

"Sis, your cooking is so good. Why haven't I ever seen you cook before!" Shen Xiaobin felt in his heart that he had suffered a huge loss by missing out on so many meals cooked by Shen Meng previously.

Shen Meng ate little in the evening, but seeing her cooking so popular, she was also happy inside.

"It's not that I didn't want to cook before. It was just that Father and Mother couldn't bear to let me. Sigh, Mother, is Father managing alright eating alone over there?"

Wang Guizhi took a bite of the crispy fried dough cake. "He's fine. He's such a grown man, can't very well feed him, can you? You eat yours. I've boiled hot water in the pot. Tonight you take Mingyang and the kids to wash up. Tomorrow morning, have your brother send you back."

"Okay!"

The food was so delicious that almost no one spoke. Only Mingyang and the others, who were used to Shen Meng's cooking, didn't know what was going on, but tonight the meal smelled exceptionally fragrant.

Knowing the family was going to rebuild the house and make furniture, Lü Qilan and Su Xiaomei were also happy in their hearts. After all, if the house was more spacious, the children wouldn't have to keep squeezing onto the same kang with them.

As the maternal uncle, Shen Xiaobin took the initiative to help his nephews bathe. Lü Qilan also prepared a wooden basin of water for Mingfang to wash. With her chores snatched away, Shen Meng moved a stool and sat in the courtyard chatting with the Shen family.

A gentle breeze blew, unable to disperse the laughter and joy. In the evening, knowing Shen Meng had returned, several unmarried young sisters came over to play with her. Seeing that her speech and dress were better than before she married, they were genuinely happy for her.

Wang Guizhi went back to the room and took out the brown sugar she had tidied from the kang cabinet. The second son's wife was pregnant; drinking brown sugar water often could nourish her body. But she couldn't favor one over the other; the eldest son's wife had to get some too, otherwise resentment would brew.

She didn't plan to take out the rest of the things. After all, these were all given to her and the old man by their daughter. Taking the things their daughter gave them out of filial piety and giving them to the daughters-in-law would hurt their daughter's feelings. It was a pity some people just didn't have this level of understanding.

"There are so many good things. The two of us can't finish them all. You only took out a bit of brown sugar to share. Old woman, when did you become so stingy?"

"Go to sleep. These were all given to us by Xiaomeng out of filial piety. The grandsons and granddaughters were all given candies. What else do they want to eat? Who knows how much money it will cost to repair the house? Xiaomeng said she'd go ask about buying black tiles. I originally thought thatch was fine, but then I thought better of it. Better listen to Xiaomeng. Building a house is a big deal. Later we'll properly thank the son-in-law and Xiaomeng. Once the house is built, we'll get furniture and such. Such a big happy event has already happened. What more do you want? You go out and look. In the ten miles and eight villages around, where would you find a mother-in-law as good as me?"

Shen Fugui didn't speak further. He actually knew it wasn't right to give the daughter's things to the daughters-in-law, but in his heart, he felt he owed the two daughters-in-law and the grandchildren.

He looked up at Wang Guizhi's figure bent over tidying things, and his heart suddenly clenched.

"Guizhi, why do I feel like you have a lot more gray hair?"

Wang Guizhi's hand locking the kang cabinet paused. She turned her head and glanced at him.

"How old am I? Isn't it normal to have gray hair? In a bit, I'll make you a bowl of milk powder. Oh wait, two bowls. I'll have one too. This is what my daughter gave me out of filial piety. I've suffered so many years. Now there's finally someone who cares for me. I'm telling you, tonight you sleep with the boys. I'm going to the eldest's room to sleep with my daughter."

"Alright, alright, go on. You mother and daughter chat. By the way, remind Xiaomeng to write to her husband more often. The relationship between husband and wife mustn't grow cold. Also ask if she's coming home this year. If not, have Xiaomeng find someone to check if she can go visit him at the army base."

It had been several years. The son-in-law never came back, and his own daughter never mentioned visiting. If this went on, wouldn't the marital relationship be ruined?

"Got it. I'll ask discreetly later."

Shen Meng watched the children playing in the room, with absolutely no intention of sleeping. She just found it amusing. Just wait. Wait until they go back to school; they'll be crying then.

"Mom, why are you smiling so creepily? What's wrong?" Lu Mingliang crawled over from the other end of the kang and burrowed straight into Shen Meng's arms. He had eaten a lot of good food recently and drank a cup of fragrant milk every night, so he was growing tall very fast.

"Ouch, you little brat, be careful. Your iron head almost smashed into Mom's chin."

"Hehehe." Lu Mingliang felt sweet in his heart. That little brat Xiaokai always relied on being the youngest to burrow into Mom's arms. Now what? He got there first. The others could only watch.

Lu Mingyang looked at his second brother's cheap smile and found it extremely glaring.

"Your little uncle just bathed you, and you're already sweating again. Calm down. Go to sleep early. Next time, when Grandma's house is rebuilt, Mom will bring you over to play again. Okay?"

"Okay. Mom, Little Uncle caught me an earthworm. I did surgery on the earthworm. Piece by piece." Lu Mingkai crawled up to Shen Meng and squeezed hard into her arms, intending to push Second Brother out.

Shen Meng: "..."

It sounds a bit disgusting!!!

"Oh dear, you two stop fooling around. You'll push Mom over. Go to sleep quickly. Mingyang, Mingliang, Mingfang, hurry up and cover yourselves with the quilts and sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow. Just wait. Before dawn, Grandma will have to wake you up."

With that, Lu Mingyang immediately exerted his authority as the eldest brother and pressed his younger siblings down to lie flat.

Holding her own pillow, Wang Guizhi hesitated about whether to go in. Not hearing the voices of the two daughters-in-law talking, she took two steps forward and happened to stand at the door of the second household's room.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, our Little Auntie is really different this time she's back. She's visibly good to Father and Mother. She's polite to us too, not treating us like outsiders."

"Exactly. The kids all have the candies Little Auntie gave them clutched in their hands, mouths full of 'Little Auntie is so good, Little Auntie is so good.' Sigh, Little Auntie is really living the life now. Did you see the clothes Mingyang and the kids are wearing? The fabric is really good. I touched it. Silk clothes, so soft."

Lü Qilan said, patting her own son, her heart full of envy. If she had money, she would definitely buy the best for her child.

"One's own children are naturally cherished. But Mingyang's kids are sensible too. Look at what they brought us. All good clothes. Though there are a few patches, they're still better than ours. I heard Xiaokai say Little Auntie even brought over a few pieces of clothes they never wore. I'm so grateful in my heart. I'm thinking of looking for a way to repay Little Auntie properly." Su Xiaomei felt grateful in her heart and just said it verbally. She had been inferior since childhood because of her limp. She never expected anyone to truly treat her well. But as long as someone sincerely treated her children well, she would repay them even at the cost of her life.