Chapter 46: One's Own Relatives

Chapter 46: Family Relatives

After Sun Yanyan finished muttering, she remembered the important matter at hand: "Dad, Mom asked you to buy a jug of oil. I'll watch the shop for you for a bit, so you can pick up the kid on your way back."

Her daughter, Song Ziyi, was currently in the senior class of kindergarten, but since today was Saturday, she had gone to a nearby interest class to learn chess.

Song Dafang felt a surge of irritation—raising children, whether sons or daughters, is nothing but a debt!

He had raised his son and daughter, but now that the two of them were old, they hadn't enjoyed any peace or comfort.

Not only did they have to support his son's family of three, but they also had to pay for his granddaughter's tuition, pick her up and drop her off, cook, wash dishes, and do laundry...

And here was his shrewd daughter-in-law, who refused to spend a single cent of her own daily, even making him wait to go out and buy a single jug of oil.

Truly, a life destined to be an old servant!

Deep resentment swelled in his heart. However, by the time he arrived at the interest class with the oil jug and waited for his granddaughter, the little girl, with a large bow tied in her hair, came running toward him happily, her voice bright and sweet

"Grandpa!"

"Hey!"

Song Dafang instantly forgot his recent unpleasantness, feeling as though the hardship was worth it.

After the family returned to the residential compound behind the shop and opened the door, Mao Li, who was cooking in the kitchen, rushed out, complaining

"You old man, I told you to buy a jug of oil, and you've only just returned! It's waiting to be used in the pan!"

Then, seeing the small basket of vegetables in his hand—fresh, tender, and succulent—she couldn't help but wonder: "What did you buy this time?"

She took a look: "Oh, vetch! I haven't eaten this in decades. It'll be perfect for a quick stir-fry at lunch."

Song Dafang quickly said, "Tantan brought it over with Qiaoqiao this morning. She said she's been selling vegetables at the riverside market lately."

"What?"

Mao Li was startled.

"Selling vegetables? Isn't Tantan working in Ning Province? Why did she come back to sell vegetables?"

Sun Yanyan, having already changed her shoes, squeezed over and glanced at the vegetables: "This stuff isn't worth much. It won't taste good once it's no longer fresh. Buying so much... you wouldn't even be able to give it away to neighbors."

Seeing Song Dafang's expression darken further, Mao Li knew he resented his daughter-in-law's words, so she quickly added: "It's the thought that counts. We'll just stir-fry it for lunch to enjoy the freshness."

Song Dafang gave a cold snort and took his granddaughter to watch TV.

Meanwhile, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat together intimately, picking through the vegetables and chatting

"Mom, Tantan drove a little old pickup truck here today. She said she wants to stay in the hometown to farm. These vegetables are just what they had left over from selling."

"Oh my!" Mao Li truly hadn't expected this. "She's staying in the hometown to farm? She's a young girl; if she stayed in Ning City for work, people would say she has a comfortable and respectable life. Now that she's back in the village, what will happen when she tries to find a partner?"

"Exactly."

Sun Yanyan sighed with mock seriousness

"You know Tantan has a brother with a mental disability; her marriage prospects were already difficult. Now she's moved back to the countryside. Who would want to marry a girl who farms?"

"Sigh, I was actually going to introduce her to a young man I met recently. His family has a house and a car, and the whole family is hardworking. I was planning to introduce him to her!"

"After all, Tantan is truly beautiful. She looks even better now that she's back! Her skin is so fair and translucent. Being young is wonderful; even the celebrities on TV can't compare."

Mao Li also sighed: "True, both children from your Third Uncle's family are good-looking."

"If you encounter someone suitable, you should still introduce them. They are family, after all."

"If you ask me, their family has had it hard. Look at your Dad when he was young—he was capable and driven, which is how he built up our assets in the city, so we don't have to worry about food or drink now."

"But your Uncle and his family... they insisted on staying stuck in the hometown when they were young. They weren't careful when having children either. Look at Qiaoqiao, such a good young man, yet why is he a fool?"

"They've worked hard for half their lives, but their vision was poor and their horizons too narrow. Now they're still guarding the hometown, and the little money they have in their pockets probably isn't even enough for a down payment."

As they spoke, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law found more and more to talk about. Sun Yanyan thought for a moment

"How old is Qiaoqiao this year?"

"Eighteen, I think?" Mao Li couldn't quite remember.

Sun Yanyan pondered for a moment: "If you ask me, with Qiaoqiao in this state, we need to find him a wife quickly. With a wife looking after him, my Uncle and the others can go out to work and earn more money. It'll save them from worrying about elderly care later."

"After all, with Qiaoqiao like this, they can't rely on him for support in their old age."

"That's true," Mao Li felt that her daughter-in-law had spoken directly to her heart

"I've said it before, they have to carry on the family line, right? Qiaoqiao is such a good young man. If he marries a wife and has a grandson, maybe that grandson won't have any issues?"

"While your Third Uncle and the others are still young, they can raise the grandson, and then their family will have someone to rely on in the future."

Song Dafang happened to be opening the fridge to get something. Hearing this, he glared at them

"What kind of talk is that? Tantan staying at home to help us look after our parents saves us so much trouble, and yet you two are plotting behind her back!"

Sun Yanyan curled her lip but did not argue.

However, her mother-in-law, Mao Li, was not pleased

"Plotting! We are doing it for his own good. With Qiaoqiao in this state, if they don't have a grandson, what will they do when they are old? Don't let it be that you are busy serving your parents only to end up serving your brother!"

Song Dafang glared at her too

"With Qiaoqiao like that, how can you marry him a wife? Besides, what if the child is born with mental issues too? How will their family survive?"

"That..."

Mao Li was stumped by the question.

Instead, Sun Yanyan quickly said: "How can it be so absolute? Just marry him a wife to take care of him first. Don't look for those overly shrewd girls; find someone a bit simple and honest who can manage a household."

"And as for having children, medical science is so advanced now. You can tell during pregnancy if there are any issues. If there are, you just don't have the child."

"Dad, don't be angry. Mom is just worried about you."

"Grandpa and Grandma are in the hometown; we will inevitably have to spend money and effort for them later. If my Uncle's life is good, we will have it easier too."

"If he becomes a burden for elderly care later, you certainly won't just stand by and watch, Dad."

"It's just that I'm afraid you'll be overburdened when the time comes."

Song Dafang paused for a moment, but in the end, he said nothing. He simply closed the refrigerator door and walked heavily back to the living room.

...

By noon, Song Xuehai, the son who was at work, returned. The family hurriedly arranged the dishes to eat.

There was a plate of bright green vegetables on the table that looked unfamiliar. Song Xuehai couldn't help but ask, "What is this?"

"I know, I know!"

His granddaughter, Song Ziyi, said, "Grandpa said this was brought by Brother Qiaoqiao."

Song Xuehai teased her, "I told you, don't call him 'Brother,' call him 'Uncle'."

However, his daughter ignored him, clumsily reaching forward with her chopsticks: "I want to eat the vegetables Brother Qiaoqiao brought."

The tender green vegetables had been stir-fried with minced garlic, and at this moment, they released an enticing, fresh aroma across the dining table.

Song Ziyi took a big bite, and then impatiently reached out with her chopsticks again

"The vegetables Brother Qiaoqiao brought are so delicious! The best in the whole world!"

"You little kid, how many things have you actually eaten?" Song Dafang glanced at her, then followed suit with a bite of his own.

The moment it hit his mouth, the flavor felt exceptionally different.

By the time the whole family snapped out of it, the plate was already empty.

Song Ziyi stared blankly at the side and suddenly burst into tears: "I want more! I'm not full!"

Mao Li hurriedly gathered the plates: "Don't cry, don't cry. Grandma will make more right now; there's plenty left."

Sun Yanyan also came over, still wanting more: "Mom, why don't we stir-fry the rest? The taste really is quite good."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "Otherwise, Mom, when you go grocery shopping tomorrow, why don't you check out the large riverside market too? It wouldn't be right not to support our own family's business."