Chapter 11: Old Lady Liang is Convinced

"Yes."

Mrs. Wu held the child, bowed to Old Madam Liang, and then carried the baby back.

After returning to her room, she touched her daughter’s little belly. Seeing it wasn't bloated and felt warm, she finally smiled.

"It seems the silver I slipped them today wasn't wasted; look how clean the child is."

Money really can make the devil turn the millstone.

It was a pity the weather was so fickle, alternating between cold and hot, otherwise, she would have taken the child out herself.

On the street, there were people selling small, handmade wooden strollers—just a pole with a little chair attached to the bottom. The little ones would sit on top, and the adults would push them around to get some air.

However, Ying-jie’er was still too small for a stroller; she would have to wait until she was a bit older.

Xiao Hong brought in lunch, and the mistress and servant ate together.

When Liang Jin wasn't home, Old Madam Liang and Mrs. Wu ate in their respective rooms.

Only when Liang Jin returned would the whole family sit together.

Today’s braised pork knuckle was stewed until the meat was tender; one bite and it was full of fragrant, succulent skin.

Mrs. Wu ate with gusto, finishing the pork knuckle, vegetables, and rice.

Her mother had told her that a woman must eat well to stay healthy, especially after giving birth. She had to eat, or her body would suffer a deficit that no amount of medicine could fix.

Mrs. Wu took her mother’s words to heart and ate her fill at every meal.

After eating, she went to get some fabric, preparing to start sewing a red padded jacket for her daughter to wear for the New Year.

She had finished the clothes for Liang Jin and Old Madam Liang months ago, so now it was time to start on her daughter’s.

They would be returning to her maiden home on the second day of the Lunar New Year, so she had to make sure the child looked presentable.

Otherwise, if the neighbors saw the child without a single new piece of clothing, they would think she was being neglected by her in-laws for giving birth to a girl.

Children grow fast, so she made the size a bit larger.

The fabric was red and very festive; it would look even better once she embroidered the word "peace" on it.

Besides, these clothes wouldn't wear out easily. If Ying-jie’er couldn't wear them anymore, they could be passed down to a younger brother or sister later.

When Ying-jie’er woke up, she saw her mother humming a tune, sewing clothes at the table.

She let out a couple of "Ah~ ah~" sounds, as if to say, "Mother, you're back?"

Hearing the noise, Mrs. Wu turned around and smiled. "Is my daughter awake? Did you miss Mother?"

Ying-jie’er flailed her little hands and feet excitedly, making gurgling sounds as if to say, "I did."

Seeing her so excited, Mrs. Wu smiled and came over to pick her up.

"Oh my, whose little piggy is so soft?" Her little face was soft, and her little body was squishy.

She even had that unique, milky scent that only babies have.

Mrs. Wu held her daughter and doted on her for a while, and Ying-jie’er gurgled and laughed excitedly in her arms.

After playing for a while, Mrs. Wu put her on the bed and went back to sewing.

Ying-jie’er had been playing happily, but being suddenly placed on the bed left her big eyes dazed, and she suddenly felt a bit aggrieved.

A baby’s emotions are just that uncontrollable; there was nothing she could do about it.

But she didn't cry; she just gurgled, waved her little hands and feet in anger, and babbled, as if she were arguing with someone.

Mrs. Wu knew she was angry because no one was playing with her, so she moved her chair over, sat in front of her, and talked to her.

"Be good, Mother is right here. Mother is sewing clothes for you to wear during the New Year. When the time comes, I'll take you back to your grandmother's house. Our hometown is so much fun."

The joys of a country child were far more interesting than those of a child in town.

Catching crickets, roasting sweet potatoes, picking fruit, fishing in the river—every activity was incredibly fun.

Ying-jie’er was also eager to see her grandmother’s house and immediately started "ah-ah-ing" with excitement.

Seeing her happy, Mrs. Wu chatted with her from time to time while she sewed.

At noon, the doctor came by again to check on Liang Qing’s face.

Liang Qing’s face had suddenly developed an allergy a few days ago, and Old Madam Liang was afraid it might be contagious, so she made her stay in her room to recover.

The doctor came today, presumably to see if the sister-in-law was doing better.

Xiao Hong went to take a look and said she was better.

However, she still couldn't be exposed to the wind, so Liang Qing stayed in her room doing embroidery.

Mrs. Wu asked Xiao Hong to send some of the snacks she had bought today to her sister-in-law so she could recover well.

The next day, Mrs. Wu went to buy New Year’s goods as usual, and Ying-jie’er was taken to Old Madam Liang’s room again.

By now, Old Madam Liang had grown accustomed to the child being brought over.

She complained about Mrs. Wu as usual, but once Mrs. Wu left, she reached out and poked Ying-jie’er’s little cheek.

Ying-jie’er didn't like being poked, so she reached out and grabbed Old Madam Liang’s finger with surprising strength.

Old Madam Liang clicked her tongue. "You dare grab me? Let go."

Ying-jie’er refused; she just held onto her finger and wouldn't let go no matter what.

Old Madam Liang pulled back, and seeing it wouldn't budge, she tried to pry open the baby's little fingers.

But as soon as she pried at them, Ying-jie’er immediately started to cry.

"Waaah, waaah," she cried very sadly.

Old Madam Liang clicked her tongue, rarely backing down. "Fine, fine, stop howling. I'll let you hold it. You really are my ancestor; I have to serve you and play with you. I must have owed you in my past life."

Despite her grumbling, she didn't pull her finger out in the end.

Having won, Ying-jie’er immediately smiled.

There wasn't a single tear on her face; it was clearly a fake cry.

Old Madam Liang noticed, but she didn't dare pry her fingers away again, lest the baby start crying and give her a headache.

When Mrs. Wu returned, Old Madam Liang looked exhausted and said to her, "Quick, quick, take her away. She’s worn me out."

Mrs. Wu didn't understand, but Ying-jie’er was perfectly fine. She asked a few questions, but Old Madam Liang was impatient and said, "This child is so tiresome; I’m exhausted. You take her back, and starting tomorrow, I’ll go buy the New Year’s goods myself."

Mrs. Wu was greatly surprised.

Her mother-in-law was actually letting her stay home to watch the child while she went out to do the chores?

What on earth was going on? Could it be that her daughter had done something?

But this little thing didn't even have a single tooth; what could she possibly do?

Mrs. Wu couldn't figure it out, but she was happy to be able to stay home and accompany her daughter.

That night, the mother and daughter slept in bed together, and Mrs. Wu kissed and hugged her for a long time.

"What did you do to your grandmother today? She was so exhausted."

This was the first time she had seen her mother-in-law look so flustered, and she was very curious about what her daughter had done.

It was a pity Ying-jie’er couldn't talk, or she would have told the story vividly.

The reason Old Madam Liang was afraid of her was simply that she had pestered her all day to play.

When Old Madam Liang initially refused, she would wail at the top of her lungs.

She wailed so loudly that people outside thought Old Madam Liang wasn't taking good care of the child, and everyone came by to say a word or two.

Old Madam Liang was furious.

She hadn't done anything; she had just been lying on the bed trying to sleep for a while—how did she become a wicked grandmother?

She was angry, but there was nothing she could do, so she had to play with this little brat while half-asleep.

Whenever she was about to fall asleep, the little brat would let out two "ah-ah" sounds, as if asking why she had fallen asleep.

Old Madam Liang would glare at her, and she would pout, looking like she was about to cry, leaving the old woman unable to vent her anger.

"Fine, fine, fine, I won't say anything. You play your game; I’m really afraid of you."

And so, the grandmother and granddaughter fought a battle of wits, and in the end, Old Madam Liang lost to the toothless Ying-jie’er.

(End of chapter)