Chapter 10: Roast Convention

Mother Xu saw that she was holding a grudge again and laughed, "Well, you did let Ying-jie catch a chill yesterday. How old is she? She doesn't even have a single tooth yet, and you let her little bottom get cold. Even I felt sorry for her."

Old Madam Liang snorted when she heard her bring it up again. "Don't mention this again, and don't say anything to Jin'er either, or he'll lecture me again when he gets back."

Mother Xu nodded. "Don't worry, none of us will tell Brother Jin. You should hurry up and hold Ying-jie; she's being so well-behaved."

Ying-jie was currently listening to their conversation with rapt attention, which was exactly why she was being so well-behaved.

Her life as an infant was incredibly boring; every day was just eating, sleeping, or pooping.

Occasionally, when she was awake, it was quite interesting to listen to the adults chat.

Old Madam Liang saw her grape-like eyes staring at her with innocence and coughed, acting awkward. "What are you looking at? I don't have milk for you to eat."

Ying-jie was amused by her words, her little red mouth stretching wide as she smiled until her big eyes curved into crescents.

Seeing her adorable appearance, Mother Xu liked her even more. "Madam, look, when Ying-jie smiles, she looks exactly like Brother Jin did when he was little."

Old Madam Liang didn't believe it and glanced at her with disdain. "Where is the resemblance? Just these big eyes—they clearly look like that Wu woman's." A look of seduction.

She didn't say the last part out loud, but how could Mother Xu not understand her? One look at her expression and she knew she was starting to find fault again.

She sighed. "The Young Mistress is quite good. She spends her own money and puts in the effort for everything, big and small, in this house. Why does she annoy you so much?"

The Liang family had four servants in total: a cook, a manservant who followed Liang Jin, and then Mother Xu and Xiao Hong.

With so few servants in the house, there were many things that still required Wu to handle.

Although Wu had a somewhat blunt temper, she was excellent at managing the household. Even though she was born with a beautiful face, she wasn't delicate; she even went out to buy New Year's goods in the dead of winter. Why didn't the old lady like her? Mother Xu was also very puzzled.

Old Madam Liang scoffed dismissively. "Oh? Buying some New Year's goods is a big deal? Which daughter-in-law doesn't buy New Year's goods? I'm already being kind; I didn't even make her worry about what to buy, I listed it all out for her. Which mother-in-law is as thoughtful as I am?"

It was all because of her good intentions; otherwise, if she hadn't told Wu what to buy, that vixen might have made a total mess of it.

Mother Xu was truly afraid of her. "Yes, yes, you are kind-hearted. With you around, the Young Mistress can enjoy a good life. This family really can't do without you."

Old Madam Liang accepted this without modesty. "That's right. Anyone who has a mother-in-law as good as me should be burning incense in gratitude." Yet Wu still dared to give her attitude.

Truly ungrateful, hmph.

Mother Xu couldn't win the argument, so she sat down to watch the baby.

Ying-jie heard Old Madam Liang constantly disparaging her mother, so she immediately furrowed her tiny infant brow, let out a heavy huff through her little nose, and then flailed her two small hands vigorously, as if venting her emotions.

Seeing this, Mother Xu teased her, "This child, it's as if she understands what we're saying and is getting angry. Look at that little brow furrowed; it's exactly like the Young Master when he was little."

Old Madam Liang glanced back and snorted. "My Brother Jin is much cuter than her."

Mother Xu almost rolled her eyes. Annoyed, she shoved the baby into Old Madam Liang's arms. "I need to go to the kitchen to help chop vegetables, otherwise the Young Mistress will be hungry when she gets back."

With that, she placed the small toys and diapers from the bamboo basket by the bedside and gave a few instructions. "Madam, you must keep a close eye on Ying-jie this time, or the Young Mistress will be angry again when she returns. I'm going to help with lunch."

After saying this, she went out.

Seeing that she had left the child with her again, Old Madam Liang grumbled to Ying-jie, "Tell me about your mother—I told her she was stupid, and she didn't believe me. She specifically gave Mother Xu silver, but in the end, doesn't it still fall to me to take care of you?" What a waste of money!

Being this stupid, how could she feel at ease handing the household over to her?

How would this family manage without her?

Ying-jie:...

Is it really okay to talk about my mother right in front of me?

But Old Madam Liang ignored her opinion entirely and continued to grumble.

"If you ask me, it's better to have a grandson. Our family has a large estate; we can't have no grandson to inherit it, or there will be no one to succeed to the wealth in the future. It would be best if your mother got pregnant next year and gave you a little brother. What do you think?"

Ying-jie:...

Not great.

She was only this big, and they already wanted a second child. Her mother's body wasn't made of iron; at the very least, she should wait two years before having another.

Otherwise, her body would be ruined.

The risks of childbirth in ancient times were so high precisely because of frequent pregnancies and giving birth at a young age. Her mother had best not do that.

So, she made a few "un-un" sounds to express her protest.

But as she protested, a sudden urge to urinate hit her.

Old Madam Liang saw her expression and thought, "Oh no."

Sure enough, after the infant finished relieving herself, her body shivered.

Old Madam Liang felt the diaper; it was indeed wet.

She clicked her tongue, and while grabbing a new diaper, she scolded her, "You just finished eating, and you're already peeing. Are you going to be hungry again in a moment?"

Ying-jie made a few "un-un" sounds; she was indeed hungry.

Old Madam Liang was defeated by her. She picked up the warm goat milk from the copper pot and fed it to her one small spoonful at a time.

She hadn't taken care of a baby in a long time, so her movements were a bit clumsy.

Ying-jie choked twice from her feeding, but she didn't cry; she just furrowed her little brows tightly.

Before drinking the milk, she was a clean little baby, but now she was covered in it thanks to Old Madam Liang. She could even feel the stickiness on her face.

Old Madam Liang also saw the mess on her face and hurriedly used a towel soaked in warm water to wipe it off.

While wiping, she complained, "I must have owed you mother and daughter in my past life. Changing your diapers, washing your face—you better be filial to me, your grandmother, in the future, you hear me?"

Ying-jie:...

I can't hear you.

After finishing the goat milk, the infant's constitution made her sleepy again.

Ying-jie yawned and lazily curled up in Old Madam Liang's arms to sleep.

Seeing her sleeping soundly and feeling her soft body, Old Madam Liang looked at the door. Seeing no one around, she reached out and poked the infant's little face.

"Tsk, quite soft." Just like my son, naturally good skin.

Ying-jie:...

The good parts are all like the son, the bad parts are all like the daughter-in-law. How do you manage to be so consistent?

When Wu returned, it was just time for lunch.

She and Xiao Hong carried the items directly to Old Madam Liang's room.

Seeing that the door was closed today, Wu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She called out toward the room, "Mother, I'm back."

Old Madam Liang replied, "The door isn't locked, come in."

Wu brought the items in and went to check on the child first.

"Ying-jie didn't give you any trouble, did she?"

Old Madam Liang snorted haughtily, "Even if she did, I'm an adult; would I lower myself to the level of a nursing baby?"

Wu saw that her daughter's face was clean and the diaper was dry, so she finally felt at ease.

"I've really troubled you, Mother. You've worked hard."

As long as the child was fine, Wu was genuinely grateful.

Old Madam Liang got up to check the things she had bought. Seeing that nothing was missing, she nodded with satisfaction.

"Alright, lunch is almost ready. You go back and eat."