Chapter 51 - 4: Stunning Little Daughter-in-Law
Tianmiao...
The young wife repeatedly savored these two words in her heart. What a lovely name. Just a name, yet it feels extraordinarily warm.
The young wife held little Tianmiao’s hand, walking home while contemplating how to explain the child’s origin to her mother-in-law.
As they arrived at their doorstep, they encountered the neighbors next door heading out.
"Hey, Ren Family’s wife, are you back from picking herbs?" The speaker was a man in his thirties, his mischievous eyes roving over the young wife’s body. This was Wang Shitou, the idle neighbor next door, who still hadn’t married despite being in his thirties.
The young wife replied perfunctorily and quickly led little Tianmiao inside, closing the door behind them.
"Tch, what’s with the act? Who knows what positions..." Wang Shitou spat, biting his tongue before he could finish his crass remark. Suddenly a piece of his tongue was almost severed, and the bleeding Wang Shitou began to howl in pain at the door.
"Why are you screaming, are you dying?" came the impatient scolding from Wang Shitou’s house. That was Wang Shitou’s mother, equally lazy and gluttonous, and a notorious gossip.
"Ah, uh..." Wang Shitou wanted to speak, but he couldn’t.
Seeing her son, who usually argues back, silent today, Wang’s mother stepped out curiously and was shocked to see his mouth full of blood. Frightened, she angrily shouted, "What are you doing? Go to Yang the Doctor’s house quickly, go!"
Only then did Wang Shitou remember the village’s barefoot doctor, called Yang the Doctor as a sign of respect. Wang Shitou ran to Yang the Doctor’s house while Wang’s mother yelled behind him.
"Dreaming of meat, biting your tongue, why didn’t you bite it off completely!" Wang’s mother went back inside and slammed the door shut.
The young wife brought Tianmiao home, first fetching water to wash her and Tianmiao’s hands. Upon hearing the noise, Ren’s mother emerged from inside, about to call the young wife, when she spotted a little girl sculpted like jade.
"Qian Xu, this child is?" Ren’s mother grew increasingly alarmed as she observed the girl’s clothing, something no ordinary family could afford. Not even the towns outside had such fabric.
"She is..." Qian Xu was about to reply when little Tianmiao spoke first.
"My mother entrusted me to this elder sister. I will stay here for a few days. I’ve paid the fee and won’t trouble you," little Tianmiao said softly, immediately warming Ren’s mother’s heart without doubt.
"But we’re just afraid you’ll be uncomfortable," Ren’s mother walked over, squatted in front of Tianmiao, and said with some embarrassment, "Our food isn’t good, and neither is our lodging. I’m worried you won’t be used to it."
"It’s okay." Tianmiao shook her head, her chubby, plump little face melting Ren’s mother’s heart.
This child is so adorable. She wondered if she’d ever have such a cute granddaughter. She wondered when Liang Xu would return.
Thinking of this, Ren’s mother sighed softly.
"Mother, are you thinking about your husband again?" Qian Xu asked worriedly. Naturally, the husband she referred to was Ren’s mother’s son, Ren Liangxu.
"Yes, I regret not following Liangxu’s advice to move away from this place." Ren’s mother frowned, eyes filled with worry. Ever since Liangxu left to join the army, the family had no men, making life increasingly difficult.