Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Chapter 149 Even the stingy rooster got a handful of feathers plucked from it.

The next morning, Zhao Xiulan, who knew that Yang Wuni had given birth at home, came to watch the spectacle empty-handed, hoping to gain favor.

"Zhao Xiulan, are you here to help Wu Ni produce milk?"

It has to be the mother-in-law; she's always better to her daughter-in-law than I am, the aunt.

Knowing that the child is struggling financially, they give him money but not gifts.

Wu Ni, you have to accept whatever amount of money your Aunt Xiulan gives you later.

This is all out of her good intentions as a stepmother; please don't offend the old woman.

Seeing Zhao Xiulan empty-handed, Zhang Shuhua had a sudden idea and set a trap for Zhao Xiulan.

"Auntie, you know what? I really didn't prepare anything."

Giving money is practical; the kids can buy whatever they need. That's what his dad and I think too.

Feeling incredibly embarrassed, Zhao Xiulan reached into her shirt pocket and touched the money she had earned from selling hemp seeds yesterday.

She felt a pang of guilt and regret for coming to Zhang Changyao's house to show off.

After much stinginess, he finally took the money out of his pocket to look at it.

Before he could even pull out a ten-yuan note, Zhang Shuhua snatched it from him.

"Oh my! Sister-in-law, you're being too generous. I bet even Changyao's own mother wouldn't be as generous as you, the newcomer."

Zhang Shuhua quickly stuffed Zhao Xiulan's money under Yang Wuni's mattress.

"Zhang Shuhua, you...this...this isn't..." Zhao Xiulan didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Oh, sister-in-law, I know what you mean. I hope Changyao and Wuni will have a good life from now on."

I will definitely take good care of you, my mother-in-law who gave such a generous gift.

Zhang Shuhua, with a smile on her face, ushered Zhao Xiulan out of the house.

"Auntie, you've gotten yourself into trouble. Just wait and see, Zhao Xiulan will cause a huge scene as soon as she gets home."

Zhang Changyao took the money out from under Yang Wuni's mattress, intending to return it to Zhao Xiulan.

"Changyao, you're not allowed to deliver it. I'll just wait for her to come and ask for it."

At their age, they have no shame. Not only did they not give a gift when their child was in postpartum confinement, but they also came over to boast.

Yesterday afternoon I heard Wu Ni making a fuss in the house, but I didn't even come over to check on her.

This is the daughter of a relative who came to our family later. If it were your own mother, I would have fought with her long ago.

Zhang Shuhua, the head of the household, snatched the money from Zhang Changyao's hand and stuffed it back under Yang Wuni's mattress.

Zhang Changyao looked at Zhang Shuhua helplessly; he knew his aunt's temperament.

Things that don't look right to you must be corrected.

"Auntie, what should we do if my dad comes later?"

You might as well have Zhang Changyao send it back; that way, Zhao Xiulan won't cause trouble for my father.

After Yang Wuni finished breastfeeding, she lay flat on her back. She knew that Zhang Changyao felt sorry for his father and didn't want to put Zhang Changyao in a difficult position.

"Wu Ni, you wait, whether it's your father or Zhao Xiulan who comes."

I need to pluck a handful of feathers from those two tightwads.

After changing the baby's diaper, Zhang Shuhua went to the floor to wash.

"Auntie, I'm going to catch some chickens. After I kill them, I still have to go to Wang Ga's house."

"These past few days, there's been a lot of demand for rice noodles, so we've been making a lot more. Wang, the rice noodle maker, can't keep up with the demand by himself."

With Zhang Shuhua around, Zhang Changyao's fear of Zhang Kaiju lessened considerably.

"Changyao, pick the fattest chicken feet; they'll make a terrible chicken soup." Zhang Shuhua told Zhang Changyao as she was being chased out.

As Zhang Changyao walked past the corner of the yard, he saw Zhang Kaiju coming out of his yard with his head down.

Zhang Changyao quickly changed direction and went around into Zhai Qingming's yard.

"Sun Fengying, how have I treated you? I've been completely honest and open with you, and yet you've been hiding something from me."

Zhai Qingming kicked the door with one foot and angrily vented his anger on Sun Fengying, who was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) inside.

Mendun was so frightened that he buried his head in Sun Fengying's arms and dared not move.

"Qingming, your loud voice is scaring the child."

Zhang Changyao stood at the door, stomped down Zhai Qingming's leg that was kicking the door, and closed the door.

He pushed and shoved Zhai Qingming down onto the kang (a heated brick bed), then sat down opposite him.

"Changyao, tell me, what have I been working so hard for?"

"If I marry a wife who won't give me children, isn't all my hard work on the bed for nothing?" Zhai Qingming glared at Sun Fengying.

"Qingming, your wife isn't an unreasonable person."

She must have her reasons for not having children with you.

"Can't a couple discuss anything? They always have to argue until they're completely exhausted."

Zhang Changyao turned Zhai Qingming's face away, preventing him from looking at Sun Fengying.

"Changyao, it's not that I don't want to have a child with Zhai Qingming."

"Look at those three standing in the yard, how could I dare to have another child?"

After speaking, Sun Fengying wiped away her tears, feeling wronged.

"Qingming, you really can't blame Fengying for this. Don't you know the truth yourself?"

Third son, fourth son, and Ya Dan, they'll all give you a lot to worry about in the future. Your wife is just being considerate of you.

There are some things that others can't tell you outright; you need to keep those things in mind.

"I'm not talking to you anymore. My wife just gave birth, and I need to go catch a chicken to make soup for her."

As Zhai Qingming's good friend, Zhang Changyao could only touch on the subject briefly and dared not go into further detail.

The fear of having a child with intellectual disabilities is a sentiment that sounds unpleasant coming from anyone's mouth.

Within half a day, everyone in the village knew that Yang Wuni had delivered her own baby at home.

The women curled their lip in disdain, while the men, on the contrary, admired this extraordinary young woman.

"Wu Ni, I heard from Chang Yao that she gave birth to a boy."

Li Yue'e carried a small basket of eggs, put it on the ground after entering the house, and went straight to the child.

I lifted the blanket and gave the child's penis a "smack".

"Second sister-in-law, the child just finished peeing." Yang Wuni stretched out her arm to wipe Li Yue'e's mouth.

"Wu Ni, children's urine is not dirty, but children's urine can cure diseases."

"Wu Ni, Wang Fugui bought these fruits for me. I didn't keep an eye on them, so these are the only ones left. I'm giving them to you to tide you over."

Li Yue'e took a handful of roasted fruit from her pocket and placed it next to Yang Wuni's pillow.

"Second sister-in-law, I can't eat the fruit. The children haven't had enough, how can I, their aunt, eat it?"

Yang Wuni pushed the roasted fruit back to Li Yue'e's lap.

"Wu Ni, just eat what your second sister-in-law brought you. No matter how many of those little hungry wolves you give them, it won't be enough."

Zhang Shuhua picked up a piece and stuffed it into Yang Wuni's mouth.

"Wu Ni, your second sister-in-law is telling you, you absolutely must not eat salted vegetables."

When I gave birth to these children, my family was struggling financially and we were starving.

If you can't drink water directly, bite into a piece of pickled vegetable and drink half a teacup of water.

Now I have a chronic illness; every autumn I cough so badly I can't straighten my back.

"Hey!" Li Yue'e's loud voice made Liao Zhi, who was listening nearby, exclaim in surprise.

"Yue'e, call your mother out. I am your father-in-law and cannot enter the postpartum room."

Zhang Kaiju saw Li Yue'e sitting sideways on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) through the open door.

"Wu Ni, your father is here. Wait here, your aunt will go get you some food."

Zhang Shuhua shuffled out of the house with a smile on her face.

"Shuhua, can you give Fifth Brother a break?"

Zhao Xiulan didn't provoke you, so why did you steal her money?