Previously, in addition to Grandpa Gao and his son, several uncles had sent the chubby boy to the hospital.
He Yingzi’s three older brothers all had a sister complex. Even after getting married, her older brothers still loved her the most, and now even her son.
In addition, these brothers only had daughters, which made them even more fond of their only nephew.
The He family was also well-off. The eldest son was a truck driver, the second son worked in the steel factory, and the third son worked in the food factory. Their father was also a retired worker with a pension.
Although the He brothers held various positions and were not high-ranking leaders, they were all permanent workers. They were from one of the few wealthy families in the county and a prominent working-class family.
The marriage between the Gao and He families formed a strong alliance that became a benchmark family in the county, the envy of many.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had a lively conversation, so there was no need for Yu Zhi to inquire. They explained everything clearly and openly by themselves.
Just when they were in high spirits, Sang Dazhuang came back.
In an instant, the two women were like ducks strangled by their necks, and their voices abruptly stopped. Then, they turned around and ran back to their hospital bed, shrinking their necks and hanging their heads. They were clearly cowards and did not hide it.
Sang Dazhuang glared fiercely at them and only let them go after confirming that Yu Zhi was fine.
He put the bags of food on the bed, and the smile on his fierce and rough face looked very servile.
“See if there’s anything you like. It’s a bit late so there’s not much to buy. If there’s nothing you like then I’ll go out again tomorrow.”
There were two big bags of food, including some fruits and canned fruits that Yu Zhi specifically asked for, as well as dried meat, cookies, candies, malted milk, powdered milk, walnuts, and melon seeds, really everything.
Next to them, the other three people secretly looked over. Seeing so much food, they couldn’t help but swallow their saliva, especially the chubby boy because the quilt was wet with his saliva.
Normally, he would have been clamoring to eat, but with Sang Dazhuang around, he just looked over with envy and dared not say a word. His small appearance was pitiful and ridiculous.
Yu Zhi was also stunned by the food inside the two big bags. Where did he get this much at this time?
Suddenly, she realized he might have bought them at the black market.
This fool is really something. The authorities are very strict at this moment but he is not afraid of getting caught.
She glared at her foolish husband because she couldn’t say anything about it with outsiders around. “Have you eaten?”
“Yes, there are still people in the cafeteria. I asked them to cook me a bowl of noodles, so I’m full now.” Sang Dazhuang didn’t dare to deceive his wife.
In reality, the cafeteria was already getting ready to close. However, Sang Dazhuang rushed inside and said he wanted to eat noodles like a demon god. So how could the chef in the cafeteria refuse him?
The chef cooked that bowl of noodles with tears in their eyes.
Yu Zhi was satisfied that he didn’t lie. “Put these bags there for now. You go wash up and rest early. You’ve been tired all day.”
My wife cares about me. Sang Dazhuang felt like he had eaten honey. He giggled like a three-hundred-pound fool and said, “Okay, I’ll go right away.”
He left happily, and then the three people on the other bed took a deep breath and smiled at Yu Zhi. They didn’t feel ashamed of their cowardice just now.
Yu Zhi found these people quite interesting and took out an apple. In the winter, there were not many kinds of fruit, and the few that were available were very expensive. Most people were reluctant to buy them, and those who were willing to buy couldn’t buy them at any time. Therefore, fruits were the rarest of things.
Her slender hand reached out to the chubby boy and said, “Little Fatty, please have an apple.”
The chubby boy jumped off the bed, his chubby body being particularly agile. He was a flexible little fat boy.
He quickly took the apple, afraid it would be too late once Yu Zhi changed her mind. With a big smile, he said, “Thank you, Beautiful Sister. You are truly a kind-hearted person. In the future, when you come to the county town, just mention my name and no one will dare to bully you.”
Yu Zhi was overjoyed. “Then thank you, Little Comrade Gao.”
“You’re welcome, you’re welcome.” The chubby boy was holding the apple and nibbling on it until his face was covered in apple juice.
Zheng Jinhua glared at her grandson and said, “This child, you’re really not afraid of aggravating your injury.” Then, she said to Yu Zhi, “Thank you, girl. Have some egg cake too. It was bought by the child’s uncle and there are plenty of them. You can try it, it tastes good.”
He Yingzi also added, “Yes, try it. Egg cake is fragrant and soft, and it’s perfect for you to eat. Looking at those stuff your husband bought, you can’t eat most of them now. Men are really useless and can’t do even a little thing well.”
“I agree!” Zheng Jinhua also complained about men with a face full of disgust. “Take my husband for example, everything must be handed to him and placed under his nose for him to see. Otherwise, he would shout at the top of his lungs, Wife, where are my socks, my underpants? Wife, where is this and that… Oh my god, for decades, I was like his mother. I have always been angry, which makes my heart ache.”
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law complained about men, and Yu Zhi was very happy to hear it.
When Sang Dazhuang returned, their voices abruptly stopped again, and three people buried their heads like quails on the other bed.
Yu Zhi almost died of laughter. This family is so interesting.
After laughing enough, she asked Sang Dazhuang, “Where will you sleep?”
Sang Dazhuang saw that his wife was happy and in a good mood. His wife hadn’t laughed like that in a long time. It was a pity that he wasn’t the one who made her laugh, so he felt a bit uncomfortable.
“I’ll sleep on the floor and watch over you, so you won’t know if something happens while asleep.”
Yu Zhi frowned and said, “What will happen? It’s cold and sleeping on the floor can easily make you sick. Go find a nurse and ask for two quilts, then sleep on that empty bed.”
Sang Dazhuang glanced at the empty bed and replied, “Okay.”
He turned around to get the quilts. With his body size and appearance, it was easy to get them. When he came back, he carried the empty bed, a metal frame bed weighing dozens of kilograms, and placed it at the door. He had to guard his wife. It would be bad if someone kidnapped her.
Sang Dazhuang was so big that he was blocking the door. The other people in the ward did not even dare to go to the bathroom. They were weak and helplessly stayed in the corner all night.
The next day, just a little after six o’clock in the morning, Wang Xinfeng appeared at the door covered in morning dew.
Yu Zhi turned over and woke up, just in time to see Wang Xinfeng poking her head into the ward.
Sang Dazhuang at the door woke up at some point and was not there now.
Yu Zhi blinked and tears came down.
When Wang Xinfeng returned home, she became more and more uneasy. She was afraid that Yu Zhi was not in her right mind yesterday due to her illness and that she would never call her ‘Mom’ again.
So when she came in the morning, she didn’t dare to come in directly, wanting to confirm if Yu Zhi really didn’t hate her anymore.
Unexpectedly, just as she was about to smile, Yu Zhi cried.
Wang Xinfeng was anxious. Did she cry because I scared her?
She walked in while carrying a bag and feeling helpless. “Zhizhi, uhm… I…”
“Mom, why are you like this?”
Wang Xinfeng paused which looked like she had a big question mark on her face. “Zhizhi, nothing is wrong with Mom.”
***Original translation is from enchantesstranslations.com. Please read it on the translator’s website.***
Yu Zhi’s tears welled up even more fiercely and she shivered as she spoke, “Is there really nothing wrong with you, Mom? You hurried from Gubai Village to the county town in the middle of the night, walking dozens of miles and getting wet all over. Do you want to die? You looked terrible now. Why are you doing this?”
Upon hearing this, Wang Xinfeng’s heart sank. She took out a clean cotton handkerchief and smiled as she wiped away Yu Zhi’s tears. “Yu Zhi, Mom didn’t walk. Mom took the bus.”
“You’re lying!” Yu Zhi rushed into Wang Xinfeng’s arms and cried in a muffled voice. “The earliest bus from the commune to the county town departs at six o’clock and arrives at the station at eight o’clock. It’s not even seven o’clock now and your body is covered in dew, your feet are covered in mud, and your hair is almost dripping wet. Do you still want to deceive me? Mom, how can you deceive me? If something bad happened to you, what should I do then?”
People who are favored were emboldened and Yu Zhi was now making trouble and crying loudly. She was not afraid of Wang Xinfeng getting angry.
The old lady was irrational, unreasonable, and would take action right away, but she continued to show favoritism and indulgence towards Yu Zhi. In front of her mother-in-law, Yu Zhi could act recklessly as a bratty child, just like how Gao Xing acted recklessly in front of his family.
Upon hearing Yu Zhi’s words, Wang Xinfeng’s heart was filled with anger. Everyone said that Yu Zhi was heartless and an ungrateful person that would never change. Hmp! Those people are just jealous of me having a good daughter-in-law, deliberately sowing discord, and making sarcastic remarks.
They don’t know how considerate my daughter-in-law is.
Feeling both heartbroken and relieved, she comforted Yu Zhi, “Zhizhi, stop crying. Mom was wrong. Mom won’t lie anymore. Don’t worry, I just walked a few steps, it’s not a big deal. Oh, look, your voice is hoarse now.” When she looked up and saw Sang Dazhuang come in with a hot water kettle, her expression changed instantly.
She raised her hand and slapped Sang Dazhuang twice. “This bastard, tell me, what’s the use of you growing so big? It looks like you’re just wasting fabrics and air! Your brain has been soaked in feces for a long time and has turned into feces. I asked you to take care of Zhizhi, so what did you do?
“Zhizhi’s eyes are so swollen, but you don’t know how to apply a hot compress or boil an egg to roll it around her eyes. Zhizhi’s throat is so hoarse, but you didn’t ask the doctor to prescribe some medicine nor make some throat-soothing food!”
Then, her gaze fell on the food on the bedside table and she became even angrier. “Look at what you’ve bought! The doctor said that Zhizhi can only eat light food for detoxification for two days. She has a hoarse throat and should eat soft food. In the end, what did you buy, huh? You bastard! How can you let Zhizhi eat those?
“This useless thing! You can’t do anything right so what use do you have?!” The old lady was so angry and slapped Sang Dazhuang again.
The bear-like man just shrunk his neck and let his mother beat him, not daring to show any dissatisfaction.
The sound of slaps was so painful to hear, it was really a ruthless beating.
Zheng Jinhua and the other two were terrified. This family is too terrifying. The son is fierce and the mother is also fierce.
Sang Dazhuang seemed to be insensitive to the pain and the tough love from his mother.
Yu Zhi looked distressed and stopped crying. She hurriedly pulled Wang Xinfeng and said, “Mom, Mom, stop hitting him. Be careful of your hands hurting. I’m fine now and can’t eat much. Those are the things I asked Dazhuang to buy for the children, so don’t be angry. Look at your red hands, they must hurt so much.” My husband’s back must have hurt even more.
Wang Xinfeng felt extremely relieved in her heart and gave Sang Dazhuang two more slaps with a smile. “It’s okay, Zhizhi, Mom is not hurt. It’s useless to keep this bastard here. Why don’t Mom stay and accompany you instead? You’ve suffered a lot. If no one will take good care of you, your health will be in trouble.”
“No need, Mom. The hospital is crowded and noisy, so you won’t be able to eat or sleep well. I feel bad for you to stay here and suffer, so just let Dazhuang stay here. And I’m fine now, I can go back tomorrow. You must not rush to see me in the middle of the night again, okay? What if something bad happens?”
Wang Xinfeng rolled her eyes. Her daughter-in-law no longer rejected her unlucky son, so as a mother, she naturally couldn’t hinder them. It would be good for the young couple to get closer.
“Okay, let this bastard stay here. If there’s anything you need, just let him know. He’s so big and has eaten a lot of food, so don’t hesitate to use him. But you still have to stay in the hospital for a few more days and go back once you’re totally fine. Don’t worry, Mom is at home.
“Hurry up, Mom has made dumplings for you with cabbage filling and some fresh minced meat. They are fragrant and delicious, and still hot. Eat more, and if you like them, Mom will make them for you when she goes back.”
Although Wang Xinfeng looks rough and has a masculine face, she was skilled in her hands. She could cook delicious food, keep the house neatly, make clothes and shoes, and she was also good at working in the fields. She was truly versatile and a very capable old lady.
Yu Zhi touched the warm lunch box and her nose was turning sour. It should take a long time to get there and she didn’t know how much effort the old lady had put into it to keep the food warm. “Hmm, thank you, Mom. It smells so good. Mom should eat too.” Then, Yu Zhi stuffed one dumpling for Wang Xinfeng first.
Wang Xinfeng didn’t refuse either. The dumpling was so delicious because her daughter-in-law fed it to her. “You can eat the rest by yourself, Zhizhi. Eat more. Mom has eaten at home and isn’t hungry.”
However, Yu Zhi didn’t believe her. The white flour used to wrap the dumplings was also a luxury item in this era. So how could Wang Xinfeng be willing to eat them?
“Dazhuang, move the bed over here so Mom can sit and rest for a while. Then make her a cup of malted milk and go to the cafeteria to buy food.”
Upon hearing this, Sang Dazhuang worked diligently.
Wang Xinfeng looked disdainful and said, “See, this big bastard is really useless. He’s like a piece of wood and will only move when you ask him to as if he didn’t have a brain.”
Sang Dazhuang heard these words as he just walked out of the door. My mother’s love is getting heavier and heavier.
Yu Zhi grinned and stuffed another dumpling into Wang Xinfeng.
Hearing the chubby boy next to them swallow his saliva, she raised her head and put five dumplings in the lid of the lunch box. Then, she called him, “Little Comrade Gao, come over here. I’ll treat you to some dumplings.”
The chubby boy’s eyes lit up. He nimbly swayed over and quickly took the dumplings. “Thank you, Beautiful Sister. You are truly a kind-hearted person.”
“Hold on, Little Comrade Gao. You need to study hard and learn more, otherwise you will only be able to praise someone with this one sentence, which seems so insincere.”
The chubby boy froze and chuckled, pretending to be silly and stunned.
Yu Zhi didn’t expose him and smiled. “Give some to your grandmother and mother too. Good kids don’t eat alone.”
The chubby boy was a little reluctant, but he still relented and nodded his head.
Zheng Jinhua laughed so hard that you couldn’t even see her eyes. She liked anyone who treated her grandson well. “Oh, you’re such a generous girl. Sister, you’re so lucky to have such a sensible and filial daughter-in-law.”
Wang Xinfeng and Zheng Jinhua were of the same kind. They protected their children and whoever praised their daughters-in-law, they liked them. “That’s right, my Zhizhi is the best in the whole world.”
Yu Zhi was secretly happy and introduced Zheng Jinhua to Wang Xinfeng, emphasizing that their family was full of capable people with great skills, that they worked in the meat processing factory, and one of the most well-known families in the county.
Wang Xinfeng understood immediately, so when Sang Dazhuang came back with food, his mother was already good friends with the old lady in the other bed.
He was very speechless.
Yu Zhi handed the remaining dumplings to Sang Dazhuang. “Eat them while they’re hot. Mom’s dumplings are the best. Also, bring breakfast to Mom.”
“I don’t like dumplings, so just eat them. I’ll go and bring food to Mom.”
“I’m telling you to eat them, so eat, don’t make me angry.” Sang Dazhuang immediately became timid and stuffed the dumplings into his mouth. His big mouth could handle three in one gulp.
Wang Xinfeng was so angry that her blood pressure skyrocketed when she saw that. This bastard, it’s so painful to look at him. I really want to return him.