Witty Wife, Better Life

Chapter 436: Chapter 426 Resolving Contradictions (Additional update for Anitaqing)

After tidying up the house, Shen Yunfang went to Dashuan’s home to pick up the kids and headed back to her own place.

Pangpang and Xiaohu had quickly established a deep friendship, and at the time of leaving, Pangpang insisted that Brother Xiaohu should come along to play. Xiaohu, the earnest child he was, immediately happily followed.

"Xiaojuan, do you want to come over to Aunt Yunfang’s home to play too?" Shen Yunfang saw Xiaojuan looking longingly as her brother followed them and thus extended the invitation.

Xiaojuan flashed her small white teeth in a smile, just like when she was little, and nodded her tiny head, "Yes."

"You two children really now, Aunt Yunfang has just come back, and you’re already tagging along to crowd her place." Wang Da Niang was both amused and slightly irritated to see her kids whisked away like that.

"I can still go play even if I’ve just come back. Let’s go, follow Aunt Yunfang home, and in the evening, you should come over for dinner too. I’ll make something delicious for everyone." Shen Yunfang said, gesturing grandly as she led the children back to her place to be the queen of kids.

"This child, she’s already mother to two, yet she still hasn’t grown up," Wang Da Niang grumbled behind her.

"Mom, that just shows Yunfang is living a good life, Li Hongjun cherishes her, and that’s why she can still be so carefree," Dashuan’s wife chimed in especially to talk with her mother-in-law.

"It’s also because Yunfang is good at managing her household. Although she’s young, she’s skilled in maintaining a home, wholly devoted to her small family, and living peacefully with Li Hongjun," Wang Da Niang hinted through her words.

As if not catching the implication, Dashuan’s wife continued, "Exactly, I think Yunfang will definitely be fine in the future. Today, when I returned to my parent’s home, my elder brother insisted on repaying the money he had borrowed earlier, and he even wanted to give me interest on it. Mom, look, I wanted none of it, but my brother said if I didn’t take it, he would deliver it personally to our house, so I had no choice but to accept the money and the interest." Dashuan’s wife pulled out a wad of cash as she spoke; ten-yuan notes were the principal and some smaller denominations, presumably the interest.

Wang Da Niang’s eyes narrowed at the mention, pleased internally, and thus her words weren’t as sharp, "You and your own elder brother, how could you accept interest from him? We really can’t take this. When you have time, you should return it to your parental home." Then she remembered her daughter-in-law’s brother’s job situation, "By the way, did your brother’s job get sorted out?"

"Yes, this opportunity was rare, and with this money, it’s surely gonna be settled. My sister-in-law kept thanking me nonstop, saying how grateful they were for Dashuan’s help, and without him, my brother’s job situation might have been uncertain. They also said that if Xiaojuan and Xiaohu need anything in the future, just to give a shout, and they’d help with all their might," recounted Dashuan’s wife. Indeed, her sister-in-law had said these things, and she had relayed them to her mother-in-law before, but at that time, her mother-in-law was not interested and took it for lip service. Hearing it now, however, made her feel quite comforted.

"Oh, they are indeed reliable relatives, offering such help without expecting compensation. But if Xiaojuan and Xiaohu’s Uncle indeed gets a city job, he might be able to help in the future," Wang Da Niang was single-minded, only caring about her son and grandchildren.

Dashuan’s wife inwardly admired Yunfang for her smart approach, which indeed proved effective.

"Mom, that’s all in the future; let’s not worry about it now. My brother has returned the money, and you should keep it for now," Dashuan’s wife said, pushing the money towards her mother-in-law.

"Go on, I’m an old grandma, buried halfway in the ground already. What do I need this money for? You better keep it safe for my grandchildren; they’ll need it for their education later on." Wang Da Niang pushed the money back quickly, not wanting to be the irrational mother-in-law. Since she had a capable daughter-in-law, it was best to let her manage the household finances while she oversaw matters from the side.

"Ah, well then, Mom, I’ll put it away. If you need anything, just tell me," Dashuan’s wife efficiently stowed the money away.

"When you went over to Yunfang’s this afternoon, did you ask why she came back this time?" Wang Da Niang began fishing for information.

"I asked. Yunfang said she just missed us, wanted to come home. Plus, Hongjun was away on an assignment, and school was out for the summer. She felt bored alone in the Capital and thought to bring the kids here," Dashuan’s wife shared the information she’d gleaned from Shen Yunfang with her mother-in-law without holding back.

Wang DaNiang nodded after listening, "Looking at Yunfang’s spirits, she doesn’t seem to have come back because there’s something wrong. She probably really missed home."

"I’m not going to chat with you anymore, Mom. I’m going to pack some things and head over to help Yunfang with the kids and the cooking. Our two little ones are heading over too, I don’t know if they’ll be fussing or not." Dashuan’s wife planned to take out the pork hanging in the well at home and bring it over to Yunfang’s place to cook later.

"You shouldn’t go empty-handed. Don’t we still have some fresh pork at home that we haven’t finished eating? Bring that over to Yunfang, she has just come back and she doesn’t have anything at home," Wang DaNiang instructed.

It turned out that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had the same thought.

By the time Dashuan’s wife arrived with the food and pork, she saw Shen Yunfang playing with the children in the backyard.

"Weren’t you supposed to come back to cook? Why are you playing with the children instead of doing that?"

"Heh heh, it’s because we don’t have anything at home, I just knew you would definitely bring stuff over." Shen Yunfang naturally took the items from Dashuan’s wife’s hands.

"You’re quite something. Hurry up and go cook." Dashuan’s wife directed her to get to work, not because she was lazy, but because Yunfang indeed cooked better meals than she did.

Since there wasn’t much to work with in the evening, Shen Yunfang simply made a few dishes.

Mainly focusing on backyard vegetables, she made tomato scrambled eggs, a pickled vegetable dish, eggplant stewed with potatoes, and meat stir-fried with green beans. The staple was rice, which Dashuan’s wife brought over knowing that Yunfang liked to eat rice.

Dashuan’s family of five and Shen Yunfang plus her three sat on the kang, warmly enjoying a good meal together.

At the dinner table, Shen Yunfang talked to Dashuan and his wife about the current situation outside. Dashuan, hearing that the country had begun allowing individuals to sell things, was very excited.

Shen Yunfang quickly reminded him that it was still not good to make a move yet, as the spring breeze from the Capital hadn’t started blowing this way. If he acted rashly before it reached them, there was a good chance he could be caught as a speculator.

Dashuan nodded, understanding the situation; with elderly and young ones at home, he definitely couldn’t be reckless.

They then inquired about what was happening at home.

Nothing much had happened at home; the biggest event within Gaijiatun was that Shen DaYe and his wife had gone to the Capital.

Since Shen Yunfang had come from the Capital, Dashuan’s wife curiously asked about Shen Yunxiu.

Shen Yunfang didn’t hide anything and explained everything that had happened after Shen DaYe went to the Capital, including the part where Shen Yunxiu fell and broke her leg on flat ground.

Wang DaNiang and Dashuan’s wife both exclaimed, "Serves her right, that’s retribution."