From the kitchen to the front yard was only a short dozen steps, but Lin Chunju's mind conjured many terrifying thoughts.
Had the child bumped into something? Fallen? Had the neighbor's daughter-in-law done something spiteful?
But what appeared before her eyes was Yue Qingqing comfortably lying in Yue Jiandong's arms.
Lin Chunju was puzzled, "What happened? Why were you shouting?"
Zhang Ying was somewhat scared, worried that her mother-in-law disliked her daughter, and only kept her head down, not daring to make a sound.
Yue Jiandong explained in a low voice, "Mother, it's nothing, it's just that Qingqing has been clinging to me and doesn't want to let go."
He had only intended to hold his daughter before leaving, but the little girl would not let go once she was in his arms.
Lin Chunju frowned at Yue Qingqing, but the latter had no intention of making eye contact and just clung to her father. Anyone trying to take her away made her tug at her neck and cry.
The crying was so harrowing and the look so pitiful that it deterred anyone from touching her.
Lin Chunju also tried to pick her up, but Yue Qingqing cried like a whistle brought to life, causing the neighbor's daughter-in-law to stick her head out.
Zhang Ying became more anxious.
Her mother-in-law was always unbending, and if Qingqing delayed Yue Jiandong from getting to work, she would definitely be disliked.
She could only muster the courage to explain, "Mother, Qingqing might have a bit of separation anxiety, just coax her a bit and she'll be fine."
However, Lin Chunju simply waved her hand, surprisingly showing no sign of anger.
"Let's see."
See? See what?
The Yue Family was utterly confused. Lin Chunju walked forward and negotiated with Yue Qingqing formally.
"Qingqing, come to grandma's arms."
Zhang Ying barely suppressed the urge to cover her face. With that look, her mother surely didn't really think Qingqing would understand, right?
To everyone's surprise, Yue Qingqing actually reacted.
The tiny child turned her head away in Yue Jiandong's arms, her body language clearly resisting.
Wang Xiaoni, watching Yue Jiandong and his wife, timidly reached out her hand.
"Qingqing..."
She had fed Yue Qingqing for a while, so it should have been easy to pick her up, but Yue Qingqing still didn't want to.
The whole family was held up at the doorway by this sudden event.
Time ticked by, and the moment to start work drew nearer and nearer.
Yue Qingqing wouldn't come down, and her father certainly couldn't take this little baby to dig ditches.
Yue Jianxi said helplessly, "Big brother, if it really doesn't work, I'll go for you. Chief Zhang should agree."
He wasn't coveting the pay, he genuinely saw that his big brother was stuck.
Yue Jiandong looked at the situation, ready to agree, but then his daughter turned her head again to look at his younger brother, babbling in protest.
Though she couldn't speak, she bizarrely made everyone understand what she meant.
You aren't allowed to go either...
The neighbor's daughter-in-law, peeking out, silently scoffed.
The Yue Family was poor, yet they had so many issues.
In any normal family, who would care what a troublesome child thought, a spanking would surely make her release her grip?
Yue Jiannan, always clever, procured a rattle-drum from Yue Xingxing's hands.
Gently shaking it in his hand, the pellets struck the drum surface, producing a thudding sound.
Yue Qingqing's attention was indeed captured.
"Sweetie, do you want this?"
Yue Jiannan stretched out his arms, trying to coax Yue Qingqing out of her big brother's embrace.
Yue Qingqing's little face suddenly showed a furious expression.
She thought of her master's stubborn donkey mount in her past life, always stopping halfway, with the master dangling a carrot in front of it.
She... was actually receiving the same treatment!
Yue Qingqing cried loudly, causing even more chaos among the onlookers.
Zhang Ying looked desperate, afraid her mother-in-law might throw her daughter out and anxious about not reaching work on time.
"Mother, what should we do?"
Wang Xiaoni's eyes were full of sympathy. Qingqing usually never fussed, much easier to handle than her own little rascal. Why was she suddenly being so stubborn today?
Lin Chunju furrowed her brow tightly, deep in thought.