"Ah, I see now."
Zhou Zhaodi, still in a daze, widened her eyes, "Dad, when did you come in?"
Although her father-in-law didn't openly favour sons over daughters like her mother-in-law did, he was no different deep down.
When his daughter-in-law gave birth to a girl a couple of months ago, he never once went to see them.
Old Chen frowned and lowered his voice, "Keep it down, I came to see my cute granddaughter."
Ignoring the shocked look on his younger daughter-in-law's face, he quietly approached the bed.
Seeing his granddaugther's fair and delicate complexion, her little nose and mouth, her raven-like lashes adorned with sparkling tear drops, he grew more and more fond of her looks.
Old Chen's smile beamed out from the corner of his mouth, "She's really beautiful."
Zhou Zhaodi felt her world swirling: This is it, both her parents-in-law have gone mad!
Being a man, Old Chen felt it was inappropriate to linger in his daughter-in-law's room for too long, so after a brief look, he left.
Not long after, Ma Xiulian returned, holding a bowl of sweet soup and eggs in her hand, along with a piece of patterned cotton fabric.
Not just Zhou Zhaodi, but even his older daughter-in-law Zhao Mei couldn't help but gasp, "Mom, why did you bring out the new piece of cloth?"
This piece of cloth was given by her brother-in-law who worked at the supply and marketing cooperative. He gave it to his mother-in-law during Chinese New Year to make a jacket for her.
Ma Xiulian justified with a natural tone, "The swaddling clothes have been worn for many years and are now tattered. The baby's skin is delicate, it won't feel comfortable."
While talking, she quickly replaced the baby's swaddling clothes.
Zhou Zhaodi couldn't resist the surge of sourness, "Mom, the old swaddling clothes were those that Dabao and Erbao used!"
She had to admit that this niece was indeed the most beautiful girl she had ever seen, but no matter how beautiful, she was still a worthless girl, not compared to her own two robust sons.
However, the well-fed Helian Qiao, wrapped in new swaddling clothes, didn't feel her disdain at all as she yawned sleepily.
Upon seeing this, Ma Xiulian immediately shooed her daughters-in-law away like flies, "Okay, the child is going to sleep. You guys go back to your rooms."
She held considerable authority in their home, so Zhou Zhaodi had no choice but to walk out with the older daughter-in-law, swallowing her grievances.
After leaving the room, she started complaining, "Big sister, do you think mom bumped her head today? She's treating a loss-maker like a treasure!"
Zhao Mei, being a simple and guileless woman, after some thought said, "Maybe it's because Wuni is beautiful and mom likes her looks." ← The first four granddaughters of the Chen Family were named "Ní" following the order they were born in.
Not hearing what she wanted, Zhou Zhaodi sarcastically retorted, "Then why didn't I see mom favoring your daughter when you gave birth to a girl two months ago?!"
Her jab hit Zhao Mei's weakness. She paused and her expression turned somewhat sorrowful.
But this only made Zhou Zhaodi feel much better.
During all these years, big sister only gave birth to three "loss-makers", while she herself had two healthy boys for the Chen Family!
So, she straightened her back and said, "Ah, I'm too tired from all the fuss today, I probably won't get up early tomorrow. Can you please take care of the breakfast?"
Zhao Mei: "…Okay."
She was used to being bullied by Zhou Zhaodi, after all, she was the one without a son.
Zhou Zhaodi went back into her room satisfied, and watching her two sweetly sleeping sons, she felt even more certain her mother-in-law was out of her senses today.
She will surely come to her senses tomorrow!
Even Li Chunhua, who had benefited from this, thought so.
After her little granddaughter slept, Ma Xiulian told her son Chen Jianye, "If the child gets hungry at night, you have to help me feed her, okay?"