The egg turmoil stirred by Yue Wen Wei's words finally overturned after old Mrs. Chen pretended to be ill and instigated You Jin to be beaten.
The two elders of Yue Family were in a very good mood during the past two days. Even old Chen's face, which always showed the granddaughters at home disgust, softened a lot. It turned out that third branch was coming back.
The second day of September was old Mrs. Chen's birthday. Old Third, who opened a small grocery store in the county city, sent a message back a few days ago. Saying that he would take the two nephews from first branch and his family back in these two day to celebrate the old lady's birthday. Since this message, the smile on old Mrs. Chen's face hadn't dropped. As expected, her third doted her, his old mother, the most. The so-called "Emperor loves the eldest son, the ordinary people love the youngest." Although old Mrs. Chen favored the eldest branch's two grandsons, her most favorite in her heart was her third, Yue Chang Shou.
In the afternoon of the first day of September, a spacious green cloth mule cart entered Cuifeng Village and steadily stopped at the gate of Yue's house.
The youngest son of third branch was only four years old this year. After getting out of the mule cart, he ran to the door of the Yue Family's compound and knocked on the door: "Grandfather, Grandmother, Liu Lang is back! Open the door!"
Following Liu Lang, were fine-cotton scholar robes cladded Da Lang, a.k.a Yue Wen Tao and Er Lang, a.k.a. Yue Wen Li.
Yue Chang Shou settled the money with the driver of the cart and made an appointment with him to pick them up to return the county in the morning of two days later. Then he brought the big and small bundles to the gate of Yue's house. Everyone stood at the entrance for a while before they heard the movement. Old Mrs. Chen hurried out and opened the door: "Third!"
Seeing her youngest son come back, old Mrs. Chen's eyes reddened with joy.
Yue Chang Shou smilingly answered: "Mother, my son is back to pay you birthday greeting. I wish you for prosperity as wide as the East Sea and longevity higher than the South Mountain!"
Yue Chang Shou's in-law, Han Family opened a small grocery store in the county city. Han Family only got one daughter. Han Family let Yue Chang Shou manage the store to make her life easier. Yue Chang Shou was also nimble-minded and eloquent speaker. Although third branch's life wasn't rich, but it was also considered to be a good life.
"Oh you. Just come back. Why bring such things? You can sell them in the shop for a lot of money!" Seeing Yue Chang Shou and Han both carrying big bundles and small bundles in their hands, old Mrs. Chen's smilingly expression couldn't be hidden.
Mrs. Han responded with mirth: "It's worth the money to spend on the things to respect Father and Mother."
After saying that, she winked at the three children. Yue You He received her mother's gaze and properly gave old Mrs. Chen the commonly used greeting in the county: "Granddaughter pay Grandmother's birthday greeting." The few grandsons also obediently bowed and gave birthday wishing.
Seeing the beaming looks on her son and grandchildren's faces, old Mrs. Chen was doused in joy. Until Yue Da Fu came out and yelled: "Old lady is crazy with joy. Still, not letting the children come in and rest!"
Hearing what her family's old man said, old Mrs. Chen came back to her senses: "Mother was too overjoyed. I have forgotten you guys had travelled for half a day before returning. Come, come. Go to the main hall and sit down to chat with Mother."
The group happily returned to the main hall. Mrs. Chen had heard the movement and brought Wen Wei to the main hall to join the liveliness.
Because of the good family situation, Mrs. Han was family head in the county. So she prepared some small gifts for each child. She had also prepared a piece of fabric that was now popular in the county for You Ting.
You Ting had a year before her coming-of-age. It went without saying that she was at the age of wanting to be pretty. After receiving such good materials from her third aunt, she was overjoyed in her heart: "Thank you, Third Aunt!"
While old Mrs. Chen was a little displeased at the sight of the material's quality: "It's just a girl. Why give her with such a good fabric? Better to keep it to sell!"
Hearing what she said, the excitement in You Ting's heart died out. The smile on the corner of her lips faded a lot. Seeing this, Mrs. Han hurriedly said: "You Ting is big now. She should be at the age of matchmaking. It's right for her to be dressed in beautiful clothes!"
Hearing what Mrs. Han said, old Mrs. Chen didn't say continue anymore: "Since your third aunt thoughtfully prepared for you, you can keep it." Hearing her words, You Ting accepted the material in delight.
The gift for Mrs. Chen was more expensive. It was a pair of exquisite silver lilac, which Mrs. Chen happily received. One must know that a pair of silver lilac was worth a lot of money! Third's wife hadn't forgot her root and knew how to respect family when she got good things.
After sending gifts to everyone one by one, the birthday gift for old Mrs. Chen was the last one. Yue Chang Shou took out a heavy sterling silver bracelet from the box and held it in front of old Mrs. Chen: "Mother, this year is your 50th birthday. Son specially prepared a birthday gift for you. I hope you don't dislike it."
There was a birthday custom since the Dafeng Dynasty. At the 50th birthday of one's parents, the children should give more gold and silver to show their filial piety. However, most villagers would give away a small silver-plated bracelet at best. It was indeed rare to give such a large sterling silver bracelet like Yue Chang Shou.
Old Mrs. Chen watched her son holding a sterling silver bracelet to her and teared up: "You child! This bracelet must worth a good bit of money, right? You're already a man with a family, how can you spend so much like this?"
Although she verbally blamed Yue Chang Shou, she had long been clouded with happiness. This was indeed her most sweet youngest son. Certainly much filial than the other two sons!
Mrs. Han smilingly took the bracelet in Yue Chang Shou's hand and put it on old Mrs. Chen's right wrist. She grinned: "This year is Mother's 50th birthday. It's only right to respect Mother. Daughter-in-law finds this bracelet very beautiful on Mother!"
Yue Da Fu took in his third son couple's display of filial piety and happily smoked the hookah leaves prepared by the third son. The family of more than a dozen people in the main hall was soaked in happiness. Kind father and filial son atmosphere. Very warm.
After gifting everyone, Mrs. Han realized that the things prepared for the second branch hadn't been sent out. So she smiled and asked, "Mother, why didn't You Jin and her sisters come here? This time I came back with a lot of You He's old clothes. I was thinking with the number of girls in the second branch, they might be of use?"
When talking about the money-wasting goods from the second room, Old Chen's smiling yellowed face became a little stiff. Her smile faded a little: "Those money-wasting goods. They don't need You He's old clothes? Don't let them waste the clothes. It's better to give them to You Ting to wear."
Although Yue You Ting was also a money-wasting good, old Mrs. Chen loved Yue You Ting more when compared with those in second branch.
When hearing that she could still wear new clothes, she quietly looked at You He while nobody was paying attention. The clothes she was wearing now are embroidered with beautiful patterns of the butterfly and floral. Although it was You He's old ones, Yue You Ting still felt some anticipation. She'll still dress a lot better than the people in the village, right?
"You He's old clothes are from a few years ago. Now she bigger, she can't wear it. You Ting is half a head taller than You He, she can't wear it." Unexpectedly, Mrs. Han smilingly rejected old Mrs. Chen's idea, "You Ting is now fourteen. If she want to wear things, she should wear those with good quality."
Seeing Mrs. Han explained it like this, Yue You Ting, who was originally a little unhappy, no longer overthink. However, old Mrs. Chen took in Han's smiling appearance and a trace of dislike flicked through her heart. If it weren't for Mrs. Han's father and the old man knew each other, old Mrs. Chen wouldn't let her third son marry a city daughter-in-law. Now it made her third son live far away from her. Although he didn't live in his wife's family home, it was just one step away from that. Mrs. Han was even more dislikeable. Knowing that she didn't like the money-wasting goods of second branch, she rushed to give them this and that!
Although Yue Chang Shou didn't have much affection for his second brother's family, his wife said that she wanted to give it away, so let her: "Mother, just a few pieces of old clothes. Last time, I saw You Jin and her sisters still wearing patched clothes. Our household wearing that out is terrible. Although You He's old clothes are old, they are better than what they wear now." He lowered his voice and spoke into old Mrs. Chen's ear. He whispered: "I'm afraid that those outside gossiping. Seeing that Second Brother's children in shabby clothes, they'll want to say that Mother is biased!"
When old Mrs. Chen heard what her son said, she immediately exploded: "It's just those petty people spreading gossip. They dare to drag my head in it!"
Although angry, old Mrs. Chen had always loved having face. Turning her eyes sideways, she spoke to Mrs. Han: "If this is the case, you should send it to the West Wing. Just to prevent people wagging their tongue behind our back."
Once Mrs. Han got her approval, she naturally ignored the yin and yang in her tone. When she came out of the main hall, she carried a large package to the west wing.
***
Mrs. Su, who was lying on the bed to nurture her pregnancy, heard You Bao coming in and saying that Third Aunt was back. She hurriedly sat up, "Third Sister-in-law is back."
She took in the small turnip heads with yellow and thin faces and dressed in tatters. Then she looked at Mrs. Su who was half-lying on the bed. Except for the large bulging belly, the whole person was very thin. A trace of discomfort flashed in Mrs. Han's heart: "Sister-in-law, lie down quickly."
Mrs. Su leaned on the hard pillow with a friendly smile on her sallow face. The only person she can take pleasantly converse with in Yue Family was Mrs. Han, who comes back a few times a year. "You come back such a long and still not resting. If Mother knows that you came over, she will tell you off again." Old Mrs. Chen dislike Mrs. Han interacting with her. Mrs. Su was clear about this.
"It's okay. I told Mother before I came here." Sitting on the stool that the two sisters, You Zhu and You Bao moved over, Mrs. Han smiled and took out a large bag of caramel from the bundle: "You Zhu, You Bao are really sensible. Go bring some caramel to your sisters. Aunt will chat with your mother."
The two sisters glanced at Mrs. Su. Seeing her slight nod, they accepted the caramel in Mrs. Han's hand: "Thank you, Third aunt."
Then with small steps, they led their younger sisters back to the Kang where they usually sleep and ate the caramel.
Mrs. Han looked at little Ninth, who was very well-behaved at two years old and sighed slightly, "Sister-in-law, these daughters are all very disciplined."
"I didn't teach them. My health isn't good most of the time. The sisters are taught and raised by You Jin and You Yin. I have been lying in bed all day long." Mrs. Su explained with a smile.
"You Jin has been very sensible since she was young. She is nearly three years younger than my family's You He and appears much more stable than You He."
Speaking of the second room's eldest daughter, You Jin, Mrs. Han's heart ached. The child was eleven this year and she looked like a seven or eight-year-old. You He started to slowly enter puberty when she was eleven years old two years ago.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt sorry for the children in the second branch. Mrs. Han hurried back to her senses and opened the bundle she had just carried: "These are some old clothes that I found when I was at home. They were all worn by You He. Although it is a bit old, it is still wearable."
Picking up a slightly faded dress, she spoke: "This is a suitable dress for You Zhu. I brought seven or eight sets with me this time. The few children can get one set. Sister-in-law don't dislike it."
After receiving the very comfortable fine cotton clothes from Mrs. Han, she stroked the embroidered patterns on the clothes. Mrs. Su's eye sockets slightly warmed: "This is such a good material. Sister-in-law, you better keep it!"
Mrs. Han pondered and felt that she was afraid that Mother-in-law would be angry when she found out,. So she smilingly assured, "I asked Mother just now. Mother said that it was perfect for the few children to wear. My You He is sprouting now and there are no other little girls at home. So it's better for the You Jin sisters to wear."
With these words, Mrs. Su's eyes almost shed tears. She hurriedly wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve: "Sister-in-law is thoughtful."