Everyone Wants to Pamper the Peasant Girl - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Returning with Hands Full of Goodies

At this thought, Mdm Fu covered her mouth and sobbed.

Conflicts are always inevitable in any relationship, let alone the niche relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Both Mdm Fu and Old Mrs Fu were hot-tempered. They got triggered easily. However, they would calm down quickly after flaring up too. There were never hard feelings which lasted longer than a day.

Their relationship had evolved over the years, from mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, to friends, and to mother and daughter… They had joined forces and stopped the busybodies in the village from bothering them… emerging with the title of “The Unbeatables”.

The thought that she would not be around in the future made Mdm Fu extremely sad.

“Old man, We must satisfy all of Mother’s wishes in her final days.”

“Yes,” Second Fu nodded hard.

He must let his mother depart without any worries.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Old Mrs Fu was wheeled in by Jiang Xing Hua.

Just now, she had strongly refused to go back to her room. She was only wheeled back to her room against her wishes by Second Fu who told her to have a good rest and assured her that her granddaughter wouldn’t disappear.

After sleeping, she felt more energetic and energized.

She thought that she had heard them talking about someone in their final days before she had entered the room.

“Second Daughter-in-law, don’t cry. Crying during your confinement period is extremely damaging to your eyes. Death is inevitable and fated. It’s only a matter of time.

At her age, Old Mrs Fu had long accepted the ways of life. She had even just returned from the borders of the underworld.

Any additional days in her life were considered a bonus.

“Mother.” Mdm Fu hesitated in her sentence.

What she said was indeed true. However, nobody could pretend that they were absolutely ready for it when the day really arrived.

Second Fu turned his head away with a solemn expression.

“Anyway, you guys remember to not be sad when it’s my turn to go. You should send me off happily.”

Old Mrs Fu was half-joking.

She did not notice the same pained expression on the couple’s faces.

Of course, she didn’t want to die just yet. She wanted to live longer.

Long enough for her to see Fubao grow up, marry and have children.

“Oh yes, did Fubao wake up just now? Did she eat?” Old Mrs Fu couldn’t stop looking at her. She planned to hold her in her own arms when she could finally have enough strength to do so.

“Yes, she peed, woke up, and went back to sleep. She’s an obedient one.” Mdm Fu’s eyes filled with love whenever she spoke of her precious daughter.

“Of course. My Fubao is a good girl for sure.”

The couple looked at each other with a silent mutual understanding. “Mother, is there anything you want to eat?”

Old Mrs Fu was all smiles and said, “I’m full just looking at our Fubao now.”

Besides, it wasn’t like she didn’t know the financial situation at home. The family was so poor that they could hardly afford to buy staples like rice. How could they afford to buy other kinds of food?

“Mother, you must tell us what you want to eat, or if there’s anything you want to buy. We’ll definitely buy them for you.” Mdm Fu knew very well that she was saving money for them.

Money could be earned. Yet there was nothing they could do to prolong her life.

Mdm Fu turned her head away and composed herself.

Though Old Mrs Fu was dense, she started noticing that something was wrong as well. She asked, “What are the two of you up to? Why are you buying things for me for no reason?”

It wasn’t like they hadn’t offered to buy her things before.

But this time, the way they spoke made her scalp tingle.

It felt weird.

“Besides, wouldn’t it be better to buy some new clothes for Fubao if we have such money?”

She knew from the bottom of her heart that her second son and daughter-in-law were filial to her.

“Mother, Fubao is still young. There will be many more opportunities in the future to buy her clothes.”

Naturally, they wouldn’t think about mistreating their own daughter. But this was different.

“No, she’s the only girl in our family. We have to make sure that she is showered with love and gets all her needs met from a young age.” Upon saying that, Old Mrs Fu took out a silver ingot from her pocket and held it out. She continued, “There are so many mouths to feed in the family. It’s not easy for the both of you to support the entire family. This silver ingot is for my Fubao. Use it to buy her some beautiful clothes to wear. Use the rest to supplement the household income.”

Fubao was wearing clothes that were white from excessive washing and covered with patches. Only good-looking people could wear this tattered rag and still manage to look decent.

She must not allow that to happen. She would not let her little sweetheart suffer such grievances.

She must be dressed up like a little princess and look beautiful.

“Mother, we can’t take it. How can we take your retirement money?” The couple was unwilling to accept the silver ingot from Old Mrs Fu. Not only had Old Mrs Fu rejected their offer, but she was giving them money. This made them guilty.

Just a while ago, she had just given a jade bracelet to Mdm Fu and a golden lock to Fubao.

“I can’t bring money with me when I’m gone. It’s useless for me to keep it. Besides, it’s not for you. I’m giving it to my Fubao.”

Ignoring the couple’s objections, Old Mrs Fu stuffed the money beside Fu Xing’er and grinned so hard that her jaws almost couldn’t close.

Old Mrs Fu’s eldest son had given these silver to her as his monthly act of filial piety.

Old Mrs Fu didn’t know what to say about her eldest son, who knew nothing about filial piety aside from giving money.

She had no comments about him.

In the eyes of the couple, they had interpreted that she was saying her final words and preparing for her own departure.

“Fubao, look at how much your grandmother dotes on you.” Mdm Fu was on the verge of breaking down.

Old Mrs Fu was still looking at Fu Xing’er intensely. She couldn’t get enough of looking at her.

“By the way, who is it from our village that the two of you were saying just now that is going to die? Are they close to our family? We need to plan how much to give as condolence money.

Old Mrs Fu couldn’t help but gossip while her little sweetheart was still asleep.

Second Fu was puzzled and paused.

Who? He didn’t know that someone from the village was going to die.

He looked towards Mdm Fu with a confused look.

Mdm Fu was brighter and understood it quicker. Old Mrs Fu had misunderstood them just now.

They were talking about her.

“Who is it? Is that person old?”

Second Fu turned around silently.

Mdm Fu lowered her head and pretended to straighten her clothes.

Why aren’t they saying anything?

There must be something wrong with both of them.

Just as Old Mrs Fu was about to dig further, Liu Guimei’s voice boomed like a trumpet from outside the house.

“Mother! We have sold all the pigeons and firewood!”

Upon reaching home, she ran eagerly to the central room to announce her accomplishments.

Fu Xing’er, who was on the bed, appeared to be frightened by the sudden sound. She turned around on the bed uneasily. Mdm Fu patted her gently.

“This Liu Guimei is not young anymore. Yet she is still as noisy as a child.”

If she really did scare her little sweetheart, she would definitely teach her a lesson.

Second Fu immediately ran out to stop her.

They nearly bumped into each other. Liu Guimei took a few steps back from the door threshold and called, “Father.”

With a stern expression, Second Fu said, “Guimei, can you lower your voice? Can’t you speak slowly?”

Liu Guimei pursed her lips and replied unhappily, “Yes father, I understand.”

Needless to say, it must be because of his precious daughter again.

“Father, is Mother awake? I want to tell her some good news.”

“Go on in. Keep your voice down.”

Second Fu didn’t really want to let her in.

“Father, we’re back.”

Fu Daxing and Fu Erxing entered through the door. Their hands were so full of items that they couldn’t hold anything else.

One sack of rice, two sacks of flour, a basket of eggs, a few pieces of fresh pork belly, and two jars of wine… Both of them carried a similar load of goodies.

Second Fu was stunned.

In the house

LIu Guimei instantly saw Old Mrs Fu sitting in the room when she entered the house and was shocked at her sight.

She nearly jumped again.

She called, “Grandma.”

Old Mrs Fu’s was wearing a stern look.

Every time Liu Guimei saw her, she would act as if she had seen a ghost.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Liu Guimei, do I look like a dead body? Is that why you always appear so shocked whenever you see me?”

Liu Guimei nodded vigorously.

She was scarier than a ghost.

Realizing that she had acted inappropriately, she quickly shook her head. “No, Grandma. I didn’t mean it that way. You look like a Buddha. I have nothing but respect and devotion for you.”

She was sucking up again.

“Grandma, Mother, let me tell you a piece of good news. I sold all ten pigeons. I sold them for 300 copper coins each. This makes three taels of silver in total for ten pigeons. We also sold the firewood for a good price of 200 copper coins. Moreover, all the things that we brought back today are free.”

Liu Guimei said excitedly.

Old Mrs Fu was shocked. “Free?”

Mdm Fu was shocked too. “What happened?”