W Chapter 6

Chapter 6 “Hello, Second Brother.”

The weather was indeed still cold. Xu Youfang, thinking Ling Xing’s health wasn’t good, and afraid he’d freeze, had gone to his room in the middle of the night to check on him.

Luckily she did, the child’s face was turning blue from the cold. The charcoal brazier was producing a lot of smoke, and Xu Youfang, afraid something would happen if he slept too soundly, could only find the fur coat Shen Hai used to wear and put it on Ling Xing.

She stayed for a while, and when Ling Xing didn’t seem so cold anymore, she left the room.

Xu Youfang nodded, “Alright. Burn it for a while before going to bed, to get some warmth in the air. When eldest son left, he was most worried about his newlywed ge’er. After eldest son passed away, this child almost followed him. He’s become a widow right after marrying into our family, we, the Shen family, are the ones who owe him the most. His health isn’t good, so the family should always be more mindful.”

As she spoke, Xu Youfang took Cao Manyue’s hand and patted it gently, “Fourth son’s wife, you’re a good one. When spring comes and I can take on embroidery work and earn some money, I’ll make a pair of shoes for you and the two children.”

Cao Manyue smiled and shook her head. Although the Shen family was poor, and had even emptied their coffers to keep eldest brother alive, she had no complaints.

All the money she earned was handed over to the family fund, without keeping a single coin for herself.

Such a mother-in-law’s family was just a bit poor, but had warmth and humanity.

In the Shen family, she was treated like a person. The family also did their best to make sure she and her children had enough to eat.

In the end, a woman like her, divorced and with two children, no matter how poor the family, wouldn’t want to marry.

Unless she chose to give up her children, then she might have a chance to marry a man with some defects.

But if she didn’t want her two children, they would be sold off by her former husband’s family like goods.

She had carried them for ten months and given birth to them with great difficulty, no one cared for them more than she did.

Only the Shen family was willing to take her in, willing to accept her children.

What did it matter if she didn’t eat well or dress warmly? At least it allowed her and her children to live.

She always believed that if she treated people well, they would treat her well in return.

Her previous husband’s family was worthless, but the Shen family was different.

Every time she woke up in the middle of the night, she was incredibly grateful that she had married into the Shen family.

She also knew that her mother-in-law’s words were to comfort her heart, and also to prevent her from developing emotions towards the eldest brother’s husband.

To live a good life, it was necessary to manage it well.

Her parents-in-law had never really treated her unfairly, Cao Manyue knew that clearly.

She wouldn’t be a troublemaker, she just wanted the whole family to be harmonious and happy, and to get their lives on track.

“Mother, I know you care about me and the children. Eldest Brother’s husband is someone Eldest Brother couldn’t let go of, he entrusted us to take care of him in his last words. Although I’m a younger sister-in-law, I’m still much older than Eldest Brother’s husband in terms of age, so I can’t help but want to care for him.”

Some things didn’t need to be said too bluntly, the whole family could understand Cao Manyue’s meaning.

She wouldn’t feel unbalanced just because the family showed more care for Ling Xing.

Xu Youfang understood her daughter-in-law’s meaning.

She also sincerely cared for this daughter-in-law, smoothing the loose hair on Cao Manyue’s cheek behind her ear, and smiled with relief.

Fourth daughter-in-law had suffered some grievances for the sake of family harmony, Xu Youfang had been a daughter-in-law before, she knew this.

Before, many people said that her family was a fool to marry a divorced wife with flawed morals, who also brought two burdens.

But no one knew that this daughter-in-law was someone she had secretly found suitable.

In Xu Youfang’s eyes, no one was better than Cao Manyue.

“Manyue, thank you, Mother.”

Her concessions and contributions to the family were seen and remembered, instead of being taken for granted.

Cao Manyue’s eyes were also red, afraid of crying and embarrassing herself, she quickly said, “Mother, I’m going to pick beans.”

Xu Youfang’s eyes were also a little wet, she gave a sound of agreement and let her leave.

While the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were talking, the three men were silently drinking water.

Xu Youfang tapped the side of Shen Gui’s head, “Your wife is a good one, you can’t take advantage of the fact that she’s a few years older than you and usually dotes on you and lets you have your way, and then bully her.”

Shen Gui wasn’t bad looking, and he was tall. There wasn’t an ugly or short one in the Shen family.

Hearing his mother point him out, Shen Gui immediately nodded in assurance, “Don’t worry, Mother, in the house, if Manyue says one, I won’t say two.”

Xu Youfang didn’t really believe it, Shen Gui’s personality was like his uncle’s, with a bit of a romantic wanderer vibe.

He was handsome and had a sweet mouth. Many girls and ge’ers in the village were captivated by him, and if it weren’t for the fact that his family was too poor, and their parents were holding them back, Shen Gui didn’t know how many romantic debts he would have racked up.

The family was already overwhelmed with worry about Shen Hai’s illness, they didn’t have the energy to keep an eye on him all day long.

They simply married him a wife first, to have his wife supervise him.

Cao Manyue was kind and gentle, and because she was divorced and had two children, she was always afraid of being disliked by the Shen family.

Xu Youfang knew all this in her heart.

She just treated Shen Gui’s words as nonsense.

If it were said that if he said one, Cao Manyue wouldn’t say two, Xu Youfang would find it more believable.

“I know what you’re like, can I not be clear? Whether you listen to these words today or not, it doesn’t matter. No matter what, if you dare to let Manyue and the children down in the future, don’t blame me, your mother, for disregarding the affection between mother and son.”

These words were heavy, full of warning.

Shen Gui didn’t dare to try to please her, he lowered his eyes and nodded obediently, “Understood, Mother, I’ll go help Manyue pick beans.”

Before the words had even finished, Shen Gui had already run out.

After finishing with her fourth son, Xu Youfang looked at the other two.

Her second son had been worry-free since he was little, never making people worry. Xu Youfang didn’t say much to him, but instead said to Shen Chengshan, “You should also keep an eye on fourth son usually, and also discipline Lai Ge’er.”

Before, when Shen Hai was still around, he was an older brother, and although he was always sick, he was very attentive to his younger siblings.

With an older brother pressing down and watching over them, the adults were busy, but in the end they didn’t go astray.

Now that Shen Hai was gone, the Shen family’s life had to change to a new mode, they as parents couldn’t just focus on earning money, but had to put some of their attention on their children.

Shen Gui was like a butterfly, Shen Lai was like a little mad dog, one more worrying than the other.

Shen Chengshan, who was holding his breath and drinking water in an attempt to reduce his presence, was still called out, he put down his bowl and nodded straight, “Alright, I’ll go talk to Lai Ge’er.”

Xu Youfang glared at Shen Chengshan.

“I say, you old man, you’re strange. Lai Ge’er has been unusually well-behaved these past few days, why are you going to talk to him now?”

Shen Chengshan, who had just stood up, didn’t know whether to sit or go.

Just as he was racking his brains to think of something to say, he heard a clear voice ring out, “Father, Mother.”

Ling Xing came to the kitchen wrapped in a fur coat, revealing only a pair of round eyes.

Shen Chengshan was as if he had been granted amnesty, happily asking Ling Xing, “Xing Ge’er is here, are you hungry? Your mother is about to cook, wait a little longer.”

Ling Xing shook his head, “I’m not hungry, I have something I want to discuss with Father and Mother.”

After coming in, Ling Xing saw Shen Hui, that tall figure was quite oppressive, he looked up and smiled, “Hello, Second Brother.”

Being called younger brother by the ge’er who was much younger than him, Shen Hui’s eyebrows twitched imperceptibly.

“Mm, brother-husband.”