Chapter 10: The Busy First Day – The Daily Life of the Sickly Sister-in-law Enjoying Gossip in the Courtyard

Chapter 10: The Busy First Day - The Daily Life of the Sickly Sister-in-law Enjoying Gossip in the Courtyard

Mother Su, who was cooking, also saw this scene with a slight glint in her eyes.

"Xiao Cen, you're back!"

"Mother, I only managed to buy this much, so you can make do with it!"

Mother Lin smiled with her eyes, "It's plenty. We have more than enough."

Aunt Li also stepped forward, "I'll give you a hand."

"Good, good, good! Zhang Mei, come over and lend a hand too."

"Okay, Mom, I'm on my way," she grumbled.

In her heart, she couldn't help but mutter, "Always bossing me around, you old nag!"

"What's with that face? Don't want to help? If you don't want to help, then don't eat and go back!" Mother Lin was irritated by her sullen attitude. She had been lazy and unhelpful all afternoon, only thinking about eating.

"No, no," Zhang Mei said quickly. She didn’t want to face an empty house alone.

After Zhang Mei was called away, Lin Shu had nothing to do and didn't know what to do. She could only sit there blankly, contemplating the future.

After giving the groceries to his mother-in-law, Cen Xi went back to the bedroom to help Lin Qing tidy up.

"Qingqing, is there anything else that needs to be done?"

Lin Qing looked around the bedroom, then at the wide-open wardrobe door, and finally noticed something amiss.

"Cen Xi, haven't you moved your own luggage over yet?"

Cen Xi suddenly realized, "Oh shoot! My stuff is still at the dorm!"

"Pfft!" Lin Qing chuckled at his clueless expression.

"Look at me, I was so excited these past few days that I forgot all about it."

"Hahahaha!"

"I'll go get Brother to help me bring it over." As soon as Cen Xi thought of his luggage, he became a bit anxious and immediately went out to find someone.

"Brother, I suddenly remembered that my luggage is still in the dormitory. Help me move it over."

"Sure thing!" Lin Feng was bored anyway, so he welcomed the distraction.

"Uncle, I’ll tag along too!" Lin Wu didn't want to stay here bored either, so he spoke up.

"Okay, come along!" Noticing Lin Wu towering over his wife, Cen Xi nodded in agreement.

Father Lin initially wanted to go too, but he was persuaded not to. He was old, and he had worked all afternoon, so he should rest.

"Father, you don't need to go. Just rest here for a while!" Cen Xi quickly stopped him and made him a cup of sugared water to drink.

"Alright, alright!" Father Lin cheerfully agreed, seeing that Cen Xi really didn't need him.

Cen Xi thought about his belongings in the dormitory. He hadn't brought many large items since he had just arrived, but he had quite a few books. The three of them would probably find it a bit heavy to carry, so they would need to borrow a cart from the security.

It took Cen Xi and the others about half an hour to go and come back, just in time for the warm pot meal to be ready.

The people in this courtyard were truly suffering!

While Lin's mother and the others were cooking, the children in the courtyard had just returned from school.

A group of kids entered the courtyard, chattering and shouting loudly.

"Wow, it smells amazing! Who’s cooking?"

"It’s the newcomers."

"Yeah, it really smells good!"

"It’s the new family cooking."

"There’s meat, it’s the smell of meat."

They all sniffed the air hungrily, their mouths watering uncontrollably.

They were immediately captivated by the overpowering aroma, forgetting to head home. They couldn’t help but walk towards the source of the smell.

Before long, a group of kids had gathered outside the Cen family’s door.

Inside, they had already started eating. They began their meal early because they needed to catch the last bus home!

As the fragrant dishes were placed on the table, everyone’s attention was drawn to the delicious spread, and they involuntarily swallowed in longing.

After Lin’s father announced that the meal was ready, everyone moved their chopsticks lightning-fast.

Lin's mother and Cen Xi first served several pieces of meat to Lin Qing before starting their own meals.

Lin Qing smiled slightly, looking at the extra food in her bowl.

With such delicious food, it would be a sin to be distracted, so even though there was a group of children outside, they focused on eating and didn’t pay much attention.

Mother Jiang came out and saw her well-behaved grandson looking longingly at the Cen family’s kitchen. Her heart ached instantly.

Suddenly, she thought of something. Her eyes darted around, plotting something mischievous. She suddenly shouted loudly, "Don’t you have enough food at home? Why are you standing at someone else’s door? Are you waiting to be fed? They aren’t kind enough to give you anything, go home now!"

Hearing their grandmother’s scolding, the Jiang children felt a pang of fear. Da Mei and Er Mei, thinking their grandmother was embarrassed by them, hurried home. But the favorite grandsons, Da Hu and Er Hu, not only didn’t go home; they threw a tantrum right there.

"Grandma, I want to eat meat, I want to eat meat."

"Grandma, I want some too."

Their voices rose and fell in the courtyard.

As if a switch had been flipped, some other children began to mimic them, particularly the Su and Gu children. The children in the back courtyard seemed to understand and immediately decided to go home to make a fuss.

Seeing her grandsons rolling on the ground crying, Mother Jiang’s heart ached. But she still remembered her plan and shouted loudly again, "Oh dear, my good grandsons! Don’t cry, don’t cry, crying won’t make meat appear for you to eat!"

She said this loudly while secretly watching the Cen family’s door, waiting for a reaction from inside.

"No, no, I want to eat."

"I want some too."

In no time, the two children were rolling on the ground, throwing a tantrum.

Jiang Da Sao, hiding in the room, watched this scene and suddenly felt a headache coming on. These two brats, always throwing tantrums, their clothes were so dirty they could stand up on their own.

At this moment, she desperately hoped that her second son would hurry up and bring his wife home.

The situation at the Su family was quite similar.

"Grandma, I want to eat meat too."

"Me too."

"Alright, alright, eat meat, I'll give you some meat. When your mother comes back, tell her to go ask Uncle Zhou for more!" Mother Su also wanted to ask the Cen family directly, but hadn’t she noticed that despite all of Mother Jiang's fussing, the Cen family hadn’t responded at all?

So she immediately understood that it was unlikely they would get any meat from the Cen family today. After all, quite a few people had come, and even though the meat looked like it weighed two jin, it probably wouldn’t be enough! How could there possibly be any left to share with others?

"Yay! We’re getting meat too!"

The commotion outside was so loud that even the people eating inside couldn’t help but notice.

Lin Qing wasn’t sure how to react.

"Mother?"

Mother Lin could immediately tell what Mother Jiang was up to, but she had no intention of indulging them.

If they gave them meat today, would they have to give them meat in the future too?

So the best course of action was not to start that precedent.

"Don’t worry about them. They can cause all the trouble they want. They didn’t even bother inviting us. Or are you saying you don’t want to eat meat anymore?"

"No, no." The others shook their heads. Who would be foolish enough to not want to eat meat?

"Then just keep eating. Ignore them."

Mother Lin also advised the young couple who would be staying with them, "Xiao Cen, in the future, you need to toughen up a bit. Don’t let others take your things just because they make a fuss.

In situations like today, don’t be afraid to firmly refuse them.

Once people start taking advantage, it becomes a habit. Once they get a taste, every time you cook meat or good dishes, they’ll definitely come sniffing around."

Cen Xi and Lin Qing listened carefully and took Mother Lin’s advice seriously.

Following Mother Lin’s lead, the family stayed firm.

Unlike Mother Jiang’s more subtle approach, Mother Gu wasted no time when she heard her grandchild wanted meat—she grabbed her bowl and headed straight over.

"Cen family, anyone home?" Mother Gu knocked on the door.

The people eating inside clearly heard it too. Everyone blinked and looked at Mother Lin: Now that they've come to the door, what should we do?

"Wait, watch how I handle this." Mother Lin stood up with an imposing air and walked out.

"Hello, dear, do you need something?"

"My child wants to eat meat. Give us some meat."

Mother Lin’s smile immediately froze, a black line forming across her face. What kind of person was this?

Actually being so brazen.

"The meat’s all gone. We’ve already eaten everything. You can head back now!" Mother Lin kept her tone polite.

"What do you mean it's all gone? There's still some left!" Mother Gu noticed a few pieces of meat still left in the bowl.

No sooner had she spoken than several pairs of chopsticks darted out and quickly divided the meat on the plate.

Zhang Mei quickly snatched two pieces with her chopsticks—she wasn’t about to let anyone else get the meat for free.

"Now there’s nothing left."

"You... all of you... are so ungrateful! It’s an honor that my dear grandson is willing to eat your meat!" Mother Gu said, somewhat flustered and frustrated.

"Get out! Go buy your own meat if you want to eat it!" Mother Lin exploded in anger and shoved her out the door.

Who do you think you are, acting like everyone here is your indulgent mother?

Mother Jiang and Mother Su had been keeping an eye on the Cen family ever since Mother Gu approached them, so they saw Mother Gu being forcibly removed.

From then on, the reputation of Cen Xi’s mother-in-law as someone not to mess with was solidified throughout the compound.