Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 642 - 519: She’s Scheming Again

Mother Zhang chatted with the in-laws for a bit, then quickly got up to leave, declining her son-in-law’s offer to walk her out. It’s just a few steps, she’s not that old to need an escort.

As she reached the intersection, she saw her second son smiling foolishly at her from afar.

"Why didn’t you go home?"

"I just left home; I thought I’d go to sister’s place to pick you up. Mom, Xiao Wu wrote again, asking us to see you and dad onto the train. Maybe you should stay there for a while."

Mother Zhang quickly waved her hand, "No, I won’t feel comfortable. You have to go through two gates, show IDs and all that, it’s too much trouble. Don’t listen to him."

Zhang the Second already knew this would be the case. He wants to go see for himself but doesn’t have time, while his parents, having been once, refuse to go. Even Uncle Zhao invited them to the provincial city, and they wouldn’t go.

"This time Xiao Wu said they’ve tidied up the yard outside. He wants you and dad to stay for a while since the weather’s nice with the start of spring."

Mother Zhang glanced around and whispered, "I’ve seen his yard before—we can’t stay there. Now that he and his wife are studying, why should your dad and I go over? If we don’t go, they’ll come back home for the summer holidays. Hehe..."

Zhang the Second looked at his mother laughing like a child and couldn’t help but laugh along.

"Oh dear, I must hurry. Your dad hasn’t made dinner yet."

Zhang the Second took her hand and walked slowly, "The children’s mom and your sister-in-law are already busy in the kitchen. Don’t rush."

Hearing this, Mother Zhang was no longer in a hurry but asked worriedly, "Why did your sister-in-law come over today? Didn’t she just pick up the grain? Has she borrowed any grain from your wife these past two months?"

Zhang the Second looked at her speechlessly and softly said, "Mom, you don’t need to guard against her. Mai Miao is great at managing the household now, and that girl listens to her big brother, not giving even an inch. The kids are older now, rest assured. My sister-in-law’s all ears, but she listens to the kids the most."

"I’m not guarding against her. I don’t mind her being filial to her parents, but she can’t support her elder brother’s family. I don’t like Eldest Huang, he’s bullied my younger son before. Besides, Eldest Huang’s family has plenty of mouths to feed. She can’t provide for them all. Don’t think I’m stingy, if she shares her own food, I turn a blind eye, but not if my sons go hungry."

Zhang the Second patiently listened to his mother nagging, secretly amused. His mom was once bitten by a snake and now is afraid of well ropes for ten years. He doesn’t blame her for being wary of Huang Cuilan.

She’d sneakily send three or five pounds of grain to her mother’s house, truly thinking that just because his mom didn’t live there, she wouldn’t know. Who is his mom? An experienced homemaker for decades, she can tell if two sweet potatoes go missing, let alone a couple of grandchildren who’d tattle.

In this regard, his sister-in-law truly wasn’t as smart as his wife.

His wife was clever, knowing his mom has a kind heart. Every time his sister-in-law’s kids came over, she’d send them to greet the elders. Once they did, his mom gave them happily, and his wife achieved her goal.

Zhang the Second saw this but didn’t stop it. As long as his wife wasn’t overboard, he let her be, or he would have intervened long ago. Fortunately, Lin Juhua’s sisters-in-law, although poor, never lacked courtesy.

At the end of the year, their team split a fish, urging the children to deliver it to their parents. Especially when vegetables from their small plots grew, the first batch was sent to the county town.

From ancient times, family favors are reciprocal. Compared to the sister-in-law’s family, Zhang the Second had no desire to deal with his in-laws. Poverty didn’t bother him; everyone was poor, but you can’t just take without giving—it’s shameless.

As Mother Zhang approached the doorstep, she stopped the conversation. Hmm, talking with her son made her feel comfortable. Indeed, her son had a good temper!

In the kitchen, Huang Cuilan saw her mother-in-law enter and quickly said, "Mom, big-sister-in-law asked someone to send a message, inviting you and dad over as guests."

Mother Zhang knew her sister-in-law’s parental home was close to the eldest daughter-in-law’s family. She wasn’t suspicious of this, but wondered why her sister-in-law would invite them over without any special occasion.

"Did the messenger say how your big-sister-in-law is?"

Huang Cuilan took a plate and handed it to her sister-in-law, then picked up bowls and cutlery, replying, "I asked, and my mom said my big-sister-in-law is very happy, definitely something good. I guess maybe the two cousins have found partners and want you to meet them."

"It’s not about that. Those girls are still young; they’re not in a rush to find someone. Earlier this year, many came proposing, and they personally said they want to help at home for a few more years before settling down."

Lin Juhua praised, "The two nieces are lucky, and their uncles are blessed. They’re pretty, educated, have jobs—no worries about finding a good family."

Indeed! Mother Zhang’s expression didn’t change, but she felt secretly proud inside.

Huang Cuilan peeked at her mother-in-law’s face, lowered her voice, and said with a smile, "Mom, I heard both cousins’ jobs were arranged by Xiao Wu, is that true?"

Mother Zhang glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law. Look at that... starting to get ideas again.

She smiled and said, "How could that be possible? Xiao Wu hasn’t been back in so long, where would he find time to arrange that."

"Wasn’t it when Xiao Wu came back, soon after the cousins started working? My mom said what they were told by my big-sister-in-law isn’t true, how could it be so coincidental that both got jobs at the same time?"

"It really has nothing to do with Xiao Wu. I recently heard it from you two aunties; it was one of their classmates who came running at night to notify them. The next day, alongside their classmate, all three girls were hired. It’s because the children are promising, being good-looking and educated, they were spotted right away."

Mother Zhang implied that even with scheming, one must aesthetically qualify first. Her nieces from the in-law’s side have no chance, they’re simply not attractive enough.

Huang Cuilan, holding the bowls and cutlery, stood in the middle of the kitchen, smiling and saying to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, "Don’t you think my siblings and I look decent, why don’t my nieces and nephews take after it?"

Lin Juhua shook her head, "The kids look fine, just a bit dark."

"And they’re a bit short, especially my big sister-in-law who isn’t tall; the kids didn’t grow much, not passing the physical for recruitment again this time."

Mother Zhang pretended not to see the look her eldest daughter-in-law was giving her. Internally, she mused: if they don’t pass, do they expect her to ask Brother Dashan for favors?

"Good iron doesn’t make nails, good boys shouldn’t be soldiers." In her view, not being a soldier isn’t too bad. Right after the liberation, every family had a conscription spot, and yet no one went. Now the times have changed; people want to be soldiers.

Huang Cuilan arranged the tableware and looked disappointed at her mother-in-law. Seemed like there was no hope for her nieces and nephews. In this house, if her mother-in-law didn’t agree, no one could do anything. Thinking about responding to her own mother, she frowned in annoyance. Looks like she must ask her second brother to persuade their mother again.

After dinner, Huang Cuilan and her sister-in-law finished washing the dishes and left early for Huang Laoer, Huang Yaoguo’s place.

Huang Yaoguo’s wife was delighted to see her sister-in-law arrive; she gleefully pulled her in and then left, giving the siblings space to talk.

This sister-in-law was genuinely helpful, much better than those relatives looking to take advantage.