The 70s Novel: The Supporting Character Just Wants to Lie Down-Chapter 228: Spring Festival of 1977

This Chinese New Year, Wang Miaomiao and Wang Jia Bao did not come home for the celebration.

Liu Yulan was incredibly disappointed upon receiving the news.

Sigh, she knew this would happen when the children moved away; the time to meet became uncertain, and the number of meetings became few and far between...

New Year’s Eve was originally a day for family reunion, for happiness and togetherness, but as for their family...

"Eat a few more bites, there’s so much food..." Wang Baoxing felt heartbroken seeing Liu Yulan’s state and placed some food in her bowl.

Liu Yulan listlessly played with the grains of rice in her bowl, glanced at the food he picked for her, and slightly pouted, "I have no appetite, don’t pick food for me anymore."

"Sigh... you can’t go on like this, even if you’re feeling down, you need to eat well, otherwise, how will your body hold up? You’ve lost weight recently." Wang Baoxing put down his chopsticks and advised, "The kids are busy; it can’t be helped if they don’t come home for the new year. Didn’t Miaomiao say last time, they’ll find time to come see us after the new year?"

"After the new year, who knows what day that will be." Liu Yulan felt a pang in her heart, her eyes reddening, the more she thought about it, the sadder she became, "Raising them so big, what’s the use, when I’m old, they’re not by my side..."

"Oh dear, you’re really... sigh..." Wang Baoxing was both amused and helpless, "Then tomorrow I’ll have Gangzi call them and tell them all to come back, will that do? For now, eat properly, if the kids come back and see you thin, won’t they feel both sad and guilty?"

"Don’t, and don’t you dare call them. These heartless ones, I’ll see when they remember to come back." Liu Yulan pettishly grabbed her chopsticks, took a few bites of rice, then hastily finished just a bit before putting down the chopsticks, "I’m full, going out for a walk. You eat alone, leave the dishes for me to wash when I get back."

Liu Yulan stepped out and went to Zhou Fengjuan’s house for some chatting and gossip.

Looking at the table full of food, Wang Baoxing couldn’t help but sigh, quickly finished his meal, washed the dishes, and went out to find Liu Yulan.

The house is lonely even with children; otherwise, why does everyone wish for a house full of children and grandchildren?

In contrast to the Wang Family, the Jiang Family was relatively lively this year, though this liveliness was hard to describe.

Wang Miaomiao was persuaded by Jiang Yan to join for New Year’s Eve dinner.

However, Jiang Tao’s family couldn’t make it back. It was said that Liang Meizhi found out she was pregnant, and with Jiang Tao busy at the research institute and uneasy about her returning while pregnant and in charge of children, he mentioned it to Old Master Jiang, deciding to wait until he’s on vacation to bring the family back to see him. Of course, who knew when that vacation would be.

Old Master Jiang was not one to trouble his children and immediately told them not to come back. The back-and-forth travel was tiring, and taking care of herself during pregnancy was the most important thing for the granddaughter-in-law.

Among the younger generation in the Jiang Family, there was still no male grandson. To be honest, Old Master Jiang had high hopes for Liang Meizhi’s pregnancy.

He was originally a kindly and wise elder, and now he tended to be even more accommodating toward Liang Meizhi.

Knowing that Liang Meizhi was pregnant, Bai Li felt somewhat dazed and disappointed. She hadn’t been able to conceive after giving birth to Jiang Shulan, and now she was past the childbearing age, it was simply impossible to have another child.

Not being able to give Jiang Peng a son, she sometimes felt powerless to resist during moments when her mother-in-law, Zheng Zhen, berated her harshly.

Lately, the relationship between her and her mother-in-law had become increasingly hostile. At times, she felt utterly exhausted and deeply desired to escape from the burdensome days and have a few peaceful ones for herself.

Just like now, with the family gathered for dinner, sneering at her, directly and indirectly, in front of her future sister-in-law. What’s the point?

"I’m just saying, if this child of Meizhi’s is a boy, he’ll be the biggest merit to our Jiang Family. Sigh, as the mother-in-law, I’ve been hoping for many years, when can I finally become a grandmother, I wonder..." These words made it sound as though Huilan and Shulan weren’t her granddaughters at all, haven’t they called her grandma?

"Dad, I’m done eating, you all take your time." Bai Li left the table with a poor complexion. Her heart was suffocated to the point she didn’t even want to argue anymore.

"I’ll go check on Mom." Jiang Huilan quickly followed. Truth be told, she felt saddened listening to her grandmother’s words and felt even more sympathy toward her mother’s situation.

Jiang Peng slightly frowned, his expression also not looking well, "Go ahead."

Jiang Peng really felt he made a mistake; he shouldn’t have suggested his mom live with them that time.

Clearly, their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relations had seemed fine before; Bai Li was a virtuous and kind woman. How is it that things changed once they started living together? He couldn’t figure it out...

Zheng Zhen, seeing Bai Li now giving her the cold shoulder, was about to open her mouth to scold her further when Jiang Zhongyi interrupted, "Alright, simmer down, consider what day it is today. If you don’t intend to have a good New Year, you can leave too."

Zheng Zhen grumpily kept her mouth shut.

Suddenly, she turned with a smile toward Wang Miaomiao, "Miaomiao is eighteen now, right?"

Wang Miaomiao’s heart tightened, and she nodded lightly with a faint smile, "Yes, Auntie."

"Why call me auntie, call me mom." Zheng Zhen’s sudden enthusiasm made Wang Miaomiao uncomfortable.

She laughed but didn’t bring herself to say it, wondering what to do in this situation. Under the table, she nudged Jiang Yan’s foot.

Jiang Yan caught on and said, "If you’re going to change what you call her, is there a ’changing-cost’ prepared?"

Wang Miaomiao was about to have a heart attack; did this man understand what she was hinting with her nudge...

"Changing-cost? Oh... let me get it..." Zheng Zhen wasn’t stingy, immediately going upstairs and coming back with a box.

Jiang Yan had fetched a teapot and cup from the living room. Seeing his actions, Wang Miaomiao understood there was no escape now; this ritual had to be performed.

Actually, Jiang Yan was thinking of her benefit. It was rare for Zheng Zhen to suddenly be agreeable; it was best to take the chance and make peace since she was his mom. The relationship couldn’t stay strained forever.

Understanding this, Wang Miaomiao didn’t dawdle anymore and personally poured tea for Zheng Zhen. This time Zheng Zhen didn’t make a fuss; she took a sip of the tea and handed the box to Wang Miaomiao, "Open it and see if you like it."

Wang Miaomiao complied and opened the box to find a set of jade jewelry—a jade bracelet, a jade ring, jade earrings, and a jade pendant of a pixiu.

"This is too precious; I can’t accept it." Wang Miaomiao had not expected Zheng Zhen to make such a grand gesture; she couldn’t accept it... Refusing was painful, letting such fine things slip away from her grasp.

"Take it; good things are meant for family. You can pass it down to my eldest grandson’s wife in the future. I also gave your elder sister-in-law a set, only, it ended up benefiting someone else." Her words, really left one speechless.

"Accept it," Jiang Yan chimed in. Whether she liked it or not, in this situation, a gift from an elder should be accepted.

"Then... thank you, mom." Wang Miaomiao listened to her fiancé and ended up accepting it with a bright smile.