SLH | Chapter 7

Grandma Can’t Take It

At noon, Ruan Xiulian had her eldest daughter-in-law cook some coarse rice and served up leftovers from the day before. She herself went into the kitchen to make some white porridge and boiled eggs, then called her youngest daughter to take them to the west room.

“Mom, Xia Ge’er also wants to eat eggs.” Xia Ge’er looked up with a small face, tugging at his mom’s clothes.

“What are you eating for?” Tang Chunxing glanced at the west room, raising her voice, “You’re just a countryside boy, do you think you deserve to eat eggs? Your little uncle is different from you, he’s a precious guest from the city.”

Ruan Xiulian was cutting pickles in the kitchen, and upon hearing the commotion, she shouted towards the courtyard, “Stop with that sarcastic tone. When Xia Ge’er was sick, didn’t the family make special meals for him?”

Tang Chunxing immediately put on a smiling face, “Mom, I didn’t mean anything by it, just said it casually. You know me, sharp tongue but a soft heart, I care the most about my brother-in-law.”

It’s true, the eldest daughter-in-law just has a sharp tongue, her heart is good, but she can be annoying.

Ruan Xiulian ignored her, raising her hand to call Xia Ge’er, “Xia Ge’er, come here, grandma will serve you some white porridge.”

“Okay!”

The courtyard quieted down, and in the west room, Liu Xiaomei saw her brother-in-law had no appetite and thought it was because he was upset by the eldest sister-in-law’s words. She comforted him, “Eldest sister-in-law likes to talk, but she’s not a bad person. Don’t take her words to heart, just let them go in one ear and out the other.”

Song Tingzhu had heard these words since he was a child, so he wouldn’t get upset over such things. He simply had no appetite.

He forced himself to eat half a bowl of porridge, took his medicine, and was drowsy all afternoon. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Liu Hu had somehow returned home and was changing clothes in front of the cabinet.

The man was tall and muscular with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, clearly used to physical labor. Song Tingzhu, having been bedridden for years, had no muscles, just a layer of soft flesh at his waist, though it wasn’t noticeable due to his frailness.

“Wife, I found a job. When I get paid, I’ll buy you some candy.”

Song Tingzhu snapped back to reality, realizing he had been staring at the man’s body, and his face flushed.

He averted his gaze, speaking a bit awkwardly, “I’m not Xia Ge’er, I don’t need candy to be coaxed.”

Liu Hu’s dark eyes fixed on his husband, “Then I’ll buy you pastries from Sifang Zhai, everyone in town says they’re good.”

Song Tingzhu murmured an agreement, changing the subject, “What kind of work did you find today?”

“Digging a foundation and building a house for a wealthy family, the pay is forty-five coins a day plus lunch.” Liu Hu’s honest face broke into a smile, “Usually, the most you get is thirty-five or thirty-six coins without meals, so we can save a lot with this job.”

Song Tingzhu frowned upon hearing this.

It’s freezing cold now, how can they dig the frozen ground?

Liu Hu didn’t know his concerns and went to the kitchen to get hot water for his foot bath.

“The medicine is ready, once your body warms up, I’ll bring it over.”

He squatted down, reaching for his ankle.

Song Tingzhu instinctively pulled back under the quilt, seeing the man’s hurt expression, he turned his gaze away.

“Don’t overthink it, I’m just not used to it.”

He lifted the quilt, saying to the man, “Give me the cloth, I’ll do it myself.”

Liu Hu dipped the cloth into the water, “Let me do it, you’re my wife, I want to take care of you.”

Each call of “wife” made Song Tingzhu’s ears burn, yet he couldn’t refute it. Although the original engagement wasn’t for him, he and Liu Hu had already married, so he was Liu Hu’s husband.

He couldn’t consummate the marriage due to his condition, but if the Liu family’s situation improved and he was still alive, he’d find a good girl for Liu Hu. If he passed away…

Song Tingzhu lowered his gaze, feeling a sudden reluctance.

“Wife, is the water too hot?”

He struggled to speak, “It’s just right.”

In just two days, he felt reluctant. When the day of parting comes, what will he do?

Seeing the water in the basin cooling, Liu Hu lifted Song Tingzhu’s feet onto his knees, carefully drying them before tucking them under the quilt.

“I’ll go get the medicine.”

He returned with the medicine and a bowl of brown sugar egg water.

“Xiaomei said you didn’t eat much after lunch. Are you feeling unwell again?” The man frowned with concern, “Should I get Doctor Liang to check on you?”

“No need.” Song Tingzhu took the medicine bowl, “Just didn’t have much appetite, I’m fine now.”

Liu Hu was still worried, watching him finish the bowl of brown sugar egg water before relaxing.

“Tomorrow, I have to leave early for work in town and will return at night. Dad and big brother aren’t home, and mom and sister-in-law are going to sell vegetables in town. If you need anything, just ask Xiaomei for help.”

Song Tingzhu nodded, “Okay.”

That night, a strong wind blew, and the Liu family’s mud house, built years ago, had windows and doors rattling in the wind. The cold air seeped in through the gaps, chilling everyone to the bone.

Song Tingzhu, already not sleeping well, found it even harder to sleep with the cold wind. Just as he was shivering under the quilt, he was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace.

“Sleep, I’m here.” The man’s voice was low and comforting.

Without thinking further, only two words filled his mind.

So warm…

－

The next day, Song Tingzhu was awakened by a sharp voice in the courtyard.

“You little brat, I’m your grandma, why are you blocking me?”

“These are brother-in-law’s dowry, you can’t take them!”

Granny Liu, hands on her hips, flaunted her elder’s authority, “Why can’t I take them? Even if the family is split, I’m still your grandma. You little brat, are you looking for a beating?”

Liu Xiaomei feared her grandma would call her big uncle to scold her, but she wouldn’t budge to protect her brother-in-law’s dowry. Xia Ge’er clung to her, holding onto the doorframe, standing firmly in front of it.

Seeing this, Granny Liu rolled up her sleeves, cursing, “Two money-wasting brats, do you really think I can’t handle you?”

Liu Cuie, although old, was well-fed and strong, much stronger than the average old lady. The two children couldn’t stop her, and she soon had them thrown into the courtyard by their arms.

“Grandma, you can’t take it, it’s brother-in-law’s dowry!”

“Grandma, don’t take it, boo hoo hoo…”

Xia Ge’er, being small and light, was thrown to the ground and cried out in pain. Liu Xiaomei couldn’t comfort him, quickly getting up and shouting as she entered the room.

“Move aside, I’m your grandma, I’m also Mengzi and Huzi’s grandma. Since Huzi married, he should first be filial to me, as an elder. Your cousin needs money for the county exam in spring, and this money is perfect for Yushu’s travel expenses.”

During the scuffle, Liu Xiaomei was roughly pushed aside by Granny Liu, knocking over a pile of firewood with a loud clatter, scaring Xia Ge’er, who ran into the west room crying.

“Uncle, grandma is bullying little aunt, boo hoo…”

Song Tingzhu, having just dressed, was about to go out to check when Xia Ge’er ran into his arms.

He knelt down, comforting the little boy warmly, “Don’t be afraid, Xia Ge’er, Uncle is here.”

The quarrel in the storage room continued, with Liu Xiaomei’s young voice tinged with sobs. Worried someone might get hurt, Song Tingzhu, despite his discomfort, led Xia Ge’er to the courtyard.

“Xiaomei.”

Liu Xiaomei stood in front of the wooden box, preventing Granny Liu from approaching. Hearing Song Tingzhu call her, she quickly ran over to support him.

Seeing no one stopping her, Granny Liu hurriedly opened the wooden box.

Liu Xiaomei, eyes red with anger, shouted, “Brother-in-law, your dowry…”

“It’s okay, let her take it.” Song Tingzhu frowned, touching the red mark on the young girl’s cheek, “Are you hurt anywhere?”

Liu Xiaomei shook her head, “I got scratched by firewood while helping mom with the stove this morning.”

She turned her head, glaring at Granny Liu, afraid she might steal something.

“Brother-in-law, grandma is going through your things!”

“Let her look.” Song Tingzhu glanced at the storage room, not worried that Granny Liu would take anything. Knowing Song Madam’s character, she probably didn’t leave anything valuable.

Indeed, Granny Liu rummaged through the four large wooden boxes, finding nothing of value. Her old face, once smiling, now drooped with disappointment, as if someone owed her a great debt.

The old lady, unwilling to give up, glanced at the main room, asking, “Did your mom hide the valuable things?”

Liu Xiaomei angrily replied, “Brother-in-law’s dowry has always been in the storage room, mom never touched it!”

“He’s a young master from a wealthy family, even if he’s illegitimate, he should have some money. Or maybe they don’t want to give it because they think he’s dying?” Granny Liu muttered under her breath.

Song Tingzhu didn’t hear clearly, but he could guess. Holding a child in each hand, he ignored Granny Liu’s sarcastic remarks. Once she left, he had Xiaomei help him into the storage room. Seeing the boxes filled with books his mother had collected for him, he sighed in relief.

He was worried Song Madam might have replaced the books with stones, but fortunately, the Song family didn’t care for his old books.

“Cough cough”””

Liu Xiaomei, seeing his pale face, frowned, “Brother-in-law, let me help you back to the room.”

“Okay.”

Xia Ge’er tugged at his clothes, following him to the west room. The little boy, frightened by the commotion, seemed listless, his hair disheveled and drooping, looking quite downcast.

“Xiaomei, fetch a wooden comb.” He sat on the bed, calling Xia Ge’er to his side.

Liu Xiaomei quickly brought the comb, “Brother-in-law, here.”

She sat on a small stool by the bed, resting her chin in her hands as she watched her brother-in-law comb Xia Ge’er’s hair. After a while, seeing no action, she grew curious.

Could it be that brother-in-law knows too many styles and doesn’t know which one to choose?

Song Tingzhu held the comb, his arm aching, still unsure how to start.

In the Song family, Granny Liu and Qing He and Hongmei always helped with his hair; he never did it himself. He thought it wouldn’t be hard to comb hair, but now he realized it wasn’t easy.

After hesitating, he tied Xia Ge’er’s hair into the simplest double bun.

The little boy’s eyes sparkled, shaking his head, “Little aunt, does Xia Ge’er look good?”

Liu Xiaomei looked left and right, seeing her brother-in-law’s slightly red ears, nodded vigorously, “Looks great, even better than the hairdresser in town!”

Author’s Note:
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