Chapter 26: Every Family Has Its Own Troubles (4)

"How wonderful that would be. I really wish my maternal grandfather had been a master chef. That way, every time he went out to cater a banquet, I could tag along to help and get to enjoy a proper meal."

"Unfortunately, your grandfather was just a gatekeeper. As the old saying goes, 'Dragons beget dragons, and phoenixes beget phoenixes.' The master chef's daughter is cut out to be a master chef, but the daughter of a gatekeeper can only keep the gate."

"Be content, dear. Many gatekeeping jobs are passed down to sons. You getting this job as a daughter is a real stroke of luck."

"That’s only because my brother has a respectable job and wouldn't deign to be a gatekeeper. My two older sisters were already married, and my father wouldn't let them take over the position, so it finally fell to me."

"Then we must be grateful to your parents—my father-in-law and mother-in-law."

"We truly should. Back when they decided to let me take over, my grandmother raised quite a fuss, wanting her son's youngest boy to take the job. You wouldn't believe the sweet-talking my grandmother and uncle did."

"We were already engaged back then, and I heard it twice. Still, your parents were firm and didn't let them pull the wool over their eyes."

"My parents aren't fools. Even if I am a daughter, I’m still their own flesh and blood. As for a nephew from another branch, he has his own parents, and once he marries, he’ll have his own household. The idea of him supporting them in their old age was nothing but a joke."

"That’s for sure."

"Because of this, my uncle has held a grudge against my parents, and things have been cold and distant between our families for years."

"So what? The two of them are living just fine now."

"It’s just that my two sisters created a rift with the family because of this job. They rarely come home, only visiting during the Lunar New Year."

"Even after all these years, I still think your parents did the right thing. Your sisters understand that if the job had gone to either of them, they wouldn't have been able to hold onto it anyway."

"Pfft, my parents didn't want to make wedding clothes for someone else, especially when they wouldn't even get any credit for it."

"Hahaha, I still want to laugh thinking about it. Your eldest sister's brother-in-law was just waiting for that job to secure a wife."

"My second sister's in-laws thought the same thing."

"Hahaha, did they forget you were still in the picture?"

"Back then, my parents—and my brother, too—all stood by me."

"And your sister-in-law, too. She may be a bit arrogant, but she’s not a bad person."

"Her father is a bit of an official, so it’s natural for her to be a little proud."

As the couple reminisced about old times, they never expected that someone would show up just as they were talking about them.

***

When Cai Meiyu and her husband arrived, they found their sister-in-law and her husband happily munching on cornmeal buns with their youngest son. (The three of them had quickly finished off the dumplings.)

"No, who’s cooking for you now? Isn't my brother-in-law still a patient? You're just eating this?" Cai Meiyu had a blunt personality and couldn't help but speak her mind when she saw something she didn't like.

"Eldest Aunt, Eldest Uncle."

"Yes."

"Sister-in-law, Brother, you’re here. Come, let’s go sit in the ward." Mrs. Zhou handed her lunchbox to her youngest son, gesturing for him to go wash it.

Cai Meiyu was pulled into the ward by her sister-in-law, but her mind was still on her question: "Who is cooking for you at home?"

"It’s the eldest daughter-in-law," Mrs. Zhou admitted, not wanting to hide it.

"Oh, both of you earn a salary, and the eldest daughter-in-law dares to feed you this? And one of you is a patient! If you weren't able to earn money, you'd be left out in the cold."

Mentioning this made Mrs. Zhou unhappy. "I’ve already told Old Zhou that we’re splitting the household as soon as he is discharged."

"Splitting the household is the right thing to do. You’re capable of working and earning your own keep; being pushed around by the younger generation is completely backward."

"Meiyu, let’s talk about something else. Don’t get angry. Little Sister, here, this is some zaozi cake and peach blossom pastries my wife bought for your husband, and the canned goods were bought by the three kids pooling their money."

"Thank you, sister-in-law. It was too kind of the children."

"Kind, nothing! Here, take another five yuan for your sister, so if your husband wants anything, he can buy it himself."

"Sister-in-law, we really don't need the money. We have some, and Old Zhou will be out of the hospital in a few days."

"What you have is your own business." Cai Meiyu looked at the clothes the couple was wearing and the meal they had just finished, and she couldn't hold back her tongue again. "Go back and split the household quickly. If you don't, you'll be the death of me."

"Meiyu, talk about the serious stuff."

"Oh, I was so angry I forgot. Little Sister, our unit is hiring two temporary workers. The pay and benefits are good, so I secured one spot for your third child."

"Sister-in-law, thank you!" Master Zhou and Mrs. Zhou were so moved they almost knelt to Cai Meiyu.

"Hey, hey, stop with the dramatics. I see that the third one is a good kid—sensible and caring since he was little. If it were your two older ones, I’d have to think twice about whether to bother."

"Thank you, sister-in-law. The third one is the most sensible."

***

"Here, take this. With these documents, you can get the third one back."

"Thank you, sister-in-law."

"Alright, enough with the thanks. Take this seriously and notify the child quickly. He needs to report within a week."

"I understand, sister-in-law."

"We’re leaving then."

"Sister-in-law, let me see you out."

"No need. Getting the third one back is what matters."

"Yes."

Watching the whirlwind of a woman leave, Su Qiao felt she was someone worth knowing.

"Wife, go with Jiabao to the train station now and buy the earliest tickets to where the third child is. Also, call him so he knows what’s going on. And..." Master Zhou gestured to his youngest son, "Until your third brother finishes his onboarding, don't let your eldest and second brothers know about this."

"Dad, I promise I won't say a word."

"The eldest and second daughters-in-law are both unemployed. If they find out, they’ll throw a tantrum and fight the third one for the position."

"Dad, don't worry, I guarantee I won't say anything."

"Go!"

Watching his wife and youngest son hurry off, Master Zhou radiated joy from head to toe.

The doctor doing the rounds noticed it too and asked with a smile, "Master Zhou, why are you so happy today?"

"Happy, just happy." Master Zhou was happy, but he wouldn't say why. He feared the place was too full of gossip; if those rascals at home found out, it would be difficult for his third child to return.

Once the doctor left, Su Qiao said to Master Zhou, "Master Zhou, I’m going to take Xiaoying out for some fresh air."

"Go ahead!"