Chapter 49: Noisy

The next morning, Su Yue thought about Han’s third daughter-in-law. To support the pregnancy, it was best for her to drink something nutritious and easy to digest in the morning, so Su Yue specially cooked some red date porridge using the red dates she had bought. The porridge was light, nourishing, and also good for replenishing blood.

Since Han Lao-san had to continue working on the house, he asked Old Lady Han to take good care of his wife. But Su Yue noticed that the old lady already had to make cakes, look after Maomao, and tend to the third daughter-in-law despite her age. Feeling sorry that the old woman had so much to manage, Su Yue took the initiative to share the burden. From then on, she decided she would take care of the third daughter-in-law’s meals.

Lying on the bed, Han’s third daughter-in-law opened her eyes when she heard Su Yue and said weakly, “When are you making breakfast? I’m already hungry.”

Su Yue paused without answering, placed the porridge on the kang cabinet, propped a pillow behind her, helped her sit up halfway, and then handed her the bowl and spoon.

Han’s third daughter-in-law glanced at the porridge and sighed in disappointment. “I’m just eating porridge in the morning? Porridge doesn’t replenish my body. I need something nourishing.”

Su Yue thought to herself, Is she expecting chicken soup and meat in the morning? That would be far too greasy. She patiently explained, “You shouldn’t eat oily food in the morning. I’ll give you chicken soup at noon.”

But Han’s third daughter-in-law sighed again. “I don’t want porridge. It’s so bland I can’t eat it. Sister-in-law, why don’t you make me a bowl of noodles instead? The handmade noodles you make are delicious. I really want to eat those.”

Su Yue hesitated, but thinking that pregnant women could be picky, she nodded. “Alright, I’ll make you a bowl.”

She carried the porridge back to the kitchen. Old Lady Han, surprised to see it untouched, asked, “What? The third daughter-in-law didn’t eat it?”

Su Yue explained, “She said she couldn’t drink porridge and wanted to eat my handmade noodles.”

At once, Old Lady Han frowned. “Picky, is she? She even looks down on red date porridge? Do you know how expensive those dates are? Most people can’t buy them at all. You took them out for her, and she still doesn’t appreciate it?”

The more she spoke, the angrier she became. “She nearly lost the child because she was so noisy, and now she doesn’t even want porridge? Does she think she can order you around? If she doesn’t want to eat, let her starve!”

Su Yue thought for a moment and said gently, “Mother, forget it. She almost miscarried, so I won’t argue with her. I’ll just make her a bowl of noodles, it doesn’t take much effort. Let’s not get upset with a pregnant woman.”

Old Lady Han muttered but eventually nodded. “Forget it this morning then. But in the future, I’ll deliver her food myself. I want to see if she dares to be so picky with me.”

Su Yue thought that was for the best. She really didn’t want to serve the third daughter-in-law anymore anyway. “Mother, I’ll make the cakes during this period. You just focus on looking after her.”

Old Lady Han agreed, temporarily passing the cake-making job to Su Yue, while she handled the family’s meals and cared for the third daughter-in-law.

Su Yue quickly made a bowl of noodles, but instead of delivering it herself, she asked Old Lady Han to take it in.

When dinnertime came, Su Yue was busy making pastries and had no time to cook, so Old Lady Han prepared dinner; half-thick, half-thin rice porridge as usual, with a few corn tortillas stuck on the side of the pot. Thinking about the third daughter-in-law needing nourishment, she even boiled her an egg.

When the third daughter-in-law saw Old Lady Han delivering dinner, she didn’t dare to complain aloud. But as she looked at the simple fare; it was just a bowl of porridge, two tortillas, and one boiled egg, her expression soured.

She’s asking me to recover with just this? Doesn’t she take me seriously at all?

“Mother, why am I eating this tonight?”

Old Lady Han immediately noticed the dissatisfaction in her eyes and snorted. “What now, you don’t like this? Then what did you eat when you cooked for yourself, huh?”

Usually, when cooking for herself, she would only have a small bowl of porridge at night. There was no way she’d have pancakes and eggs. But she felt things were different now, she was pregnant, after all.

“Mother, I’m not well. I need to eat properly to recover. And I’m not the only one eating, there’s also the child in my belly. If I don’t eat well, how can the baby grow strong?”

Old Lady Han studied her for a moment, then asked, “Fine then, tell me, what do you want to eat?”

The third daughter-in-law thought the old lady was softening. Feeling smug, she suggested proudly, “Mother, I know we can’t eat meat every day, so I can settle for something else. Why not ask sister-in-law to make me some scallion pancakes? The ones she makes are delicious.”

But Old Lady Han shook her head. “Your sister-in-law is busy making pastries. She has no time.”

“Then ask her to take out a little time,” the third daughter-in-law pressed. “Once she’s done with the cakes, it won’t take much more effort.”

At her brazen tone, Old Lady Han’s face immediately darkened. “Third daughter-in-law, you think being pregnant gives you the right to command the whole family? It’s not enough that I, an old woman, serve you but you want your sister-in-law to serve you too? Why do you have such a thick face? If your sister-in-law doesn’t even finish her own work, should she come running to wait on you first?”

The third daughter-in-law felt indignant. Normally, she would never dare argue with the old lady, but now that she was carrying a child, she felt emboldened. After all, hadn’t she nearly lost the baby because of Su Yue?

If Su Yue hadn’t forced Maomao to study by making that schoolbag, how could she have gotten kicked? The miscarriage scare was all Su Yue’s fault. Since she owed her, wasn’t it only natural to ask her for something now?

“Mother, I’m not even blaming sister-in-law anymore. I just asked her to make me something good to eat. Isn’t that reasonable?”

Old Lady Han’s eyes widened. “What, you still want to blame your sister-in-law? That’s rich! Tell me, on what grounds do you blame her?”

The third daughter-in-law huffed. “Mother, wasn’t the miscarriage scare caused by her? If she hadn’t made that schoolbag and asked Maomao to learn from her, how could Maomao have kicked me? If not for that, how would I have almost miscarried? Wasn’t it all because of her?”

Still not satisfied, she added, “For the sake of the family, I didn’t make trouble with her. Isn’t it only fair she takes care of me now?”

Old Lady Han was stunned speechless. She stared at her for several long seconds. How can anyone be this shameless?

Finally, she laughed bitterly in anger. To avoid people outside saying she was bullying her pregnant daughter-in-law, she left the room and called toward the dining table, “Lao-san, come here.”

Han Lao-san, still chewing a pancake, quickly put down his bowl and rushed over, puzzled. “Mother, what’s wrong? Did something happen to my wife?”

Old Lady Han pulled him inside. “Nothing happened to your wife. But come; listen to what she’s been saying. She claims it was your eldest sister-in-law who nearly caused her miscarriage, and now she wants your sister-in-law to atone by taking care of her.”

Han Lao-san stared at his wife in shock. He had no idea she harbored such thoughts.

His wife curled her lips. “Mother, what do you mean by that? Am I wrong? It was because of sister-in-law that I ended up like this. Why should I be blamed instead?”

Old Lady Han jabbed a finger at her in anger, then turned to her son. “Third son, listen carefully. Your wife got jealous and wanted a schoolbag from her sister-in-law. Your sister-in-law told her Maomao had to learn first before she’d make him one. So she forced Maomao to learn, and the ignorant child kicked her. That nearly caused the miscarriage. Yet instead of reflecting on her own actions or blaming her son, she dares to blame your sister-in-law, as if your sister-in-law owed her something!”

Old Lady Han couldn’t help but spit in disgust. “I’ve finally seen your wife’s wicked side. Don’t you feel the slightest guilt?”

Han Lao-san hadn’t realized his wife thought this way before. He immediately shouted, “Gu Ming, what are you saying! What does this have to do with my sister-in-law? She was kind enough to call a doctor for you, and she even makes food for our family. Why are you blaming her? Do you even have a conscience?”

Han’s third daughter-in-law felt wronged and raised her voice as well. “I have no conscience? I think you’re the one with no conscience! If sister-in-law hadn’t insisted Maomao sit and study before making a schoolbag, would I be like this? I almost lost the grandson of your Han family! You don’t feel sorry for me, but you pity someone else instead? Why is everyone treating me this way?”

She slapped the quilt in frustration and began wailing. “Oh heavens, look at me; I’m like this and still being bullied by this family! Why is my life so miserable? God, please take me away and save me from this suffering!”

Han Lao-san was so angry he couldn’t speak. The worst part was that his wife was still pregnant, so he couldn’t hit her or scold her no matter how much she infuriated him. He could only swallow his frustration.

Old Lady Han grew furious as well and snapped, “Fine, Gu Ming. I haven’t even held you accountable yet, but here you are crying about being wronged. You’re a grown woman, yet you didn’t even realize you’d missed your periods for months and might be pregnant, whose fault is that?”

Han’s third daughter-in-law burst into louder tears, though guilt flickered in her expression.

Old Lady Han pressed on. “Your sister-in-law made schoolbags for Aimin and Hehua, but because you were jealous, you demanded one for your own child. Do you have no shame? Most people couldn’t compare to your shamelessness. I didn’t call you shameless, but you’ve made yourself look that way!”

Han’s third daughter-in-law muttered resentfully, “As an aunt, she should be fair. Why can’t my child get one? What kind of eldest aunt behaves like this?”

Old Lady Han sneered. “Your sister-in-law doesn’t owe you anything. Why should she do things for your child? We’ve already separated from each other, why do you care who she gives things to?”

Unable to accept her words, the third daughter-in-law mumbled under her breath, “She just doesn’t have to play favorites.”

Old Lady Han’s blood boiled at her unreasonable attitude. She wanted to slap her twice across the face, but she held back since the woman was pregnant. Instead, she snatched the food away and stormed out without looking back. “Enough! We’re separated anyway, so I won’t take care of you anymore. Handle yourselves. If you want delicacies from the mountains and seas, make them yourselves. We’re not worthy of serving you!”

Han’s third daughter-in-law was stunned. Seeing the food taken away and hearing the old lady’s words, she froze before bursting into loud sobs. “Oh heavens, the daughter-in-law is sick, yet the old lady is so cruel she won’t care for me. What kind of life is this? Why am I so miserable?”

Han Lao-san’s face darkened. “Stop howling. If you keep this up, go back to your parents’ house. I don’t want the child anymore.”

His wife stared at him in disbelief. “What did you just say, Han Ai Dang? Are you insane? Are you even human?”

Han Lao-san retorted coldly, “I’m not human? Then don’t mess with me. Go find someone better.”

The third daughter-in-law didn’t dare push further. Her heart filled with bitterness. She thought she’d married a man worse than a pig or dog. Clutching the quilt, she wailed even louder. “Oh heavens, my life is so miserable!”

Her howling gave Han Lao-san such a headache that he stormed out, leaving her to cry alone.

The noise was so loud that Su Yue naturally heard the accusations against her. To be honest, she was disappointed. She had never expected the third daughter-in-law to blame her for the incident and worse, to actually believe Su Yue owed her. No wonder she had been so difficult in the morning. All along, she had regarded Su Yue as nothing more than a servant.

Feeding such an ungrateful person was like feeding a dog. From this moment on, Su Yue resolved not to concern herself with the third daughter-in-law again.

Han Aiguo also overheard everything. His face turned dark and grim. When Han Lao-san came out, he spoke in a calm yet icy tone. “Third Brother, I don’t care how you quarrel with your wife, but don’t drag your sister-in-law into it. She doesn’t owe you anything. If I hear this again, don’t blame me for not saving your face.”

Ashamed, Han Lao-san didn’t dare meet his elder brother’s eyes. He muttered, “Brother, I understand. From now on, we’ll cook for ourselves. I’ll take care of her. We don’t need sister-in-law or Mother’s help anymore.”

Han Aiguo didn’t respond further. After dinner, he boiled hot water for Su Yue to bathe and prepared another pot for Old Lady Han. When he returned to his room, however, he no longer boiled extra water for Lao-san’s family, as he had done the previous night.

Han Aiguo thought coldly: People like Lao-san’s family couldn’t be spoiled, otherwise they’d treat others’ kindness as if it were owed to them.

The next morning, Old Lady Han kept her word. She cooked only for her own household, leaving Lao-san’s family to fend for themselves. Lao-san didn’t have the face to ask his sister-in-law to cook for his wife again. He got up earlier than usual and prepared a pot of porridge with half-coarse, half-refined grains. Having never cooked before, the porridge turned out like rice floating in water and was barely edible.

Still, he had no choice. He boiled an extra egg and gave it to his wife.

When she saw such a breakfast, Han’s third daughter-in-law nearly lost her mind. Furious, she refused to eat, bursting into tears again. One moment she cried her life was miserable, the next she threatened to hang herself, and then she accused everyone of being heartless.

Han Lao-san clenched his fists, forcing down his anger. “Then what do you want to eat?”

His wife sobbed, “I’m no different from a woman in confinement. I need chicken soup to replenish my body. How can you let me eat this slop? How can the child grow well like this?”

Han Lao-san finally nodded. “Fine. I’ll kill one of the chickens we were allotted and make soup for you.”

But the moment she heard him mention killing one of her chickens, she screamed, “You’re not allowed to touch my chickens! They’re for laying eggs!”

Han Lao-san’s face darkened. “If you want to eat chicken, but don’t want to kill ours, then whose chicken do you plan to eat?”

Without hesitation, she replied, “I’m bearing a child for your Han family. Shouldn’t your mother give me a chicken to eat?”

Realizing she just wanted to freeload off his mother, Han Lao-san sneered, ignored her, and went off to work, leaving her to stew in her tantrum.

She fussed for hours, but when no one gave in, she grew hungrier and hungrier. Even Maomao refused to visit her. At last, she had no choice but to drink the watery porridge. But after finishing, she still resumed crying, making the whole household restless.

When Su Yue tried teaching Aimin and Hehua to read, the wailing from Lao-san’s room grew louder, so loud they couldn’t concentrate at all.

Su Yue’s head throbbed from the noise, but she said nothing. With a pregnant woman, if she lost her temper and something happened to the child, the blame would fall squarely on her. So she endured it.

Thankfully, only half a month later, Lao-san’s new house was completed. It was simple but new nonetheless. Knowing his wife caused daily chaos at home, Lao-san immediately moved their belongings into the new place and brought his wife to live there.

The third daughter-in-law was delighted to stay in a new house. She stopped crying for a while, at least and moved in willingly. Whether she continued to complain afterward, no one knew. At least they no longer had to hear it.

Han Aimin let out a long breath of relief. “Finally, my ears are clean again.”

Hehua nodded earnestly in agreement.

Su Yue also felt a weight lifted. At last, the constant noise of quarrels and wailing no longer filled her ears.

—-

Soon it was nearly the New Year. The production team stopped assigning work, letting each household prepare for the festival.

The most anticipated event before the New Year was the brigade’s communal pig slaughter. Each household received a share of pork. For families who rarely ate meat throughout the year, this was the one time they could enjoy it.

The children were especially excited, bouncing with joy when they learned the pigs would be killed. Every day they pestered the adults, asking when it would happen.

Finally, the brigade announced that pigs would be slaughtered that very day.

Everyone in the team rushed to the brigade headquarters, eager to watch. Han Aimin and Hehua were just as thrilled. Seeing their excitement, Su Yue gave them leave from study and allowed them to join the fun.