Chapter 41: Getting Along with Family (Part 2)

“Mother, I’ll listen to you. From now on, I’ll discuss things with you before I do them. It’s just that I feel if there’s extra cloth after making clothes for Little Fifth Brother, the two older brothers shouldn’t be left out. After all, what does it mean to be real brothers if you only care about yourself?” She knew she still had a lot to learn to truly fit into this family and society, but she wasn’t worried—her mother-in-law was a good person.

“You and your husband are both good kids. I just hope your brothers remember your kindness. If all you siblings get along well, your father and I can rest easy.” Mother Zhang sighed. Her youngest son had always been loyal and affectionate, and now he’d married a good wife, one who was generous to her in-laws and nieces and nephews.

Eldest sister-in-law Huang Cuilan and second sister-in-law came in together. “Mother, we’re really taking advantage of our younger siblings here. Why are you getting involved too? Little Fifth is still young, and after the New Year, when the family splits, he’ll need money to support his own household. Jiao Jiao, we’ll accept your help this time, but you can’t keep doing this.”

She smiled as she stroked Ping’an’s head and looked at Maisui. “Maisui, is the milk good? Should I have a taste too?”

“You don’t know Jiao Jiao yet—she treats you both like her own sisters-in-law. If she wants to give, just accept it. I’m just happy to see you three getting along so well. Look at some families in the village—sisters-in-law fighting all the time, brothers turning into enemies.

The village aunties all praise you, and I think it’s because you sisters-in-law are good people. Ever since your grandfather’s generation, our sisters-in-law have always gotten along. Your eldest aunt is warm-hearted and always helps out when someone’s in trouble. Your youngest aunt may seem cold to outsiders, but she’s always the first to help your father’s brothers.

When your grandfather was alive, he always said it wasn’t the sons who were filial, but the daughters-in-law. Sons’ filial piety is just for show—daughters-in-law’s is real. Before he died, he thanked the three of us, saying, ‘A harmonious family prospers in everything.’”

The three sisters-in-law exchanged thoughtful glances and smiled at each other. Zhou Jiao said, “I actually envy Second Sister-in-law’s skills and asked her to help on purpose, so don’t say those polite words. Eldest Sister-in-law, don’t you want to see the three brothers dressed alike, looking like triplets? Just the thought of it makes me laugh. Mother, don’t you think so?”

The women in the room thought about it and realized it was true. Usually, everyone wore black or blue, so they all looked the same walking down the road. This army green was rare in the village—if the three brothers stood together in matching outfits, they really would look like triplets. The thought made everyone burst out laughing, and even Maisui joined in.

They finished cutting the fabric and settled on the designs. Mother Zhang, seeing she wasn’t needed here and still worried about her husband and sons, decided to leave them to it. “Alright, I’ll go check on them. You three take advantage of this rare free time and chat together. No need to go clean up the kitchen.”

As she left, she gave Zhou Jiao a meaningful look, glancing at her pillow—worried she might be too naive and give everything away, but Zhou Jiao remembered what was hidden under her pillow.

Zhou Jiao grinned at her, then burst out laughing. “Alright, Mother’s gone. Sisters-in-law, let’s get to work. The sewing machine is in the small sitting room outside, and the brown sugar and red dates are in the cabinet drawer by the door. Help yourselves. I’m not feeling well, so I won’t join you. Maisui, will you stay and keep your aunt company?”

Huang Cuilan didn’t stand on ceremony and went with Lin Juhua to the small sitting room to make clothes. Maisui nodded, then tugged on Zhou Jiao’s sleeve. “Auntie, I want more milk, but if I drink it, my little brother won’t have any.”

“Didn’t Grandma give you some? I left it with her for you kids to drink.” Zhou Jiao was puzzled—her mother-in-law wasn’t the type to be stingy.

Maisui glanced nervously at her, making Zhou Jiao’s heart ache. Such a small child, already so good at reading faces, with none of the innocence children should have—she acted more like a timid little wife. “At mealtime, Grandma gave my sister and me each a cup and said to wait for my brother to come back so we could drink together.”

“Maisui, you’re such a good girl! Your little brother can drink auntie’s milk, you know? Here, I have some formula you can take home, okay?”

Maisui quickly shook her head, glancing toward the small sitting room to make sure no one was listening, then beckoned with her little hand. “Auntie, I can’t take it home. If my mom sees it, it’ll be gone. Lots of brothers and sisters will cry, and my mom will cry too. I’ll cry as well. I don’t like crying at home.”

Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. The child couldn’t explain clearly, but she was clever enough to know that if she took the formula home, her mother would give it away and she wouldn’t get any.

“Then, Maisui, whenever you want to drink some, bring your sister Maimiao and come to auntie’s house, okay? But you can’t have any at night, or you’ll wet the bed and your mother will scold you.” Zhou Jiao promised her.

“Okay, my little brother can drink with me.” Maisui nodded obediently and went off to play with her little brother.

What a sensible child, Zhou Jiao thought. She remembered she had some white Dove chocolate in her stash—the kind that would give her away just by the wrapper. Zhang Guoqing should be bringing home two jin of candy today. Looking at Maisui, who was so small she couldn’t even climb off the kang bed, Zhou Jiao smiled.

“When your uncle comes home, he’ll give you some candy.”

“Mm, mm, I’m a good girl, I listen. My grandma, my uncle, my dad, my grandpa, my sister, and lots and lots of people all say I’m a good girl.” The little one counted on her fingers, but soon lost track and got flustered.

Zhou Jiao couldn’t stop laughing. “That’s right, Maisui is a very good girl. That’s why I want to give you candy.”

In the small sitting room, the eldest sister-in-law was cutting the last piece of fabric while the second sister-in-law worked the sewing machine. The two of them worked well together.

It was strange—Second Sister-in-law Lin Juhua learned things incredibly fast. Anything she picked up, she’d figure out just by looking. The sweaters she knitted were the most fashionable in the village. If she saw someone wearing something new in town, she could go home and replicate it.

No one could match her skillful hands. Her cooking was also the best, though she used a lot of oil, which made her mother-in-law nervous. Plus, she sometimes stole grain to take back to her own family. Except during holidays, when she was allowed to cook, she was usually kept out of the kitchen and assigned to feed the pigs.

Zhang Guoqing once joked that his second sister-in-law’s pig slop probably tasted better than the family’s meals.

She had her faults, but also her strengths. For example, she was broad-minded—she might be furious one moment, but the next, she’d be all heart. She doted on her husband, always following his lead, and aside from secretly taking some coarse grain home a few times, she never touched the family’s money or valuables. That was a good thing—if she were truly dishonest, no one would want to be around her.

She liked to gossip, but never made things up—she just couldn’t keep secrets and was easily tricked into spilling the beans. Still, when it came to serious matters, she knew right from wrong. She was a bit vain and loved to show off, always comparing herself to others.

You could say she was lazy, but she always finished the chores assigned to her. If she had nothing to do, she wouldn’t look for work, unlike most rural wives who never stopped for a moment, even using their spare time to twist hemp rope to help with household expenses. She’d rather go chat with friends in the village than do extra chores. She was a bit selfish and liked to haggle over gains and losses, but after complaining, she’d let things go and just muddle through life.

Maybe it was because she grew up in a family that favored sons over daughters. Her upbringing was all about valuing boys. She doted on her son Shitou, afraid he’d suffer even a little. Luckily, Shitou grew up with his brothers and didn’t become spoiled. But she had little patience for her daughter Maisui. In her words, “Being born into the Zhang family is already her good fortune. If I spoil her, what next?” She often grumbled behind her mother-in-law’s back about the special treats given to the two little girls.

The Zhang family was generous, open-minded, warm, and loyal. The straightforward Zhangs didn’t much care for Lin Juhua’s petty, competitive, and calculating ways."