“Come, come, Xue'er, have some brown sugar water,” her mother-in-law said.
As soon as they entered the house, her mother-in-law was bustling about, getting a cushion for Shen Xue and then preparing brown sugar water. Shen Xue felt a little overwhelmed by the attention.
“Mom, you don’t need to be so polite. I’m not that delicate.”
“When I was pregnant with Yan Yan and Hao Hao, let alone three months, I was still working in the fields when I was eight months pregnant.”
Shen Xue knew her mother-in-law was doting on her, but she truly didn’t feel that fragile. She still helped out in the kitchen every day and sometimes even hoed the ground in the yard.
Although Shen Pandi and Chen Yang both rushed to help her, she felt restless if she wasn’t allowed to move around.
Just sitting or lying down all day didn’t feel any better than being active.
“It’s because I wasn’t around before, and you had to endure so much hardship, my dear.”
“Now that I, your mother-in-law, am here, I won’t let you suffer. Otherwise, I’ll be too ashamed to face your parents next time.”
“Try this. Your brother-in-law’s parents sent it from Shanghai. They said their relatives in the countryside made it themselves. Your sister drinks it often, saying it enriches the blood and is good for her health.”
Qin Lifen was very enthusiastic, and Shen Xue couldn’t refuse. The brown sugar water did smell quite fragrant.
Sitting in the back of the tricycle all the way here had been quite chilly. Drinking a mouthful of steaming hot brown sugar water warmed her up.
“Dad, Mom, this is a New Year’s gift we brought for you. Xue'er knitted these scarves herself.”
Chen Yang took out two bright red woolen scarves and draped them over his parents. The red color was not only festive but also made them look younger.
The elderly couple put on the scarves and looked in the mirror, beaming with joy.
Knitted by their daughter-in-law with her own hands, it showed that she cared about them. Their hearts were filled with happiness for this gesture. Su Dan Novel Network
“Xiao Yu, come here. Here, this one is knitted by me for you.”
Seeing Chen Yu looking on enviously, Chen Yang took out a scarf of a similar style. Although it was a bit less intricate than the ones Shen Xue had knitted, it was still respectable.
At least, when worn around the neck, it was clearly recognizable as a scarf.
Shen Xue had originally intended to knit a scarf for everyone in the family as a New Year’s gift, but Chen Yang, seeing how hard she was working, decided to learn from her.
So, the elder sister, brother-in-law, and younger sister received scarves made by Chen Yang.
“I don’t want to wear a scarf, it’s so ugly.”
The little girl said she didn’t want it, but her small hands readily took the scarf from Chen Yang.
Since her brother knitted it herself, she would reluctantly wear it.
Chen Yu, wearing the scarf, pinched the chubby cheeks of the two little ones and then patted Chen Hao’s round head.
She loved her two nephews and nieces the most, though the children didn’t quite like their aunt who always teased them.
“Auntie, did you prepare a red envelope for me?”
As Chen Yu was having fun, the little child stretched out her chubby little hand towards her.
This little one had received quite a few red envelopes lately. Although each was only a dime or two, she didn’t understand the value of money.
But since all the elders gave her one, she wanted one too. In her innocent way, the child had already developed a greedy streak for money.
Now, Chen Yu couldn’t smile anymore.
“A red envelope, of course, I have one. Wait, just wait.”
Chen Yu chuckled, but it was obvious to everyone that her smile was forced.
The Chen family all knew that this girl was a money-grubber, and money that entered her hands had never been seen coming out.
“Auntie, don’t forget me.”
Seeing Chen Yu entering the house, Chen Hao couldn’t help but remind her. Chen Yu stumbled, almost tripping over the threshold.
To get a scarf, she had to give out two red envelopes. Chen Yu felt her heart bleeding.
This year, she had only received two red envelopes from her own parents!
After all, she was already this old. Except for her parents who always treated their children as children, other elders wouldn’t give red envelopes like they did when they were younger.
Now, she was unexpectedly an elder herself.
Having to take money from her own little treasure trove to give red envelopes to her nephews and nieces made her heart ache.
Thinking that her sister and sister-in-law would have more babies, and next year there might be double the number, Chen Yu’s heart ached even more.
“This girl, your brother and sister-in-law are here, why are you closing the door?”
Chen Liming and his wife had just come out from looking in the mirror when they saw their daughter closing the door to get money from her stash for red envelopes, muttering to herself.
Chen Yang could already imagine his little sister’s conflicted expression. This girl had been a money-lover since she was little. He had to admit, his daughter had inherited that trait from her.
“Yan Yan, Hao Hao, come here, Grandpa and Grandma will give you red envelopes.”
“Grandpa and Grandma hope that our Yan Yan and Hao Hao will grow up healthy and strong, okay?”
The elderly couple had prepared these red envelopes long ago, just waiting for their grandchildren to come home.
“Here, this is from your auntie. One for each of you, no fighting.”
Chen Yu looked at the two red envelopes from her parents and then at the two she was giving.
Her heart ached even more.
It felt as if she had lost four red envelopes all at once. She couldn’t bear to look, afraid she might snatch her own red envelopes back.
“Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma.”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
The two little ones clutched their red envelopes, their eyes squinting into happy slits.
“Here, this is for you. Work hard this year and get into the university you desire.”
“Don’t think your brother doesn’t care about his sister. If you get into a good university, whatever you want to buy afterward, just ask. Brother will satisfy you.”
His sister-in-law had promised her a bicycle if she got into university, so Chen Yang certainly wouldn’t shortchange his own sister.
“Brother, what counts as a prestigious university? You need to clarify that. What if I ask for too much, and you go back on your word?”
After receiving Chen Yang’s red envelope, Chen Yu’s spirits lifted immediately.
“Don’t you look down on Jinling University? Then aim for one better than Jinling. I’ll consider it a prestigious university then. You can’t deny that, right?”
Chen Yang knew very well that his younger sister was an excellent student. In his past life, she had easily gotten into Renmin University and even pursued further studies there. Not everyone was as capable as she was.
“You said it yourself. Don’t go back on your word.”
“When have I ever lied to you? As long as you can get in, I’ll spare no expense to buy you whatever you want.”
Fearing that his sister might slack off, Chen Yang was giving her some extra motivation.
“Then this young lady will go back to her room to study now. You better be prepared to spend money!”
Chen Yu waved her little fist and immediately ran back to her room. Chen Yang’s parents looked at each other with excitement. Their daughter had finally gotten motivated and was actively studying.
It wasn’t easy, not at all.