Back in the front yard, Tian Jing asked her mother-in-law to rest as well. Little Bo had brought his girlfriend home, and while her mother-in-law was delighted, she also wanted to do her best with the three meals, which could be mentally taxing.
Her mother-in-law went to the east room to rest. Tian Jing returned to the west room and was surprised to see her husband still there. "Aren't you working this afternoon?"
Li Zhengguo, sitting at his desk, didn't look up. "I'm staying home this afternoon to write up the work arrangements for the New Year. We start our holiday tomorrow."
Tian Jing leaned against the headboard. "Zheng Ge, seeing how well Zi Yu is doing, my mother and I have been worried about Hao Hao."
"I regret it too. Earlier, I only thought about giving them freedom, who knew Hao Hao would take on all the responsibility and almost make a mistake."
"Now, comparing Zi Yu, I regret being involved with Jiang Lin. Fortunately, I didn't promise her anything."
Li Zhengguo put down his work and sat on the edge of the bed to comfort her. "Wife, you've never been a mother-in-law, and you don't have that desire to keep your sons in the palm of your hand, so it's natural to make mistakes when choosing daughters-in-law."
"The past days were easy for us because we had extra memories."
"In the days to come, we will have to explore and learn how to interact with our daughters-in-law."
"What about Li Li? Do you want to tell her in advance? So she doesn't blurt out that she's marrying out when she talks about dating?"
Tian Jing deflected. "You communicate more with Li Li."
Li Zhengguo chuckled. "Okay, I'll text Li Li."
As soon as he sent the message, Li Weili called back:
"Dad, I never thought about marrying out when I took over the company. This time, I'm formally telling you and Mom, I'm looking for a son-in-law to marry into my family. Marrying into someone else's family, doing their laundry, cooking, and raising their children? That's not the life for me, Li Wei Li. I won't say more, I'm working at the company. Tell Mom I'll find her a good and thoughtful son-in-law, don't worry."
Before Li Zhengguo could speak, the call hung up.
Li Zhengguo put the call on speaker, and Tian Jing naturally heard it.
She laughed. "Fortunately, our daughter is like you. Otherwise, we wouldn't have kept a single child."
Li Zhengguo pinched his wife's cheek. "Alright, don't think about these things anymore. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. We've given them everything we can."
"In the future, if they need help with the grandchildren, we'll help. If they don't need help, we'll visit when we miss them."
Tian Jing pushed his hand away. "Go write your work arrangements. I'm going to sleep."
...
By the time Tian Jing woke up, Li's mother was already making dinner.
Not only was Li Zhengguo helping in the kitchen, but Li Weibo and Yu Ziyu were also helping.
Tian Jing felt a little embarrassed that she had slept in after her nap.
Yu Ziyu caught sight of Tian Jing at the doorway and quickly called out, "Auntie."
"Ah!" Tian Jing entered the kitchen. "Zi Yu, you and Xiao Bo go to the living room and play. We've got things handled here."
Li Weihao put down the vegetables he was holding and simultaneously took the ones from his girlfriend's hand. "We'll go wash our hands. The kitchen is getting crowded."
The two went to the washroom to wash their hands.
Li's mother said with a smile, "Zi Yu knows how to do housework. I can tell from the way she helps. She's an only child but not spoiled, which is great. Xiao Bo is lucky."
Tian Jing rolled up her sleeves to trim vegetables. "Mom has something to look forward to."
"That's right," Li's mother nodded. "In two or three years, I'll be able to see a great-grandchild. The thought of a chubby little baby fills me with energy."
Looking at his mother's spirited appearance, Li Zhengguo was also happy. "My mother is healthy and can live to be a hundred. By then, our family will have five generations living together."
"Hehehehe," Li's mother laughed happily. "What Zhengguo says is music to my ears. I'm paying close attention to my health now, just hoping I can live past a hundred."
"I'm seventy-four this year. If Xiao Bo is fast, and Xiao Bo's child is fast, I might actually hold a great-great-grandchild when I'm a hundred."
"You definitely will!"
Tian Jing nodded. The things she had been secretly putting into the water缸 were not for nothing.
Even though tap water was available, she still used the water缸 to collect water for this very purpose.
"Hahaha," Li's mother's laughter grew louder. "I think so too."
The laughter from the kitchen made Yu Ziyu envious. "Grandma is very optimistic, and she gets along with Auntie like mother and daughter. I hope to get along with Auntie like that in the future too."
Li Weibo took a new towel from the cabinet to dry her hands. "Don't worry, my mom and aunt get along well, and with your temperament, you'll be even easier to get along with."
Yu Ziyu wiped her hands. "Mother-in-law relationships are difficult. I was very worried before. After meeting Auntie, half of my worries have eased. The other half will depend on how things develop over time."
Li Weibo hung up the towel. "You say that as if you've been through it before."
"Nonsense," Yu Ziyu playfully pinched his waist. "My grandmother lived with us for a long time. In my childhood memories, our house was chaotic every day."
"That was in the past," Li Weibo took her hand and led her to the living room. "Mothers-in-law in the past maintained their authority. Let's go to the living room to talk."
...
During dinner, Yu Ziyu ate quite a lot and even ate a raw tomato. "This tomato smells so good, it makes me want to eat it."
Li's mother nodded. "That's exactly the feeling. I eat it often and can't resist eating it raw. When you go home, I'll have Xiao Bo pack some for you."
Tian Jing chimed in. "I'll send you some regularly from now on. Give me an address where you can receive packages."
"Oh, that would be great!" Yu Ziyu's eyes sparkled. "Thank you, Auntie. I'll have to trouble you from now on."
Tian Jing waved her hand. "Don't be so polite. We're all family from now on."
"Hehe, then I won't be polite anymore," Yu Ziyu chuckled. "Xiao Bo said that dried wild chicken and dried rabbit are also delicious, as is Grandma's preserved pork."
Tian Jing nodded. "Yes, I'll pack them for you when you leave. Anything that can be mailed, I'll mail it to you in the future."
"Mhmm! Thank you, Auntie," Yu Ziyu's eyes curved into a smile.
After dinner, Tian Jing asked her son to take Yu Ziyu for a walk around the village so everyone could see and recognize Zi Yu.
Li Weibo obediently took his girlfriend out for a stroll.
The villagers had only seen Li Weibo bring a girl back, but they hadn't seen her face clearly.
Now, even though it was dark, it was evident that this girl was very different from the girls in Kushan village. Her demeanor, her gestures, and her tone of voice were all different.
She was clearly a young woman from a big city, cultured and refined.
When asked, the girl was from Kyoto, the biggest city.
When asked further, she was a postgraduate.
A postgraduate! There were only a few university students in the village, and not a single one had pursued postgraduate studies.
But if this girl was a postgraduate, wouldn't she be older than Xiao Bo?
Li Weibo glared at the woman who asked. "My girlfriend is the same age as me. She skipped two grades in elementary school."
Yu Ziyu tugged at her boyfriend's sleeve. "Don't get worked up. I don't mind these things. Whether I'm older or younger, as long as they are considerate of the family, that's what matters."
Li Weibo held her hand. "Let's go home. There's nothing much to see in the village. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the hot spring valley."
Yu Ziyu followed him. "Okay, let's go home."
Sister-in-law Niu pushed the woman aside. "Jealousy makes people ugly!"
Saying that, she caught up with Li Weibo and Yu Ziyu. "Xiao Bo, you're also foolish. When others say things like that, it's out of jealousy. If they can't find anything to attack, they resort to talking about age. I think your girlfriend is great, she really considers your feelings. You must treat her well in the future."
Li Weibo broke into a smile. "Yes! Thank you, Auntie Niu."
Sister-in-law Niu patted Yu Ziyu's shoulder. "Good girl, Kushan welcomes you! There are good and bad people everywhere, nothing is absolute. Don't pay attention to a few individuals."
Yu Ziyu's eyes curved into a smile. "Hello, Auntie Niu! I understand, thank you."
Yu Ziyu's smile and politeness brightened Sister-in-law Niu's mood.
"This girl is truly beautiful! Xiao Bo is lucky. Let's go home, it's cold."