Xie Sui looked at his cousin, feeling a mix of emotions. Without even taking office yet, he was already putting on airs.
However, he didn't want to embarrass his cousin, so he said, "Alright, we'll discuss this slowly. I'll do my best to strive for a win-win situation. Are we all eating at home today? I'll have someone buy some meat to celebrate your homecoming, cousin."
"Good, both your children are promising. Little Sui has also turned over a new leaf and made a lot of money. It's worth celebrating."
Xie Sui paid for the meat and headed to town. His aunt killed their chickens. In winter, there wasn't much variety in vegetables, mostly turnips and cabbage. But with the pickled vegetables made in Xie Sui's own factory, whether it was pickled fish or pickled pork, the meal was rich and satisfying. Everyone ate heartily.
Xie Chen, unable to hold his liquor, got drunk and started rambling to Xie Sui about his ideals and ambitions. Xie Sui felt awkward listening. Having been reborn, he no longer harbored such sentiments; he was focused on the future.
Hu Pan wanted to take care of him, but Lin Wanwan pulled her aside to wash dishes and told her the rules. "You haven't confirmed your relationship yet, so you need to know your place. Your aunt taking care of him is natural, as he's her own son. It's not your place to serve him."
Hu Pan glanced at her aunt, who beckoned her over. "Pan'er, take care of Little Chen. Heat up water for him to wash his face and feet. Men who are drunk need to be well looked after!"
Hu Pan hesitated. Should she go or not?
Lin Wanwan's expression soured. She didn't step in to answer for Hu Pan but instead said, "Have you ever served anyone like this at home? Does your father need you to wash his feet when he's drunk?"
Hu Pan shook her head. "No, my mother always took care of him. I've never even washed my mother's feet."
"Then think about it yourself. You're a little princess at home. Before you're married, you're acting like a nanny. What position are you putting yourself in? Forget about not being married. Even if you were, you wouldn't be respected in this family.
"Alas, I've been through it. I've thought about many things. You need to respect yourself first before others will respect you."
Hu Pan finally understood. Xie Chen's mother had disliked her from the start. She didn't understand what she had done wrong, but the fact that she looked down on her yet ordered her around was disrespectful.
She had never suffered such humiliation in her life. All the grievances of her lifetime were being endured for Xie Chen.
She stood up and said, "Auntie, I apologize. Xie Chen and I are classmates, not his maids. I have no obligation to serve him. With so many people in your family, do you need me, a guest, to serve someone?"
Auntie glanced at Lin Wanwan, thinking that her nephew's wife surely didn't want her own son to fare well. What had she said?
"Fine, if you don't want to, I won't force you. When Little Chen wakes up, you can explain it to him yourself. It's an honor to take care of my son. If you get married later, you won't know anything, and life isn't that easy."
Xie Sui couldn't help but cover his face. His aunt was embarrassing the entire Xie family. Look at how wronged Hu Pan was, tears welling up.
"Auntie, you can have that honor. Hu Pan is a guest. In your heart, your son is the most outstanding child, and that's understandable. But don't expect everyone to think the same way you do. After all, not everyone is his parent!"
Lin Wanwan couldn't help but laugh. Xie Sui's sharp tongue could cut without using foul language.
His aunt didn't understand what he meant at first. After a moment's pause, she realized he was mocking her, implying that not everyone would indulge Xie Chen like his parents did.
Her expression turned ugly. "Little Sui, how can you speak to your cousin like that? You're family, yet you're siding with outsiders!"
Xie Sui's face darkened. "We are family, but even family members should have basic upbringing. I said, Hu Pan is a guest. If you're bored, Auntie, go wash the dishes and let Wanwan rest too.
I've done enough to welcome my cousin. If you're not satisfied, I have nothing more to say. But I cherish my wife, and I haven't done this much for your family to be criticized."
His aunt, angered by his retort, dared not speak out when Xie Sui glared at her. She turned and went into the house to take care of Xie Chen and his father, both of whom were drunk.
Xie Sui sighed, annoyed by the trouble. He really wanted to take Wanwan back to the county town right now. Wasn't it more comfortable to hibernate in the winter?
Hu Pan looked at Xie Sui, her eyes shining brightly. "Thank you, Xie Sui, and Wanwan jie."
"Don't thank me. Honestly, if I had a daughter like you, I'd have a heart attack from anger. Raising a little princess pampered at home, only for her to run to someone else's house while working. What a waste of years."
Xie Sui's sudden change of tone made Hu Pan miserable. The tears she had managed to hold back now streamed down her face.
Xie Sui, seeing her distress, retreated to his room to sleep. Because of Hu Pan's presence, Wanwan was also worried. Raising sons was much easier. Daughters like this were truly burdens.
Lin Wanwan was helpless. After much persuasion, she finally got Hu Pan to stop crying. But Hu Pan wanted to leave again, which gave Lin Wanwan a headache. It was getting dark; where could she go?
After more coaxing, Hu Pan agreed to stay for the night. Lin Wanwan's patience was starting to wear thin.
Finally, after finishing her chores, she entered the room and was handed a hot water bottle by Xie Sui. "Warm yourself up quickly. Are you cold?"
Lin Wanwan immediately felt warm. Xie Sui brought over a kettle from the stove and poured a basin of hot water. "Soak your feet quickly. I've warmed the bed for you. You'll sleep comfortably."
Lin Wanwan said with a wry smile, "You were slacking off in the room, but you're good at coaxing people. How could you bear to pour foot-washing water for me? Aren't you embarrassed now?"
Xie Sui replied, "That's different. You're my wife, and you've given me two sons. I'd serve you like an ancestor if I had to. Hu Pan is different. Her family hasn't arrived yet, and it's not a good deal to offer yourself so eagerly!
Girls should be reserved. Don't blame others for not valuing what's readily available.
It's only because I'm kind that you avoid the kind of trouble that would await you with my aunt."
Lin Wanwan sighed. "Love makes people blind. It's not wrong for a girl to have a heart full of passion, but I'm also getting impatient. She's too much of a handful."
Xie Sui took out a bag of roasted chestnuts for her and made her a cup of milk. His thoughtfulness made Lin Wanwan's heart swell with sweetness. She finally felt that her hardships had paid off.
Eating chestnuts and soaking her feet, Xie Sui told jokes. Lin Wanwan's laughter could be heard in the next room. Hu Pan, wrapped in her blanket, felt cold inside and out. If Xie Chen had half of Xie Sui's thoughtfulness, she would be content.
So, not all men were like Xie Chen: proud, intelligent, and handsome. Hu Pan liked his pride, but he was always indifferent and lacked Xie Sui's thoughtfulness. She was always the one making the effort.
Xie Sui and Lin Wanwan showed Hu Pan what love looked like.
Auntie was also lost in her own thoughts. If Hu Pan wanted to be her daughter-in-law, she wouldn't do. That hateful Xie Sui, why was he defending her?
And Lin Wanwan, was she trying to sabotage their chances of marrying the mayor's daughter?
Her malicious mind projected her own wickedness onto others. Her eyes gleamed with calculation in the dark, scaring away even a scurrying mouse. Damn it, her eyes were greener than a rat's!