Chapter 371: If I'd Known It Would Be Like This, I Never Should Have Agreed to Split the Family

Sure enough, when everyone came back from work, Qiu's eldest aunt-by-marriage entered the yard, saw Qiu Mu, and asked, "Sister-in-law, I heard we had guests today?"

Qiu Mu smiled and said, "Xia Qiu's eldest sister's sweetheart came to propose today. Xia Qiu's been having some morning sickness lately, so the Liu family asked him to bring some melons and fruit over. It really is true that parents worry for their children no matter how old they get."

Qiu's eldest aunt-by-marriage was a little skeptical: "Didn't they say quite a few people came?"

Qiu Mu said as she picked the vegetables in her hands, "In the cart were Xia Qiu's eldest sister's sweetheart's parents, and the matchmaker his family hired."

At that moment, Qiu Tai-nai came into the yard carrying a mat woven from corn husks: "Why is everyone standing around in the yard?"

Qiu's eldest aunt-by-marriage had wanted to stir things up, but Qiu Mu spoke first: "Granny, today Xia Qiu's maiden family sent over a big watermelon. I was just saying we should wait until everyone gets back to cut it open and share it."

Qiu Tai-nai had actually heard about it on her way back too: "Oh my, the in-laws really do dote on their daughter. Sending more things over already—Xia Qiu really is lucky."

Qiu Tai-nai was no fool; the family had already split, so naturally she couldn't smooth things over anymore.

Qiu Mu didn't mention Fu Yanwan because she didn't want them to know Fu Yanwan was Liu Chuxue's future sister-in-law, lest someone get ideas they shouldn't.

That watermelon was big enough that it certainly wouldn't keep in such hot weather. Besides, once it was really cut open, they couldn't keep it all to themselves—after all, they all lived in one yard. Better to take the initiative and shut everyone up; after all, a gift binds the tongue.

Qiu's eldest aunt-by-marriage still wanted to say something, but Qiu Tai-nai spoke up: "Enough, a whole household is waiting to eat. How much longer are you going to drag this out?"

Qiu's eldest aunt-by-marriage, hearing this, flared up instead: "Where's Wang Lihua? Wasn't she the one staying home to cook today? Where is she?"

Qiu Tai-nai's face darkened: "Her nephew got knocked into the river by a dog. As his aunt, could she not go check on him?"

Hearing this, no matter how displeased Qiu's eldest aunt-by-marriage was, she couldn't very well blow up.

The matter of her eldest daughter-in-law's younger brother's child falling into the water—she'd already heard people talking about it at the fields. She shot a glance at Qiu Tai-nai and thought to herself: This old woman, really—ever since the family split, she's barely set foot in the kitchen more than a handful of times, at most just lending a hand.

If I'd known it would be like this, I never should have agreed to split the family in the first place.

What kind of fate is hers? Her eldest daughter-in-law has gone back to her maiden home to slack off, her second daughter-in-law hasn't even finished her month of confinement, even less to count on. After splitting the family, she still has to do everything herself to keep clothed and fed. And then look at the second branch—even the new little daughter-in-law who just married in and wants to show off, or the one with terrible morning sickness, they still manage to have hot food ready when everyone gets back from work. Just thinking about it makes her angry.

She was already in a foul mood, and now she heard her second daughter-in-law calling her: "Mom, come in for a moment, I have something to tell you."

She snapped: "So many mouths are waiting to eat. If you have something, go find your husband to help you."

After saying that, she stormed into the room, grabbed a basket, came back out, and muttered angrily: "In other families, once a daughter-in-law becomes a mother-in-law, life gets easier. But me? I married two lazy daughters-in-law—what a sin."

By the time she went to her private plot to pick some vegetables, Qiu Mu had already finished cooking the meal.

The family had officially split a few days ago. From now on, their second branch only had to cook for themselves, and these past few days had been more pleasant than words could say.

After eating and cleaning up, Qiu Mu didn't go back on her word. With Xia Qiu's agreement, she set aside a third of the watermelon and said to her little daughter: "Shaomei, take this watermelon over to your great-grandmother."

(End of chapter)