Chapter 15: The Divine Grandmother

“Is it better to change, or not to change?” Huang Xiulan asked with a smile.

“Of course it’s better to change—these past few years, Dacai and the others had a mother but felt like they had none; I’ve felt sorry for them. Having a biological mother’s care is different, and I truly hope Third Sister-in-law has truly come to her senses.” Zhao Yuan sincerely wished.

The Gu family had only Third Son as someone who had made it; she hoped he would thrive in the military and one day support their own children. In turn, she also hoped the Third Household would be well-off—she knew well that his profession left no room for distraction.

Huang Xiulan agreed with Zhao Yuan, saying, “Third Sister-in-law married in young and quickly became pregnant and gave birth. Those first few years must’ve been hard to adjust to—once she got used to it, things would improve.”

With them living far apart, even if Lin Zhao acted out, she couldn’t do it right in front of her two sisters-in-law; over these years, Huang Xiulan and Zhao Yuan’s impression of her gradually improved.

That’s the old saying: distance makes things fragrant, proximity makes them stink.

Uh, though it’s not exactly far.

Gu Mu put away the laundry soap, and her mood stayed good all evening.

“How peculiar,” Gu Fu remarked sharply.

“What do you know? This is the first thing I’ve ever received from Third Son’s wife—it’s precious.”

Gu Fu: “...”

Dacai and Ercai returned to the old homestead and stole the spotlight, yet hadn’t even encountered their annoying little aunt; by the time they got home, the smile on their lips hadn’t faded.

Lin Zhao was making underwear for Dacai and Ercai—two pairs per child—and was now finishing the last pair.

“Mama!” Dacai’s voice rang with joy.

The happiness in his small voice softened the heart.

“What’s wrong?”

Dacai sat on a small stool beside Lin Zhao, tilting his head to look at her, thinking his mother was truly beautiful.

“Nothing. I’m just happy.”

Lin Zhao smiled. “Really? I’m happy too.”

“Why are you happy, Mama?” Ercai sat on her other side, propping his chin, curious.

“Because you’re good. When you’re good, I’m happy,” Lin Zhao said casually.

Dacai said, “Then we’ll be good every day, so Mama can be happy every day.”

“Fine. I’ll be a good mother, and make you happy every day too,” Lin Zhao replied, following her son’s lead.

“You already are a good mother!” Dacai smiled shyly, but his eyes were earnest. “Nai said you were just a little girl when you came in, didn’t know how to care for kids, but once you grew up, you’d learn. Now you’ve grown up, so you care for me and my brother and sister—and we’ll care for you too.”

Lin Zhao felt a strange mix of emotions and asked, “Did Nai say all that?”

“Mm-hmm.” Dacai nodded.

Lin Zhao: “...” What kind of divine grandmother!

Dacai and Ercai held no resentment toward her—they treated her as their mother. Half the credit belonged to the grandmother!

That bar of soap was too little!

“How about we make sour cabbage fish later?” Lin Zhao finished the last pair of tiny pants and asked Dacai and Ercai for their opinion.

“What kind of fish is sour cabbage fish?” Ercai’s big eyes sparkled with curiosity—he’d never eaten it.

“Fine,” Dacai said. “Whatever Mama makes is delicious!”

Hearing his brother say that, Ercai stopped asking and hurried to add, “Sour cabbage fish is fine—everything Mama makes is delicious.”

“I’ll go cook. Wash these little pants, hang them to dry—they’ll be ready to wear tomorrow,” Lin Zhao handed the four freshly made pairs to the two children.

Dacai beamed. “Got it.”

He took his brother to wash the clothes.

Lin Zhao went to the kitchen and began preparing the grass carp her mother and second brother had brought—this fish weighed over two catties, plenty of meat, perfect for sour cabbage fish.

But the house had no sour cabbage.

Not a problem—once Dacai and Ercai finished washing the pants, she’d go to the old homestead and ask for some.

Lin Zhao killed the fish. Her good son came over after washing the clothes to help. Dacai tilted his face up. “Mama, I’ll tend the fire.”

“Not yet. You and Ercai go to the old homestead and ask for some sour cabbage.”

Dacai loved helping his mother—he immediately grabbed his brother’s hand and headed for the old homestead.

They ran all the way, drawing curious glances from villagers.

They arrived at the old homestead.

“Nai!” Dacai called out.

Usually, such a loud voice would come from Ercai. Hearing it from Dacai, Gu Mu thought something was wrong, wiped her wet hands, and hurried out of the kitchen.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nai, Mama’s making sour cabbage fish, so she sent me to ask for some sour cabbage,” Dacai said.

Gu Mu exhaled in relief. “You want sour cabbage? We’ve got plenty. Let Nai pack some for you.”

As she spoke, she turned and went into the kitchen, filling a full bowl.

Outside the house.

Tie Dan licked his lips and leaned toward Ercai. “Ercai, is your Mama making fish for you?”

“Mm-hmm,” Ercai, always eager to share, said. “My second uncle brought us a fish.”

He spread his arms wide. “It was this long! Mama says she’ll make sour cabbage fish. I’ve never had it, but whatever Mama cooks is delicious—so her sour cabbage fish will be super, super tasty.”

“What’s ‘super’?” Tie Chui asked, dumbly.

“‘Super’ means the very best tasting,” Ercai explained.

Tie Chui nodded in agreement. “Third Aunt’s food is super, super delicious!”

Bang Bang added enviously, “Your uncles are so nice.”

His own uncle never gave him good food—he stole his candy.

Ercai’s voice bubbled with excitement. “I have three uncles! All of them are great! Tomorrow, Mama’s taking me and my brother back to her parents’ place—Grandma will definitely make us something delicious!”

“Sigh,” Bang Bang frowned. Thinking of his own uncle dampened his mood. “My uncle’s no good. I don’t like going back to my mom’s place.”

Ercai didn’t understand why Bang Bang’s uncle was a bad uncle.

Gu Mu brought out the bowl of sour cabbage and handed it to Dacai. The two boys left the old homestead.

Tie Dan stared longingly at Gu Mu. “Nai, when can we eat fish? I want meat.”

“Greedy boy! Who doesn’t want meat?” Gu Mu pretended to scowl, but ultimately pitied her grandson. “I’ll ask your father to try his luck tomorrow—if he catches a fish, I’ll cook it for you.”

“Yay!” Tie Dan jumped up excitedly.

The other Gu children were also delighted.

Dacai and Ercai returned home with the sour cabbage. Lin Zhao had already prepared everything—once the sour cabbage arrived, she started cooking immediately.

The two boys sat side by side tending the fire, glancing at their mother now and then, faces lit with smiles.

“Mama, from now on, I’ll help you tend the fire when you cook!” Dacai said.

Ercai rushed to show off. “I’ll wash the dishes!”

Lin Zhao glanced at her two sons and smiled. “Good.”

Dacai and Ercai felt warm inside.

In the small kitchen, the two children watched their mother cook with rapt attention—she cooked so fast, and she was so beautiful. This scene left a deep imprint on their hearts.

Not long after.

A sour, spicy aroma wafted out—just smelling it made one’s mouth water.

Ercai couldn’t sit still—he leapt up from his stool, his nose twitching. “Mama, it smells so good!”

Lin Zhao picked out two pieces of fish, carefully removed the tiny bones, and fed them to Ercai. “Try it. I took out the bones, but still eat slowly.”

“Mm-hmm-hmm!” Ercai gulped it down in one bite.

Instantly, his face became a picture of delight—his bright eyes narrowed into happy slits, overflowing with satisfaction.

“Delicious!!”

Lin Zhao waved to her eldest. “You don’t need to tend the fire anymore—Dacai, come taste too.”

With so many children at home, she never favored one—she tried to treat them all equally.

Dacai clapped the dust off his hands and walked over.

“Dacai, watch out for bones too,” Lin Zhao reminded him.

“I know,” Dacai said, then let his mother feed him a piece of fish.

Tasting it, Gu Dacai at that moment decided sour cabbage fish was the best thing he’d ever eaten!

“Mama, sour cabbage fish is so delicious!”

Lin Zhao cooked the entire two-plus catties of fish, set aside a portion in a bowl, placed the bowl in a small bamboo basket, and told the boys, “Dacai, Ercai, take this bowl of sour cabbage fish to the old homestead. The sour cabbage came from Nai, and this afternoon she stood up for us by the river—we should show our thanks.”

Ercai’s mouth moved faster than anything. “But Nai helped us before too, and Mama always said family doesn’t need to be formal—we never gave anything back before.”

Lin Zhao froze.

Her second son’s tongue was too quick, too sharp.

Dacai instantly sensed Ercai had struck a sore spot. Afraid his mother would fly into a rage, he quickly changed the subject: “Ercai, let’s hurry and deliver the sour cabbage fish—I’m hungry. We’ll eat when we get back.”

Ercai was led off track. “I’m hungry too! Let’s hurry!”

Hand in hand, they headed for the old homestead.

Lin Zhao: Dacai is truly my good son! My warm cotton-padded coat!

Dacai and Ercai left just as mealtime arrived—many villagers squatted by their doors, bowls in hand, eating.

They’d smelled the meaty aroma from the Gu house long ago; now seeing the two boys, they assumed Third Sister-in-law was again denying them food, and inwardly despised Lin Zhao.

What kind of mother is she!

“Dacai, Ercai, going to Nai’s for dinner?” asked the neighbor woman to the Gu family’s left.

Erzai stopped walking, tilting his little head high, his expression haughty. “No, Mama told me and my brother to bring sour cabbage fish to Grandpa and Grandma.”

“The fish came from my grandma and my second uncle,” Dacai added, his face beaming with pride. “Mom turned it into sour cabbage fish herself—it’s super delicious!”

After dropping this bomb, the two boys walked off, leaving the onlookers stunned.

“Chenghuai’s wife sent fish to Gu Lao Tou and Gu Pozi? Has the sun risen in the west?!” an old man, roughly Gu Fu’s age, exclaimed.

“Hey, have you noticed? Chenghuai’s wife has been acting strange these past few days! She’s actually started taking care of the kids—no one knows what she’s up to,” said Zhao Po Po, another neighbor from the Gu family’s third branch. “Dacai and the others are good children, but they’re stuck with an unreliable mother.”

Her own daughter-in-law had given birth to three girls, and she was envious of the Gu family’s boys.

Because of this, despite Zhao Po Po’s terrible reputation in the village—gossipy and cruel—she had always been kind to Dacai and the others, even giving them food before.

Dacai and Erzai returned to the old homestead again.

The Gu family was having dinner.

Seeing the two boys, everyone froze.

Gu Xing’er sneered.

She knew Lin Zhao was fake—how long had she been pretending? Less than two days, and now she’d dropped the act. Hmph.

Gu Mu’s first words were: “Dacai, Erzai, have you eaten? If not, sit down quickly—Grandma will make you something.”

Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang exchanged glances, full of helplessness and a hint of resentment.

Had Third Sister-in-law stopped caring for her kids again?

Though annoyed, the two sisters-in-law didn’t show it. Dacai and Erzai were still children—they didn’t understand. What could they do if their own mother didn’t care for them?

Erzai shouted loudly: “No need! Mama cooked. Mama told us to bring the sour cabbage fish, and then we’re going home to eat.”

As he spoke, Erzai and his brother placed the small bamboo basket on the table and lifted the lid—immediately, a rich, mouthwatering aroma filled the air.

Even Dacai and Erzai, who had tasted it before, swallowed hard. The rest of the Gu family couldn’t hold back—adults managed to stay composed, but the children stared hungrily at the fish, their throats working as they swallowed.

“Third Auntie is so kind!” Tiechui sighed first, then added regretfully, “Why wasn’t I born to Third Auntie?”

His mother, Huang Xiulan, wanted to hit him.

Gu Yuanshan (Gu Laoda) laughed heartily, teasing his youngest son. “What can you do? You just got born into the wrong family.”

Tiechui sighed dramatically, as if burdened by the world’s sorrows.

Erzai was eager to go home and eat the sour cabbage fish. He urged his grandma: “Grandma, pour out the meat—I need to go home for dinner!”

“Oh, I forgot!” Gu Mu slapped her forehead and hurried to the kitchen to fetch a bowl.

It wasn’t that she was overreacting—Third Son’s wife had been in the Gu family for nearly six years, and she and Old Man had never received so much as a wild vegetable dumpling from Lin Zhao. For Dacai to suddenly bring them fish was shocking.

Gu Mu ladled out the fish meat. Dacai placed the bowl back into the bamboo basket, re-covered it, bid farewell to Grandpa, Grandma, and the others, and led his brother out.

The two children held a grudge and ignored Gu Xing’er entirely.

Gu Xing’er grumbled inwardly but dared not speak.

She was afraid her mother wouldn’t give her any meat.

The Gu old homestead hadn’t split the household; food rations were limited, and Gu Mu distributed meals daily to prevent conflicts and curb gluttony.

This bowl of sour cabbage fish was also divided by Gu Mu.

She served the head of the household, Gu Fu, first, then herself.

Then she served her two sons, followed by her two daughters-in-law, and finally the grandchildren.

There was no portion for Gu Xing’er!

Seeing the meat all gone, leaving only oily broth, Gu Xing’er was furious and deeply hurt.

She didn’t dare cause a scene, only whispered: “Mama, you didn’t give me any.”

Gu Mu hardened her heart and refused to even look at her. “There wasn’t any for you.”

“Why not?!” Gu Xing’er trembled with rage, her voice shrill.

The younger generation of the Gu family instinctively covered their ears. Little Auntie was too loud.

“Why not? The sour cabbage fish was brought by Dacai and Erzai’s mother. You’ve treated them with contempt—nose out of joint, eyes full of scorn—and now you want to eat food their mother made? How dare you have such a thick face?!” Gu Mu thought the girl had been raised to be shameless and utterly insufferable.

She must correct this hateful nature!

Gu Xing’er had no reply.

Gu Mu didn’t stop: “The fish came from Dacai and Erzai’s own uncle—it has nothing to do with you.”

With that, she ignored her unruly daughter and lowered her head to savor Third Son’s wife’s fine cooking.

“Sour cabbage with fish is excellent,” Gu Mu said. “Tart and spicy—it whets the appetite.” She’d cooked for half a century and only now discovered fish and sour cabbage went well together.

Seeing everyone else had meat but she had none, Gu Xing’er shoved her bowl away, leapt up, and the wooden stool screeched loudly.

“I’m not eating!”

She stormed back to her room and slammed the door.

The old and young of the Gu family didn’t even lift their eyelids. What could they do? Gu Xing’er threw tantrums every other day—they were all desensitized.