“Chuxia, this is your brother-in-law.”
“Wenbin, this is Yangyang’s wife, Chuxia.”
This was their first meeting, with Mrs. Qin formally introducing Zhang Wenbin and Lin Chuxia.
Lin Chuxia smiled graciously, “Brother-in-law, you must be tired from the journey, it’s cold outside, please come inside and have a seat.”
Zhang Wenbin caught a glimpse of astonishment in Lin Chuxia’s eyes and chuckled, “No wonder Qin Yang hasn’t been in a hurry to find a wife for so many years, his standards are quite high! Chuxia, with your looks, we couldn’t find many like you in Ancheng County.”
“Brother-in-law, you flatter me too much. Speaking of beauty, isn’t there one right by your side? My eldest sister is famously beautiful in Qin Family Village.”
Lin Chuxia wasn’t exaggerating; members of the Qin Family were all quite attractive, Qin Juan with her oval face, big eyes, double eyelids, and striking features. Even the traces of age couldn’t diminish her beauty.
Zhang Wenbin gave a dry laugh and glanced at Qin Juan beside him, “Yes, yes…”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Mrs. Qin invited everyone into the house.
Lin Chuxia noticed the slender little girl standing beside Qin Juan.
The child had inherited Qin Juan’s good looks and was very pretty, though a bit frail, perhaps taking after her mother as well.
At that moment, her big eyes were curiously looking all around.
When her gaze met Lin Chuxia’s, Lin Chuxia gave her a big smile and waved at her.
The little girl instinctively hid behind Qin Juan, tightly grasping her mother’s clothes.
Qin Juan noticed her actions and brought her to the front, pointing to Qin Yang and Lin Chuxia, “Ningning, this is your little uncle and aunt. You’ve met them before when we last visited grandma’s house. They were the bride and groom then; don’t you remember? Come on, say hello.”
Zhang Ningning didn’t speak, just kept hiding behind Qin Juan.
Qin Juan pulled her back, insisting she greet them.
Seeing the child was really shy, Lin Chuxia said, “Eldest sister, no need to rush her. Ningning will naturally call out to us once she’s more familiar.”
Qin Juan pursed her lips, appearing a bit embarrassed.
Zhang Wenbin turned around and said in a mild tone, “I think it’s just because you spoil her too much. Such a big child, yet she can’t even greet people.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Ningning burst into tears, tightly pulling on Qin Juan’s clothes and sobbing loudly.
Mrs. Qin felt terribly distressed and hugged her precious grandchild, also expressing her displeasure.
“You only come back a few times a year; it’s no wonder Ningning is shy around you. She’s so young, what can she remember? Even if she remembers now, she’ll forget again if you don’t visit for another year or so.”
This time, Zhang Wenbin responded amicably, “Mother-in-law is right. I’ll ask Juanzi to bring the child to see you more often.”
Inside, Mr. Qin invited Zhang Wenbin to sit while Zhang Guilan served tea to everyone.
Zhang Wenbin turned to Qin Yang and began talking about his work unit, mentioning the achievements he had read about in the newspaper and asking if it involved Qin Yang’s projects.
Qin Yang didn’t hide anything, answering any question Zhang Wenbin asked.
These are all things reported in the newspapers, nothing confidential or unspeakable.
Men are talking while women head to the kitchen to prepare lunch, also sharing some private chats.
With no outsiders around, Mrs. Qin looks at her daughter with a heart full of concern.
“Why do you look thinner? Are you sick, or are the Zhang family treating you poorly?”
“Mom, no, I’m doing well at the Zhang family. I just caught a cold during the winter, lost my appetite for a few days, but I’m better now. With the New Year here, I’ll eat well and regain my strength quickly,” Qin Juan said with a smile to her mother.
Mrs. Qin still worried, “You said the same last time. Six months have passed, and instead of getting better, you’ve gotten thinner. I’m worried about your health. I was thinking, Ningning is growing up, and you’re still young; you and Wenbin could have another child. I know your mother-in-law wants a grandson. It’s not just to shut her up, having two kids means they’ll have each other’s company. But with your health like this, how can you think of having children?”
Mrs. Qin and her peers still hold old beliefs, raising children to secure their old age. Not necessarily favoring boys over girls, but they do feel having a son means having security.
Qin Juan was briefly taken aback, then smiled again, “Mom, why think of more children? Have you forgotten what Wenbin does? Now they promote family planning, and people like him need to be role models. Having a second child could get him fired.”
Mrs. Qin sighed heavily upon hearing this, “Oh, you should have gotten on with it when Ningning was one or two years old.”
Qin Juan didn’t respond, and Lin Chuxia couldn’t tell if it was her impression, but Qin Juan’s smile seemed bitter.
Little Zhuangzhuang ran into the kitchen, wanting to take Ningning out to play.
Ningning stayed close to Qin Juan, even with Little Zhuangzhuang’s enthusiastic invitation, she hesitated and didn’t want to go out.
Mrs. Qin shook her head again, “Ningning is really too timid. You city kids are always confined at home and end up losing your courage. Isn’t Ningning already five? Even Niuniu from the Xiaowus, who’s two years younger, is so daring. Don’t confine her too much; it’s good for boys and girls alike to be braver.”
“Yes, Mom, I understand.”
During lunch, everyone gathered around a big table, the men drinking alcohol and the women not rushing to eat their main food.
Lin Chuxia bought some mini champagne and sodas.
Mini champagne is a kind of sparkling wine, with alcohol content similar to wine, which Lin Chuxia and Zhang Guilan both could enjoy.
When offered to Qin Juan, she declined, “I really can’t drink this; it makes me dizzy.”
“What’s wrong with a bit of dizziness? I get dizzy too. At worst, we can sleep it off after eating. Don’t rush off this time, stay at home for a few days.”
Zhang Guilan warmly invited her, hearing which Mrs. Qin also looked over.
“Stay at home for a few days this time, Yangyang is also here, and we could have a good talk.”
Mrs. Qin now had a lot to talk to her daughter about—how the family was doing well, and although her daughter had married and moved out, she remained a part of the family.
She hadn’t discussed with her daughter about the second daughter-in-law’s business or the eldest son and his wife’s jobs.
And as a mother, she naturally had her biases; the family was doing well now and bought a lot of goods for the Lunar New Year. She wanted her daughter to spend some good time at home to ’replenish’ her.
Life at the in-laws’ could never compare to the freedom at her mother’s home. Seeing her daughter getting thinner and thinner, how could a mother not be heartbroken?
Qin Juan narrowed her eyes slightly, her smile still gentle, “Let’s talk about that later. There are also matters at home to attend to, and if I don’t go back, Wenbin would have to come here. He needs to visit during the New Year, too.”
“That’s easy to solve. You don’t need Wenbin to come, let your elder brother take you back,” Zhang Guilan suggested.
Qin Juan smiled again, picked up some cooked food with her chopsticks, and changed the subject, “Sister-in-law, try this; I had a piece earlier, it tastes really good.”