Back To The 80s: President's Doted Wife
Chapter 393: Elder Sister’s Discontent

Chapter 393: Chapter 393: Elder Sister’s Discontent

Having appeased her husband, Cheng Su turned her attention back to the feasibility of her new business plan, which involved finding a location, training interns, hiring staff—there was so much to do.

But when it came to staffing, she thought of what she had previously mentioned to her elder sister. She wondered whether her sister-in-law had discussed it with her own family and reached any conclusions—whether she would look for a job close to home, or as their mother-in-law hoped, come help her work?

Qi Fenglian broached the topic only once she and her spouse were in bed.

"Go out to work?" Zhang Jisheng sat up, staring blankly at his wife, and said, "If we go out, are we supposed to just neglect the house? Ignore the children?"

Qi Fenglian felt somewhat uncomfortable, yet she still patiently said, "That’s why I’m asking your opinion."

Sitting up and clutching the quilt around her, she spoke slowly, "You’re well aware of our household’s situation. We didn’t say much when we only had Yunyun; after all, a girl eventually marries off and all that’s left is a dowry. But now, we have Baobao!"

Baobao was the name their son was known by—a name given by the grandmother, who truly treasured him like a precious gem.

"A boy is different from a girl. In the future, there will be education expenses, and when he grows up, wedding and housing costs. Isn’t money needed for all of that? As parents, if we don’t think for ourselves, shouldn’t we at least consider these things for them?" Qi Fenglian glanced at him and said, "We can bear the hardship ourselves, but I don’t want our son to suffer the same fate."

Zhang Jisheng’s face flushed as he retorted, "Look at you, bringing this up for what? Is our child lacking food or drink now?"

"Of course, that’s not what I mean, but the child is growing every day. Can he live on breast milk forever? I’d be happy to let him, if only we had enough!" Qi Fenglian scoffed. "I won’t even talk about the future; even now, if he gets one bite less, your mother complains that I’m being stingy with his food. It’s laughable. As if I’d be stingy with the flesh of my own flesh! It’s just that there is none to spare."

Hearing this, Zhang Jisheng felt dissatisfied and said, "Mother is just doting on her grandson."

If she’s so doting, then why dilute the formula I brought back with so much water that it barely has any nutritional value?" Qi Fenglian exclaimed angrily.

Cheng Su bought the formula from the supply and marketing cooperative specifically for Baobao, explaining that there comes a time when breast milk alone isn’t nutritious enough and formula is needed to supplement. Qi Fenglian herself knew her milk was insufficient for the baby. During her post-partum confinement, the mother-in-law was so stingy with food that she hardly had any nourishment to pass on through her milk.

But even after bringing the formula home, the mother-in-law was reluctant to use it. Despite being told several times, she would only scoop one or two spoonfuls into a large bowl of water to mix it.

Speaking of being reluctant, who was truly reluctant?

Listening to her grievances, Zhang Jisheng said sheepishly, "In the countryside, who has ever had this stuff? Mother just doesn’t know any better."

"Whether she truly doesn’t know or pretends not to, we all know the truth," Qi Fenglian sneered.

"She’s sparing, but in the end, it’s still for our child to eat, isn’t it? Who else would it be for?" Zhang Jisheng retorted sharply.

Qi Fenglian shot him a look and said, "I’ve heard that Zhenzhu is due to give birth next month, haven’t I?"

Zhenzhu was Jisheng’s younger sister, also known as his little sister.

As soon as Zhang Jisheng picked up on the insinuation in her words, his face darkened, "What are you implying? Are you suggesting that mother would care less for her own grandson to dote on someone else’s child?"

"Who knows? Grandchildren are treasures, and so are maternal grandchildren, but it seems I’m just an outsider!" Qi Fenglian huffed.

Her mother-in-law was a peculiar woman; her own sons, daughters, and grandsons were considered family but the daughter-in-law was always an outsider. This was another reason for Qi Fenglian’s discontent.