The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 344 - 343: Miss my Grandson Like Crazy

Chapter 344: Chapter 343: Miss my Grandson Like Crazy

After breakfast, Qin Jinlian slipped into the new cotton-padded jacket her daughter and son-in-law had bought for her and happily went out to make the rounds, eager to show off.

She hadn’t gone far from home when she saw several women from the village gathered together, chatting away passionately.

"What are you all talking about that’s so lively?"

When they turned to look at her, Qin Jinlian deliberately straightened her back and smoothed her clothes, ready to bask in everyone’s admiration and flattery.

But someone, annoyed at her show-off attitude, said, "Jinlian, you must not have heard yet. Cuihua’s daughter-in-law gave birth last night."

Qin Jinlian was taken aback and quickly asked, "A daughter or a grandson?"

"A big chubby grandson. Cuihua is over the moon, going from door to door borrowing eggs early this morning."

Hearing that Liu Cuihua had a grandson, Qin Jinlian almost died from jealousy.

Liu Cuihua’s daughter having borne a big chubby boy had already outshone her own daughter, and her son Shen Hao, an old bachelor who married later than her other two sons, unexpectedly had a grandson first.

"My Yuemei will have her baby soon too. I had someone look at her, and they said for sure this child will be a chubby boy."

"Really? Then let me congratulate you in advance."

Qin Jinlian no longer had the heart to flaunt her new jacket and left after chatting with them for only a short while.

Watching her retreating figure, the women whispered among themselves.

"Her eldest gave birth to a girl, and her daughter gave birth to a girl. If her second child has another girl, there will be quite a spectacle to see."

"Well, that’s not entirely fair. They do have a grandson, even if he’s not their own flesh and blood."

The group erupted in laughter.

...

"Mom, why are you staring at my stomach like that?"

As soon as Qin Jinlian got home, she went straight to her second daughter-in-law’s room and started intently eying Jia Yuemei’s stomach, making Jia Yuemei uneasy.

"Yuemei, you’ve got to step it up. You must have a grandson this time. Cuihua’s daughter-in-law gave birth last night to a grandson!"

Jia Yuemei was well aware of the rivalry between Qin Jinlian and Liu Cuihua.

In the few days since she had returned to her parents’ home, Qin Jinlian had been indifferent towards her, a far cry from her previous attentiveness.

Now, with Qin Jinlian indicating her stomach with such a triumphant air, Jia Yuemei naturally seized the opportunity to negotiate benefits for herself.

"Mom, don’t worry, I’ll definitely bear you a grandson, but once I do, I want to move to the city."

Without hesitation, Qin Jinlian agreed.

All she could think about was having a grandson, to the point of madness.

After leaving the second daughter-in-law’s room, she happened to see Du Juan leading Daya out to play.

Qin Jinlian immediately called her into the courtyard to talk, "Daya’s mom, about the thing I mentioned last time, have you discussed it with Chaobei?"

"Mom, I’ll get my IUD removed after the New Year."

Upon hearing this, Qin Jinlian couldn’t contain her joy.

"Great, great, great. After the New Year, I’ll buy a couple more cages of chicks for Yuemei to raise along with hers."

With a gentle smile and squeezing her daughter’s soft fingers, Du Juan said, "Okay, mom, please buy ten chicks for me, and I’ll pay you back once you’ve got them."

"What’s this talk of paying me? If you can give me a grandson, I wouldn’t mind twenty or thirty chicks, let alone ten."

Having made some money in the city, Qin Jinlian was indeed more generous with her daughter-in-law Du Juan than before.

"Having boys or girls is unpredictable, it’s all in the hands of fate," said Du Juan.

"Your first child was a girl, so the second will definitely be a boy."

Qin Jinlian was nearly driven mad with obsession over the idea of having a grandson.

Catching anyone within earshot, she wished they could all bear her a chubby grandson.

Inside the room, Jia Yuemei, who had heard the entire conversation between her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, had an expression that constantly changed.

...

After lunch, Jia Yuemei, using the excuse of needing to step out for a walk, sneaked off next door.

"Sister-in-law."

Du Juan was busy with cleaning the pot when she turned around and saw Jia Yuemei coming in with her belly sticking out. She casually greeted her to take a seat, her attitude neither warm nor cold.

With a smile, Jia Yuemei drew closer, her tone laced with ingratiating politeness, "Sister-in-law, I’m someone who speaks her mind, and sometimes I speak carelessly. Please don’t hold it against me. The kindness that elder brother and Mingzhu have shown us is something I and Xiangnan keep in our hearts. I’m just envious of you and elder brother for everything going so smoothly, unlike Xiangnan who just can’t seem to succeed in anything. It really makes me frustrated with him."

Jia Yuemei had taken the initiative to show submissiveness, so Du Juan couldn’t keep up her cold demeanor any longer.

After all, they were sisters-in-law and saw each other frequently.

"Yuemei, I know you don’t mean any harm, but you really need to think before you speak in the future. Mingzhu has been so good to us; we can’t let her be disheartened," Du Juan said.

"Sister-in-law, you’re right," Jia Yuemei agreed.

Yet in her mind, she thought: Mingzhu is good to you, but not so much to us.

Du Juan didn’t know Jia Yuemei’s true thoughts and continued to offer comforting words, "Don’t be too anxious, once Xiangnan learns his craft and opens the restaurant, things will gradually get better."

Jia Yuemei nodded with a smile, "That’s what Xiangnan and I are hoping for as well."

After some idle chitchat, Jia Yuemei steered the conversation toward the topic of having a second child, "By the way, sister-in-law, I heard from mom that you and elder brother are planning to have a second child. That must cost a lot of money, right?"

Having another child was something Du Juan didn’t want to advertise since it was against the policy, but when Jia Yuemei brought it up, she didn’t hide it.

Besides, it was something that couldn’t be kept secret.

"I don’t know yet, we’ll deal with it after the child is born."

In Shenjiagou, where poverty was common, many families couldn’t afford the fines for having extra children, opting either not to register the child or for the adults to hide away, leaving the children with the elderly to care for them.

Clearly, Du Juan had no intention of doing that.

She planned to give birth to the child in the city first, then return to the village to handle the paperwork and honestly pay the fine.

"Does Mingzhu know about your plans to have a second child?"

"Yes, she knows."

"Paying the fines for an extra child is a hefty sum. Mingzhu should be helping you out with that, shouldn’t she?"

Du Juan paused her movements and turned around to say earnestly, "Mingzhu has already helped us enough over the years. It’s not right to expect her help with having a child too. We will manage the matter of having a second child on our own with Chaobei."

Jia Yuemei was unwilling to believe these words.

Du Juan had the confidence to go ahead with a second child because she surely must have secured some benefits from Shen Mingzhu in advance.

No wonder their mother-in-law wasn’t as concerned about her pregnancy as before; there was a new hope in mind.

Hmph.

...

Shen Xiangnan didn’t return home until evening, and as soon as he stepped through the door, he was hit by a pillow.

He held onto the pillow and approached Jia Yuemei, who was fuming, "What’s wrong? Who upset you?"

"You!"

"How did I upset you?"

The west room was next to the north room, and Jia Yuemei didn’t dare to speak too loudly for fear of being overheard by Qin Jinlian, so she spoke in a hushed tone, "Your brother is planning to have a second child, did you know about that?"

Shen Xiangnan shook his head, "Who told you that?"

Jia Yuemei scoffed, "Your brother is clearly guarding against you."

"Why would he guard against me? Their decision to have a second child has nothing to do with us."

"You don’t understand a thing!"

Jia Yuemei pulled Shen Xiangnan closer and whispered in his ear, "Your elder brother’s restaurant racked up so many losses, and he doesn’t have any income from learning to drive either. Their family of three is hanging by just what your sister-in-law earns. She may have saved some money, but it won’t be enough to cover the fines. Where do you think they’ll get the money?"

Shen Xiangnan shook his head.

Jia Yuemei was so frustrated she felt like slapping him, "Your little sister, they must have asked Mingzhu for money. Once Mingzhu helps them pay the fines, do you think she’ll still have money left to help you open a restaurant?"

Shen Xiangnan wasn’t particularly concerned, "Sister-in-law might not even get pregnant anytime soon, and Mingzhu, who promised to help me, won’t go back on her word."