Chapter 97: Chapter 59: Second Maternal Aunt

Thinking about the vegetables for the meal, Juhua glanced over at the small garden. In the blink of an eye, Laicai had run off into the vegetable patch. He was standing in a furrow, pulling up green garlic. After yanking out a huge handful, he was about to go for the Cong.

She cried out in alarm, “Laicai, what are you pulling those for? I already picked plenty, we have enough for lunch. Stop it! You’ll trample the seedlings.” She rushed over to drag him out. That little garden was her pride and joy—how could she not be frantic?

’What is my life coming to? I’m supposed to be a quiet, gentle girl, but I’m turning into a roaring shrew!’

Laicai giggled. “Get some more for the braised pork. Juhua, garlic braised pork is so delicious!” His delicate features were alight with longing.

Juhua was in utter agony. ’Why is this little cousin so infuriating? My eldest uncle’s two sons are so good. How can people be so different? Even Little Shitou is more likable than him.’

She snatched the green garlic from his hands in frustration and said with forced patience, “There are plenty of dishes for lunch. I’d like to see how much you can actually eat. Your eyes are always bigger than your stomach, and you never finish it all.”

As she was crying out in silent despair, she turned her head and spotted a new disaster—one that scared the soul right out of her. Laishou was teetering on the edge of the well, using every ounce of his baby strength to try and lift the cover. A long string of drool ran down from his chin, dripping onto his brand-new, crimson-red padded jacket.

She shot over like a sprinter in a hundred-meter dash and snatched the boy away from the well. She was so terrified it felt as if her soul had half-left her body, with the other half spinning in a panic. She forced down her racing heart, wanting to scold him, but looking at the little tyke in her arms, she hesitated. ’Would he even understand?’

Holding Laishou, Juhua glared at him in anger.

But he just grinned with pure delight, his small mouth stretching to reveal newly sprouted, rice-sized teeth. Drooling, he reached up to pull at the covering on Juhua’s face.

Juhua quickly turned her head aside. It wasn’t that she was worried about him dirtying the fabric, but that if he pulled it off, the sight of her face would scare the poor boy to tears.

In the space of a single two-hour period, Juhua felt she was about to have a complete breakdown. Meanwhile, her second aunt sat inside, neat and prim, warming herself by the fire as if the chaos outside had nothing to do with her.

’This world is full of all kinds of people, and some are just like my second aunt. If you’re not related to them, you can just steer clear. But if you’re unfortunate enough to be their relative, it’s a total tragedy!’

’That sluggish, self-absorbed temperament of hers—so lazy she wouldn’t even bother to pick up a fallen oil bottle—is enough to make a person die of frustration. As long as there’s someone else to count on, she absolutely will not lift a finger.’

’And you won’t even watch them? What if Laicai had been bitten by a dog just now? What if Laishou had fallen into the well? What would you do then? Who can even argue with a person like that? Does she not care if her own children live or die?’

Returning from the river, Yang Family had already seen Juhua running all over the courtyard, dragging the older boy while holding the younger one and shouting in alarm. Her face fell as she told Juhua, “Go to the kitchen and get things ready for the meal!”

As she spoke, she hung the Lanzi filled with pig offal under the eaves to drain. Then, grabbing Laicai and Laishou one in each hand, she dragged them into the main hall. She addressed Lin Family, who was sitting with her feet in a warming bucket, “Second Sister-in-law, can’t you watch your own two kids? Juhua is cooking. You expect her to look after them for you when she’s already swamped!”

Lin Family smiled placidly. “Little kids are supposed to be active, aren’t they? Let them play. They’re just by the door, what’s the big deal?”

Yang Family retorted furiously, “My dear sister-in-law, there is a well right by the door! If one of them falls in, we’ll see who’s crying then! At that point, even killing my Juhua wouldn’t help. Not that I’d let you—how could it possibly be Juhua’s fault? She can barely manage the cooking, and you expect her to watch your two children on top of that? Can’t you even move? They’re your sons!”

Embarrassed, Lin Family took Laishou into her arms and cooed, “Good baby, it’s almost time to eat.” Laishou kicked and squirmed, trying to get away, so she had no choice but to lift her feet out of the warming bucket and stand up. She asked Yang Family, “Is the meal ready yet?”

Yang Family snapped, “We’ll eat when the children’s father gets home.” ’Where in the world has that man disappeared to? Can’t even come back for a meal.’

Laicai shouted and charged toward the kitchen, “Time to eat! Time to eat!”

Juhua saw that he was about to start rummaging around in the kitchen and kept her eyes glued to him, afraid he might break a bowl or something of the sort.

Laicai charged straight over to the stone mill, grabbed the handle on its frame with both hands, and yanked backward with all his might. He actually managed to budge it a tiny bit.

That small success made him even more determined, and he started pulling with rhythmic grunts.

Juhua had no idea what to do with him anymore. She finally warned, “Go on, keep pulling! If you use a little more force and that millstone falls down and crushes your foot, I guess you’ll just have to be a cripple from now on!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep