When Grandma Zhao walked into the yard with her eldest son, Shen Miaomiao finally released the mother and sons, not intending to further embarrass her second sister-in-law. The Old Accountant followed behind his wife, feigning innocence, acting as if he hadn't just been circling outside the yard to avoid the line of fire.
"I told Shen Zhiqing not to go to the fields tomorrow. His swollen foot will be okay after a rest, but it's better not to risk a second injury," Grandma Zhao informed her youngest daughter.
"Got it. I'll go early."
Shen Miaomiao entered the kitchen, trailing behind the two kids and their fidgeting mother. Shen Ye and Shen Qiu poked at their leafy, meatless meal. Their eyes were brimming with tears. They felt it was tasteless and had no appetite.
"Don't waste food. Finish it all, don't say that I'm starving you."
Second sister-in-law Su, who wasn't given a chance to coax her sobbing children, almost stumbled into the counter.
Their family's little ancestor is really haunting! Does she plan to linger like a ghost until bedtime?!
In fact, Shen Miaomiao did, and not only planned to, but also followed through.
After dinner, she herded the pitiful lambs outside for a walk. Once they got tired of crying and digested their food, she had her second sister-in-law prepare them for bed and tuck them in. She waited until they were sound asleep before finally leaving.
Second sister-in-law Su, "....."
She suddenly felt furious at these little rascals for drawing the full, unyielding attention of the family's most unreasonable ancestor.
Before the break of dawn, Shen Miaomiao rose earlier than the crowing of the rooster, causing some neighbors to take a second, confused look.
They glanced at the still-dark sky and wondered for a second if it was actually nighttime and they'd slept in a meat-induced coma for a whole day after overeating.
The gate of the old accountant's yard must have been opened the wrong way.
Watching his little sister stretch alone in the yard, check the chicken coop and vegetable patch, haul water to the kitchen, then vanish toward the old house for nearly an hour before returning to get ready for the fields, Shen Dashan's heart ached. "Xiao Miao, why don't you go back to sleep? The work on the fourth team isn't hard. Your third brother and I can handle it during our afternoon break."
"Aren't you going to the commune with Secretary He? You should rest more; you can still sleep for a while, it'll make you more alert the whole day. I'll have the third child wake you up."
"Your sister-in-law streamed more eggs. I'll get them quickly. Take some to eat after resting. Pad yourself first, don't hurry to work. Call me. Don't tire yourself out."
"Why don't we just ask for a leave for Shen Zhiqing? I'll talk to his team leader. It's okay to miss a day or two. The grain distribution isn't far off, and in a short while, you two might be already married; the family can just supplement the grains if it's not enough."
Shen Miaomiao's yawning posture paused,"...???"
When did her eldest brother upgrade his parenting software to include marriage urgings?
A strange sense of déjà vu crept over her.
One visit to the clinic and she nearly married herself off. Now, after a single trip to the educated youth compound, her eldest brother started drawing up her wedding schedule.
There must be something dirty influencing her family.
"Eldest son! What are you nagging at the door?! Come back here and help your mother!" Grandma Zhao called from inside the house, and Shen Miaomiao took the chance to slip away.
"Mom," Shen Dashan protested helplessly, voicing his disapproval at the interruption.
"Mom. Mom. Don't 'mom' me. Leave your sister alone. Don't be annoying. She's about to be married and should learn to take care of her family affairs."
Grandma Zhao wanted to slap this son, who had been in a hurry to be a father since childhood and, even after having children, wasn't content and kept hovering over his siblings and inserting himself into their affairs.
"What are you saying, Mom? I'm their eldest brother, I should take care of them."
"Go away. Go away. If you keep meddling with them, don't cry if they find you irritating and fight with you."
"No. My siblings are the most obedient; they listen to me well, I'm their eldest brother," Shen Dashan insisted with full conviction.
Grandma Zhao rolled her eyes. "Have more children with your wife if you want someone to take care of. Your father and I are still here. It's not your turn to take charge."
Shen Dashan suddenly went quiet, which made Grandma Zhao pause, second guessing whether she had scolded too much and hurt her eldest son's heart. But then, his expression changed into the same concerned look he often wore for his younger siblings.
"Mom, I think…"
"Don't think," Grandma Zhao instinctively blurted out.
"Really, Mom, I think you and Dad are getting old; it's time for the two of you to rest and enjoy the company of your grandchildren."
"Shen Dashan! Get out of here!"
"Oh, mom," he coaxed in a tone used on a child. "Don't be stubborn. I know you're tired; you have to let go. Don't worry. I'll take care of you. I'll be really filial. I'm your eldest son. Believe in your eldest son."
Shen Dashan acted as if he was going to grab his mother and force her back to the house, and Grandma Zhao immediately ducked to move out of the gate.
Watching her brisk pace, moving more flexibly than some aunts younger than her, Shen Dashan chuckled.
Grandma Zhao had barely taken a few steps before her bothersome eldest son trailed after her. He hovered over, sticking so close, and fussed at her every move, trying to assist his aging mother, and nagged all the way to the fields.
She was so irritated that she wanted to disown this bastard with hardened wings.
I told you not to parent your siblings, so you went around and parented your old mother!