Ji Changze’s married life was exactly the same as he had imagined before.
Mother Ji had made every effort to be a good mother-in-law to prove that she wasn’t the kind of person who treated her daughter-in-law badly.
Liu Huifen was also very enthusiastic about chatting with An Xiaolu.
Of course, because of An Xiaolu’s muteness, Liu Huifen usually talked and she listened quietly, shook her head and nodded from time to time.
Every day, Ji Changze took An Xiaolu to play around, eat and drink, and in the afternoon. He dunked Third Brother Zhang in chicken soup all the time.
(TNote: Chicken Soup = spiritual comforting and a motivational strengthening (inspirational) effect a.k.a chicken soup for the soul.)
Third Brother Zhang did go to school when he was a kid, it’s just that he didn’t continue after primary school. He had forgotten almost all the words he had learned before. Now, he could only learn to read while taking notes under Ji Changze’s orders.
Ji Changze: “Remember, we are going to Shanghai to make money. If you want to earn money from others, of course, you should smile for them. So, when the time comes, you should show your ability to kiss up to customers and show a good attitude.”
Third Brother Zhang nodded and took notes carefully with his ugly writing.
Ji Changze continued: “Besides, we’re going to get the merchandise, so be nice to the suppliers. After all, we have to get them again next time. If we want to make money, we have to be grandchildren, you know.”
(TNote: to make money, we have to be grandchildren = meaning; if they want to make money they have to serve/ be polite and nice to someone, like they were the grandchildren, and the other party was the master/patriarch.)
Third Brother Zhang imagined the picture of himself as a ‘grandson’, and his expression was somewhat unacceptable; “Brother Changze, do you have to be a grandson to make money?”
Ji Changze scratched his chin, “Not necessarily. Some people don’t need to, like me.”
As soon as Third Brother Zhang’s eyes lit up, he quickly asked, “If you teach me, won’t I not need to?”
“You’re a pretty smart kid. ” Ji Changze patted him on the shoulder with a cheeky grin, “Okay, I’ll teach you.”
Third Brother Zhang hurriedly made an ‘I’m all ears’ gesture.
Then he heard Ji Changze said, “I don’t have to be a grandson …”
“It’s because I have you as my substitute.”
As they were talking, Mother Ji opened the curtain and came out. Seeing Third Brother Zhang’s face twisted and uncomfortable, she asked curiously: “Old Third, are you sick?”
Third Brother Zhang shook his head with a bitter face.
Ji Changze put his hand on his shoulder and looked at his mother with a smile: “Mom, he’s fine. I just told a joke. He probably suppressed his laughter.”
Third Brother Zhang: “… Yes, yes.”
He’s now perfected the ability to hold onto his façade, the various boasting outputs, and the professionalism that a suck-up should have, 24 hours a day.
Thinking of this, Third Brother Zhang carefully tugged at Ji Changze’s clothes, and said, “I feel like I’m almost done learning. When are we going to Shanghai?”
He can’t wait to make a big splash with what he’s learned.
Ji Changze looked him up and down, and shook his head. “I think you still can’t even reach half of me.”
He’s been particularly cheeky now.
When he went out this morning, he had boasted to his nieces and nephews and bragged about taking them to Shanghai when he makes a lot of money.
Mother Ji heard them say they were going to Shanghai and got anxious.
Before getting married, Ji Changze told the Ji family that he wanted to take An Xiaolu to see a doctor. But now, he had been married for three days, but nothing happened.
“Changze, didn’t you say you were going to take Xiaolu to see a doctor? Why haven’t you gone?”
Ji Changze was letting Third Brother Zhang practice all kinds of voices in front of him. When he hears his mother’s words, he looked up innocently:
“I was thinking that we just got married, and wanted Xiaolu to spend some time at home with me to honor you guys before I go? Otherwise, how bad it would be to take your daughter-in-law to see a doctor just after getting married.”
He said this with a deliberately dismissive tone, and Mother Ji fretted when she heard it:
“What’s with all this empty talk, you brat!”
“It’s not like your father and I are old and lying in bed unable to move, and we need you to serve us. Of course, Xiaolu is more important.”
Mother Ji didn’t think it was necessary to treat this disease, but who told her that Ji Changze had troubled Liu’s nephew in order to see a doctor?
That was owing a favor to someone else, now everyone agreed and it dragged on, he still had many excuses.
Mother Ji was previously angry that her oldest son was living in the Liu family, and because of anger didn’t even want any contact with the Liu family.
Liu Huifen was filial to her as her mother-in-law, and she was extremely good to her sister-in-law.
If she didn’t want to please her mother-in-law, how could she be so affectionate to her sister-in-law?
Mother Ji, who was flattered, was of course happy.
And she wasn’t so opinionated about the Liu’s anymore.
What’s more, every time Liu Huifen and Ji Changguang came back, they brought a lot of gifts. It’s good enough to save face, affordable, useful, and made it easy for her to brag about to others.
The Liu’s gave her face, and she naturally reciprocated. Now, at least every time mother-in-law and daughter-in-law get along, they look as affectionate as a pair of mother and daughter.
Naturally, she was unaware of Liu Huifen’s enthusiasm was due to the fact that Ji Changguang often carried gifts whenever he went back to town.
She was actually the one that reciprocated.
She only knew that her daughter-in-law was filial, and her in-laws also give her youngest son face. They knew that her youngest daughter-in-law wanted to see a doctor, and they specially asked relatives to take care of her.
Where can you find such good in-laws?
And Xiaolu was really a nice girl. Quiet, clever and filial. According to Changze paraphrased, Xiaolu has been secretly admiring her, the mother-in-law.
Such a good daughter-in-law!
Of course, you need to get her medical attention!!
Mother Ji lifted her foot toward the room where she hid things. As she walked along, she said:
“I’ll get you something, you bring some to your sister-in-law’s family, and the rest will be given to your sister-in-law’s relatives. We are asking for help. This time you behave nicely, next time, they will definitely help again. That’s a doctor too. Let’s be more active. There must be some benefits in the future, you understand?”
Ji Changze looked like he was being taught and came up with a series of compliments:
“Mom, you know so much. Mom, I’ll listen to you. I’m sure if I’ve done nicely. It’s convenient to look for somebody else next time.”
“My good boy, you’re still a good boy. ” Mother Ji immediately showed a kind smile on her face, trying to give him all her skills:
“You have to do things this way even when you go to Shanghai, you know? If we want something from others, we should be nice. Even we don’t like it, don’t offend people. Otherwise, if you want to ask for something next time, if we offend them, who will we go to then?”
Ji Changze nodded and applauded with a look of admiration, “Mom you’re so good, why didn’t I think of it? You are really amazing, worthy your name!”
Mother Ji had a proud face as she was praised.
Isn’t this what Brother Changze taught him just now???
He still hasn’t reached Brother Changze’s level.
Mother Ji: “Hey Dad, look for the key. Where did I put it?”
Father Ji is still sitting under the doorway, puffing and smoking:
Mother Ji: “What gift do you think we should give? There seems to be nothing good at home.”
Father Ji puff-puffed: “Give money.”
Mother Ji looked across at him and scolded him, “Smoking, smoking all day long! What did Changze tell you, he said you shouldn’t smoke, the hearts of smokers are black!”
Ji Changze quickly raised his hand and said, “Mom, I was talking about lungs.”
Mother Ji didn’t listen at all. Heart and lung, isn’t that all the same!
She said, “Just smoke! You’ve been smoking it for so long. If you kick the bucket early, I’ll enjoy the blessing from Changguang and Changze, and then find an old man to live with. You just sit and watch this Old Grandma enjoy life while she’s in demand, and I won’t even burn paper money for you.”
(TNote: Burning paper money = burning joss paper/ ghost money. This is largely due to a folk belief in China that if you burn paper money, the deceased will receive them and benefit from a happy and prosperous afterlife.)
Father Ji calmly lifted the cigarette pouch in his hand to show Mother Ji:
Mother Ji who was lecturing vigorously: “…”
Ji Changze smiled, “Mom, I found a picture of a smoker’s black lung and showed it to Dad. He said that he would quit smoking, but he is so used to smoking a cigarette every day, he wasn’t comfortable, so he took two empty cigarettes to enjoy.”
Mother Ji: “… Do you think your father quit because he was afraid of death? He is afraid that I will beat him.”
Father Ji puff puff: “You’re Mom is right.”
Mother Ji was satisfied with this, “You are wise.”
With a snort, she went to get the key.
Third Brother Zhang who watch the daily life of the Ji family, “…”
He can’t compete with Brother Changze.
He can’t even compare to Brother Changze’s parents.
Wuwuwu! When will he go to Shanghai?