Early in the morning, Wang Cheng heard his second auntâs voice came through as she was showing off toward others. Her loud voice was clear enough to even reach their house. He sluggishly woke up from his hard-to-come-by sleep because of the noise.
His second uncleâs house and small yard added up to 100 to 120 square meters. In the Wangsâ Village, it was already considered big. The other households were mostly 70 or 80 square meters. No wonder his second aunt was so happy like that. She faced people and said words like, âMy house is really small. If only I had a bigger place, that would be better.â This really drew in a lot of hatred toward herself.
His eldest aunt was sitting beside his second aunt. Although she would not talk much, it could be seen by anyone that she had long been bursting with joy in her heart. His second uncleâs side of the family was also extremely happy. Their house was even bigger than his eldest uncleâs house, showing off that they had a bigger source of income than the other. Anyone would be happy thinking that there would be a lot of money going into their pockets.
Wang Cheng saw from the window his eldest aunt, pretending to be reserved as she shook her head. As a matter of fact, his eldest and second aunt were jackals of the same lair [1]. It was just that one was smart, while the other one was a fool, and nothing more.
([1]ăäžäžäčèČăfiguratively, they are all just as bad as each other.)\nThe distance of their house to his eldest and second uncleâs houses were not very close. Originally, when Papa Wang was hurt by his grandparents, his father did not want to see them, so his father chose renting a house that was quite far away from their house, and slowly was able to buy the present sixty-square-meter house. Now, his eldest aunt and second aunt deliberately went off to their house to show off. They obviously wanted to annoy them.
Wang Cheng was not annoyed. What others think was their business.
âDonât mind your eldest and second aunt. They just have loose tongues. They wouldnât feel comfortable in their hearts unless they win over in a conversation.â Mama Wang had long been aware of those twoâs shamelessness. Back in the days, she personally experienced it quite a few times. If it was not because she was concerned that it would affect the children, she would not want fussing about them too much, and their relationship would probably be even worse.
âMa, I know. Donât worry. I wonât bother with them, and is there anyone else who doesnât know how annoying they are?â Wang Cheng hugged Mama Wangâs shoulders and laughed, somehow he was also an adult. After these few years he had followed the old monk and had cultivated himself through meditation, how could it be possible for others to provoke him with just a word or two.
Mama Wang did not pay attention to the profound meaning behind his last sentence, âMama prepared you a bowl of noodles. I left it in the kitchen, so remember to eat it. If itâs cold, it wonât be delicious.â
âThank you, Ma.â Wang Cheng suddenly moved closer to Mama Wangâs face, made a âboâ sound [2], turned around and ran.\n([2]ăć”ăonomatopoeia for bubbling sound. Gives the impression that Wang Cheng kissed his mother on her cheek.)
Mama Wang was stunned for a moment. After a while, it was only then that she was able to react. All of a sudden, she did not know whether she wanted to laugh or cry. No matter how old a person was, her heart was still very touched. This was the first time her son made such an intimate move on her. After her feelings had calmed down, she went out.
Wang Cheng had finished the breakfast that Mama Wang left for him. He was just passing through the yard when he heard someone shouting from the outside. With just a look at the source of the noise, sure enough, one could tell it was still his eldest and second aunt who was behind all of this. The two were mostly unwilling to not show off in front of their house, so they caught Mama Wang and did not stop talking.Â
But his eldest and second aunt did not expect that, because of them, Mama Wang had already enchained diamonds all over her body [3] so that she was unscathed. No matter how much they talked about flowers cascading from the sky [4], a smile was smeared on her face. She remained unperturbed, and still occasionally said a few words to her neighboring elder sisters. She seemed to be quite relaxed.
([3] Mama Wang had already developed some sort of tolerance over them.)
\nâCheng Cheng, didnât you say yesterday that you have something to do today, yet youâre still not in a hurry?â Mama Wang suddenly started talking to drive him out.
Wang Cheng was rather surprised; yet, he listened to his momâs words. Although a few days ago he promised his mother that he would live with them at home, his stuff was still kept in the temple on the mountain, so today, he intended to go back to pack up his things.
When he arrived at the entrance of the village, he turned around and saw that Mama Wangâs big willow tree had already obscured with several peopleâs faces. The sound of their voices was far from being heard.
âI hope that second sister-in-law can keep in mind what to say and what shouldnât be said. If Iâll find out one day that you said anything that shouldnât be said in front of Cheng Cheng, then donât blame me for being hard on you. I mean it!â Mama Wangâs expression became cold. People who usually do not get angry throughout their lifetime get angry in an instant and would easily shock everyone.Â