Daily Life in the 70s
Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Chapter 96

"Shen Yixiang!" Shen Yiguang stared at her, his eyes filled with severity.

"Sorry." Shen Yixiang glanced at her big brother and still quietly apologized to Yang PeiMin.

Yang PeiMin didn’t mind and gave her a smile.

After Shen Yixiang had apologized, she seemed to revive, looking at Shen Yiguang anxiously, "Brother, we should hurry over and see, Mother is so easily swayed, I’m afraid she might agree to something else for them later."

Shen Yiguang told everyone to go back inside before he said, "This isn’t urgent."

He looked at Yang PeiMin, "Let’s talk after dinner."

Yang PeiMin was stunned, "I haven’t started cooking yet, because I wasn’t sure how many people would be eating."

Shen Yixiang was about to glare again, but when Shen Yiguang looked over, she deflated.

"It’s fine, cooking now will be quick. We won’t go to the old house for the feast; we’ll eat at home first and then go sit with them. Mother is right to have your sister-in-law get acquainted, so that when I’m in the army, she won’t have trouble coping," Shen Yiguang said.

Yang PeiMin nodded in agreement.

"What could be going on over there? It’s just about money and jobs. In the future, keep a sharp eye on things, clamp down and don’t let go; they can’t do much if you do."

Shen Yiyi and her sister nodded repeatedly.

Shen Yixiang’s eyes shone as she looked at him, filled with admiration and awe, "Brother, I’ve remembered. I’ll also watch over Father and Mother in the future."

Yang PeiMin glanced at Shen Yixiang, thinking that when the girl wasn’t targeting her, she really did have a charming side.

Shen Yiyue pulled Shen Yixiang to help with cooking, and while Shen Yixiang was somewhat reluctant, after looking at Yang PeiMin, she was about to speak, but Shen Yiguang said, "I can also help fetch water and chop firewood; the more people we have, the faster we can get ready to eat."

In the meantime, people from the old house came over again to invite them, and Shen Yiguang’s response remained the same: the food was almost ready, and they would come over after eating. Once the visitors were assured of their eventual arrival, they stopped fussing over the meal.

The Shen family’s old house was on the eastern side of the village. When they divided the property, Shen Erniu received only the west side shed that was used for storing straw, so he wasn’t very close to the old house, about a fifteen-minute walk away.

Uncle Shen and Shen Daniu, along with the third and fourth brothers, had also split from the household. However, their houses were adjacent to each other. Only Shen Erniu seemed to have been abandoned, living far away, which suited them fine as it felt quieter.

Granny Shen lived with her eldest son, so their destination was Shen Daniu’s home.

The small courtyard was packed with people. After lunch, with the sun shining and not much wind, most people were happy to sit outside and bask in the sun.

"Oh, Yiguang is here," called out Shen Daniu’s eldest daughter-in-law.

"Come in, come in. Oh, this must be Yiguang’s wife? She’s really pretty!" Fourth Aunt Shen was speaking, already getting up, eager to come over and take Yang PeiMin’s hand, "Here, I’m Fourth Aunt Shen, let me introduce you to our family members."

Fourth Aunt Shen had a shrewd look about her, and her gaze measured people in a way that could make one uncomfortable.

Yang PeiMin smoothly avoided her hand, "So, you are Fourth Aunt."

Shen Yiguang also gently pulled her aside, giving Fourth Aunt Shen a nod, "Let’s go in and see Granny."

"It’s only right, it’s only right." She dared not say much in response to Shen Yiguang’s indifferent attitude, hurriedly leading the way for them, "Your granny has been thinking about you, asking after you several times."

While speaking, she lifted the door curtain and entered the eastern room, "Mother, Yiguang is here."

Granny Shen was half reclining on the bed by the window, surrounded by Chen Guizhi, Shen Yidong, and Jiao Gu, who held a child in her arms. With the other cousins and several children, they were chatting and laughing; the room buzzed with lively chatter.

As they entered, Granny Shen turned her head and gestured to them, saying urgently, "Zhuzi is here, come quickly, let your granny have a good look at you."

Shen Yiguang, with Yang PeiMin by his side, approached the edge of the bed, maintaining a distance of over two meters, and called out calmly to his grandmother.

"Granny asked to see me several times, but with the wedding and everything, there was much to attend to. Rest assured, I am well, and so is your granddaughter-in-law; you needn’t worry about us."

Granny Shen’s gaunt face turned slightly, awkwardly avoiding his unfathomable gaze, and shifted to Yang PeiMin, her expression regaining its smile, "This must be my granddaughter-in-law, right?"

Standing beside Shen Yiguang, Yang PeiMin called her respectfully.

At over seventy years old, Granny Shen’s cheeks were sunken, her skin loosely hanging from her bones with not a trace of flesh, and her drooping eyes seemed to be peering out from the darkness, giving off a chill that was distinctly unsettling.

"Yiguang must be very comfortable with his wife, married for several days now and has yet to visit her grandmother. Even if sick, she acts as if unaware, not needing to come over to care for her, right?" Jiao Gu said with a smile while looking at Yang PeiMin.

Shen Yiguang ignored her and addressed Granny Shen, "Now that you’ve seen us, we’ll take our leave. There’s much to do at home; we can’t stay long."

Yang PeiMin, following Shen Yiguang’s lead, maintained a slight smile, seemingly oblivious to Jiao Gu’s accusation.

Jiao Gu twitched with irritation and said loudly, "Yiguang’s wife, I am talking to you. Could it be that we’ve married a deaf woman into our family?"

Having expressed his intention to leave after speaking his piece, Shen Yiguang glanced coldly at Jiao Gu upon hearing her remark, "Has my little aunt caught rabies, biting at anyone she sees? Mind your tongue."

Jiao Gu, scolded in front of everyone by her nephew, felt both anger and hatred, hurrying to Granny Shen’s side, "Mother, look at him!"

Shen Yiguang didn’t even glance at her but spoke to Chen Guizhi instead, "Mother, the blue jacket you made for me this year, where has it gone? You’ll need to help me find it when you’re back; I’m waiting to wear it."

Chen Guizhi immediately stood up, "I remember putting it in the wardrobe; I’ll look for it when I get back."

Seeing the situation, Granny Shen covered her head with her hand and uttered an "Oh", the sound heavy with endurance.

Jiao Gu quickly leaned in to ask, "What’s wrong? Is your head hurting again, Mother?"

Chen Guizhi sat back down and scooted closer to Granny Shen, asking with concern, "What’s wrong, Mother?"

Granny Shen waved her hand weakly, "It’s nothing, it’s nothing; it’s just old age."

"Mother, you mustn’t hold it in. You have so many children and grandchildren—surely someone is truly filial. You must speak up," Jiao Gu said, her eyes sweeping past Shen Yiguang.

Shen Yixiang immediately said, "Jiao Gu, how are you taking care of Granny? Could it be that she is overwhelmed with joy at your visit? Maybe it’s too exciting? Look, let’s not bother Granny any further. With too many people crowding around, how can she get any air?"

"Mother, let’s leave. If we stay too close, we might block the breeze. Then if something happens, Jiao Gu and the others will start accusing us again, as if there haven’t been precedents."

Shen Yixiang’s words caused the faces of Jiao Gu and the others to flush with embarrassment and then pale with anger.

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