To make up for the debt owed to Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

When she originally planned the two small courtyards, she had already arranged where to plant flowers and where to plant vegetables. Now, looking at the messy garden, she almost vomited blood.

But seeing her father-in-law hunched over working in the yard under the sun, and her mother-in-law with a fawning smile, she couldn't muster any anger to erupt.

calm down.

she said to herself.

Turning her head, she thought of a way and said to Liu Fen, who was leaning closer, "Mom, these flowers and the sofa can't be moved around easily."

Upon hearing this, Liu Fen's smile froze.

Lin Qingping continued, "As you know, this child of mine and Gu Juncheng's was hard-won. We've been married for so many years before we finally had this one."

Liu Fen listened intently, nodding repeatedly; these words truly resonated with her.

"So, I dare not be careless. I consulted a master about how to arrange the house and what flowers to plant. The master said that the living room should be more spacious to welcome the children in, and that a comfortable and soft sofa should be placed so that the children can sit and sleep. The flowers planted were also chosen by the master. He said that these flowers have strong roots, strong vitality, and can grow strong." Lin Qingping talked nonsense. When it comes to dealing with superstition, you can only use superstition.

Upon hearing this, Liu Fen's expression immediately turned serious, and she shouted, "Old man, stop digging! Quickly replant it!"

When the old man Gu Dafu heard this, he was completely dumbfounded. What was he trying to do by digging and planting all at once?

Liu Fen was so anxious that she couldn't wait to explain to the old man. She rushed down the steps and started replanting the flowers she had dug up: How could she dare disobey the master's words!

Lin Qingping breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, her mother-in-law was not a bad mother-in-law. Everything she did was for her own good, or at least for the good of the child. As long as she grasped this key point, she believed that there wouldn't be too many problems getting along with her mother-in-law.

However, she was still naive.

Nothing happened that day.

The flower seeds have been returned, and the sofa has been put back in its place, but the newly moved bed remains behind the living room curtain.

Moreover, her in-laws planned for them to sleep in the small bed in the living room.

Actually, this is a habit of traditional parents who love to endure hardship and like to suffer in silence. Lin Qingping couldn't persuade them otherwise. Looking at the curtain, she finally gave in and thought, "Fine, I'll hang up a nicer curtain then..."

Zhiyuan returned that afternoon, and as soon as he entered the yard, he started calling "Mom," carrying a small paper bag in his hand.

Lin Qingping went outside to greet him.

Zhiyuan ran up the steps and gave her the small paper package he was holding.

"What's this?" Lin Qingping opened the paper package and saw a dozen or so fruit candies.

"Our school gave them out this week, I think you'll like them." Zhiyuan chuckled and went inside to put his schoolbag away.

The fruit candy was sweet and sour, which was something Zhiyuan thought "she would like to eat".

Whether she eats it or not, having a child who is always thinking of you while you're away, bringing back snacks that you wouldn't even eat yourself when the school gives out, how could you not feel warm inside?

Zhiyuan was overjoyed to find his grandparents had arrived as soon as he entered the house. His father wasn't home, and he was at school, leaving his mother alone at home. How could anyone feel at ease? Now that his grandparents were here, it was so good that his mother would have someone to keep her company.

Liu Fen was also delighted to see Zhiyuan and greeted him, urging him to put down his schoolbag and eat.

Dinner is ready at home, and we're just waiting for Zhiyuan to come back.

Liu Fen cooked half a chicken today.

This is what is placed before Lin Qingping.

In addition, I stir-fried a few side dishes, such as eggplant, cucumber, and water spinach, and also made an egg drop soup.

Lin Qingping didn't realize anything at first. She sat down to eat as usual, while asking Zhiyuan what interesting things had happened at school this week.

Zhiyuan talked about the little things between him, Chen Lei, and Qinglang, and the dinner table was quite lively.

Until Zhiyuan reached for the plate of chicken with his chopsticks.

In the past, when the Gu family ate, everyone could eat whatever they wanted. Lin Qingping was well-off and never mistreated Zhiyuan. Over the years, Zhiyuan naturally wouldn't selfishly eat more or take more than his share at the dinner table, but he also didn't need to worry about what he should or shouldn't eat.

Therefore, this chopstick naturally reached for the chicken.

However, before his chopsticks even touched the meat, Liu Fen swiftly grabbed the piece he was about to pick up and put it in Lin Qingping's bowl, saying, "Pingzi, eat more chicken for the baby in your belly."

Zhiyuan hadn't thought much about it at the time, and Lin Qingping was also focused on listening to Zhiyuan and didn't take this to heart.

So Zhiyuan went to pick up another piece, but Liu Fen struck again, snatched the meat away, and put it back into Lin Qingping's bowl, saying with a smile, "Pingzi, you eat it. Let the child eat more so he can grow strong."

Then, he picked up the chicken feet from the plate and put them into Zhiyuan's bowl, smiling broadly, "Zhiyuan, eat the chicken feet, and you'll run fast in the future."

Zhiyuan's smile froze slightly, just like the chopsticks in his hand, hovering for a moment above the plate of chicken.

But soon, Zhiyuan understood and smiled again.

He put his chopsticks back down, beaming, and said, "Thank you, Grandma."

From then on, he obediently lowered his head and ate the chicken feet, never reaching for the chicken meat with his chopsticks again.

Liu Fen smiled and put water spinach and eggplant into Zhiyuan's bowl. "Zhiyuan, come on, eat more. You're going to have a little brother soon. You'll be the older brother, so you have to take care of him and be considerate of him, okay?"

There are two sensitive points in Liu Fen's statement that Lin Qingping finds offensive.

First, my younger brother.

Secondly, give way.

But Zhiyuan was well-behaved and sensible, and just smiled and nodded, "Okay, Grandma, I understand."

Liu Fen continued, "That's right, good child, your Uncle Gu and Aunt Gu have raised you for nothing."

Uncle Gu?

Aunt?

Zhiyuan has long since started calling his parents "Mom and Dad"!

Moreover, what does it mean to bring this up at this time? Is it to remind her and Gu Juncheng of the kindness they owed Zhiyuan for raising them, and to ask Zhiyuan to repay that kindness?

Lin Qingping couldn't contain her anger at this moment. First, she put all the chicken from her bowl into Zhiyuan's bowl, and then she also put a chicken leg into his bowl.

Liu Fen felt sorry for him. "Pingzi, you should eat more. Zhiyuan is a strong young man who can eat anything..."

With a loud "smack," Lin Qingping slammed her chopsticks onto the table.

Zhiyuan immediately sensed the awkward atmosphere and quickly said, "Mom..."

"You eat yours," Lin Qingping interrupted Zhiyuan.

"Mom..." Zhiyuan looked at her, his eyes seemingly pleading, as if asking her not to be angry.

Lin Qingping calmed down and decided that since she had already thrown down her chopsticks today, she should just make things clear.

"Mother, Zhiyuan is my and Gu Juncheng's son, he's my own flesh and blood!"