Crossing Over to Yamada Love

Wang's eyes flickered, but she didn't interrupt. She knew that if she spoke now, it would only provoke resentment. People would think she was unreasonable, stirring up trouble between the brothers, and causing a commotion about dividing the family property.

"Then this family won't be divided?" Mo asked in a questioning tone.

"I'll listen to the head of the household," Wang said, indicating her stance.

“I don’t distinguish between good and bad,” Mo Jinlian said.

“Yes, we will listen to our eldest brother.” After saying that, Madam Feng paused and then said, “Look how tired the children are, let them rest.”

Mo Lan glanced at Da Lang and Mo Ju; their eyes were wide open, showing no sign of sleepiness whatsoever. This was clearly an excuse to send them back inside, a way to avoid arguing with them and shift the blame onto her.

However, Mo Lan did not intend to pursue the matter further. Since the family could not be divided, there was nothing she could do to the two of them. At most, she would give them a beating, but given the current situation, that was not an option.

"Grandpa, Grandma, let Brother Bamboo and Sister Chrysanthemum go back to sleep. Anyway, I just have a headache and I'm used to being scolded, so it's okay," Mo Lan said softly.

Seeing the pained looks in the eyes of the first wife's family, Mo Lan felt both touched and guilty. She hadn't meant to make them feel sorry for her. She wanted the second wife's family to remember that she was sensible and wouldn't hold them accountable.

"Lan'er is so sensible. Your eldest brother and sister Ju'er were just teasing you. How could they have pushed you on purpose? Let's just let this go. Let's not mention it again." Madam Feng looked at Mo Lan with a smile.

Now she calls herself "Lan Yatou" (兰丫头), no longer "Yatoupi" (丫头片). How realistic!

"Grandma, will you and my sister stay with me tomorrow? I'm scared to lie here alone." Mo Lan ignored her and spoke to Wang Shi.

“Alright, I’ll stay with my Lan’er tomorrow,” Madam Wang agreed.

“There’s so much work to do at home—feeding the pigs and chickens, tending the vegetable garden, cooking, washing clothes. How can my mother and aunt manage all that? My aunt also has to take care of my uncle. What will happen to the family if they get sick from exhaustion?” Mo Lan’s voice was full of worry.

"Chang Sheng's mother, tomorrow you and Chang Sheng's family will help with the chores around the house." Mo Jin addressed Feng Shi. His stern face revealed his resolute determination. Indeed, how ashamed he must feel to be told by a nine-year-old girl that his wife and daughter-in-law were lazy and didn't work!

Madam Feng glared at Mo Lan, but did not refute Mo Jin's words.

"I'm injured. I need to recover," Cui said, making an excuse.

"Grandma, why don't we separate the chores around the house? Let's figure out what each one is for, and do both at the same time. That way we can get things done faster and without delays," Mo Lan suggested.

“Alright. You can feed the chickens, do the laundry, and cook while tending the vegetable garden and feeding the pigs. Sister-in-law, you can choose first,” Wang said.

“Let’s wash and feed the pigs, and tend the vegetable garden. These are heavy jobs, so we’ll take the loss and do more. Otherwise, even a maid will think we’re just freeloading,” Madam Feng said through gritted teeth.

"mother". Cui shouted.

"Shut up! If you hadn't always been talking nonsense, would my grandson have turned out like this? What are you yelling about now!" Madam Feng was furious.

"You little brat, don't want to do housework? No way!" Cui Shi used her injury as an excuse? No problem, the work has been assigned to your second branch anyway. If you don't do it on time, your mother-in-law won't let you get away with it. Mo Lan didn't care about the second branch's attitude. Reducing the workload of the first branch was the real priority. However, she was also puzzled as to why Feng Shi didn't agree to separate the family. She probably didn't want to be with their first branch either. Mo Lan pondered Feng Shi's thoughts.

A strange light flickered in Madam Feng's eyes; she too wanted to separate from the family. However, the moment she saw her sister-in-law, Wang, the thought of separation wavered. She still remembered the shock she felt upon first meeting her sister-in-law. Wang's natural beauty couldn't be concealed by her simple clothes, and her composed demeanor couldn't be hidden by coarse garments. Her appearance, her composure, her speech—everything indicated that Wang was no ordinary peasant woman.

Although Wang had no maternal family and no dowry, she was convinced that Wang was of extraordinary status, perhaps a lady from a prominent family, and possibly someone who had eloped with her elder brother, Mo Quan. That's why she brought nothing with her and didn't contact her family. But after a while, and having a child, why would she worry about the other family not recognizing her?

Feng secretly plotted to befriend Wang, but she couldn't get any information out of her. Wang only said she was an orphan and easygoing. Gradually, Feng paid less and less attention to Wang. Coupled with the fact that she hadn't received any news from Wang's family, she became increasingly arrogant, even starting to bully Wang. Wang simply let her be.

So many years have passed, and many memories have been buried by time. If it weren't for the sharp glint in her sister-in-law's eyes today, she would have even forgotten the shock she felt when she first met Wang Shi in her youth. If Wang Shi's family had come looking for her the moment they separated, wouldn't she have suffered a huge loss? She had endured so many years with the eldest son's family and received no benefits whatsoever; how could she be content with that!

Wang's proposal to divide the family property—had she received some news? Could it be that her family was really coming? They couldn't let the eldest son's family get all the benefits! Over the years, the second son's family had helped the eldest son's family a lot; they deserved some credit, even if not merit. When Wang's family came looking for them, it was only right that the second son's family share half of the spoils. Therefore, she decided not to divide the family and would stall the eldest son's family!

How could Mo Lan know what was going on in Madam Feng's heart? Although she was puzzled by Madam Feng's thoughts, she didn't care. Anyway, there were many things she couldn't do right now. Even if she knew Madam Feng's intentions, there was nothing she could do. The division of the family needed a good opportunity, but she didn't have a good solution at the moment.

The matter of Mo Lan's injury was over, and after everyone finished arranging tomorrow's work, the second wife returned to their own room.

Qiu walked to the kang (a heated brick bed) and said to Mo Quan and Wang Shi, "Father and Mother should rest now. Let Lan's father carry Lan Lan back."

Wang frowned slightly as she looked at Mo Lan, then pondered for a moment and said, "Let Lan'er sleep here for the next few days. She's still a bit groggy, so it's best not to move her around too much. Lan'er, would it be alright if you slept with Grandpa and Grandma?" Wang's first words were directed at Qiu, but the latter part was asking for Mo Lan's opinion.

“Okay! I like sleeping with my baby.” Mo Lan said sweetly to Wang Shi.

Seeing this, Qiu didn't insist. "Thank you for your trouble, Father and Mother. We'll go back to our room now." After saying that, she and Mo Changhe took the children out. Before leaving, Xiao San'er told Mo Lan to rest well, saying that he would come to see her again tomorrow and blow on her wound so that Mo Lan could recover quickly. Mo Lan was so happy that she wanted to hug and kiss the little one. However, with the adults around, she didn't dare.

"Why do you prefer sleeping with your mother and not with your grandfather?" Mo Quan asked Mo Lan with a smile after his son and the rest of the family had left.

"Wow, I never thought my serious grandfather would joke around!" Mo Lan thought, as if she had discovered a new continent.

"Of course I like sleeping with Grandpa too. Grandpa, Grandma, and Lanlan all like it." Mo Lan said sweetly.

"Who wants to sleep with you? You snore like a cow at night. Don't disturb our Lan'er's sleep," Wang said with a laugh.

"It's alright, I'll just take Grandpa's snoring as singing. Lanlan likes to hear it." Mo Lan felt more and more like a child. She wasn't trying to please Mo Quan and Wang Shi. She genuinely considered herself their child, someone she could be spoiled by and rely on. She liked this warm feeling.

"See? Lan doesn't mind me at all. Our Lan is the most sensible girl." Mo Quan's mustache stood up with joy when he heard Mo Lan's words.

Wang gave him a reproachful look, said nothing more, made up the bedding, and then the two of them washed up and rested.

Mo Lan stared at the dark room, unable to fall asleep. She didn't know if her grandparents were asleep or not, as their breathing was even; neither of them spoke again.

Today's events have greatly impacted Mo Lan. She tries her best not to think about things in the other timeline because she's afraid she won't be able to control her emotions, and she doesn't want her family here to worry.

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Happy Dragon Boat Festival everyone!