country bumpkin

Chapter 19 Unforgiving When You're in the Right

"Is Granny Zhang home?" Mu Shuyun asked.

"Who is it? Oh, it's Granny Mu, come in and have a seat," said Granny Zhang.

"You told me yesterday that my eldest daughter-in-law got into another fight with someone. What happened? Is the child alright?"

"Don't worry, don't worry, the child is fine. The child's father saw it. It was Wang Cuihua who got into a fight with someone, but it didn't escalate, and she wasn't injured," said Granny Zhang.

Mu Shuyun secretly breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What exactly happened?"

"Hey, it's nothing serious. It's just that her neighbor is my cousin. The jujube tree in her yard has grown quite big and is getting close to her roof. She says the roots are sticking into the ground inside her house and ruining her floor. Also, leaves and bugs from the tree are blowing into her house through the window. She wants my cousin to cut the tree down, but her family refuses, so they started arguing."

Upon hearing this, Mu Shuyun understood immediately; her eldest daughter-in-law was stirring up trouble again. She shook her head helplessly and said, "Grandma Zhang, I really need you to mediate this. My eldest daughter-in-law is just stubborn and unforgiving. I'll go back and have a good talk with her."

Granny Zhang quickly waved her hand and said, "Granny Mu, you're being too polite. We've been neighbors for many years, so it's only right that we help each other out. Besides, it's not a big deal; it'll be fine once we talk it out."

Mu Shuyun nodded, thanked Granny Zhang, and went home. She was thinking about how to talk to her eldest daughter-in-law about this later, so that she would realize her mistake without hurting her feelings.

Mu Shuyun arrived at her eldest son's house and saw Wang Cuihua washing clothes in the yard. She walked over and asked softly, "Cuihua, I heard about your argument with the neighbor."

"What's wrong with you? Why did you do that?" Wang Cuihua stopped what she was doing, looked up at Mu Shuyun, and said, "Mom, I was only doing it for the good of our family. That jujube tree was growing too big and affecting our house. I asked her to dig it up, but she wasn't happy about it. Of course, I had to reason with her."

Mu Shuyun sighed and said, "Cuihua, you should change your temper. We're neighbors, we see each other all the time, why make things unpleasant over such a small thing? Don't you think so?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Cuihua nonchalantly replied, "Mother, I understand. I'll be more careful from now on." Seeing her like this, Mu Shuyun knew that she hadn't truly realized her mistake. However, she didn't want to say anything more, lest she anger Wang Cuihua.

She turned and went into the house, silently praying that her eldest daughter-in-law could change her stubborn temper soon.

Inside the house, the eldest grandson, Kong Jianjun, was soothing his younger brother, Kong Jianguo, in the cradle. At this time, Kong Jianguo was only one year old and had not yet learned to speak.

Mu Shuyun walked over, picked up her second grandson, rocked him, made him laugh, and taught him to speak. "Good boy, say Grandma, Grandma~ Grandma." She gently pinched his little cheek as she spoke.

The little guy blinked and looked at his grandma with a smile. Perhaps it was because of their blood ties, but the little guy really liked being held by his grandma. Before long, he drifted off to sleep.

Looking at the sleeping little Kong Jianguo, Mu Shuyun's heart was filled with love. She gently placed him back in the cradle, then pulled up a chair and sat down to chat with Kong Jianjun.

“Jianjun, your little brother is so cute,” Mu Shuyun said with a smile.

"Yes, Grandma. He brings us a lot of joy every day, and I really like my little brother," Kong Jianjun nodded.

"You two brothers should get along well and take care of each other when you grow up," Mu Shuyun instructed. "Your parents are busy with work, so you should be sensible and help take care of your younger brother."

Kong Jianjun nodded seriously, "I understand, Grandma. I will take good care of my little brother."

Mu Shuyun smiled with relief, then stood up. "It's getting late, Grandma should go back now. You must listen to your mother, okay? If you need anything, just go to Grandma."

"Okay, goodbye Grandma!" Kong Jianjun waved goodbye.

Mu Shuyun left her eldest son's home, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Family harmony was paramount, and she hoped her children could grow up healthy and happy.

She knew her daughter-in-law best. Some people in the village had told her that Wang Cuihua often beat her eldest son, hitting him on the head with a broom when he misbehaved. Mu Shuyun was afraid that she would beat the child so badly that he would become mentally impaired.

So he comes here every few days. Every time he comes, Kong Jianjun is especially happy, at least his grandmother is there, and his mother will restrain herself a little.

Mu Shuyun returned home with a heavy heart, still worried about Kong Jianguo's situation. She decided to talk to Wang Cuihua, hoping she could change her parenting style.

A few days later, Mu Shuyun visited Kong Jianjun's house again. Wang Cuihua was cooking when Mu Shuyun entered the kitchen and said softly, "Cuihua, I have something to tell you about Jianjun."

Wang Cuihua stopped what she was doing and looked at her mother-in-law. Mu Shuyun said earnestly, "The child is still young and needs to be taught patiently. Hitting won't solve the problem; it might even hurt the child. If you beat him until he's mentally impaired, it will be too late to regret it."

Wang Cuihua lowered her head and remained silent, seemingly pondering her mother-in-law's words.

Mu Shuyun continued, "We're all doing this for the children's good. Let's try a different approach in the future. If you're too busy to take care of them, send your eldest child down to my house, and I'll take care of him."

Wang Cuihua raised her head, a calculating glint in her eyes. "Mom, I understand. I'll send him over whenever I'm busy."

Mu Shuyun breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. The most important thing is for the children to grow up healthy and happy." She was really worried that she wouldn't agree to send the children over to her to look after them.

Previously, because of Yunya, Wang Cuihua would go down to cause trouble and curse every few days. She would say, "If you don't help take care of the child, you won't be able to see your grandson in the future."

The whole village was shocked by what they saw!

To her surprise, she readily agreed this time. Mu Shuyun was quite pleased.

When Yunya was younger, she saw that she was already too busy to take care of Yunya herself. If her eldest grandson were also sent over, how could she take good care of both children? She was afraid that if they were together, she wouldn't be able to take good care of either of them.

However, now that both children are older—one is four years old and the other is four and a half—they can eat, walk, and talk on their own. We can take good care of them together.

Mu Shuyun loved her granddaughter and grandson equally. They were all her own children, boys and girls alike.

Wang Cuihua's eyes were full of calculation. She had always taken care of the children herself, except for her mother-in-law who helped her during her postpartum period.

She thought to herself that now that her child could go to his grandmother's house by himself, she didn't have to take him anymore, and he could even eat at his mother-in-law's house, which saved her from having to worry about food.

This made things much easier for her. So when her mother-in-law suggested that her eldest son go to her house, Wang Cuihua quickly agreed.