C10 Say Your Love

Tan Chenxi would always listen, but next time, he’d bring it back again.

“Big brother caught something again,” Zhang, the second daughter-in-law, was lounging inside when she heard the commotion. She quickly put on her shoes and came out, eyes gleaming at the wild chicken her mother-in-law was holding. “Such a plump chicken, Mom. Are we having chicken for dinner tonight?”

“All you think about is eating,” Mrs. Wang snapped, giving her a sharp look. “I told you to go up the mountain and gather wild vegetables with them. Why didn’t you go? But the moment there’s talk of food, you’re all fired up!”

Zhang pouted. Climbing the mountain to gather wild vegetables was too tiring, and she wasn’t about to do it. Besides, ever since big brother returned, he’d bring back wild game every few days. With meat to eat, who would want vegetables?

But her mother-in-law was stingy. She’d preserve the game, only occasionally chopping off a small piece, then stew it with a big cabbage. You’d get a hint of meat flavor, but barely a piece of meat to share.

“Mom, I’m pregnant now, carrying the future grandson of the Tan family. If something were to happen to me on the mountain…”

“Don’t jinx it!” Mrs. Wang glared at her. “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll give you a good smack!”

Zhang proudly patted her slightly showing belly. The eldest wasn’t married yet, and although the youngest was, his wife hadn’t had any news in three years. The Tan family was counting on her to deliver a grandson. Even though her first was a girl, she had a feeling this one was a boy.

“Mom, let’s have meat tonight. Your eldest grandson wants it.”

Mrs. Wang glanced at her belly and said irritably, “Go boil some water and help me pluck the chicken.”

“Sure thing, I’m on it.”

Zhang happily headed to the kitchen. Mrs. Wang watched her daughter-in-law, who always complained of aches and pains when asked to do chores, but when it came to eating meat, she was quicker than anyone.

“Mom, this chicken sure is plump!”

Mrs. Zhang sat by the stove, watching her mother-in-law roll up her sleeves to pluck the chicken. The bird, now featherless, looked like it weighed a good five or six pounds.

She knew her mother-in-law wouldn't let them have all of it. Sure enough, she watched as her mother-in-law placed the chicken on the cutting board and swiftly chopped off more than half.

“Mom, isn’t my big brother turning twenty-five after the New Year?”

“No, he’s only twenty-three.”

Mrs. Zhang secretly rolled her eyes. He was already twenty-three, while her own second son was just twenty, and her eldest daughter was three.

That Gu Chenxi was something else. He volunteered for the army, and now that the war was over, it took him seven or eight years to come back. But those eyes of his were intense, and he always had such a stern face. The matchmakers her mother-in-law hired were scared off by his expressionless demeanor.

“Mom, there’s a girl from my side of the family, she’s eighteen. How about I set her up with my big brother?”

Mrs. Wang perked up at this. “Really? If you can make that happen, I’d be thrilled. I’m worried sick about his marriage. If you pull it off, I’ll make you a big chicken drumstick every day.”

“Great, I’ll head to my family tomorrow and talk to them!”

Mrs. Zhang licked her lips, eyeing the large portion of chicken her mother-in-law had just set aside.

“Mom, it wouldn’t look right if I went back empty-handed.”

Mrs. Wang knew exactly what she was hinting at. Though reluctant, she gritted her teeth and said, “There’s still a rabbit your brother caught earlier. Take one with you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Mom, you’re the best.”