Chapter 6: Disputes
After the meal, Mother Li thought and slowly talked about their purpose in coming here. Previously, she had been ambiguous, but now, she talked about her top priority. “In-laws ah, after the demolition, your house―”
Mother Mo did not doubt her, they did not hold back in telling her of their plans. While Mother Li was listening to what she said, she said wistfully: “My in-laws, it is reasonable to say that this house is yours, you shouldn’t have to share with this outsider, but this time is a special case ma. Li’er just got pregnant recently, and the matter about buying a house should not be entirely placed on Shaohong. He is going to be so busy, buying the house and also renovating…”
She looked carefully at Father Mo: “Staying in a hotel while waiting for the renovations to be finished is no good. Besides, the demolition subsidy hasn’t been given. When checking into a hotel ah, we don’t even know what year and month Li’er’s children will be born. Even that is a big expense, then she also has to take care of her children…..”
She then changed the topic, “I am not saying that their child should have large houses to live in, as long as that place can shelter them from wind and rain. This one just wants to look after her child…” Mother Li did not finishing speaking and allowed their thoughts to complete the unfinished sentence. In a few words, she painted herself clean and depicted herself as a mother who wanted to look after her child.
Mo Shaoqing was not a child, he immediately understood the Li Couple’s purpose in coming. If their child is concerned, then the parents will surely help. But they haven’t even said that they will do a home loan. How will they pay ah? Listening to her words, it is obvious that they want to fish for the Donghu District apartment.
“What in-law mean is…” Mother Mo was a bit hesitant, but this was Father Mo’s work all year round, so he understood them, “I understand what you mean, your worries aren’t unreasonable. It takes too long to buy a house, and it is demanding. During this period of time, us six cannot squeeze in a house. This is what you mean, ba.”
Mother Li’s eyes hinted at Father Li, he then took over the conversation and answered, “This is the reason ah, there is no need to buy a ready-made house. Purchase an apartment in the city center, afterwards if you wish to see my grandson, it wouldn’t be inconvenient for you ya!”
“What in-law said makes sense, also Shaoqing has his college entrance exams, when living with children, he can’t concentrate on reading!” Father Mo smoked his cigarette, weighing the pros and cons. He glanced at Mo Shaoqing who sat on the side, and said: “Then let’s do it this way. Start the Donghu District apartment’s renovation first. When it finishes, let’s have Li’er’s family of three move in first. It is important for the baby to feel at ease.”
“Dad, it’s alright, this house is…” Mo Shaohong wanted to object, but was stopped by his father.
Obviously, this matter wasn’t finished yet, “Our in-laws are indeed reasonable ah, our Li’er acquired a lot of good fortune from her past life, she actually married Shaohong and bear children for him.” Mother Li sighed as she secretly observed everyone’s expressions.
“Li’er’s baby shouldn’t suffer ah. Li’er why don’t you stop going to work, the most important thing for you to do is to raise your children well. Having peace and quiet is the most important thing, you know?”
Seeing Mother and Father Li echo one another, one couldn’t help but speak up too. Mother Li could see this. There’s something else! Despite being dissatisfied in her mind, and wanting to roll her eyes, she game them face and smiled: “If you need anything then ask for it, if we can do it then we’ll try our best to meet them.”
“Yes, yes, yes―” Father Li’s ability to discern is zero, so when he heard this, he was so happy he couldn’t sit still. “We have no other request, just Li’er getting married to Shaohong in this life is already great. For the sake of your Mo Family, she has to work hard to bear children. This deserves credit ba? The t.i.tle-deed― why not add our Li’er’s name, after all, she is your family.” [T/N: I thought you have no other requests ah!! （┙>∧
Soon, everyone’s expression turned subtle. Seeing this, Li’er got anxious, “Dad ah―” Don’t say anything. She did not expect her parents to be this pressing.
“No, no. In-laws considered this well, let’s add Li’er’s name…” Mother Mo’s words surprised the Li family. They did not think that Father Mo’s glib tongue worked so well. They rejoiced covertly in their hearts, it seems that this child is our lucky charm ah!
The Li couple stayed for a few more minutes then left. Mother Mo cleaned up the dishes, while Father Mo allowed his daughter-in-law to go up and rest, while he and his two sons discussed in the living room. Mo Shaoqing did not expect for the meeting to turn out this way, he saw Father Mo smoking silently, which made him worried and uneasy.
“Shaoqing, your dad is unworthy and has let you down. Don’t leave first and listen to me, this is all because dad didn’t think over this properly. I did not expect for this to happen, and then arbitrarily gave the house to your gege and saozi. We are a family so dad knows that you don’t mind, but still, dad wants to apologize to you.”
After listening to this, Mo Shaoqing’s heart ached, he did not expectfor Father Mo to be this serious, “Dad, I don’t want a house. Saozi’s unexpected circ.u.mstances is a happy occasion ah, their demands are also reasonable. I don’t mind, I’m happy when my family is happy.”
Father Mo smoked his cigarette silently and replied, “Not just the house… Since we’re renovating your brother’s house first and the child’s room…”
“Yes,” Mo Shaohong hesitantly spoke: “Dad, what about the j.a.panese Rose Park apartment?”
“Let’s stop it first, we can’t renovate two houses at once, just stop talking about it. You go up and accompany your wife. I’m going to help your mother.” After that, he headed to the kitchen to help.
Mo Shaoqing also hurriedly found an excuse to go upstairs, while Mo Shaohong who slowly walked upstairs did not know what to feel.
When Mo Shaoqing entered his room, he immediately entered his s.p.a.ce. He planted a lot of vegetables before, but since he had been busy with his examinations, there was no time to check on them in his s.p.a.ce.
Even though he prepared himself, Mo Shaoqing still got shocked. If he remembered correctly, he only planted a tomato ba, while the others are just a few Chinese cabbage, a little rapeseed, and some spinach. The garden that filled his eyes are…. Fist-sized tomatoes, whose vines were bent, while the spinach and Chinese cabbage were all equally big and green. As for the rapeseed, it’s already fully grown. Heavens, this is too fast. He has only watered them once.
Mo Shaoqing promptly picked a tomato and wiped it a little. After a while, it immediately emitted a burst of fragrance in the atmosphere. Fresh and juicy, sweet and sour, the color is uniformly red. It showed an entirely different brilliance.
Because he couldn’t explain where these things came from, Mo Shaoqing temporarily went out of the s.p.a.ce. He should add some of the well water in their home, hoping it would benefit the baby inside saozi’s stomach.
Inside the second floor’s toilet.
Li Li’er decided to use a pregnancy test, and unexpectedly, it showed a negative. Her heart couldn’t help but feel disappointed. She already looked up information regarding the first term, and found out that pregnant women rises early. Since it has come this far then she naturally has to act the part. Looking at her husband come in, Li Li’er looked happy, like a young woman who recently became a mother. She thought her husband would be intimate and ask from East to West, her answers were all prepared. She did not expect her husband to be so quiet. “Shaohong, you…”
“Li’er, let me ask you, do you really want that house?” Looking at her husband’s stern appearance, Li Li’er could not help but be fl.u.s.tered, yet still explained herself, “Y- you, how could you think like that. Do you think I’m that sort of person?” Mo Shaohong was silent for a while, and did not say anything the whole night.
The next day on the dinner table, due to yesterday’s events, everyone was to some extent uncomfortable, and as a result the atmosphere was quite stiff. Mother Mo thought for quite a while and decided to break the silence. She told Li Li’er about matters she had to know about the beginning period of pregnancy. Halfway, Mother Mo remembered what she said to her eldest son: “Starting from today, Shaohong should move to the guest room ba. You have to be careful for the first three months.”
When Li Li’er heard this, she cried out in her heart. She originally thought of conceiving now, and even if the time was wrong, it’s a genuine pregnancy. But this way, she has no chance and cannot even oppose. Judging from the extent to which Shaohong cares about children, even if they stay in a room together, he would not touch her.
Indeed, she did not dare refute Mother Mo, this Yu Xiarong who will be 40 this year, but was still well-maintained, and with the outstanding temperament of a music teacher, she looked especially young. Li Li’er in her heart was envious of such a woman. She and Father Mo are truly the model of ‘man goes out to work while the woman looks after the house’. At home, whatever Mother Mo says is final. Because of her background in art, she demanded perfection in everything. This caused Li Li’er to feel very pressured, and this was also the reason why she wanted to move out.
The Donghu district residence started construction under this circ.u.mstances, while Mo Shaohong got even busier. He was so worn out every day that he only sleeps after work, so Li Li’er got incessantly depressed. For her to conceive a child was really hopeless. Honestly, Li Li’er did not want to deceive them, but during this half a month, the Mo family treated her like the apple in their eyes, she did not receive this kind of treatment in her home. Even her mother-in-law stopped being “demanding” to her. She was docile and obedient when they were newly wedded, so let her enjoy this time and then be apprehensive later.
In such an environment, her menstrual period which had not come for a long time, unexpectedly arrived. Li Li’er calculated and found out that it has been two months. Li Li’er’s stomach ache caused her complexion to turn pale, and tried to hide her discomfort. Mother Mo was very concerned, she immediately requested a leave of absence, and served her three meals a day.
[T/N: Yes, everyone the Redcoats are here!]
Time advances to July, the renovation of Donghu district’s apartment is drawing to a close. The entire family excitedly prepared clothes and a small bed for the little ones. Li Li’er’s heart felt incomparably painful, wouldn’t it be great if she truly had this child. All of this does not belong to her.
With great difficulty, four months have pa.s.sed and a bigger issue has arrived. As the day gets warmer, everyone wears thinner clothes, and Li Li’er gets more and more worried since the house’s renovation was finished. They are now choosing furniture. Shaohong will soon be moving back to their bedroom, and her ‘pregnancy’ is now on its fourth month. Generally speaking, three months is enough for her to look pregnant, but…. her belly is still flat. She can get away with it now, but she cannot go on like this.
In a few days, vacation started. Thinking of this every day, Li Li’er was scared witless under her mother-in-law and xiaoshu’s eyes.
Li Li’er started to regret agreeing to her mom’s lousy idea. She held a tiger by its tail! They took the issue of false pregnancy and having a miscarriage too lightly….
held a tiger by its tail – To be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw. [T/N: Thanks wiki, u da man! finger guns.]