Fortunate Eighties: The Bewitching Female Rival Who Tamed Her Husband with Skill

Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Chongxi Sister-in-law Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Chongxi Sister-in-law Following close behind was a young woman dressed in a white Bulaji dress, accompanied by two little girls, one taller than the other.

It was indeed Jiang Nan, the heroine of the original book, with her two daughters.

“Mom.”

“Grandma.”

The older of the two girls plunged straight into Mrs. Lu’s arms, calling out “Grandma” with each breath.

“Oh, my little Xiao Yu is becoming more and more beautiful,” Mrs. Lu said, her eyes crinkling with joy as she gave a glance at the expressionless young woman and the little girl huddled by her side.

“Big brother, take your wife back to the room,” she said.

“Brother Lu, elder sister-in-law,” greeted Lu Xiaomei. She nodded happily, put down her things, and with a hint of embarrassment, explained.

“I missed the bus yesterday; did you all come back yesterday?”

The three brothers hadn’t seen each other for a while, even though they all lived in the Provincial City, each busy with their own work and families.

Now, the brothers were chatting away merrily.

Jiang Nan, with nothing better to do, took her younger daughter for a stroll in the yard, her gaze shifting to her older daughter who was running around the kitchen, feeling somewhat displeased.

“Really, what’s so fun about the kitchen?” she muttered.

“Mom.”

Following her little daughter’s gaze, Jiang Nan saw a little boy with a sling on his arm and frowned.

Because the entire Lu Family had returned today, the usual dining table couldn’t accommodate everyone, so the men had their own table to enjoy drinks and conversations, while the women and children were arranged around a table on the heated brick bed.

Mrs. Lu was overjoyed to have all the children back; she busily served food to the younger family members, reminding them cheerfully. “Brother Lu’s family, Brother Lu Xiao’s family, eat more; Susu’s cooked meals are delicious.”

“Yes, absolutely. My second sister-in-law’s cooking is really tasty,” Lu Xiaomei echoed, nodding.

Susu’s eyes twinkled with a humble smile, “It’s all right, elder sister-in-law, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Xue, please eat more.”

Xiao Yu, confused, looked up, “Um, Aunt.”

Susu and Mrs. Lu were taken aback; it took them a moment to realize Xiao Yu and Xiao Yu shared a name, even though the characters were different.

“Oh dear, this really is something.”

“Xiao Yu, this elder sister is also called Xiao Yu, but her ‘Yu’ is different from your ‘Yu,'” clarified Mrs. Lu.

Upon hearing this, the adults and children alike laughed.

Jiang Nan, watching the Chongxi sister-in-law engage in cheerful banter with grandma, felt puzzled. Since when did these two get along like mother and daughter?

And what’s more, hadn’t the Chongxi sister-in-law changed drastically? Wasn’t she the one who, because of the younger Lu brother’s adoption, used to stir up trouble, turning the house upside down every now and then?

Sensing the original protagonist’s scrutiny, Susu ignored it, pretending she didn’t notice.

After the meal, watching her Little Aunt and second sister-in-law fight over doing the dishes, Jiang Nan pursed her lips and led her two daughters back to their room to rest on her own.

Mrs. Lu noticed this scene and felt somewhat displeased in her heart, but her expression remained decent.

Brother Lu walked into the room to find his wife lying on the brick bed. He sat down and asked softly, “Why don’t you go and sit with mom and the siblings, have a chat?”

“Forget it, your mom doesn’t like me. Why should I bother trying to get in her good graces?” Jiang Nan replied, her spirits seemingly lifted as she sat up. “Do you know about your second brother adopting his coworker’s orphaned child?”

Brother Lu nodded, “Yeah, I just heard from younger brother as soon as I came back. Poor kid.”

“Don’t you find it strange? With second sister-in-law’s Erya’s tempestuous nature, she hasn’t turned the house upside down? And it seems she’s taking good care of the child.”

Jiang Nan’s eyes were full of wonder; she couldn’t understand what had gotten into her Chongxi sister-in-law.

“She’s not as bad as you’re making her out to be. I think she’s doing quite well. Seeing how our parents are now, I can tell she’s been putting in a lot of effort. I’m truly grateful for our second sister-in-law,” Brother Lu spoke from the bottom of his heart.

“Never mind, you wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

Jiang Nan rolled her eyes and laid down.

*****
“What?”

Jiang Nan was shocked, doubting if she heard correctly, “Mom and my sister-in-law selling stewed food at a street stand? Impossible!”

Brother Lu put down his bowl, nodding, “Yeah, Lu Xiao said it, they’re all busy in the kitchen now.”

“I have to go see for myself.”

Jiang Nan said as she ran out, seeing Lu Xiaoting handling intestines at the door and the bustle of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo along with Lu Xiaomei in the kitchen.

Seeing that all three were staring at her, Jiang Nan softened her tone, “I heard from Huai Ze—Mom, you and my sister-in-law are selling stewed food at a stall?”

“Yep,” Mrs. Lu nodded.

“Oh.”

Watching her elder daughter-in-law turn to leave, Mrs. Lu pursed her lips, somewhat displeased.

Brother Lu had just finished putting shoes on his little daughter when he saw his wife coming over, looking dazed.

“How could this be, how could this be. Even Su Er Ya, that Chongxi Sister-in-law, could be selling stewed food at a stall?”

Jiang Nan frowned and muttered to herself, utterly unable to believe what she had just heard.

Brother Lu hurriedly pulled her over, speaking in a hushed tone, “Keep your voice down, it’s not good to be overheard. Besides, I think my sister-in-law cooks really well, so it’s normal for her to do well in the food business.”

Jiang Nan glared, about to scold the man, but then she remembered he didn’t know about the past life and so remained silent.

She lay back on the kang, pondering to herself how it just didn’t seem right.

“Big bro, is your wife going back to sleep again?”

Seeing her eldest son coming out with his two granddaughters, Mrs. Lu casually asked.

Brother Lu was a bit embarrassed, “Nannan didn’t sleep well last night, so I told her to sleep a bit more.”

Mrs. Lu pursed her lips, thinking to herself that this daughter-in-law never sleeps well whenever she’s here. She put away her emotions and turned to play with her granddaughter.

“Xiao Xue, did you sleep well last night? Let grandma hold you.”

The little girl got scared and immediately hid behind Brother Lu’s legs, “No, no.”

Mrs. Lu’s smile froze on her face; she remembered a phone call with her son and wanting to talk to her two little granddaughters when she heard the voice of the little girl on the other end.

“I don’t want to, Mommy said the old lady doesn’t like me.”

Brother Lu, holding his little daughter, frowned and spoke sternly, “Xiao Xue, it’s not polite to do that. This is grandma, you should call her…”

“Wah, Mommy—”
Brother Lu’s expression turned cold, just about to have a serious talk with his little girl when Jiang Nan immediately rushed over and snatched her daughter away.

“What are you doing? She’s just a child, you’re scaring her with that stern face.”

“Nannan, little Xiao Xue…”

Jiang Nan, impatient, interrupted and walked towards the house holding the child, “Enough, enough, she’s just a child; we can teach her slowly.”

Watching his wife walk away without looking back, Brother Lu swallowed his displeasure and turned to his mother, “Mom, I—”
“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine. The kids don’t come back often; they’re just a bit shy.”

Mrs. Lu didn’t want her son to feel awkward, so she pretended it was no big deal and waved it off.

Outside, the three brothers gathered around, watching Lu Xiao skillfully handling the meat, and the other two brothers joked.

“Second bro, looks like you’ve been well-trained by your sister-in-law.”

“Second bro is awesome! Sister-in-law is mighty!”