After bidding their farewells, the two sisters-in-law parted ways. Sun Baohai went to Aunt Lin's house to pick up the kids. It was already about four in the afternoon. He knew that even if the kids ate at Aunt Lin's house they would still be hungry. The food at home was filling and Sun Baohai was very generous in his portions, but the farmers in this village were different. Their food would mostly be thin porridge or gruel. Aunt Lin's family was well off but the best they could eat was white rice with pickled cabbage.
As soon as he got to Aunt Lin's house and the kids saw him they immediately ran over to greet him. He had been living with the kids for a week and a half now and since they were very young in age it didn't really take long to lower their guards a little. Plus the kids had almost memories of their mother and the ones they had were mostly bad ones, so they got along with him pretty well. Even though he still felt a little awkward being called mother, he couldn't deny that he felt a little bit of warmth toward the children.
"Mother, let's go home!" Qiqi said excitedly. Though she said she wanted to go home like this, Sun Baohai knew that she was actually hungry and wanted to eat.
"Okay, let me go get your little brother and let's go," Sun Baohai said gently as he patted her head. Qiqi obediently nodded and followed Sun Baohai into the small yard.
"Aunt Lin, I am here to pick up the kids! Thank you for watching over them!" Sun Baohai thanked as he bowed.
"I thought I told you to stop with all that bowing already! It was just looking over some brats, why make a fuss?" Aunt Lin responded as she waved her hand.
"To me, it's a huge favor. Were they naughty?" Tang Shushui asked jokingly.
"Naughty? These kids were so well-behaved that I thought something was wrong. It was only Xiao Yu who cried from time to time," Aunt Lin responded. Immediately after saying so a baby's cry could be heard from the house.
"That must be Xiao Yu. Lin Ning go get him for Sun Baohai," Aunt Lin ordered her daughter who was sitting next to her.
"Yes, mom," Lin Ning responded obediently. Sun Baohai had an impression of her from coming to the Lin's house to drop off the kids. She turned sixteen this year and the Lin family was looking for potential grooms. She was good at cooking and cleaning and she even finished grade one and was half literate. So Sun Baohai was more relaxed leaving the kids for her to take care of. A moment later, Lin Ning came out with the sill crying Xiao Yu.
"Why are you crying, baby? Did you miss me?" Sun Baohai coaxed as he took Xiao Yu from Lin Ning. After rubbing and stroking his back a few times, Xiao Yu calm down.
"Wow, he really knows you huh?" Aunt Lin was a little shocked. For a baby to be this attached to someone they've been living with for about two weeks meant that he really treated them well.
"He's just a little fussy sometimes. I have to go cook dinner, so I'll take my leave now. Thank you again." Sun Baohai said.
"No problem," Aunt Lin responded.
After he tried to pick up his basket he realized that he wouldn't be able to carry Xiao Yu if he carried his basket so, Lin Ning was sent to help him carry the basket. It was the afternoon so many villagers were out farming or doing chores. Sun Baohai carrying two children in his arms, and two were walking on his side was quite a scene for them. They had all gossiped about how this small wife of Jinhai would probably mistreat the kids, but in reality, he treated them better than their own family. Look, even walking them back home, he had to carry them. Even the mothers in the village didn't do this for their children not to mention a stepmother?
And who was blind enough not to see the changes in the kids' complexions? Though the kids were still skinny, the bones in their cheeks weren't as prominent anymore, and the damaged skin that had so many rashes on them also started to lighten. Their clothes also became better. With all these things so evident, who would dare to say that he was mistreating the kids?
"Baohai! Are these your kids?" A ger who looked to be the same age as his current body asked him as he was walking.
Sun Baohai was confused about this person's identity at first so he kept quiet, but after looking back he realized that this ger was Sun Chuntao, the cousin of Sun Baohai. He looked like the original owner and was fairly good looking but because of his slightly coarse skin and flat nose, Sun Baohai was more beautiful.
The two were the only gers of the Sun family, but their treatments weren't really the same. Old Lady Sun had two sons. Sun Baohai's father, Sun Yue, and Sun Chuntao's father, Sun Yang. The two Sun brothers were treated very well and they got along well. Since Sun Yue was older he married first. He married, Xiang Shu, the daughter of a bookkeeper in town. He had such a good marriage because Xiang Shu fell in love with him, and her dad also liked him for his daughter. The two got married and their relationship only got better as the days passed. The Sun family also benefitted from the marriage as Xiang Shu provided them with jobs, and basic education.
The family was very peaceful until Sun Yang married Luo Mei and the family started losing its peace. Luo Mei was from a poor family with multiple brothers so she suffered quite a bit. When she first married over she behaved well and knew her place. But after living well for a while, she wanted more than just to live well. She would constantly come after Xiang Shu and accuse her of being unfilial, and would always raise a fuss that their mother-in-law favored the eldest couple. Because of her, the once peaceful family became filled with chaos. Sun Yue and Xiang Shu held it in for the sake of Sun Yang and their parents, but Luo Mei crossed the line when she took all of the nourishment Sun Yue bought for Xiang Shu when she fell pregnant and sold all of them.
Sun Yue was so angry that he immediately wanted to separate. The Sun parents agreed quickly knowing that the eldest couple have had enough. Sun Yang also did not raise an objection and just bowed his head in shame. It was only the shameless Luo Mei who was clamoring about the separation. Despite her rejection, the separation happened smoothly.
The two families separated and the grandparents lived with the eldest family. Xiang Shu gave birth to a healthy baby ger and the family was once again happy and peaceful. Luo Mei also gave birth to a ger, but she had four other children. Even after being separated, she still hated Xiang Shu and how they were compared.
Xiang Shu and Sun Yue didn't have any more children so they poured all their love unto Sun Baohai. Even if Luo Mei tried to do that too, in the end, she still loved her sons more. So Sun Chuntao and Sun Baohai were always compared. Sun Baohai would always have new clothes every two weeks, his cheeks were fat and white. His jewelry was either gold or silver, his shoes were carefully embroidered, and he was very well educated. He was the envy of all the gers in Xiangshui village, and Sun Chuntao was one of the gers who envied him.
Even if he was more spoiled than most gers in the village, it couldn't match up to Sun Baohai. His father and mother didn't even let him do housework most of the time. All he had to do was sit and look pretty. But for Sun Chuntao it wasn't this easy. Her brothers were her mother's priority, and he would just get spoiled because his mom was jealous of Xiang Shu. Realizing this fact Sun Chuntao grew to hate this cousin of his and would always cause trouble for him. But his small schemes were always exposed by Xiang Shu and he would be humiliated. So he never had the opportunity to bully Sun Baohai.
But all of that changes now. Both parents and grandparents who cared for him died. He basically had no relatives except for Sun Yang. But Luo Mei was very clear that he wouldn't be taking him in. The pampered and loved Sun Baohai was gone and now he was only a stepmother. So how could he miss this chance to ridicule him?
"Oh, it's Chuntao. I heard that you married over, but I didn't have the chance to come to visit you. I hope you don't take it to heart." Sun Baohai said after going through all of the memories, completely ignoring his questions.
"How can I take that to heart you must be busy taking care of your kids," Sun Chuntao really wanted to see Sun Baohai lose it right now. Which stepmother would like to hear these things?
"So my little cousin understands. My kids are small so they need attention, so I am busy with them most of the time." Sun Baohai completely disregarded his ridicule and made it seem as though Sun Chuntao just understood his institution, which only angered Sun Chuntao further. When did this pampered and clueless cousin of his get this smart?
"You must be tired of taking care of four kids alone. I really do admire you Baohai." Sun Chuntao said innocently, but he was emphasizing that Sun Baohai was practically widowed and had to take care of four children who weren't even his by himself.
"How can I be tired of seeing the cute faces of my children? Say hi to auntie so we can go, I have to go home and cook dinner," Sun Baohai instructed the children gently that were hiding behind him.
"Hi auntie," The twins peeked behind Sun Baohai and said shyly. Xiao Wan was too shy and just buried his head in Sun Baohai's shoulder.
"Well aren't you guys cute," Chuntao said forcibly, with a smile. He couldn't get through Sun Baohai at all. This cousin of his was really good at pretending.
"Well, then I'll be going Chuntao," Sun Baohai waved goodbye before walking away.
"You so cool sister-in-law! You even made him speechless," Lin Ning praised. She was surprised by how well Sun Baohai handled the situation.
"It's fine, people like these, you only need a few words to shut them up," Sun Baohai responded.
Question of the day.
Your favorite saying?
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