The little girl was riding a train for the first time, and she was so excited that she stamped the floor of the carriage with her embroidered shoes and said curiously, "Grandma, sister, we are on the train!" Her parents had ridden a train before, but it was the first time for the little girl. She saw that her four-person bunk bed had a door that could be opened and closed, so she started to open and close the door, expressing her feelings, "This train is really long, and the whistle is really loud. Grandma, I called grandma a few days ago, and she said that someone would pick us up when we get off the train."
"Oh, our little girl is so capable!" Old Mrs. Wei habitually praised her little girl.
When children get on a train for the first time, they always want to look around. Wei Nian took the little girl to do this, and Wang Damei followed. Wei Nian took the little girl to see other carriages, where the toilets were, and where to wash hands. Chen Xuan took out the kettle and cup from her bag. The first-class soft sleeper compartments were equipped with thermoses. Wei Yin poured two cups of water and left them to dry, so that everyone could drink when they were thirsty.
Old Mrs. Wei looked around and kept talking, "I heard from your father that he used to take a train, and it was so crowded. But that was decades ago. It's different now. It's really spacious, and there's a hard single bed. I can lie down there when I'm tired."
Wei Yin smiled, "When my dad was in the family, we didn't have much money, so he must have sat in the hard seats. This is a soft bed, so of course the environment is better than the hard seats."
Old Mrs. Wei sighed, "Yes, you said that your father made money all his life and didn't spend much."
"If it weren't for my dad, our family would still be farming in our hometown. My dad is a great contributor to our family. Mom, you had a good eye back then. How did you choose my dad?" Wei Yin saw that the old lady was a little sad when she talked about the old man, so he led the old lady to talk about something happy.
Old Mrs. Wei laughed, "No one was willing to marry him at that time. Your father had a miserable life. He was adopted as your grandfather's son. Your real grandfather's family was not very successful, otherwise he would not have adopted his son out. So he was adopted. Your grandfather is a good person, but your grandmother is well-known for being cunning. Who would dare to marry such a cunning mother-in-law! I didn't want anything at that time, just because your father was doing business outside."
"That's why many people in my hometown don't want to marry someone who does business. It's a split, and most women stay in their hometown to serve their parents-in-law." Chen Xuan is now a lot bolder and dares to ask a few questions about Mrs. Wei's youth.
Mrs. Wei's eyes showed pride as she said to Chen Xuan, "If you were in my time, you would marry a farmer with your personality. Don't you think that in your hometown, besides the landlords, the richest people are the businessmen? Although your father was still working as a clerk in someone's shop and the family didn't have much money, he was still able to earn a living. Farmers are reliable, but they work hard all day long. When will it end? My descendants will all be farmers. I would rather live a life of separation. If he survives, maybe your father can earn a fortune. If he doesn't, I will die even if I marry a farmer!"
It must be said that the old lady also has her own wisdom. Wei Yin said, "Mom, you are really smart."
"That's right! If I hadn't married the right person, you wouldn't have the good life you have today!" Old Mrs. Wei summed up her life, "I married your father, and my life has been smooth sailing."
Chen Xuan smiled, "Otherwise everyone would say that you are blessed, old lady."
"That's right!" Old Mrs. Wei was proud for once, and said to Chen Xuan, "You are very lucky! Your father had good taste in the beginning, and he chose Ah Nian and arranged a marriage for you since you were young. Look at Ah Nian, with his looks and character, I'm not bragging, there are many people in Beijing who live a better life than ours, but there are not many who are as devoted to life as Ah Nian."
Chen Xuan didn't argue with Old Lady Wei about this, she just said, "What the old lady said is right, now everyone says I'm lucky to have met Brother Anian."
Old Mrs. Wei was extremely proud.
Which mother would look down upon her own children
Chen Xuan is also a mother. She likes her chattering little girl very much.
After a while, the little girl came back with a bottle of orange soda in each hand. Chen Xuan asked, "Why did you buy something? Did you go to the dining car?"
"Walk all the way to the dining car." Wei Nian smiled, "I must buy you and mom some drinks."
The little girl gave one bottle to her grandmother and one to her mother, saying, "Grandma likes to drink soda, this bottle is for mom and little brother."
Chen Xuan knew the little girl's trick without even seeing it. She clearly wanted to drink it. But Chen Xuan had set a rule for her that she was not allowed to drink too much soda, and could only drink it once every two days. She bought it in the name of the old lady, and she would definitely let her drink it when the old lady drank it later. Sure enough, the old lady Wei said happily, "Grandma doesn't drink it, so you drink it, girl, you like it."
"Grandma, didn't you like to drink when we had dinner at the restaurant last time?" The little girl looked very sensible. "I know you are frugal and don't want to spend money. Grandma, let's drink together."
Old Mrs. Wei was immediately moved, and she and the little girl started drinking the soda, taking turns to drink.
Chen Xuan didn't care to talk about the little girl, and the old lady was the same. She was the most frugal person on weekdays, but when she met the little girl, she would throw away all her principles.
Chen Xuan took a short break and then took out a book to read. The train journey takes about four days, and because they booked a sleeper car, it was not tiring except that it was a bit stuffy. Before arriving at Nanjing Station, Mrs. Wei asked everyone in the family to wash their faces, close the small door in the sleeper car, and change into clean new clothes. Wei Nian shaved off the newly grown stubble on his face, and the women all put on light makeup. As for the little girl, she wore a new red flower jacket and skirt, and her pigtails were combed neatly again. Mrs. Wei taught the little girl, "You are going to visit someone, you have to dress neatly. This is an old etiquette for us Beijingers."
The little girl nodded to indicate that she remembered it.
Old Mrs. Wei also asked Chen Xuan, "Did you bring some gifts for your parents?"
Chen Xuan smiled, "Brother Anian has prepared everything and put it in the bag."
Old Mrs. Wei sat upright and didn't ask any more questions.
Therefore, when the train arrived at the station and got off, among the many passengers who were dirty and tired, the Wei family was particularly neat and tidy, and in great spirits. Mrs. Wen had indeed arranged for someone to pick them up at the station, and the Wei family saw them after they left the station. The driver put down the sign for picking us up, took the gifts from Wei Nian and Wei Yin and put them in the trunk. Two cars came, one for Wei Nian with the old lady, Chen Xuan, and the little girl, and one for Wei Yin and Wang's eldest sister. The little girl got in the car and asked the driver, "Uncle, is my grandma at home? Did she ask you to pick us up?"
The driver smiled and said, “Yes, young lady.”
The little girl still refused to sit in the back seat because she thought it was too hard to see clearly. She always sat in the front passenger seat with her father. It took only half an hour to drive from the train station to Wen Mansion. The little girl looked around curiously all the way. When she arrived at Wen Mansion, she exclaimed as soon as she landed, "Grandma's house is so big!"
Mrs. Wen answered the phone as soon as she heard the voice. The little girl ran over with her short legs, looked at Mrs. Wen carefully, and said happily, "Grandma, you are more beautiful than in the photo!"
Mrs. Wen was also very happy. She leaned over and hugged the little girl, smiling, "Sister Xin is even more beautiful than in the photo!"
The little girl even kissed Madam Wen, and Madam Wen looked at Chen Xuan. Chen Xuan helped Madam Wei get out of the car, and walked forward with Wei Nian, calling out shyly, "Mom."
Mrs. Wen smiled with relief, "I have been looking forward to this day. I still want to congratulate you and A-Nian. I hope you can realize your dreams and have a successful career in the future."
Wei Nian was respectful and graceful in front of Madam Wen, and said quickly, "I will definitely accept your auspicious words, mother-in-law."
Old Mrs. Wei also smiled and said, "I haven't seen my mother-in-law for several years. You are still the same as before."
"Sister Wei is the same as always." Madam Wen greeted Wei Yin again, and did not leave out Wang Damei, inviting the whole family to go in and rest. Everyone sat on the sofa and talked. The maid brought drinks. Madam Wen served hot milk to little girl Chen Xuan, tea to old lady Wei, and coffee to her and Wei Nian and Wei Yin. Madam Wen smiled, "I've been looking forward to it for a long time. Old Wen went to work in the government, and the children are studying. They will all be back soon. Our old lady knew you were coming, and she said she wanted to see you."
Chen Xuan said hurriedly, "Now that we are here, we should go see the old lady."
Madam Wen patted Chen Xuan's hand and said with a smile, "It's okay. The old lady is resting in the room. Don't disturb her now. She will come out in a while." She asked Chen Xuan if they were tired from the journey.
Chen Xuan said, "I'm not tired. I just lie down and sleep."
The little girl drank milk foam around her mouth and said, "Grandma, the train is great. There are carpets in the carriage and orange juice to drink. The food is good too. There are steaks, potato cakes, and rice and noodles stir-fried vegetables. They taste good too."
Mrs. Wen smiled, "That's good, tell grandma what you want to eat, and I'll ask the chef to make it for you in the evening."
The little girl never knew what politeness was, and she was also honest. As soon as Chen Xuan said, "She eats everything," the little girl said, "I want to eat steamed bread. I haven't eaten steamed bread for several days. There is no steamed bread on the train. Grandma, do you like steamed bread?"
Mrs. Wen smiled, "I like it."
"Then let's eat steamed bread tonight. My grandma likes it, too."
Mrs. Wen naturally agreed.
As everyone was talking, Madam Wen came out of her bedroom. She had silver hair like frost and snow, a face like a full moon, a slightly plump figure, and a white silk cheongsam with dark patterns. There was a string of round white pearls around her neck. However, the wrinkles between her eyebrows and eyes were sharp, and she looked unfriendly. She was Madam Wen's mother-in-law. When she came out, everyone stood up to show courtesy. Madam Wen smiled, "I have the habit of taking a nap. I heard the sound of children talking outside. I thought it was the Wei family, so I came out to see."
Wei Yin looked at Madam Wen intently, and Madam Wei greeted Madam Wen, "Hey, hello, aunt-in-law! You look really wealthy, and you look blessed."
The little girl quietly asked her mother, "Mom, what should I call my aunt-in-law?"
The little girl was born with a loud voice, and even though the child thought it was quiet, it was still loud. Chen Xuan was calm and composed, and always handled things calmly. She said to the little girl, "Just call me great grandma."
The little girl immediately shouted in a loud voice, "Hello, great grandma."
Madam Wen smiled and sat down on the main seat, "Hello, little girl."
The little girl introduced herself, "My full name is Wei Xin, you can call me Ah Xin or Sister Xin, I don't call you Little Girl, Little Girl is not a name."
"The old lady knows." Chen Xuan said to her daughter and greeted Old Lady Wen. Old Lady Wen smiled and said, "Everyone, please sit down." Then she said to Madam Wen, "Since the in-laws have arrived, you should have woken me up. I was so rude for not being able to greet them."
Before Madam Wen could say anything, Wei Nian smoothed over the matter, "Mother-in-law is worried about disturbing your rest. Besides, we are not strangers. Please don't be so polite. It seems strange."
"Yes, yes." The little girl was indeed her father's biological daughter. At her age, she hadn't figured out what the relationship between "in-laws" was, but she said to the old lady in a considerate manner, "This is my grandma's house, you're welcome, my grandma is a very nice person!"
Old Madam Wen almost choked the father and daughter who had become the host. Even though Chen Xuan always thought well of others, she could see that the old lady was not very friendly. She just said, "She has the habit of taking a nap and wakes up when she hears the child's voice," as if she was woken up by the little girl. But looking at Old Madam Wen's complete makeup, she doesn't look like she is taking a nap. Chen Xuan has been in the cosmetics business for several years, so she can still see this. And this kind and noble attitude, but after all, this is someone else's home, they are here as guests, Chen Xuan smiled and said nothing.
Madam Wen just introduced them to each other as if nothing had happened. Madam Wen said to Chen Xuan, "I haven't heard your mother talk about you before, otherwise, she would have invited you here a long time ago. We are not outsiders, just treat this as your mother's home."
Chen Xuan has a kind personality, but that doesn't mean she is stupid. She could hear the hidden meaning in the words. Chen Xuan smiled, "Yes, my mother's home. Wherever my mother is, that's my mother's home. I have never been here before. This time, we have prepared some gifts for you. They are all specialties of old Beijing. Please don't mind." After all, Chen Xuan was not the type to argue with others, so she smiled and changed the subject.
Wei Nian gave the gift he brought to the Wen family to Old Madam Wen. Old Madam Wen also became more restrained, but she was a little uncomfortable when the little girl called her great-grandmother. She took the black coffee brought by the maid and said lightly, "We Nanjing people don't call them grandma, we call them grandmother."
The little girl was not good at listening to people. She said, "We old Beijingers call grandma grandpa. What is grandma? It's so strange!" She giggled. Chen Xuan said to the little girl, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Just call the old lady grandma."
The three words "great grandmother" touched the little girl's funny bone. She laughed endlessly. Madam Wen said casually, "If you feel uncomfortable, just call her old lady."
The little girl acted coquettishly in Madam Wen's arms, "Grandma, can I still call you grandma?"
"I can do it here."
Madam Wen was quite displeased. Although she didn't want to be a cheap great-grandmother, what did this little country girl mean? Is there anything strange about being a great-grandmother? What an ignorant country girl!
Little did the little girl know that Madam Wen was ignorant. She followed her grandmother back to the room to rest, closed the door and said to her grandmother, "That fat old lady is really weird. She wouldn't let me call her great-grandmother for no reason, and insisted that I call her great-grandmother. Grandma, isn't that the language of a servant?"
Old Madam Wei waved her hands and said disdainfully, "What do these old southern barbarians know! We old Beijingers are the ones who truly understand etiquette!"
"I think so too!" The little girl took off her shoes and sat cross-legged on the bed with the old lady, and the two of them started chatting together.
Who is Old Madam Wei? She has been a cunning mother-in-law for more than ten years. How could she not see that Old Madam Wen looked down on her family? Ha, how dare she look down on the visitors from our imperial city!
The author has something to say: ps: The first update is here, the second update will be at 4pm!!!