章節 19: First Lesson
In the expansive Lin family mansion's living room, Mrs. Xiu stood in a supplicating manner while Mrs. Lin sat on the plush sofa with her legs crossed.
The sofa looked brand new because the day Xiu Ling's water broke, Mrs. Lin had the servants moved the old sofa out of the house and went online to purchase a new one. She was not going to let the dirtied sofa, especially not one stained with that shameless woman's bodily fluid remain in the house to contaminate the place.
Just the thought of it made Mrs. Lin shuddered from disgust.
...And now she had to deal with yet another problem, one also created by that woman. She really could not catch a break. 'When would that commonplace woman finally leave her and her family in peace?!' Mrs. Lin thought to herself.
In any case, Mrs. Lin turned to regard the woman who was supposed to be her in-law and she began, "Auntie Xiu, since you are currently under Lin family's payroll, you will be treated like a hired help and you should expect nothing better. Do not assume we will lay the red carpet out for you because you are here to work and not here in the capacity of a guest. Understood?"
"Of course, Mrs. Lin…" Mrs. Xiu answered out of habit. Mrs. Lin was how she had always referred to her in-law.
Mrs. Lin frowned with displeasure and coughed audibly to interrupt her.
Mrs. Xiu caught herself immediately and corrected promptly, "Of course, Madam."
Mrs. Lin nodded with wicked satisfaction before adding, "Also, do not expect that your daughter will come to your rescue.
"She is at most a tolerated house guest at this house. We have already given her more than enough face to allow you to work here. If not for Auntie Sun's all too sudden departure, I would have definitely seek a higher quality help elsewhere."
"Of course, Madam. Thank you for your kindness and understanding, Madam," Mrs. Xiu said since it felt like that was the right thing to say.
Mrs. Xiu's instinct was correct because Mrs. Lin nodded satisfactorily and thought to herself, 'At least this one knows her place.'
With the rules set in place, Mrs. Lin wanted to wrap this first lesson up, her time was definitely better spent elsewhere than liaising with the help.
"Alright, that is all for now. Auntie Xiu, you are dismissed. Make yourself busy, go clean the toilet or something."
"Of course, Madam."
…
When Mrs. Xiu entered the main bedroom, Xiu Ling was sulking in the large king-size bed.
Looking at her disgruntled daughter, Mrs. Xiu smiled to herself and placed the bowl of braised pig's feet on the table. The dish was filled with collagen and was perfect for new mothers who just gave birth. It would help tremendously to heal the surgical wounds.
Xiu Ling turned to her mother and said, "Mom, why did you agree to do this? You could have gone home and left things be. Why did you volunteer to take on this degradation? You know as well as I do how the Lin family looks down on us, so why did you go and ask for this humiliation?" Xiu Ling hated that she could not keep the petulant whine out of her voice.
"And leave my daughter to fend for herself? You know I cannot do that," Mrs. Xiu commented with a smile.
She sat down on the bed and used her fingers to smooth Xiu Ling's, something she used to do when the young Xiu Ling threw her rare tantrums.
Xiu Ling turned her head away, a non-verbal sign that she still disapproved of what Mrs. Xiu did in spite of her kind intention.
Mrs. Xiu smiled to herself, to be honest, she was glad that her daughter was acting this way. It meant that Xiu Ling was honest with her feelings, she did not put up a façade like Mrs. Xiu noticed her daughter was prone to do around other members of the Lin family.
When Xiu Ling was in her mother's presence, at least Xiu Ling could be herself and could show as well as vent her authentic emotions. Mrs. Xiu was to be dumpster where her daughter could channel her emotions. Knowing that she had at least served that purpose, Mrs. Xiu felt her decision to stay had been more than validated.
"Furthermore, how can I leave my precious grandson just like that?"
The mention of her new-born son softened the expression on Xiu Ling's face.
Mrs. Xiu carried on, "Before Sister Sun left, she assured me that while the members of Lin family, especially Mrs. Lin, might be hard to please but they are good individuals at heart.
"After a few days' of interaction, I am prone to believe that she is right. They are not malicious individuals, they are merely products of their environment. It will be wrong of us to hold that against them.
"Xiu Ling, I will be fine. Don't you worry about me, if anything, you should be more worried about yourself. This one month period after birth is the most important for a new mother should she wish for a perfect recovery so you need to let me take good care of you and stop worrying about me.
"You know your mother has weathered worse, or do you have that little faith in me?" Mrs. Xiu smiled genially.
Xiu Ling could not help but smile in return. Her mother was right, she was a tough cookie, how else did she manage to raise a daughter alone in the patriarchal society of China?
However, this did not mean that Xiu Ling could stop herself from worrying about her aged mother. It is a mother's nature to worry about her children but who is to say the opposite is not equally true?
Ultimately though, Xiu Ling's concern was unfounded. Things at the Lin family mansion went much more smoothly than she anticipated… or at least initially.
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