“How can I do that? Your in-laws are living with you.”
“I have many rooms in my home. Mom, please come and live with us.”
“No, no. Who’d live in their daughter’s home? When I’m old and can’t move around on my own, I’ll live with Zhixin’s family. After all, sons have the duty to take care of their parents. I raised Zhixin so he’ll take care of me when I’m old. I won’t be a burden to my daughter.”
“But your daughter is richer than your son and I want to take the burden.” Huo Mian chuckled.
“Still no. In our north, we don’t have this tradition. I won’t go. No. People will laugh at me. When the baby is born, I’ll go and take care of you and the baby for one month, but I’ll never live permanently in your home.”
Like other elderly people, Yang Meirong was old fashioned and thought she should live with her son’s family and people would laugh at her if she lived in her daughter’s home.
So, she refused Huo Mian’s offer without leaving room for negotiation.
“Mom, you’ll be lonely…”
“I won’t feel lonely. When Zhixin has children, I can help them.”
“Forget it. Bella said she’d raise their children herself to have a better relationship with them.”
“Then I can do square dancing, play cards, hike, and climb mountains with my friends.”
“Mom, I want to ask you a question, but please don’t hit me for it.”
“You sound like you want to ask me a question that I won’t like.” Yang Meirong wasn’t stupid and knew her daughter would ask her an awkward question.
“Haha. I know you won’t beat me anyway because I’m pregnant. You’d never beat your grandson, right?”
“Don’t blackmail me with my grandson. Speak.”
“Mom, many years have passed since Uncle Jing passed away. Have you ever thought of…”
Huo Mian was a bit afraid so she paused.
“Have you ever considered finding another life partner?” Huo Mian mustered her courage.
She thought her mother would get riled up and give her a dressing-down because her question would sound disrespectful.
But to her surprise, Yang Meirong was calm except for a sight change in her expression.
“Mian, to be honest, Zhixin asked me the same question.”
“Oh? That fellow has the same thought?”
“Yeah, just like you, he was worried that I’d feel lonely… But to be honest, at my age, I don’t want a relationship. I feel content with you guys staying close, and getting a chance to watch your kids and then Zhixin’s kids grow up. That’s all I want for the rest of my life.”
“Mom, you must live for yourself. There’s no reason that you should take care of our kids.”
“I know. But probably because I went through a lot when I was young, I know what I want for my life… Now I know it’s true that you get what you sow. When Shen Jiani married into the Huo Family, she was so overbearing that it seemed like she wanted all the people in the world to know she was the young mistress of the Huo Family. But what happened? Even her bones are rotten by now. Fortunately, I woke up from my stupidity in time, didn’t become the other woman, and returned to a normal life…”
“Mom, you can’t blame yourself. Huo Zhenghai lied to you… He told you he had divorced Jiang Hong, so you were not the other woman…”
“It only means that I was stupid and even believed that man’s words. Hehe… Fortunately, I didn’t marry into the Huo Family. You’d become Miss Huo if I did, but you wouldn’t have become a different person.”
Yang Meirong touched Huo Mian’s hair and was satisfied with what her daughter had become.
“Mom, do you still miss Uncle Jin?” Huo Mian changed the subject and asked suddenly.
