Chapter 10

Nan Qin was uncertain about what she was referring to, and her heart raced with anxiety. Turning her face to look at Ya Yan, who had a strong sense of justice, she sat up straight and said: "I told Mum about the bracelet. Originally, Second Brother's actions were not honorable, always covering for him only serves to embolden that Qing Fei's arrogance!"

Nan Qin nodded, "Of course. Not only can it call, but it can also sing." As she spoke, she took out Miao Yin's two index fingers, "Shall we have a little competition?"

As she descended the stairs, the telephone in the parlor rang vigorously, and the maid hurried up to grab the receiver, speaking in a foreign accent, "Hello." She was not particularly concerned, shuffling down the stairs in her embroidered slippers, making a clattering sound.

Nan Qin is accustomed to not eating in the morning, but it would be impolite to decline the warm invitation from Madam Feng, so he obediently sat down, expressed his gratitude, and took a sip from the teacup.

Nan Qin let out a sound, indicating that she was not familiar with the person; the maid at home could not recognize her voice. She waved her hand, instructing the maid to bring her coat and shoes. Once everything was in order, she left the house

At the corner of the corridor stood a square-mouthed vase, inside of which was a large bouquet of deep mountain magnolias yet to bloom. The servant had just sprayed water, and tiny waves of light danced among the leaves and branches. As she passed by, she accidentally brushed against it, causing droplets to splash onto her foot. After the bouquet trembled, its arrangement became disordered. She crouched down to rearrange it, adjusting it to a satisfactory position before strolling to the door and instructing someone to prepare the car in the garage

The elders present all wore smiles of satisfaction, repeatedly saying: "Indeed, trust between husband and wife is of utmost importance"

Nan Qin straightened his chest and said: "However, I have decided to cut it a bit."

When she arrived at the residence, De Yin had not yet returned. The ladies were having morning tea in the garden. She approached to greet them, smiling broadly as she bowed to Madam Feng, "Aunt, good morning"

Nan Qin could not interject in the conversation. When the elder brother of Liang Yan passed away, she had not yet entered the family, and her impression of this uncle was limited to a black-and-white photograph of him in military uniform. Madam Feng was concerned that the topic might be too somber, especially since today was De Yin's return visit, so she changed the subject and asked Nan Qin, "I heard about what happened on the wedding day. How did it go with Liang Yan? Did you have a quarrel when you returned?"

The relationship between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law is an age-old dilemma. Others' opinions do not matter; if the mother-in-law looks down on you, with her daily disdainful glances, that is truly tormenting. It is not appropriate for everyone to further provoke her, so Yayan turned to ask Nanqin, "What about you, Second Sister-in-law?"

She stood barefoot on the carpet, her slender instep and arches, with ten toes sinking into the short pile, soft and adorable. He looked at her, feeling somewhat reluctant to part. He turned back to adjust the collar of her morning coat, smiling as he said, "Are you reluctant to see me go? Have you forgotten what I do? It's not just about taking a car. If you urgently need me back, the ground staff can arrange a private plane."

With the power of the Feng family, dealing with a singer is merely a matter of lifting a finger. Madam Feng's words reassured Nan Qin, and she smiled casually, saying: "I understand, thank you for your concern, Mother. On the way back, Liang Yan told me that the bracelet Miss Zhou has was not a gift from him, and I believe him.

The car turned a corner and drove out of the garden. Nan Qin lowered the curtain and entered the bathroom to freshen up. The faucet was gushing hot water as she took off her nightgown and stood in front of the sink. A layer of steam covered the mirror, and she wiped it with her hand, clearing a small patch. Leaning in closer, the edges appeared like a hazy frame, both vague and tangible. Looking at her face, it was flat and expressionless. Scanning down a bit further, she noticed faint kiss marks and bite marks on her collarbone, and suddenly her face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly turned away and stepped into the bathtub. Leaning in closer, the edges appeared like a hazy frame, both vague and tangible. Looking at her face, it was flat and expressionless. Scanning down a bit further, she noticed faint kiss marks and bite marks on her collarbone, and suddenly her face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly turned away and stepped into the bathtub.

Nan Qin and Ya Yan stood up together. Miao Yin was wearing a small dress made of checkered fabric, with a bow on her head, and her little face was rosy and cute, making her a beautiful little girl. Upon seeing Nan Qin, she called out "Second Aunt" and rushed over. Nan Qin also loved children, holding her in his arms and kissing her several times. "Did you cry this morning? You look so pretty, but you have two streams of snot on your face, which diminishes your image. Tell Aunt what you are afraid of? Are you afraid of pain?"

The child was sent away, and the sisters-in-law sat together discussing the trendy items outside. They mentioned that snowflakes are currently the most popular, and among the imported goods, there is a type of tortoiseshell glasses that looks particularly playful when worn. Nan Qin leaned over and asked Ru Zheng, "Elder sister, have you thought about what kind of perm you want? I think larger curls would look great, and styling it in an Ais style later would also be very attractive."

Liang Yan said: "It is good to go out for a walk, but you must be careful not to get burned"

Ru Zheng is a widow, long resigned to her circumstances. With a humble smile on her face, she slowly shakes her head, saying, "You can dress up as you like; in my situation, dressing too fashionably would only invite gossip."

She said there is no need, "You do your thing, there is nothing much at home, no need to rush back on the same day. A tight schedule is exhausting, it would be better to stay a night in Nanjing, and take it easy tomorrow. If you are not coming back, I will stay at Zhita tonight! Yayan mentioned that Miaoyin needs to get vaccinated in the afternoon, and she is worried that the eldest sister won't be able to handle it alone. We will accompany her, and later we will accompany Yayan to get her hair permed."

Yayan excitedly leaned over and asked, "Shorten it? Cut it like a female student?"

The sunlight in early spring mornings appears thin and frail. She leans against the door, squinting as she gazes into the distance. The lawn in the garden is neatly trimmed, and a small angel with fleshy wings has stood on the pillar above the fountain for many years. The texture of the water gate has often been poured over, making it less rough, and it is quite smooth and pleasing under the sunlight. When she recalls the phone call inside, she instinctively goes to listen, only to find it nearing its end. Mother said a brief goodbye and hung up with a click. When she recalls the phone call inside, she instinctively goes to listen, only to find it nearing its end. Mother said a brief goodbye and hung up with a click.

Nan Qin shot him a puzzled glance and said, "Why? I also want to change my hairstyle."

Miao Yin remained silent, joyfully tapping her two slender fingers together, murmuring: "Rooster fights, the fur comes, rooster fights, the fur comes..." Twisting and turning, she raised her hands, "Flap and fly, fly up to the sky to eat insects, and land on the ground to peck at white rice"

Madam Feng nodded, instructing the servant to add a cup and saucer, while asking, "Have you had breakfast? Sit down and have some more."

The topic they were discussing did not interest the young people. Just then, Sister-in-law Ruzheng came over with Miaoyin. Yayan hurriedly went to pull Nanqin, saying, "Miaoyin knows she has to get an injection today and has been making a fuss all morning. I will go and talk to her; she has always listened to you."

Nan Qin watched him leave, then turned back into the room. The floor-to-ceiling window faced the garden gate; she lifted the curtain and looked outside through the vase-like railing. The black-bodied Steampunk slowly drove away, its windows spotless, with Liang Yan seated in the back, his American military uniform accentuating his figure well. His straight shoulders and upright military cap, when viewed from a distance, revealed his captivating charm.

Mother repeatedly wiped her hands on her apron and leaned forward to reply: "A young lady is looking for the gentleman. I told her that the gentleman has gone out. I asked if she wanted to speak to the young mistress on the phone, and she said it was not necessary to trouble her, then hung up the phone." After a moment's thought, she added, "That young lady seems to have the surname Sima."

It is difficult to respond to the elegant words; the person leaned back, supporting the plate against their chest, and turned their head away towards another direction

You glanced over at Mrs. Er, saying, "I fear I will be criticized; with all the men gone, who am I dressing up for? It would be utterly embarrassing at that time."

He prefers the unrefined, which is why Nanqin has always worn her hair straight. He says it looks good, and it seems to remind him of his school days, as if he has an endless nostalgia for that time abroad. However, Nanqin feels somewhat discontented; he is too controlling, not allowing her to engage with many trendy things. Although she has a preference for tradition, the women around her have tried new things, and she also has a tendency to conform, occasionally feeling eager to give it a try. It is futile to reason with him; the only option is to go along with it and act after the fact. She pushed him lightly and said, "I understand, you can go now!"

Miao Yin broke into laughter after shedding tears, such a simple game is merely for entertaining children. Ya Yan chuckled and said, "No wonder she likes you; only you would think of playing this."

A child is indeed a child, easily pacified in just a moment, and with eager anticipation asks: "Will it make a sound if I shake it?"

Madam San sighed helplessly: "Fortunately, I have left behind a wonderful sound, and looking at my granddaughter, I still have some hope."

The second lady mentioned the news she had just heard, "The government has issued a notice stating that the circulation of foreign currency in the market is to be prohibited, and banks have begun exchanging it for the national currency, at a one-to-one rate. Fortunately, copper coins are still usable for the time being; otherwise, buying small vegetables would become a problem"

Deputy Officer Yu was already waiting in the hall; after a brief pause at the banquet, he turned and went downstairs

Miaoyin nodded with tears in her eyes, looking both pitiful and amusing. Nanqin gently rocked her in the iron swing chair, soothing her with a warm voice: "The last doctor was not skilled; today we will change to one who gives painless injections. If you are scared, just close your eyes and don't look; it will be over in a moment. After the injection, we will go to the department store to buy a doll. I heard that there are new dolls on the market; if you hold it upright, its eyes are open, and if you hold it horizontally, it closes its eyes and falls asleep. Do you want one?"

Nan Qin was still a bit dazed, sitting up with sleepy eyes, wearing a bathrobe all the way to the staircase, "Are you going to Nanjing? Driving back and forth will take a whole day!"

Come here, Ru Zheng, and hold the child, give a kiss on the lovely cheek, "Alright, dear child, do not cling to your aunt, go play with A Xiao and the others, later we will buy a doll."

She turned around and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Madam Feng is an experienced person. She pressed down on Nan Qin's hand and said, "Broaden your perspective a bit. Sometimes men are just momentarily confused; everything else is superficial. What truly matters is that he holds you in his heart. Look at Liang Yan; although his temper is not good, he protects you in every way, and we all see that. It's just a game; every man has this tendency. Especially for people like us, we endure more grievances than ordinary families. Rest assured, when Liang Yan arrives, I will certainly teach him a lesson. Harmony is precious between husband and wife; it is not good to start a quarrel. Especially for people like us, we endure more grievances than ordinary families. Rest assured, when Liang Yan arrives, I will certainly teach him a lesson. Harmony is precious between husband and wife; it is not good to start a quarrel. It has become a habit; if we constantly clash over trivial matters, over a lifetime, after enduring for decades, won't we end up turning our bones into dust? As for that Qingfei, if she is intolerable, just find a way to send her back from whence she came; there is no need to let such a person damage the feelings between husband and wife."

Madam Feng was in good spirits and smiled at Madam San, saying: "As the children grow up, the matters I worry about increase. I have to consider their futures and also worry about their marriages. With De Yin married, the burden on my shoulders has lightened a bit, but next it will be Ya Yan and Liang Ze. When I talk to them, they all have a Western mindset and believe they can make their own decisions. However, as parents, it is inherently not an easy life; how can one not be concerned? I often say it is fortunate that we have fewer children at home; if we had eight or nine young masters and young ladies like Deputy Director Li, life would truly be unbearable.

The refined words do not take it to heart, "So what! My elder brother has passed away for two years, and the living cannot always wear filial piety on their faces!"

She thought for a long time on her way here, fearing that Liang Yan might get angry. In the end, she came up with a compromise, blushing and mumbling: "How about just cutting a straight fringe..."

On the day of the De Yin return visit, there was an official engagement during the banquet. Before leaving, I kissed Nan Qin on the forehead and said that I would be going to Nanjing today, and I might not be able to return before dark

Deputy Director Li's wife is quite insightful; she said that when children are numerous, they tend to marry off one after another, and once the first one is married, the rest will follow smoothly. The second wife interjected, recalling her deceased son, and lamented, "I suffer precisely because I have so few children. Liangrun is gone, and now I have no thoughts left at all"

Madam Feng scoffed, "In my hometown, there are people who eat raw eggs; just hearing about it makes one feel nauseated, like mosquitoes."

Speaking of buying vegetables, I am reminded of the distant relatives who came from my hometown in Suzhou last time. They are indeed poor, to the point of being destitute, and asking someone to introduce women to work as maids is simply absurd. Lady San laughed and said, Later, in order to save face, they really went to a wealthy household, found the right opportunity, and then asked the women for money. They hadn't seen eggs for over two months, and when they caught some from the biscuit barrel, they pricked both ends with a needle to suck out several, leaving the woman with no way to explain to her employer.

Nan Qin bit his lip for a long time and said, "Your second brother won't let me perm my hair."

"Those perm treatments can easily go wrong and end up burnt," he adjusted his tie and said, "She has a nice head of black hair, all curled up, but with one misstep it can turn yellow, what a pity. Did you see Director Liu's wife yesterday? The back of her head looked like a bird's nest, the ends of her hair were burnt, is that presentable?"

Yayan immediately showed a face full of disdain, "What can I possibly say to you!"