Chapter 78: A Mother-in-law Is Not a Mother

What delighted Tang Xin even more was marrying a man she loved and having a mother-in-law who treated her exceptionally well. Encountering such wonderful circumstances, Tang Xin felt she must have accumulated blessings over several lifetimes to enjoy these happy days.

Because her daughter-in-law was teaching the family to read and write, Mrs. Fang believed she was working too hard and tireless every day. So she made it her mission to cook varied meals daily, striving not only for deliciousness but also for health. It was just as those educated youths from big cities called it—nutrition.

Take the wild boar meat they received last time, for example. Besides the usual stew with potatoes, Mrs. Fang made a special clay-pot stew, adding some dried bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, and sun-dried mushrooms she’d gathered earlier. The flavor was indescribable. It was so delicious that, after everyone had eaten their fill, Li Sheng finished the remaining broth by mixing it with rice, leaving the bowl spotless.

Other vegetarian dishes were served daily, but Mrs. Fang always paired different ingredients, making every meal both visually appealing and tasty. Eggs were now plentiful in the household; ever since Tang Xin joined the family, three extra eggs could be collected every day. Mrs. Fang naturally credited this to Tang Xin.

Li Xiyue was fiercely jealous, simmering with resentment. “It’s not as if my sister-in-law laid the eggs herself—why should she get the credit?” What Li Xiyue didn’t know was that it really was Tang Xin’s doing. At first, Tang Xin nervously placed three eggs in the chicken coop daily, fearful of arousing suspicion. But her mother-in-law was only delighted, never questioning it. After all, hens don’t follow strict routines, and the existence of a spatial farm producing goods was beyond anyone’s imagination.

Her stock of eggs continued to grow, especially as her land expanded and the upgrade rewards became more generous. Sometimes she would receive hundreds of eggs at once, so she simply took out three eggs every day, rain or shine. Mrs. Fang, content with this, made sure to cook those three eggs daily, since they only appeared after the daughter-in-law joined the family.

Sometimes, she would add eggs from their own reserves; steamed eggs, boiled eggs, fried eggs—egg dishes were never lacking on the Li family’s table. One crop allotted by her farm’s upgrade was soybeans. After harvesting them, Tang Xin exchanged the soybeans for enough points. Then, she could operate the processing workshop, producing not only tofu and various sauces but also vegetable oil. She had yet to find a suitable excuse to bring out the oil. Last time, she had sent these items as a package, claiming they came from her father.

Upon reflection, Tang Xin realized this wasn’t ideal; she didn’t want to build up her unreliable father’s reputation. In fact, since he had scolded her over the phone before her marriage, she hadn’t contacted him again. Only her mother had written her letters, and as far as she knew, her father kept in touch with Meng Jia more than with her.

The Li family believed her own family continued to dote on her even after she married in the countryside, but reality was different. Tang Xin didn’t intend to let this misunderstanding persist, yet hadn’t found the right moment to clarify. She couldn’t expose it herself, or else, despite her in-laws’ kindness, they might gradually form negative opinions of her. Besides, aside from her own family, there really wasn’t a suitable reason to reveal items from the spatial farm.

For the oil and tofu this time, unable to find an explanation, Tang Xin simply said she bought them at the commune. Her in-laws didn’t question her, but Li Sheng was concerned. “If you want something, just tell me. It’s better to save your own money.”

Since Li Sheng’s return, the family’s meals had improved, and shopping became more convenient. He knew people at the commune’s grain bureau, and while he seldom cooked himself, he understood that adding more oil made dishes tastier, so he traded for grain and oil, though it cost more than buying at the supply cooperative. However, it was unlimited and didn’t require ration vouchers, making it much easier.

Li Sheng had noticed that, ever since Tang Xin married in, the family’s health and complexion had improved greatly. Now his eldest son was back home, promising not to leave again for a while, which made Mrs. Fang even happier and more determined to feed her daughter-in-law well and plump.

Ha! Ideally, she hoped for a grandchild soon.

This time, Li Sheng hadn’t brought any gifts for the family, so he went up the mountain. Mostly, he had spent all his money; his salary was used to support the family, and each trip out he carried a fixed sum. He hadn’t bought anything else, except for a pair of leather shoes for Tang Xin—winter boots similar to those she’d seen in later years. Short snow boots, though not as stylish as those in modern times, but she knew the quality was excellent. In those days, fake goods were rare; if the voucher said “leather shoes,” they were indeed genuine leather.

These were likely purchased at the department store, and too expensive to require vouchers, paid for in cash. Of course, he hadn’t brought snacks for the younger siblings, nor did he only bring gifts for his wife; he also brought a piece of animal hide for his mother to sew knee warmers for the elders, since winters were cold. As people age, their health declines, and Li Sheng knew his parents had suffered in their youth, so he tried to care for them as best he could.

Although Tang Xin was young both in this life and the last, she wasn’t naive or ignorant. Mrs. Fang was a wonderful mother-in-law, but Li Sheng was her son; he hadn’t bought gifts for his siblings, only for his wife. Tang Xin worried this might cause resentment, so she cheerfully brought the leather shoes to show her mother-in-law, straightforwardly telling her they were a gift from Li Sheng.

Mrs. Fang beamed with genuine happiness. This was exactly why she liked Tang Xin so much—her daughter-in-law was always direct, never scheming, the kind of girl she favored.

“Try them on and see. See if Li Sheng got the size right.”

Tang Xin tried them and found they fit perfectly. Li Sheng’s attentiveness was impressive, knowing her exact size.

Mrs. Fang was proud, “Li Sheng is very clever, and sharp-eyed. Anyone he cares about, he treats with utmost attention.”