The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 815 The Childishness That Should Be
"These fireworks are so beautiful."

"It's definitely different from the ones in our Qinghewan."

Everyone watched the fireworks while chatting and laughing.

The night of Lunar New Year's Eve was very cold, and the snow shone with a silvery-white light under the glow of the fireworks.

The wind was quite strong on New Year's Eve; you could feel it blowing in your face even standing under the eaves.

Gu Taohua and Su Chengmin were in charge of setting off fireworks, while Man'er, Yaozu, and Hua'er were the atmosphere team. Every time the fireworks went up into the sky, the children would exclaim in amazement.

Influenced by Man'er and the others, the Crown Prince happily raised his head and grinned.

Man'er made a snowball and threw it at the Crown Prince, who retaliated with a backhand.

Soon, snowballs flew everywhere, and several children started a snowball fight amidst the fireworks.

The Crown Prince has a heavy workload of studies every day in the palace, and is also subject to various rules and even occasional assassination attempts. It would be impossible for him to relax and have a snowball fight like this in the palace.

Only when you go to Tong Huaqiong's home can you rediscover your childlike innocence.

Seeing Gu Taohua setting off fireworks in the snow, Lu Zhaozhao, eager to try it herself, said to Gu Jingzhe, who was supporting her, "I want to set off fireworks too."

As Lu Zhaozhao's belly grew bigger, Gu Jingzhe dared not be careless at all.

They were afraid that Lu Zhaozhao would slip and fall in the freezing weather.

Gu Jingzhe said, "It's windy in the courtyard. We might catch a cold. Let's watch them set off from under the eaves."

Lu Zhaozhao frowned.

Since winter began and it snowed, she has been kept under strict protection by her family.

I'm worried she might get cold or slip and fall.

Even when going to a shop, they would be surrounded by a large entourage.

With the festive atmosphere so lively during the Lunar New Year, she can't even set off fireworks if she wants to.

This pregnancy must have been really tough.

Seeing this, Tong Huaqiong said to Lu Zhaozhao, "Zhaozhao, there will be plenty of opportunities to set off fireworks in the future. Your current condition is really not suitable for setting off fireworks in the snow."

The yard is so slippery; if you slip and fall, it could easily hurt the baby in your belly and yourself.

With the medical technology available at that time, neither the adult nor the child could necessarily be saved.

Tong Huaqiong knew that Lu Zhaozhao was in great pain from losing her temporary freedom, but compared to life, she dared not be careless.

After hearing what Tong Huaqiong said, Lu Zhaozhao gave up the idea of ​​setting off fireworks.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Once your child is safely delivered, we'll buy a whole yard full of fireworks for you to set off."

Lu Zhaozhao chuckled, then exclaimed, "I cherish her even more than Man'er and Yaozu now."

Zhao said, "Zhaozhao, listen to your mother-in-law and take good care of yourself. Don't think you're being delicate; it's good to be a little delicate during pregnancy. Don't listen to people who say some women are perfectly fine during pregnancy, still doing laundry, cooking, and taking care of the whole family, and that giving birth is as easy as laying eggs, and they can go back to work right after giving birth. Anyone who does that suffers in silence. Most women in Qinghewan are like that; who hasn't developed some health problems? Which woman doesn't want to stay home and rest during pregnancy? It's just that we don't have the means."

“Look at your mother-in-law, she’s healthier than me. When she was pregnant, no matter how much your great-grandmother scolded her or what the villagers said, she insisted on not getting out of bed or washing clothes. At most, she would light a fire and cook a simple meal. It’s because she’s in good health that she has the strength and energy to do business.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao smiled and said to Zhao Shi, "Aunt Zhao, I understand this principle. My mother-in-law protects me because it's for my own good."

Liu Yue'e said sourly, "Zhao Zhao is lucky to be born at such a time. When I was pregnant with Yao Zu, I would cook for him from time to time."

Zhao glared at Liu Yue'e and said, "Can those times be compared to now? Back then, everyone was poor and had to work. You were better than other wives. When you were pregnant with Yaozu, you only helped cook a meal for the family. You didn't work in the fields or do laundry. You also did a good job during your postpartum period."

Zhao was too embarrassed to say that Liu Yue'e was much better than Chen Sufen.

The hardest-working daughter-in-law in the Gu family was Chen Sufeng, who had to start working before she had even finished her postpartum confinement period after giving birth to Man'er.

The mother-in-law treated her stepson's wife so inhumanely back then.

She's practically a different person from her current mother-in-law. Fortunately, Chen Su-fen had a proper postpartum period when she gave birth to Ying-er, which helped her recover from the physical strain.

Liu Yue'e envied Chen Sufeng and Lu Zhaozhao's pampered state after becoming pregnant with children who had become wealthy. She wanted to get pregnant again and enjoy being pampered by the whole family.

Tong Huaqiong was speechless at Liu Yue'e's idea, saying, "No matter how well you are taken care of during pregnancy or how well you rest during postpartum, your body will still be more damaged than before you gave birth."

As he spoke, he glanced at Gu Jingzhe.

Before Tong Huaqiong could say anything more, Gu Jingzhe immediately said, "Mother, I will understand Zhaozhao's hardships, treat Zhaozhao well, and not make Zhaozhao angry."

Zhao sighed, "Jingzhe is a tender person."

Soon, the fireworks were over.

Gu Taohua rubbed her frozen, red hands and led Man'er and Yaozu to the corridor.

"The remaining fireworks will be set off on the fifteenth of the first lunar month." Gu Taohua ordered her men to put away the unopened fireworks.

At this moment, Su Chengmin walked over and said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, it's time for you to return to the palace."

The Crown Prince was talking to Man'er and getting ready when he heard Su Chengmin's reminder, and his face showed disappointment.

The Gu family only celebrates the New Year on New Year's Eve.

He had no desire to return to the palace.

However, he had no choice. The Crown Prince threw away the snowball in his hand, and Chen Sufeng carefully wiped his hands clean with a hot towel. Tong Huaqiong ordered someone to bring the Crown Prince a hand warmer.

"Grandmother, I'm going back." The grandson's smile faded as he said to Tong Huaqiong.

"Go back now." Tong Huaqiong straightened the Crown Prince's collar and said, "You've won the first prize of the year; may you have peace and safety every year from now on."

The grandson smiled and said, "Grandmother too."

"Father, Mother, I'm going back."

The Crown Prince approached Chen Sufeng and Gu Dahan, looked up at them, and his eyes sparkled.

Chen Sufeng held the grandson's hand, giving him instructions on everything from food and clothing to reading and rest, before reluctantly letting go.

Gu Dahan had many things he wanted to say to the Crown Prince, but he didn't know how to begin. In the end, he raised his hand and brushed the snow off the Crown Prince's shoulder.

The grandson's nose tingled, and tears almost welled up in his eyes.

On New Year's Eve, at the so-called royal family banquet in the palace, among the familiar faces, there was neither the King nor the Mother.

In his memory, at the New Year's Eve palace banquet, his father and mother sat below his grandfather.

He was young then, and his emotions were written all over his face as he moved about and played at the banquet.

The Prince of Ning's uncle said he was always up to no good, but his father patted his head affectionately and said he was still young and children should play. His mother, on the other hand, held him back, afraid he would catch a cold, and fed him hot soup spoonful by spoonful.

Such a scene will never happen again.

The king and his mother disappeared completely inside and outside the palace walls in a cruel way.

The care shown to him by Gu Dahan and Chen Sufen reminded him of his father and mother.

"Happy New Year, don't be sad. Come out again on the fifteenth, and we'll go see the lanterns." Man'er saw that the Crown Prince's eyes were red, so she came over and took his hand.

The Crown Prince blinked and said with a smile, "Alright."

After bidding farewell to everyone, the Crown Prince, who was wrapped up tightly, was carried onto the carriage by Su Chengmin.

The carriage slowly drove away from the Gu family's residence. The grandson looked back repeatedly, reluctant to leave, and saw the lanterns under the Gu family's eaves swaying in the New Year's Eve wind.

He had a very happy New Year's Eve this year.

Tong Huaqiong and the others stood under the corridor and watched the Crown Prince's carriage drive away before returning to the house.