An 80s female translator was spoiled rotten by a rough and jealous man.

Chapter 26 Zhou Xiaobei

Around noon, the sun was quite dazzling.

Meng Youyou stood in front of Zhou Xiaobei's courtyard gate, carrying a bag of milk powder and two pounds of red dates.

She knocked hard on the door, the sound breaking the midday silence and echoing around the small courtyard.

Not long after, the door was opened, and this time a middle-aged woman appeared in the doorway.

She was wearing a dark-colored, old-fashioned floral blouse with a stain on the hem, and slippers on her feet.

The woman had rough, sallow skin, small, sharp eyes, and chapped lips that turned downwards, giving her a mean and unapproachable air.

Meng Youyou could clearly feel the other person's malicious gaze piercing her like needles, scrutinizing her from head to toe, their eyes full of scrutiny and wariness.

Meng Youyou felt uneasy all over.

Just as Meng Youyou was about to introduce herself, the middle-aged woman frowned and questioned her in an unfriendly tone, "Are you also a teacher at the county's No. 1 High School?"

Meng Youyou was taken aback, as if she hadn't expected the other party to ask this question right away, and a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes.

However, she quickly regained her composure and patiently explained, "No, I'm a member of the village's free medical clinic corner these days."

A few days ago, did a pregnant woman from your family visit our free clinic corner? I brought some nutritional supplements today to do a follow-up check-up for her and find out how things are going.

Didn't she always complain about feeling chest tightness and shortness of breath at night when she came last time? I've come to check on her now, to see if she's gotten any better.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chunmei's previous resistant attitude vanished, replaced by a bright smile, and her voice became loud and enthusiastic: "So that's how it is, come in and sit down."

As he spoke, he stepped aside and beckoned Meng Youyou to go inside.

……

Meng Youyou took off her stethoscope and put it back in the medical kit. While methodically tidying up the other examination equipment, she smiled and said to Lin Hong, "Your cardiopulmonary function and blood pressure are both normal. It's quite common for pregnant women to experience chest tightness and shortness of breath in late pregnancy. How have you been feeling lately?"

Lin Hong nodded gently, her hand unconsciously resting on her protruding belly, and replied, "Last time, Dr. Chu told me to elevate my upper body when I sleep at night, to sleep in a semi-reclining position. After I did that, I felt much better these past two nights."

Meng Youyou deftly closed the medical kit, the lock clicking shut. She continued, "That's good. Besides, it might be better to keep your room well-ventilated at night. But remember, don't let the wind blow directly on you."

While talking to Lin Hong, Meng Youyou kept glancing around the Zhou family's living room, but she couldn't catch a glimpse of Zhou Xiaobei.

Meng Youyou asked, seemingly casually, "Why is it just you and Aunt Zhao at home?"

“My husband works in town and won’t be back until evening. My dad and third sister are working in the fields, and my younger brother is in junior high school. They should all be back for lunch around this time.”

Just then, a commotion came from outside the gate, like the clanging of farm tools colliding with each other.

Hearing the sound, Meng Youyou looked up and went to the door. She saw a middle-aged man walking in front of her. The man was of medium height, with dark skin covered in sweat and his dark trousers stained with mud.

The person following behind was the girl Meng Youyou had seen when she borrowed the scissors last time.

Meng Youyou and Zhou Xiaobei's gazes met in mid-air at the same time, and they both saw surprise in each other's eyes.

Meng Youyou had difficulty switching her thoughts for a while.

"Didn't Xiaofeng say Zhou Xiaobei was the top scorer in the county's high school entrance exam? Why is she working in the fields instead of attending school when she's only sixteen or seventeen?"

Zhao Chunmei was busy in the kitchen when she heard the noise and immediately poked her head out, shouting, "Zhou Xiaobei, you're back, hurry up and come help me cook. Don't dawdle, we have guests today, and I can't manage by myself." Zhou Xiaobei responded reflexively, "Okay, I'm coming right away."

……

Meng Youyou didn't enjoy her lunch at all; it was like having a fishbone stuck in her throat!

In fact, just considering the dishes prepared, three dishes and a soup, cabbage stew with tofu, stir-fried green beans, poached eggs, and tomato egg drop soup, is already considered a sumptuous lunch for an ordinary farmhouse here.

There were six fried eggs on the plate in the center of the table. There were exactly six people at the table. Meng Youyou thought that each person would have one fried egg, which would be just right.

But... after Zhou's father, Lin Hong, and Zhou Xiaobao each took one fried egg... there were still three left on the plate.

Zhao Chunmei first enthusiastically placed a poached egg into Meng Youyou's bowl, and said with a smile, "You brought so many good things to see Daqiang's wife today, I really feel bad. This lunch was prepared in a bit of a hurry, please forgive me if there is anything I haven't done well in terms of hospitality."

What he said sounded quite... well-reasoned at first glance?

Meng Youyou smiled and thanked her.

Zhao Chunmei then placed another fried egg in Zhou Xiaobao's bowl. "Xiaobao, Mom specially fried an extra egg for you today because you passed your math test yesterday, the first time you've passed since starting junior high. This is a reward from Mom."

Meng Youyou was a little dizzy: "..."

"What??? What is she talking about? Besides, did you fry this egg?"

Finally, without hesitation, Zhao Chunmei put the last egg into her own bowl and ate it in big mouthfuls.

Meng Youyou glanced at Zhao Chunmei...

I looked at Zhou Xiaobei again...

Then I looked at Zhou's father, Lin Hong, Zhou Xiaobao...

The five of them showed no reaction whatsoever, calmly eating their poached eggs as if no one, except for Meng Youyou, felt that something was amiss.

Meng Youyou couldn't help but ask, "Aunt Zhao, what about Xiao Bei? Why doesn't she have a fried egg?"

"Huh?" A faint look of embarrassment appeared on Zhao Chunmei's face, but it was quickly replaced by a fake smile. "Xiao Bei doesn't like poached eggs. She likes to drink soup. There are eggs in this egg drop soup, right, Xiao Bei?"

Zhao Chunmei gave Zhou Xiaobei a wink.

After giving a soft "hmm," Zhou Xiaobei quietly buried her face in the bowl.

Meng Youyou felt a mouthful of blood choke in her chest: "..."

"Listen to this, is this even human language?"
Your daughter had just returned home after a morning of farm work, and before she even had a chance to drink water, you called her to the kitchen to fry eggs. In the end, you didn't get to eat a single one yourself.

My God, this is absolutely outrageous!
The guest's mammary glands are still mammary glands!

Who wouldn't be confused if they saw the county's top-scoring student frying two eggs for his younger brother who had just passed his first math exam?

I'm just asking for your votes!
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(End of this chapter)