Mrs. Xie shot a resentful glare at the wall. "That little rascal, making such a ruckus. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind."
"Aunt Qiao, this is a good thing. Their relationship is so good, you’ll be able to hold a grandson before you know it," Jie Jingling said, smiling at Mrs. Xie.
"Hold a grandson? If I’m counting on Jing Si, I might as well count on Jing Wu." Mrs. Xie was dejected just talking about it. Her fourth son was so capable, yet he couldn’t have children. It was such a pity.
"Jing Wu doesn’t even have a girlfriend yet." Jie Jingling was confused as to why Aunt Qiao was looking past the obvious solution.
"Your Fourth Brother injured his back. It left him with complications, so he can’t have children." Mrs. Xie wasn’t shy about it. Jie Jingling wasn’t an outsider, so there was no harm in telling her.
"What?" Jie Jingling was stunned. Seeing the look on Aunt Qiao’s face, she knew she wasn’t just making things up. "Aunt Qiao..."
"Let’s not talk about this. It just makes me miserable. Jing Ling, go on and get some rest. I’m off to work." Mrs. Xie cut Jie Jingling off.
"Aunt Qiao, I made breakfast," Jie Jingling said.
"I’m not eating. I’m not in the mood." Mrs. Xie refused, slipping on her slippers and walking out of the room to go change in her own.
Jie Jingling sat on the edge of the bed, mulling over Mrs. Xie’s words. ’I don’t get it,’ she thought. ’I’ll just ask Qin Mei directly when she wakes up.’
Mrs. Xie rode her bicycle to work. A little while later, Jie Jinghun and Shen Qing also woke up. They washed up in the courtyard and left for work without eating breakfast.
Sun’s mother and Sun Dexiang got up too. Sun’s mother stood in the courtyard and yelled, "Jing Ling, is breakfast ready?"
Shaking off her thoughts, Jie Jingling came out of the room. "Mom, it’s ready."
"Ah Xiang, let’s go eat." Sun’s mother pulled Sun Dexiang toward the kitchen.
Jie Jingling went to get Jing Qi and Sun Tong, knocking on their door. "Seventh Sister, Tongtong, are you two awake?"
"Mom." Sun Tong opened the door.
"Big Sister." Jing Qi walked out.
Jie Jingling smiled and patted Sun Tong’s head. "Tongtong, are you getting used to it here?"
"Yes." Sun Tong nodded. She really liked it here. Everyone was so nice to her; she didn’t even want to go home.
"That’s good." Jie Jingling nodded with a smile, then turned to Jing Qi. "Seventh Sister, sorry for letting Tongtong trouble you."
"Big Sister, don’t say that. I really like Tongtong," Jie Jingshan said with the air of an elder.
Jie Jingling was gratified. She took Jie Jingshan’s hand with one hand and Sun Tong’s with the other. "Come on, let’s go eat breakfast."
Jie Jingshan felt how rough her big sister’s hands were and was suddenly confused. "Big Sister, aren’t you a doctor?"
’Mom is a doctor, and her hands are soft and delicate. They’re both doctors, but Big Sister’s hands are so rough.’
Jie Jingling paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "I’m a village’s barefoot doctor."
"But your hands?" Jie Jingshan asked.
"Little Aunt, my mom has to do farm work after she gets off," Sun Tong said.
"Why?" Jie Jingshan didn’t understand.
"Grandma makes her do it," Sun Tong said. Seeing Jie Jingchen come out of his room, she paused and called out, "Fourth Uncle."
"Such a good girl, Tongtong." Jie Jingchen patted the top of Sun Tong’s head.
When Jie Jingling saw Jie Jingchen, a flash of awkwardness crossed her eyes. Jie Jingchen noticed but didn’t say anything. He knew they had made so much noise last night; there was no way his big sister hadn’t heard. Still, he didn’t feel embarrassed in front of her.
"Fourth Uncle, it’s time for breakfast. Aren’t you going to call Fourth Aunt?" Sun Tong asked.
"Your Fourth Aunt isn’t awake yet. We’ll let her sleep in and save some breakfast for her," Jie Jingchen said.
"Okay." Sun Tong nodded. When her Fourth Aunt stayed at their house, she loved to sleep in, always waking up whenever she naturally did.
At first, Sun’s mother had a problem with it, but gradually she started hoping Qin Mei would sleep late. The later she slept, the more satisfied Sun’s mother was—it saved them a meal.
After breakfast, Jing Qi took Sun Tong back to the room. Sun’s mother and Sun Dexiang were picking grapes under the grapevine trellis. Jie Jingchen was washing the dishes, and Jie Jingling stood behind him, hesitating to speak.
"Big Sister, if you have something to say, just say it," Jie Jingchen said. ’He wasn’t sure if she was about to ask him for help.’
Jie Jingling steeled herself. Since her fourth brother told her to be direct, she would be. "Fourth Brother, Aunt Qiao said you can’t have children."
Jie Jingchen’s hands paused in the middle of washing the dishes. He was speechless when it came to his mother. ’Is being infertile something to be proud of? If I really couldn’t have kids, it’s not like she’d look good either.’
’Just think of Jie Anlin. He can’t have children, and Grandpa, Granny, and Second Uncle and Aunt wish they could hide it from the world. But when it comes to me, my own mother acts like she wants to announce it to everyone.’
"Big Sister, don’t listen to my mom. She’s just talking nonsense," Jie Jingchen said.
But Aunt Qiao had sounded so convincing; it didn’t seem like nonsense. Jie Jingling was afraid of hurting his pride, but she was also worried he was avoiding the problem. "Fourth Brother, if you really can’t have children, we can find a way to treat it."
"Big Sister," Jie Jingchen said helplessly.
Jie Jingling began to earnestly persuade him. Jie Jingchen wanted to interrupt her several times, but in the end, he just kept washing the dishes and listened in silence.