Mother Zhang freed up her hand, patted her, and sighed, "You, you’re too generous with money. I know what’s in your heart, so just focus on your postpartum recovery. Even if you have money, you should keep it hidden; otherwise, how are you going to manage in the future? Also, it shouldn’t always be you young couple giving money. Once they’re used to it, they’ll just ask next time. The future’s long. Everyone faces difficulties, but how can everyone just look to you? You’re still young and don’t understand the world yet. If they even mind about you during your postpartum period, there’s no need to keep in touch. Why don’t they see how Xiao Wu is working as hard as three people, and how you both provide meat and fabric? It’s not just them; you’ve even taken care of their kids. You should remember, you can give some, but definitely not too much. Normally, don’t give anything; just during family festivities, give a couple pounds of meat. If you must give more, wait until they have a happy occasion at home and then add a little extra. If they give you something, regardless of value, you can reciprocate with something similar. That’s how social etiquette works. If you keep giving freely, over time they’ll think you’ve become stingy when you stop, and they’ll have complaints. Besides your brother and sister-in-law, it’s the same for everyone else. What is social etiquette? It’s exchange, regardless of value, both ways show intention. Don’t give expensive things; those who exploit small advantages will send over a stalk of scallion today, a clove of garlic tomorrow. People’s hearts are the hardest to fathom. Maybe you give them something, they’ll thank you on the surface, but internally they’ll curse you’re stingy, thinking you should give more because you have so much. Few are grateful, many are greedy. Mom knows you’re kind-hearted and don’t mind these things, but between people, there must be mutual caution and mutual help, for relationships to last. Look at your big uncle’s wife, she’s generous and straightforward, isn’t she? But every time her family returns from hunting, they send more than half of the wild game to us and your little uncle’s family. Usually, there’s nothing, except when your grandpa came and there were guests, then your big uncle sent meat. Later, when Xiao Wu hunted a wild boar, I took some over as a return gift, not forgetting your little uncle’s family, otherwise it would seem our two families were snubbing her. This is worldly wisdom, and the exchange of social offerings. Look at your grandpa and mom bringing many things over. Your dad only sends two bottles of wine, nothing else. When your big uncle’s wife and your little aunt came to make dumplings, mom just sent dumplings home with them. Am I stingy? I wouldn’t say I’m unwilling, but look, they have seven sons, when their in-laws send things, do they send them to us? No, so there’s no need to send them anything; if you do, maybe they think I’m showing off and get offended, so I just hide it away. Why send wine? It’s because your grandpa is here; sending two bottles shows consideration. Remember, they’re close family, otherwise why not send it to others? This is social etiquette. If they minded, they wouldn’t help us build the yard. If they did mind, then I’ll just keep distant, as long as things look good on the surface. I’ve said so much, do you understand my point?" Zhou Jiao nodded seriously, "Mom, I’ve remembered all your words. Nobody has taught me this, so wherever I don’t do well, please advise me, use me like your daughter." Mother Zhang smiled, "Aren’t I treating you like a daughter? I know you’re filial, worried your two sisters-in-law might talk behind our backs, making things difficult for me and your dad, affecting brotherly relationships. But what belongs to you is still yours. My Xiao Wu is humane and just, always thinking about his brother. You, be a bit stricter with your money, don’t listen to him all the time." Zhou Jiao laughed heartily, "Mom, you’re quite biased as a mother-in-law. Good thing my sisters-in-law didn’t hear." "Silly girl, after separation, you’d better be more cautious. Originally, I thought your mom would teach you to spend less, but she seems unreliable. She’s even more extravagant than you are, spending even more freely. I’m afraid you’ll feel wronged, not just you, everyone in the family receives her stuff. Her extravagance makes me uncomfortable. Even with a hundred-something salary a month, she plans to live wastefully." Zhou Jiao couldn’t help laughing, collapsing on the bed, it’s so funny. Isn’t it extravagant? Her mom really scared her mother-in-law; she brings in carloads of stuff with such loose spending, so generous. "Mom, I see you and your old friends get along well. Haven’t you suggested she be less spendy?" The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝕟𝕖𝕥 Mother Zhang thought of Lin Lishan and laughed, "I mentioned it, but it’s useless. Luckily, the car comes back, and nobody sees how much is brought over. Otherwise, it’d shock everyone in the village. This time when your dad returns, they’ll only waste more; your dad, itching to give you everything good, accepts. Those two are a perfect match; you’ll see, your dad will support your mom’s spending. Last night, drinking wine, he even mentioned going to hunt tigers and bringing you the hide as a gift." Afterward, she shook her head, never seen a child so cherished. Zhou Jiao became anxious, "My dad better not head into the deep mountains; Northeast Tigers are huge, they measure two meters! I don’t care about tiger skins, Xiao Wu should really hold him back." Mother Zhang patted her, "Don’t worry, your uncle, your big uncle, and little uncle, along with your dad, they won’t be in danger. Three villages go hunting together, they won’t enter the deep mountains. Your dad grew up here, he knows the area well." Zhou Jiao nodded, planning internally that when her dad returns, she would closely watch him, making him swear not to enter the deep mountains, and to keep a distance from tigers and leopards. "Is there anything you want to eat for lunch? I see you’re tired of pig’s trotter and chicken. If there’s fish, that would be good, make a fish hotpot with tofu and sprinkle some scallions." "Mom, stop talking about it, my mouth is watering." Mother Zhang suddenly remembered hearing at the mill yesterday that there were fish at the Xiao Family’s house by the village entrance. She could entertain the in-laws and give Jiao Jiao a culinary change, especially since they’re busy these days, otherwise Xiao Wu would’ve gone to search. Quickly handing her grandson to Zhou Jiao, unsure if they finished eating, she had to check. "Ping’an for you, mom is going out for a bit, you rest and don’t go out." Then without waiting for a response, hurriedly left, leaving Zhou Jiao in a daze, wondering why the mother-in-law was in such a rush.