Transmigration: I Have Storage Space in the Apocalypse novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Chapter 019 Trouble with an Unworthy Daughter-in-Law

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"Little girl, have you found it yet?" Xie Jingchen called from outside. After all, it was his sister's room, and he, a grown man, shouldn't just barge in.

"Ah, coming." Zhang Shan Ni hastily picked the oldest and most out-of-style undergarments from a pile of clothes in Space, tucking them among her little aunt's clothes as she responded.

She followed Xie Jingchen back to the main house and looked at the inner room, which was refurbished, with moisture on the bed and footstool, clearly just wiped down. She was even more pleased; a man diligent in household chores was a blessing for a wife.

Xie Jingchen did not follow Zhang Shan Ni into the inner room but continued with a rag into the kitchen to quickly wipe the dust off the stove. After checking the firewood supply, he called Zhang Shan Ni, and they went back to the front yard together.

Hot water couldn't be ready instantly, so he planned to have dinner before letting Little Girl come back to bathe, to avoid sweating after eating and nullifying the bath.

Just then, Zhou Xiuhua had finished setting up the meal, and the three older children had also returned. Seeing Xie Jingchen and Zhang Shan Ni, they loudly greeted them, calling 'Second Uncle' and 'Second Aunt'.

"Hmm. Sit down to eat."

Xie Jingchen held considerable authority in the Xie Family. Despite his usual smile when facing the villagers, his serious, stern expression when not smiling was quite severe.

At home, Xie Jingchen acted as the second head of the Xie Family, his presence even more commanding than his older brother Xie Jingwei.

Of course, one was a simple old farmer, the other a tough and active military officer. Without comparison, it was clear who was more imposing.

Following behind, Zhang Shan Ni greeted Dad and Mom, then listened as Xie Jingchen introduced her to the several nephews. Since she came empty-handed, without any gifts, although gifts weren't customary at this time, she still felt somewhat embarrassed.

The Xie Family members, seeing this, thought this Zhang Shanni (Second Aunt) was quite shy. After the initial food feeding, Xiao Si and the others who had interacted with her called her sweetly, which made her too nervous to tense up, and she shyly blinked following Xiao Si and the others' lead.

Xiao Si covered his mouth to stifle a laugh, and Xiao Wu also showed a happy smile. Xiao Liu and Xiaoqi were younger but also thought the Second Aunt had a very pretty smile!

At that time, children's hearts were truly pure and simple. Zhang Shan Ni liked children [having none of her own]. When she wanted to marry and have children, the apocalypse came, and she couldn't even ensure her own survival, let alone think about having children!

Back then, she was just relieved she hadn't brought misfortune upon a worthless husband; otherwise, she would have hated herself for being 'foolish'!

Now, Zhang Shan Ni decided that as long as Xie Jingchen passed her own 'inspection' and trials, she planned to have children with him, taking advantage of the current lack of restrictions on childbirth to have a few more.

She was lonely, especially just quietly taking care of herself. Living through three years in the apocalypse? Or was it five years? Time blurred, and she could barely remember how she had lived through such times, feeling like living was more painful than death, yet she hadn't the courage for self-harm.

Holding onto hope that her parents were still alive, she thought maybe she'd see them again tomorrow... With that hope, she survived one crisis and scheme after another.

In the end, she died at the hands of that wretched man... Her legally recognized husband, heh, was nothing but a joke.

With hope, no matter how hard or tired, she could keep living well—she had promised her dad and mom that she would live well!

The meal was lively with everyone, especially the children who were sharing innocent thoughts at the table, making Xie Tiesheng and Zhou Xiuhua smile warmly...

Xiao Wu was not shy either; seeing the Second Aunt holding her, she quickly extended her little arms to cling to her neck.

"Ah, your sisters-in-law have all gone back to their parents' houses. Let's just wipe the kids down a bit first. They've been playing in the mud all day; they're so dirty."

Zhou Xiuhua said while walking ahead. Outside the kitchen, they had built a bathroom addition. Before, they washed in the small partition in the kitchen, but as the sons grew up and married, and the grandchildren multiplied, that small partition became too cramped.

Just a few years ago, when constructing the Right Wing Courtyard, a bathroom was added to the kitchen area, according to Shitou. They expanded a hole on the wall near the stove side, built a small secondary kitchen, and typically, while cooking, by just heating water on the stove in this bathroom, that water can be heated and then poured into a wooden tub, mixing some cold water, it would be enough for the whole family's use.

If the weather was cold, the stove in the area could also be used to light firewood, saving the trouble of having to heat water in the kitchen and then carrying it over to the bathhouse; it truly saved a lot of effort.

"Mom, the children have played with mud for a long time today, shouldn't we give them a bath? Frequent baths are good for the children's health, keeping them clean helps prevent illness!" Zhang Shan Ni, having heard her mother-in-law, softly urged her.

The spacious bathroom, more than ten square meters large, with a stove near the door, includes a not-so-small partition inside, almost six to seven square meters in size. Two adults and children going in wouldn't feel cramped at all.

"It's too much trouble." Zhou Xiuhua shook her head in rejection, bathing all four kids together would be too much for her since she isn't physically strong, bending too much causes her pain and fatigue, she couldn't bathe the children every day.

Ah, having an unvirtuous daughter-in-law, her role as a mother-in-law definitely means more burdens, since she can't stand seeing things in disorder!

To be honest, seeing her grandsons and granddaughters left at home like little wild chicken chicks, her heart ached with anger at the irresponsible Fifth's wife!

Ah, she shouldn't have given in to Fifth's wishes!