Chapter 28: Your Eyelids Are Too Puffy

Sue’s sister-in-law, Zhao Chunhua, didn’t even pause to smooth down her brand-new dress. She reached out and scooped up Xiao Tangbao, planting a loud, wet kiss right on the girl’s rosy cheeks.

“Such a little sweetheart!” she cooed, eyes glistening. “Even if I never have a daughter of my own, having you is more than enough.”

Her voice cracked. Her eyes were red.

How sweet, how precious her little sister-in-law was! She wanted to hand over her heart just to see that smile.

As the eldest daughter-in-law in the Su family, Zhao Chunhua usually carried herself with dignity and grace. But today, in front of her in-laws, she’d completely lost it—because this little girl was simply too much to resist.

Second sister-in-law Qian Yuemai watched from the side, her expression a tangled mess.

“I—I’d be happy too,” she stammered, throat tight. “Parents, don’t worry. From now on, Xiao Tangbao will be our little… little goddess. I’ll take care of her like she’s royalty…”

Xiao Tangbao’s lips twitched.

Was that really necessary?

You could’ve just *thought* it. Why say it out loud?

And even if you *do* want to treat me like a queen, couldn’t you at least keep it private? Especially in front of Dad and Mom?

Besides, Xiao Tangbao didn’t believe for a second that her second sister-in-law had suddenly turned sincere.

She gave Qian Yuemai her most innocent look, then pointed a tiny finger at her own eyelids, saying in a soft, babyish voice:
“Er shao, gao gao.”

Well, there went the title again—big spoon, little spoon. The sisters-in-law had accidentally become “Big Spoon” and “Little Spoon” thanks to Xiao Tangbao’s adorable mispronunciation.

Qian Yuemai froze.

Why did she have to point it out?

She’d been trying so hard to hide it!

Was this kid *trying* to embarrass her?

The entire family’s attention snapped to Qian Yuemai’s eyes.

They were swollen—so puffy that her once-small eyes were now just narrow slits.

Back when the room was dimly lit by a kerosene lamp, no one had noticed. Now, under the full glare of everyone’s stares, she felt like she was on display.

Her face burned. She wanted to vanish into the floorboards.

Sure, Grandma Su hadn’t actually sent her back to her parents’ house—but she’d given her a scolding so fierce, Qian Yuemai had cried and begged all afternoon, kneeling until her legs ached.

Now her eyes were puffed up, and her leg hurt too.

“Honey,” Su Erhu asked bluntly, “what happened to your eyes?”

Qian Yuemai opened her mouth, then closed it.

“N-nothing,” she mumbled. “Just… something got in them. I rubbed them too hard.”

She made up the story on the spot, flustered.

But Su Erhu was too caught up in today’s profits to notice anything unusual. He just shook his head.
“Be more careful. You already have tiny eyes—now you can barely see!”

Qian Yuemai stared blankly.

She was about to scream.

One moment she was touched by her husband’s protective instinct—then she wanted to punch him in the face.

Old Master Su glanced at his wife. They exchanged a knowing look.

A father-in-law wouldn’t normally pry into his daughter-in-law’s business—but he was sharper than his son. He knew something serious had happened.

After a silent nod between the two of them, he understood.

“Alright,” Grandma Su said, turning to her daughter-in-law. “Get the food on the table. Your father and brothers haven’t eaten yet.”

Qian Yuemai exhaled in relief. Without another word, she bolted toward the kitchen like she was running from a ghost.