Chapter 570: Chapter 570: Like She’s Suffering from Some Serious Illness

“Auntie, how did you change so much? I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Inside the room, besides Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin, there was another woman.

Qin Jianjun didn’t recognize her at first and was about to greet her out of politeness. On closer inspection, he realized it was his aunt, Ma Suyun.

He hadn’t been back for more than half a year, and in that time, his family hadn’t changed much. Even his grandparents looked the same as before, except for this aunt.

At a glance, she looked like a gravely ill patient, with more wrinkles than his mother, a sallow and dull complexion, and so thin she barely looked human.

Ma Suyun didn’t mind Qin Jianjun’s stare; instead, she seemed a bit proud.

“Oh, it’s just that your younger brother is too active, making it hard for me to eat and sleep well. This little one hasn’t been well-behaved since he was in the womb. You can tell he’s a lively one, but don’t worry, that’s how it is during pregnancy.”

Qin Jianjun couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

Who was worried? He was just shocked to see someone so thin as if left with only skin and bones, looking like they were seriously ill.

He hadn’t expected she was pregnant.

But is pregnancy really like this? His fourth aunt is also pregnant and seems even a bit fatter than before, definitely not like this.

Though doubtful, Qin Jianjun didn’t pay much more attention to it.

Placing the box of pastries in front of the two elders, he opened it up while saying, “Grandpa, Grandma, these are pastries I bought from the city. There are many kinds: crispy ones, soft ones, some with fillings, and what they call roll cakes with cream…”

Mrs. Qin’s toothless gums were all exposed as she smiled, “Oh dear, you’re working hard and earning money outside, save the money to find a wife. Your grandpa and I have plenty to eat at home, no need to worry about us.”

From the moment Qin Jianjun entered, Ma Suyun had been eyeing the things he brought.

Now that the box of pastries was open, the aroma wafted over, and seeing those exquisitely made pastries, she instinctively swallowed, “Mother, what are you saying? It’s Jianjun’s thoughtfulness. He’s grown up and knows to buy delicious food to honor his elders.”

Qin Jianjun knew his grandmother had bad teeth, so he picked a soft one and brought it to the old lady’s mouth, “Grandma, try this. The cream inside is really good.”

Mrs. Qin took a bite from his hand, and the soft cake practically melted in her mouth, with egg and cream flavors she had never experienced before.

“Grandma, is it good?”

“It’s delicious. I’ve never had such a tasty cake in my life.”

Mrs. Qin was so moved she nearly cried.

All these years of doting on her oldest grandson hadn’t been in vain; he made money and knew to buy her new clothes and such delicious pastries.

“A couple of bites are enough for me; let your grandpa have some,” she said, planning to savor what was left. Come Spring Festival, she wanted to show these to her old friends, boasting a luck no one else had.

Qin Jianjun insisted on putting the cake into the old lady’s hand, “There’s more. Grandpa likes ones with filling. Here, Grandpa, this one’s got date paste filling.”

“With date paste filling?” Mr. Qin eagerly took a bite, “Delicious, truly delicious, aromatic, soft, and sweet. The filled pastries I had before had sugar and candied green silk; this is so much better. Truly worthy of city pastries.”

“If you like it, eat more. I’ll bring more next time I visit.”

Mr. Qin was also so delighted his eyes squinted into slits, eating happily, and just as he finished one piece, another was stuffed into his hands by Qin Jianjun, which made Ma Suyun a bit restless.

She began to speak with a smile, “Jianjun is indeed filial. These pastries look so good; we can’t buy anything like them here. You can smell how fragrant they are. When your elder uncle worked at the Hardware Company, he bought pastries for your grandparents too. He tried to get the best available, but in our small county, it was just peach pastries and sponge cakes.”

She craned her neck to look inside the pastry box, “I’ve never even seen those cream rolls before, let alone tasted them. I don’t know what cream tastes like.”

Qin Jianjun had been focused on his grandparents, but hearing the clear implication in his aunt’s words, he glanced at the pastries in the box, contemplating whether to let her have some.

Truth be told, he didn’t like this aunt much after she bad-mouthed his fourth aunt.

If she wasn’t his actual aunt, he wouldn’t even bother to say a word to her.

But in front of his grandparents, this aunt kept praising him.

There’s a saying that you don’t hit someone who’s smiling.

As he was pondering, his mother’s voice came from outside.

“What’s cream taste like? Just like milk, right? Like the milk from Old Chen’s big cow at the west end of the village. I remember you couldn’t stand these gamey smells when pregnant. Jianjun, quickly take the pastry box away. It can’t stay here with your grandma. Your aunt is pregnant and can’t handle these smells, or else she’ll be nauseous again. Quickly take them to your room. If your grandpa and grandma want some, they can always get it from you. You don’t know how hard your aunt’s pregnancy has been, and we should be understanding. She often visits your grandpa and grandma; we can’t let her suffer even more.”

Qin Jianjun wanted to tell his mom that though cream has a milk flavor, it’s neither fishy nor gamey.

But he saw his mom constantly winking at him.

Though confused, Qin Jianjun obediently covered up the pastry box, “Alright, Grandpa, Grandma, I’ll put the pastry box in my room. If you want some, you can come and get it from me, or I can bring it to you.”

Seeing Qin Jianjun was seriously about to take the pastry box away, Ma Suyun grew anxious.

“Jianjun, what are you saying? Your grandparents are so old, and they have to go to your room just to eat some pastries? Aren’t you just making them go through trouble? Since you bought them for your grandparents, doesn’t it make sense to leave them here so they can eat them whenever they want? Why the fuss? As if you’re afraid your grandparents might eat them or something.”

Before Qin Jianjun could speak, Qian Chuncao intervened.

“Our Jianjun isn’t that kind of child. Since he bought them for the old folks, he wants them to eat them. Leaving them in their room, who knows whose hands they might end up in.”

“Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that?” Ma Suyun retorted angrily, “Break it down for me. What do you mean by whose hands they might end up in? If it’s for Mom and Dad, then it’s theirs. They can eat them however they want or give them to whoever they please. You’re saying you’re honoring Mom and Dad while not letting them eat. What kind of heart do you have? I know you’ve always disliked me. If you’re afraid I’ll eat it, just say it. I never wanted to take from Mom and Dad. Besides, this is their last grandchild in my belly. Don’t they deserve to dote on him?”

Qian Chuncao sneered without even sparing Ma Suyun a glance…

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