The mother-in-law hesitated for a long time before saying sheepishly, "Let your father-in-law handle it himself!"
Chen Lan was immediately dumbfounded! What? How to handle it? How could she know how her father-in-law would handle it? Well, this had gotten out of hand! She regretted boasting earlier.
To ease her own awkwardness, Chen Lan chuckled foolishly. "Not awkward, not awkward, I don't feel awkward, it's others who should!"
She turned to ask Wenrou Niang, "Mother, would you like to try buying something?"
Wenrou Niang quickly said, "I'll pass! I have everything, I don't need to buy anything!"
Chen Lan thought to herself, "I knew asking would be in vain. Mother is just too polite. She always feels this is her daughter's in-laws' home, not her own daughter's home. She feels like a guest as a mother-in-law and shouldn't say too much."
Chen Lan could only sigh inwardly. "Fine, it's not convenient to talk now. I'll guide Wenrou Niang privately later when I have time."
Seeing Wenrou Niang's refusal, the mother-in-law also tried to comfort her, "My dear friend, please try! Don't be too polite!"
Wenrou Niang still shook her head and refused.
Chen Lan saw this and didn't press further. She said, "As for gifts for the other family members, let father-in-law handle it himself!" Everyone heard this and snickered. Chen Lan only realized her words might have been inappropriate after she said them. She looked up at the mother-in-law, and seeing she wasn't angry, she relaxed.
At this moment, the sound of footsteps could be heard from outside! The footsteps grew closer, and soon they reached the entrance of the side room. The voices arrived with the footsteps. "Mother, Mother, Mother, eldest sister, sister-in-law," the calls came one after another.
Three sturdy little boys ran in. The one who ran in first was slightly older than the other two, likely seven-year-old Mingzhe, her husband's younger brother. Mingzhe leaned against his mother and looked towards Chen Lan. Seeing Chen Lan looking at him, he shyly called out, "Sister-in-law." Chen Lan smiled at him kindly.
The two younger boys who followed were likely the original owner's brothers, six-and-a-half-year-old Chen Wen Kai and Chen Wen Qi. They walked in hand in hand. First, they respectfully greeted their mother, calling out, "Auntie!" Then they greeted Wenrou Niang and turned to call out to Chen Lan, "Eldest sister." The two brothers then started asking Chen Lan about her well-being, "Eldest sister, are you feeling better? Eldest sister, does your head still hurt? Eldest sister, have you recovered from your fever?..."
Chen Lan listened to the brothers' concerned questions and looked at their worried eyes. She felt both touched and happy. Being cared for felt wonderful! She quickly replied, "I'm much better, don't worry. All three of you, stay and chat with Mother for a while, and see your little nephew and nieces. I'll go to the inner room to get something." With that, she turned and walked into the inner bedroom.
Chen Lan re-entered the side room, holding a tray full of snacks. They were small cakes, milk biscuits, fruit candies, White Rabbit toffees, and crispy cookies, all bought from the system that morning. As she walked, Chen Lan called out, "Mingzhe, Wen Kai, Wen Qi, come quickly and have some snacks. Oh, right, you need to wash your hands in the restroom before eating. Hurry up, all three of you."
Watching the three boys run to wash their hands, Wenrou Niang chided, "Lan'er, you spoil them too much. Lunch will be served soon, and you're still giving them so many snacks. Lan'er, we can't be like we used to be now. We need to learn to live frugally..."
Chen Lan saw her mother-in-law nodding in agreement and quickly interjected, "Mother, haven't I told you? With father-in-law's help, I will definitely ensure you live a good life. Believe me!"
"Believe, believe!" Wenrou Niang replied perfunctorily.
"Besides, children have high energy levels and are growing. They get hungry quickly. Having some snacks before the meal will fill their stomachs. The rest, let the three of them share and save for when they feel hungry."