Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 1208: Chapter 1180: The Sage from a Philosophical Perspective (Fourth Update)

It was just a normal cold, but her mom insisted that it was because the door in their house faced the bed directly, and the bay window also faced the door, which was highly taboo for pregnant women. She said sitting facing the door would bring bad energy to pregnant women, so the bay window became off-limits for Qian, and under her mom’s direction, Minglang moved the bed to a different side away from the door.

The home’s layout was something Qian had carefully arranged, and the bed looked awkward once moved; Qian found it increasingly uncomfortable.

But Qian’s mom was full of reasons.

”You young people, who’ve been educated into fools, always doubting the wisdom handed down through generations. If it wasn’t accurate, why would it survive so many generations?”

”That’s just because you uneducated folks blindly believe in rumors...” Qian retorted bitterly.

Qian’s mom handed her a bowl of something unknown she had just brewed, urging her to drink it while it was hot.

”What’s all this talk about rumors? We prefer to believe it! Look, I’ve been here less than two days, and your health has improved, hasn’t it?”

Indeed, since she arrived, Qian hadn’t felt as uncomfortable.

”A cold is inherently self-healing; even if you hadn’t come, I would be better in a few days.”

Qian’s mom widened her eyes, but Qian grinned cheekily, ”Of course, since my mom arrived, I’ve recovered even faster.”

That was more like it!

Qian’s mom felt comforted.

”No doubt about it, my life experience is certainly richer than you young ones. Listening to the elders is never wrong!”

Qian thought to herself that all the hot soups and drinks her mom gave her certainly helped her recover quickly.

The two were chatting when the family’s landline rang.

During her pregnancy, Qian used her cellphone less.

”I’m Chen Xiaoqian—What? Mr. Mu has passed away?”

Just moments ago, Mr. Mu had finally succumbed to his illness, completing his life’s journey at the hospital.

Upon hearing this, Qian immediately began organizing the funeral arrangements with her mom pacing beside her, looking worried.

After Qian made a few phone calls, her mom finally seized the chance to speak.

”Sweetheart, is the deceased the one you mentioned, the one whose daughter went to ’Ba Lizi’ and asked you to take care of her dad?”

’Ba Lizi’ is a local dialect term for jail.

Qian nodded.

Her mom hesitated before speaking.

”Although we believe in keeping our word and fulfilling promises made to others, the issue is, this is such a big occasion, and you’re a pregnant woman going to a funeral, it would be inauspicious.”

She mentioned all sorts of old superstitious beliefs, but Qian didn’t believe them. Mr. Mu was her patient, and irrespective of Mu Xiaofeng’s request, she would personally send him off one last time.

This was a practice she had adopted from her previous life; unlike typical doctors who don’t attend their patients’ funerals, she would.

Qian’s mom didn’t understand this, she had her own fixed belief.

Since her daughter is pregnant, you better believe in these things.

The old man passed away on the 29th and didn’t make it through the 30th.

His funeral caused a rift between Qian and her mom. Qian initially thought of seeking Xiaoqiang’s help to deal with the superstitious old lady, but Xiaoqiang happened to be on a business trip and couldn’t make it back. Distant water doesn’t quench immediate thirst.

Afraid Qian would sneak off to attend the funeral, her mom adopted a full-body monitoring policy.

No matter where Qian went, her mom followed; even for a bottle of soy sauce.

Qian’s mom was usually caring, possessing a big heart for the world, but when it came to her grandchild, she was stubborn. She didn’t prevent Qian from remotely controlling others to manage the funeral, but refused to let her attend personally.

Qian had no choice but didn’t dare to anger her. Recently, her mom seemed to have picked up the classic Xi Shi heart-holding pose from somewhere. If Qian angered her, she would immediately clutch her chest, instructing Mr. Liao, ”Quick, dear, bring me my Danshen Drop Elixir!”

She couldn’t possibly strain her mother over someone else’s father, so Qian thought she had already done everything she could for Mr. Mu while he was alive, completing the rites, and gave up the idea of attending the funeral in person, simply instructing her helpers to ensure the funeral was well-arranged.

It could be simple, but it had to have all the proper rituals.

Minglang wasn’t home for the holidays, and Qian was busy with the Mu Family funeral. Her mom felt uneasy, and with the local Spring Festival temple fair happening nearby, she promptly led her husband off to burn incense, carrying a basket full of it.

Qian curiously asked, ”Mom, aren’t you a Buddhist? Isn’t a temple fair Taoist?”

”Who cares what it is! We’re here to make offerings, and that’s what matters! You and Liumei should stay home, don’t go anywhere!” Her mom clasped the basket of incense and charged out with her husband.

Fugui, the stepson, drove them personally, leaving Qian and Liumei, both pregnant, at home with Shi Tou upstairs just in time for the major holiday. The four pregnant women gathered to play a game of mahjong.

Among the four, two had visible bellies while the others hadn’t really shown yet. They played five-cent mahjong, not for winning but for fun.

They discussed Qian’s mom going to burn incense, recognizing shared sentiments.

”There are tons of superstitions about pregnancy. Even my open-minded mother-in-law has many taboos,” said Dayi, with others nodding in agreement. Indeed.

You could see what other moms or mothers-in-law were like based on Qian’s mom; regardless of their beliefs in normal times, when it comes to future generations, elderly thoughts become unified—better believe it than not.

”When I first found out I was pregnant, my mom took off all my jewelry: jade bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, nothing allowed.” Shi Tou, the arty youth, liked all these jingling items but had to remove them postpartum.

”My mom teamed up with Xiaoqiang, turning my house bed topsy-turvy along with other items subject to a heap of ridiculous rules.” Even Qian couldn’t escape the trend and felt the need to vent.

”Same here, after my mother-in-law learned from Qian’s mom, she instructed my brother to move the bed’s position.”

Liumei, who hadn’t spoken much, chuckled, pushed her tiles, and won!

”By the way, Liumei, they say you grew up on the mountain with a master in a nunnery. Are your superstitions the most?” Shi Tou asked Liumei.

”My master is a female Taoist, not a nun.”

”What’s that?”

”In the teachings, males are called Taoists and females are called female Taoists,” Qian explained to Shi Tou.

”Anyway, it’s all pretty much the same. Do these folks have more sayings? Did your master ever call to remotely direct your furniture arrangement or mention anything?”

Everyone turned their gaze toward Liumei. She blinked, ”I don’t think there really is any. Actually, Mrs Jia visited my place and found no faults with furniture layout, so she didn’t say anything. My master isn’t what you imagine; she isn’t a spiritual mediator, but a philosopher full of wisdom.”

Even Qian found this hard to believe.