BXBX NOVEL Chapter 372: Guidance
Chapter 372: Chapter 372: Guidance
"Huh? Why?" Yang Chen looked at Guo Xuehua in surprise. Isn\'t this a bit too controlling?
Clearing her throat, Guo Xuehua explained, "Even though you\'re at home, you eat as if someone is competing with you. You make so much noise, clinking and clanging. While you might feel comfortable, how do you think Ruoxi and Huilin feel watching you eat like that? They never complained because they were considerate of you. But you should think about their feelings too."
Yang Chen, with a bitter face, turned to Huilin, "Huilin, be honest, does the way I eat affect your appetite?"
Huilin, honest by nature, hesitated before softly replying, "It\'s not really a big deal. Watching you eat does make the food seem delicious, but sometimes just watching you makes me feel full before I start eating."
Yang Chen felt embarrassed. He hadn\'t realized his eating habits were so noticeable. Looking at Lin Ruoxi, who had a "don\'t ask me" expression, he knew his eating style wasn\'t great.
"Can I at least use a slightly bigger bowl? This one is too small. It\'s gone in two bites," Yang Chen said dejectedly, holding a small bowl in his hand.
Guo Xuehua shook her head firmly, "No. If you need more, just get a second helping. Everyone uses these bowls. Even though you\'re the only man in the house, you shouldn\'t get special treatment."
"Aunt Wang, I\'ll help you serve more if needed. A few more trips won\'t hurt," Aunt Wang added with a smile.
"Don\'t spoil him, Aunt Wang. He shouldn\'t need someone to serve him for a meal," Guo Xuehua immediately objected.
Yang Chen realized he hadn\'t just brought home a mother but rather a strict "guidance counselor" specifically focused on him.
Though he didn\'t feel any resentment, it was hard to get used to. In the end, he just pouted and joined everyone else, eating with the small bowl.
Seeing Yang Chen stop arguing about the bowl, Guo Xuehua smiled warmly. Watching his awkward eating movements, she gently added a few vegetables to his plate, saying, "Eat more vegetables in winter. They\'re good for your stomach and skin. Don\'t just eat meat. Even though you\'re not overweight, you should maintain a balanced diet."
Yang Chen nodded, though the food tasted bland in his mouth. For the first time in over twenty years, someone was telling him to eat a balanced diet. He felt a mix of melancholy and contentment.
Lin Ruoxi watched the small interactions between Yang Chen and his mother with a hint of envy. Yang Chen, who hadn\'t had his parents around growing up, now had Guo Xuehua trying to make up for lost time. In contrast, she felt rather alone despite her grandmother\'s love in the past.
At that moment, Guo Xuehua added more vegetables to Lin Ruoxi\'s bowl, giving her a meaningful look and a smile.
"I can\'t just be good to my son without treating my daughter-in-law well too," Guo Xuehua said, half-jokingly but with sincerity.
Aunt Wang and Huilin nodded in agreement, while Lin Ruoxi blushed deeply, wishing she could disappear.
How does she always see right through me?
Yang Chen enjoyed seeing Lin Ruoxi\'s shy expression. Since his mother arrived, his wife seemed more emotionally expressive. Whether she was trying to please her mother-in-law or genuinely enjoyed her company, Lin Ruoxi\'s gradual warmth was a good sign.
After lunch, under Guo Xuehua\'s supervision, Yang Chen helped clear the table. Thankfully, she didn\'t make him wash the dishes, sparing him that chore.
With Lunar New Year\'s Eve approaching, the family decided they needed to buy some holiday supplies.
Despite having everything they needed at home, and few people daring to visit Lin Ruoxi\'s place apart from the lively Tangtang and Yuan Ye, there were still things they needed to buy, like fireworks.
Ever since the old Lin patriarch passed away, Lin Ruoxi and Aunt Wang had always spent Lunar New Year alone, paying little attention to celebratory traditions. But this year was different. Not only was Lin Ruoxi married, but they also had the addition of Huilin, her sister, and Guo Xuehua, her mother-in-law. This year warranted a grand celebration.
After lunch, Yang Chen was tasked with going out to buy fireworks. However, Guo Xuehua, worried that he might get too playful and not seriously pick out the fireworks, decided to send Huilin along with him.
Watching Yang Chen and Huilin leave, Lin Ruoxi was filled with emotions. This time last year, the house was quiet, just her and Aunt Wang. Despite having immense wealth, it couldn\'t fill the loneliness and coldness she felt. But now, everything felt warm and fulfilling.
It was because of that man, Lin Ruoxi thought silently, a small smile forming on her lips.
"Ruoxi, what are you smiling about so dreamily?" Guo Xuehua\'s voice came from behind, startling Lin Ruoxi.
Turning around and seeing who it was, Lin Ruoxi patted her chest in relief, pouting, "Aunt Guo, you scared me."
"I wouldn\'t dare scare you. If I did, my precious son might abandon me," Guo Xuehua joked, feigning sadness.
Knowing this was another tease, Lin Ruoxi pretended not to hear.
Guo Xuehua, though sometimes feeling her daughter-in-law didn\'t give her enough face, was satisfied when comparing it to how much colder Lin Ruoxi was to Yang Chen.
Sighing, Guo Xuehua said, "Ruoxi, do you have some free time now?"
"Yes, I\'m free until the New Year," Lin Ruoxi replied.
"Then come upstairs. I want to show you something," Guo Xuehua said.
Lin Ruoxi obediently followed without asking what it was, entering Guo Xuehua\'s room. Aunt Wang had specially arranged the room, with furniture and a bed prepared long in advance. Lin Ruoxi\'s wealth meant the house was always well-furnished, making it convenient for new residents.
Guo Xuehua walked to her bedside table and took out a small handmade bamboo basket, presenting it to Lin Ruoxi.
"What\'s this?" Lin Ruoxi blinked, not expecting to see such items.
"It\'s some knitted wool," Guo Xuehua smiled, pulling Lin Ruoxi to sit on the bed. She took out a partially knitted light gray scarf from the basket, gently stroking the cashmere. "I\'m making this scarf for Yang Chen. Sadly, I\'m not very skilled and quite rusty. Aunt Wang helped me buy the wool. Even though Yang Chen doesn\'t seem to feel the cold much, I couldn\'t help but want to knit him a scarf. It\'s more about my own small, insignificant redemption."
Lin Ruoxi listened quietly, looking at the basket filled with wool and the half-finished scarf. She realized Guo Xuehua had been working on it during the nights.
"Ruoxi, when I finish this scarf, will you promise to give it to Yang Chen and help him wear it?" Guo Xuehua\'s sudden request caught Lin Ruoxi off guard.
"Don\'t find it strange. Just tell him you made it," Guo Xuehua smiled.
"But it\'s not..."
"He won\'t believe you," Guo Xuehua interrupted, shaking her head. "Silly child, Yang Chen will know I made it. But if I give it to you to hand over, he\'ll accept it more willingly. Also, as his wife, I hope you can help him wear it."
Seeing the confusion in Lin Ruoxi\'s eyes turn to realization, Guo Xuehua\'s intention became clear. She not only wanted to show Yang Chen how much she loved him but also remind Lin Ruoxi that while she was his mother, it would be Lin Ruoxi who would accompany him for the rest of his life.
With painstaking effort and an unspoken understanding, Guo Xuehua approached Lin Ruoxi with a gentle tone.
"Ruoxi, although I don\'t know the specifics, I understand that there are some barriers between you and Yang Chen. I won\'t force you to accept everything about him. In my eyes, he is my son, but you are Zijin\'s daughter, which makes you like my own child as well. I don\'t want to be a domineering mother-in-law forcing you to do things. I just hope you can grant me this small request, alright?"
Lin Ruoxi\'s heart had already softened, and she nodded in agreement.
Guo Xuehua smiled warmly, "Good girl. Would you like to learn knitting? I only know the basics, but I can still teach you quite a bit."
"Can I really learn?" Lin Ruoxi felt a sudden interest. After all, she was still a young woman, particularly a traditional one. She had never had the chance to engage in needlework before, but now that Guo Xuehua offered to teach her, she found herself quite intrigued.
"Of course. Once you learn, maybe next year you can knit a vest for Yang Chen," Guo Xuehua suggested.
Lin Ruoxi pouted and thought, "I wouldn\'t knit anything for that scoundrel." But soon after, she eagerly asked, "So, how do I start?"