Chapter 80: Clearly a Girl Addicted to the Internet

The next morning, at the break of dawn.

Han Guoqiang had just arrived at the entrance of the village when he spotted several older women sitting under a large tree. As soon as they saw him coming, they began to complain all at once.

"Guoqiang, you'd better hurry home and take a look—your mother is about to be tormented to death by your wife!"

"That's right. I could hear her crying out from across the yard last night—the sound was so pitiful, I couldn't sleep a wink."

"That poor Han family, marrying a lazy city girl—what misfortune!"

The women all chimed in, as if Chu Ling had committed some heinous crime.

But they conveniently forgot that for the past few months, Han's mother had been well cared for. It was only after Chu Ling had shirked her duties for a day or two that she came under fire.

Such is human nature—good deeds go unnoticed, but one misstep and everyone is quick to criticize.

Han Guoqiang always presented himself as the model son. Upon hearing their words, his expression immediately darkened.

"Aunties, don't worry. I'll go home and ask about it. If my wife has done wrong, I'll certainly have a word with her!"

With that, he took a long stride and hurried home.

Upon arriving, Han Guoqiang said nothing and went straight to his mother’s room.

Han’s mother had just woken up and was lying in bed, groaning in pain.

As soon as Han Guoqiang entered, he saw the soiled state his mother was in. Clearly, her soiled clothes hadn't been changed for a long time due to incontinence, and the room was filled with an unpleasant odor.

Han Guoqiang’s eyes reddened instantly. "Mother!"

Seeing her son, Han’s mother brightened. "Guoqiang, you're back. Are you well? Is everything all right?"

"I'm fine, but you..." Han Guoqiang’s face hardened as he turned to leave. "I’m going to find Chu Ling and ask her what kind of care she’s been giving you!"

"Son, come back!" Han’s mother quickly called him back, anxious. "Don’t scold your wife. It wasn’t easy to bring a daughter-in-law into the family; don’t chase her away!"

There was something else she left unsaid.

If the daughter-in-law left, her son would have to spend money to hire someone else to take care of her—which wasn’t worth it.

"Mother, you’re just too indulgent with her!"

Han Guoqiang sighed, then continued, "Don’t worry, I won’t scold her. I’ll just have a talk with her."

With that, he turned and headed to the kitchen.

There, Chu Ling was cooking corn porridge at the stove.

When she saw him enter, she turned and, overjoyed, rushed over. "Guoqiang, why are you back so early?"

Han Guoqiang grabbed her by the waist, his voice laced with reproach. "If I hadn’t come home early, I wouldn’t have seen Mother in such a sorry state. You’ve gone too far, wife."

He knew well how hard it was to care for someone bedridden like his mother. That’s why, on ordinary days, he turned a blind eye when his wife slacked off, as long as it wasn’t excessive.

But today, not only had outsiders seen his mother’s plight, but she had suffered as well. Han Guoqiang could no longer contain himself.

Chu Ling, who had just happily thrown herself into his arms, now looked aggrieved. "So you rushed back early just to call me to account?"

Han Guoqiang frowned. "You know that’s not what I mean. When I went into Mother’s room, the stench nearly drove me out. You know she’s bedridden and can’t help herself—couldn’t you have helped her clean up in time?"

Chu Ling pouted. "I was just hurrying to make breakfast, and you talk to me like this!"

Han Guoqiang took over her task and said sternly, "I’ll handle breakfast. Go and help Mother. We’ll talk about anything else later."

"Okay," Chu Ling replied with a bitter face, clearly reluctant to move.

Cleaning up after the elderly was a nauseating chore. Every time, she would gag for ages. She’d been a pampered girl at home and never had to lift a finger. If it weren’t for Han Guoqiang, she would never have endured such torment.

Seeing her grimace, Han Guoqiang’s tone softened.

"All right, go on. Be good."

He pulled her into his arms, comforting and affectionately coaxing her, until she finally let go of her resentment and set off to do her chores.

When she was done, she vomited several times and took a shower before the nausea subsided. She fed Han’s mother breakfast and then chased after her younger sister-in-law to feed her as well. Only then did Chu Ling finally sit down to eat.

Seeing how busy she was, Han Guoqiang’s heart ached a little.

"I’ll take today off. After breakfast, I’ll take you to the supply and marketing cooperative in town to buy you some snacks you like."

Chu Ling shook her head. "No need, I don’t really like those."

It wasn’t that she didn’t like them, but rather that there was nothing good to eat at the town’s cooperative store. She was used to buying treats from the department store in the capital, and her tastes had grown picky. Whenever she craved something in the countryside, she’d call home and have it sent.

Han Guoqiang knew her temperament well and could only sigh. "You’ve suffered so much with me."

His words softened Chu Ling’s heart.

"Marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life. I’m not suffering."

Their eyes met, and warmth and affection flowed between them.

As soon as they finished breakfast, Han Guoqiang couldn’t wait to take her into the room.

"Wife, you’re wonderful…"

While the hero and heroine were enjoying their intimacy, over on the other side, Lin Xiaodou was busy laying down the law for her little companions.

After completely rearranging the ornamental fish in the space aquarium, the mischievous little creatures were at it again.

The little jumping spider, though tiny, was full of ideas. With its cleverness, it often had the obedient little golden monkey and the naïve little brown bear running in circles under its command.

For the past couple of days, the little jumping spider had developed a sudden interest in catching chicks.

The chicks were kept in the space’s livestock pen, where chickens, ducks, sheep, and cows were raised. These animals reproduced rapidly, and after several months of free-range life in the space, their numbers had exploded—there were now tens of thousands of chicks alone.

Early that morning, while Lin Xiaodou was still asleep, the little creatures sneaked into the livestock pen. The jumping spider stood proudly atop the golden monkey’s head, waved its claw, and the golden monkey and brown bear began chasing after the chicks, driving hundreds of them until they were panting and foaming at the beak.

When Lin Xiaodou woke up and sensed the commotion in the pen, she realized what had happened.

"All of you, go stand in the corner and think about what you’ve done!"

She put on her sternest face. The three little ones, knowing they’d done wrong, crouched pitifully in the corner, not daring to move.

"Well? Whose idea was it?" Lin Xiaodou demanded.

The jumping spider’s big eyes darted nervously before it lowered its head. The golden monkey and brown bear just stood there staring blankly.

Lin Xiaodou could tell at a glance who the culprit was. She scooped up the jumping spider.

"Jumpy, tell me, why did you want to catch chicks?"

Seeing that its mistress was angry, the little spider chirped and squeaked its explanation.

It turned out that Lin Xiaodou had previously had them learn to dance by watching videos on her phone. The little ones, watching closely from the side, had memorized how to turn on the phone. Lin Xiaodou had saved many funny videos, and the little creatures, bored, would secretly watch them while she slept.

Yesterday, they’d watched a video game about catching chicks and thought it looked like great fun—so they’d gone to the livestock pen to try it themselves.

After hearing the jumping spider’s explanation, Lin Xiaodou’s mouth twitched.

…This little thing really was becoming a spirit!

Truly a certified little internet addict girl!