Chapter 1 — Mother-in-law Tests Daughter-in-law's Heart

I am allergic to chives, how allergic is it? Just touching your lips a little makes them swell like a sausage. Before getting married, I told my mother-in-law this three times, and each time she smiled and nodded: "I know, I know, I remember." In the third month of my period, she brought out a plate of steamed dumplings, saying they were filled with chicken eggs, specially made to nourish me. I took a bite, my mouth was filled with the smell of chives. She sat opposite, her eyes staring at me unblinkingly, the corner of her mouth curled into a smile as if it were nothing. I didn't say a word, took each bite, and ate the entire plate of dumplings. She banged on the table and laughed loudly on the spot: "I told you, what allergies, all pretending! Kids these days always do too much!" Not long after, when I was carried out of the house by an ambulance, she was still sitting in the living room knitting a sweater. In the emergency room, the doctor finished looking at the test results and said just one sentence, and she immediately collapsed as if her bones had been drained. 01 The first time Ninh Uyen knew she couldn't touch chives was when she was ten years old. The neighbor packed dumplings and brought her a small bowl. She had only eaten half a piece and her lips were already starting to feel numb, as if they were being pricked by tens of thousands of needles. Her mother thought she was burned, turned on the light to look, and her face immediately turned pale. Her upper lip was swollen and shiny, her throat felt like it was stuffed with wet cotton, and she couldn't even cry. Then I took him to the hospital, and the doctor told me again and again that things like chives should be avoided, so don't risk your life. Ninh Uyen remembered that sentence for many years. She is not a picky eater, nor is she effeminate. But as long as there are chives on the rice tray, she will proactively push her bowl away. Even though it was just a chive cake placed in front of her, she felt the tip of her nose itch and her stomach cramp. Before getting married, Tran Nghien took her home for dinner. On the table is fried eggs with chives. Ton Que Phan picked up a chopstick and put it straight into her bowl, smiling enthusiastically. "Daughter, eat more, this dish is very fragrant." Ninh Uyen quickly moved the bowl away a bit. "Auntie, I can't eat chives, I'm allergic to this dish." Ton Que Phan's chopsticks stopped in mid-air. She looked at the plate of chives, then looked at Ninh Uyen, her smile did not fade, just the corners of her eyes lowered. "Allergies?" Tran Nghien immediately responded: "Mom, it's true, she can't touch this." Ton Que Phan put the chopsticks of food into his bowl. "Okay, I remember." She said very cheerfully, even deliberately pulling the plate of food towards her a little. Ninh Uyen breathed a sigh of relief. But after eating half of it, Ton Que Phan opened his mouth again as if to say casually: "Young people nowadays have strange physical constitutions. In our time, there were no allergies and non-allergic spring rolls, whatever grew on the ground, we ate." There was silence on the table for a moment. Tran Nghien raised his head and called out "Mom". Ton Que Phan immediately waved his hand: "Mom didn't say it, she just exclaimed." Ninh Uyen lowered her head and drank the soup, not responding. She thought it was just an old person's slip of the tongue. The second reminder is the engagement day. The two families went out to eat together, the food was ordered by Ton Que Phan. After all the hot dishes were served, the server brought out a plate of Tam Tien steamed dumplings. As soon as the white ceramic plate was put down, Ninh Uyen smelled a familiar pungent smell. Her fingers hidden under the table tightened slightly. Tran Nghien spoke before her: "Does this dish have chives in it?" The waiter said yes, it was a special dish from the restaurant. Ton Que Phan patted her forehead. "Oh, I forgot." She smiled and looked at Ninh Uyen. "You look at my memory, I'm really stupid at my age." Ninh Uyen also smiled: "It's okay, it's okay if you don't eat." Ton Que Phan conveniently pushed the plate of dumplings towards Tran Nghien. "Then eat, don't waste." Tran Nghien did not move his chopsticks. He asked the waiter to clear the plate of dumplings, then ordered two other dishes. The smile on Ton Que's face

Stool becomes somewhat pale. On the way home, Ninh Uyen sat in the co-pilot's seat, her palms were cold. Tran Nghien turned to look at her: "Are you still upset?" "No." "My mother often talks a lot, but she doesn't have a bad stomach." Ninh Uyen looked at the street lights backing up through the car window and said softly: "I'm just afraid he finds me annoying." Tran Nghien grabbed her hand. "You're my wife, if you're not feeling well, just say so, no need to be afraid of what anyone will think." At that time, Ninh Uyen believed. She thought that as long as she spoke clearly, the family would gradually be able to reconcile. The third time was not long after the wedding. Ton Que Phan came to the young couple's house to help clean out the refrigerator. She pulled out a bunch of chives, held them in her hand and asked: "Who bought this?" Tran Nghien was washing cups in the kitchen: "My colleague gave it to me, I forgot to throw it away." Ton Que Phan immediately frowned: "What's the use of throwing away such delicious vegetables? It's a waste." Ninh Uyen stood outside the living room, away from the glass door and said: "Mom, I really can't touch this, putting it in the refrigerator also has a very strong smell." Ton Que Phan looked at her for a few seconds, then suddenly jumped. laughed: "I know, I know, I remember." She stuffed the bunch of chives into a plastic bag and told her to take them home to eat. When going out the door, Ninh Uyen saw that the mouth of the bag was not tied tightly. A few green leaves protruded and swept across before her eyes. She instinctively took a step back. Ton Que Phan saw that and smiled and said: "This girl, she's so cowardly." That laugh was not loud, but like a small thorn, stuck in Ninh Uyen's heart. 02 The day there was news of her pregnancy, Ton Que Phan carried two old hens to the door. As soon as she entered the door, she kicked off her shoes at the mysterious gate. Her loud voice could be heard all over the floor: "My grandchild has hope." Ninh Uyen was sitting on the sofa drinking warm water. When she heard this sentence, the rim of the cup stopped at her lips. Tran Nghien came out of the kitchen, frowning slightly: "Mom, boys and girls are all the same." Ton Que Phan put the chicken on the ground. "I'm just saying that, why are you two raising your opinion like that?" She changed her slippers, walked straight to Ninh Uyen, staring at her belly. Ninh Uyen has only been pregnant for eight weeks, her stomach is still flat, and nothing can be seen. But Ton Que Phan's eyes looked as if he had already held the child in his arms to estimate its weight. "Don't eat and drink haphazardly in the future." She said. "Don't touch cold food, don't touch spicy food, don't touch outside food." Ninh Uyen nodded: "The doctor also said it's okay to eat and drink normally." Ton Que Phan immediately continued: "Doctors don't know, hospitals are all about the chain, who really cares about you." Tran Nghien put the glass of water on the tea table. "Mom, when you go to the doctor, you have to do what the doctor says." Ton. Que Phan glared at her son, her voice softened: "I'm just doing it for his own good." That sentence later became the reason she hung on her lips the most. Because it was good for Ninh Uyen, she knocked on the door every morning at six o'clock and brought a pot of soup without salt. For the good of Ninh Uyen, she cleaned up all the coffee in the house, not even Tran Nghien's. Because it's good for Ninh Uyen, she often asks for tips in the apartment chat group, then takes screenshots and sends them to her. Ninh Uyen does not want conflicts, most of the time she only answers "Yes". Tran Nghien is busy, the project is entering the final stage, often arriving at ten o'clock at night. Every time he comes home, Ton Que Phan has already arranged the dinner tray.