The Cockroach Crisis At My Home

My mother-in-law, Dayanna Wheeler, came to spend Christmas with us and brought along a bag of homemade treats from her hometown.

I recognized those so-called delicacies as cockroach eggs.

When I pointed this out, Dayanna refused to believe me and cried to my husband, Laurence, accusing me of looking down on her for being from the countryside.

My husband was furious. He pinched my chin and forced me to swallow the cockroach eggs raw.

They hatched in my stomach, gnawing at my insides, and eventually, I died in agony.

When I was reborn, it was the day Dayanna brought the "delicious food".

I quickly prepared a dish of cockroach eggs and placed it on the dining table. "I researched it, and this dish Dayanna brought over is best consumed raw to maximize its nutritional value."

1.

When I was reborn, it was the time when Dayanna was struggling to drag a large bag into the house. Laurence nudged me. "Can't you see my mom is having trouble? Go help her."

I glanced at the game interface that had just opened on his mobile phone, said nothing, and helped Dayanna drag the bag in.

As I opened it, the familiar sight of brown, cylindrical objects filled the bag, sending shivers down my spine.

The familiar sour smell hit my nose, and I realized for sure that I was reborn.

My stomach churned as if thousands of cockroaches were biting at it, and I gagged, stepping back.

Dayanna's eyes reddened, and she wiped her non-existent tears with her hands. "Jazlyn, I know you grew up in the city and look down on a country person like me and our homemade treats. I carried this all the way here, but if you don't like it, I'll throw it out so it doesn't bother you."

Hearing the noise here, Laurence, who was sitting on the sofa playing games, frowned and came towards us aggressively.

My heart raced, recalling my past life, and I quickly forced a smile to reassure Dayanna.

"Dayanna, you've misunderstood me. Laurence and I have been trying to get pregnant recently. This is because I took the medicine. I might be pregnant now."

I rubbed my belly, feigning the joy of impending motherhood.

Laurence relaxed and nodded, comforting Dayanna. "Jazlyn has indeed been feeling unwell lately. Don't mind her, Mom."

Suppressing my nausea, I cheerfully pointed at the cockroach eggs and asked, "Dayanna, what kind of food is this? I've never seen it before."

Laurence also looked on with curiosity, waiting for Dayanna's answer.

Hearing my words, Dayanna straightened with pride. "These are organic black beans with a filling, newly introduced in our area. You won't find them anywhere else, so it's normal you haven't seen them."

I smiled. "That's great. It's almost lunchtime. Let's try this treat."

2.

I dragged the bag into the kitchen, and though Dayanna pretended to help, I didn't let her help. I grabbed a plate, poured out some cockroach eggs, and added some seasoning.

In my past life, when Dayanna brought in the bag, I opened it and was horrified.

Growing up in a city where I could often see cockroaches, I immediately recognized the bag full of cockroach eggs.

I told Dayanna they were cockroach eggs and tried to throw them out.

Not only did Dayanna not believe it, she also cried to Laurence, saying that I looked down on her because she was from the country, and I also wanted to throw away the food she brought from so far away.

Laurence, known for his respect for his mother, was furious.

When I tried to explain, he became even angrier.

"I've eaten homemade treats all my life without any problems. How can you claim they're insect eggs?

You look down on my mom. She raised me through many hardships and sacrifices, and disrespecting her is disrespecting me. You said these are cockroach eggs, right? Let's see if eating them will kill you!"

I shook my head and refused, and they pressed me.

I was forced back into a corner, and Dayanna held me down so I couldn't resist.

Laurence pinched my chin with force, stuffed handfuls of cockroach eggs into my mouth, and forced me to swallow them raw.

The heat in my stomach caused them to hatch, and they tore at my insides.

I was so hurt that I begged them to take me to the hospital, but they sneered, unmoved.

"It's just some homemade food. Your city women always make a fuss over nothing."

The larvae emerged from my stomach, attacking my organs.

I vomited blood and many cockroach larvae.

Terrified, they fled, leaving me to die in agony.

Back to the present, I prepared two other dishes and brought them to the table, smiling. "I found out that the dish Dayanna brought should be eaten raw to fully absorb its nutrients."

3.

At the table, Dayanna licked her fork and used the fork to place a cockroach egg into my plate and said, "Jazlyn, try it. I brought it for you to nourish your body."

Looking at the shiny cockroach eggs on the plate that were covered with saliva and had a sour smell, I couldn't control myself any longer. I rushed into the bathroom and vomited wildly.

When the nausea subsided, I leaned against the toilet and unsteadily returned to the table.

The egg was still in my plate, and the food on the table remained untouched.

Laurence sat with a gloomy face, while Dayanna, seeing me, teared up again.

"I know you despise what I brought from the countryside. You lied to me, pretending not to be disgusted. Don't worry, I know you dislike me, I shouldn't have picked food for you, just eat." She wiped her eyes as she spoke.

Laurence's face turned cold.

I had a bad feeling, and before I could speak, he slammed his fork down.

"Jazlyn! What do you mean by this? My mom kindly offered you food, and you find it disgusting?

My mom raised me through many hardships and sacrifices. Is this how you treat her? His words left me speechless. What did it have to do with me that Dayanna raised him?

Dayanna's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she pretended to be kind to pull at Laurence's sleeve. "Laurence, don't argue with Jazlyn because of me. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come or brought these things to upset you. Don't worry, I'll go back to the countryside tomorrow, so you won't be troubled."

Laurence's anger flared, his eyes dark with rage, as if he wanted to kill me.

He slammed the table. "You're my mom, and as long as I'm here, no one can drive you away. Stay here as long as you like. Let's see who dares to complain."

He then pointed at me, shouting, "Jazlyn! Apologize sincerely to my mom and ask for her forgiveness, and I might overlook your disrespect!"