"Third son, why are you back again?" Old Xu asked while weaving a bamboo mat, looking at the household of the third family.
"Dad, we heard that Minglei and the others got the recomndation letter, so we ca back to congratulate them." Xu He replied, looking down.
"Indeed, they got the recomndation letter, so they can attend elentary school in the county now," Old Xu said calmly.
"Dad, could you give one of the spots to Dongbao? That elentary school is also closer to our factory." Xu He looked at Old Xu hopefully.
"There are no extra spots for you. Stop dreaming," Li Caixia sneered.
"You gave the spot to Tiedan, an outsider, but won’t give it to Dongbao. Dad, Dongbao is your real grandson," Xu He said, a bit angrily.
"Ha, Tiedan studies seriously; isn’t it appropriate to give it to him? Do you think any family’s kid is like Dongbao, probably can’t even do simple arithtic?" Li Caixia mocked the people of the third family. Although she didn’t know what addition and subtraction were, she had heard Xu Mumu teach the little ones before.
"You, sister-in-law, our Dongbao is smart." Lin Juan said angrily, in her heart, her son was naturally the best.
"Third son, this is not yours, don’t reach for it. Now that the family is split," Old Xu looked deeply at his son, realizing that he had raised a wastrel.
"Dad, don’t say that. Our family has so many spots. Why not give one to Dongbao? Wanwan and Jiaojiao, those two girls, studying so much is useless. Just give their spots to Dongbao. Dongbao is a boy, the root of our Xu Family." Xu He was anxious, originally wanting Tiedan’s spot.
"You’re dreaming. No one can touch my sister’s things," Xu Xue said as she returned with a basket on her back, having narrowly escaped capture at the black market and was in a bad mood. Even for her third uncle, she directly retorted, especially now that the family was split.
"Third Uncle, I want to study fifth grade. Dongbao is so dumb; he definitely can’t skip grades. It’s useless to give it to him." Little Xu Jiaojiao said seriously, having decided to study fifth grade. Studying was now her dream.
"Exactly, my sister is the smartest," Xu Tao stood unwaveringly beside his sister.
"Adults are speaking, why are you kids interrupting?" Lin Juan glared discontentedly at the two children in the fourth house. Both adults from the fourth house were absent, so it was the right ti for Old Xu to speak up, asking them to give up the spot. Once Old Xu spoke, neither the second nor the fourth house dared to resist.
"Enough, third son, I told you, this isn’t yours, take your things and go," Old Xu said angrily.
He saw how seriously the kids were studying in recent tis, and even giving a spot to Xu Dongbao would be a waste of good things.
Xu Jiaojiao and Xu Wan may be girls, but they are sensible; Xu Wan can help with many tasks, and Xu Jiaojiao has already started to find chicken mushrooms to earn money, while Dongbao was spoiled by the third couple.
Their disdain for Dongbao at the Xu Family was apparent, even reluctant to address grandparents, uncles, aunts, or siblings upon returning ho.
After witnessing how well-mannered and polite the family children were, compared to Xu Dongbao, the difference was stark.
Even if he is a grandson, Old Xu no longer had expectations for Dongbao.
"Dad, you’re too biased, favoring those two girls over Dongbao," Xu He said in disbelief.
"Third Uncle, what’s wrong with girls? I think Jiaojiao and Wanwan are much better than Dongbao. Don’t entertain any crooked thoughts about the spots. You’re doing well at the shoe factory. Do you want to talk to Mr. Du for a job change?" Xu Mumu sneered.
"Don’t you dare, sister-in-law, is this how you teach the kids, threatening elders?" Lin Juan dared not scold Xu Mumu, for Madam Chen was present. If she dared, Madam Chen would chase her around the brigade with a broom.
"Hmph, what Mumu says is right. Even the big leader praised our family for our progressive thoughts, not favoring boys over girls. Third sister-in-law, your thinking is off. Favoring boys over girls is wrong," Li Caixia beca more arrogant after being praised by Cai Yuan.
"You, you?" Lin Juan felt dizzy, wondering why the Xu Family beca so strange after the split.
"Take your things and leave quickly before I lose my temper." Madam Chen held a large broom, made from thin bamboo branches, painful when wielded.
Seeing the broom in his mother’s hand, Xu He felt his skin tighten; he had been beaten often as a child and rembered it well.
"Let’s go, Mom, don’t hit." Xu He said imdiately.
The third family left shafully. Only then did Xu Xue breathe a sigh of relief, worried that Old Xu might pressure their second family to give up spots. Her father looked easy to bully, and if Old Xu pressured him, she really wouldn’t know what to do.
To be honest, Old Xu’s actions surprised Xu Xue.
Xu Xue glanced toward the eldest family’s side, her gaze landing on Xu Mumu. The changes in the eldest family were all because of her.
"Sis, why are you looking at Big Sister?" Xu Wan asked, puzzled.
"Nothing, today’s jujube cake didn’t sell out, take so to Xu Mumu’s family," Xu Xue took the unsold jujube cake from her basket and handed it to Xu Wan.
"Okay, Sis." Xu Wan smiled and nodded, happy her sister helped.
Xu Xue patted Xu Wan’s hair and sent her off with the cakes.
Looking at the jujube cake delivered in front of her, Xu Mumu accepted it rightfully.
"Mom, take these to eat," Xu Mumu divided so, giving it to Li Caixia, planning to share the rest with the kids.
"Alright." Li Caixia happily took the cakes. During pregnancy, she had enjoyed many nice things, touching her belly, realizing this child had co at a fortunate timing with the family doing well.
The matters concerning the third house hadn’t affected the family at all; life went on as usual.
During this ti, Xu Mumu went to the county twice to receive letters, getting her remittance from her submitted manuscripts, slightly increasing her small treasury, making her quite pleased.
With days left before school, Xu Mumu went to the state-run restaurant to inform Master Yang that she would no longer deliver chicken mushrooms.
Though disappointed, Master Yang didn’t say much, as the Xu family’s children were all heading to school.
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