"Got it, big sis, we definitely won’t go running over there alone." Xu Tao and the others obediently nodded. They weren’t as formidable as their big sister. They’d heard there were wolves in the mountains; even if they were given a hundred doses of courage, they wouldn’t dare to go that far up the mountain alone.
"Good." Xu Mumu smiled as she patted the heads of the kids.
Life in the village was still very leisurely for Xu Mumu. Even Yin Yang had gained a little weight there.
But while Xu Mumu and the others were enjoying their limited comforts, soone wasn’t happy letting them be so comfortable. Just as they were at ho playing with their little brother, so people arrived—it was the third house’s family.
Xu Jiang returned with his wife and son, and they even brought gifts. Xu Mumu raised her eyebrows slightly. Why were they back? When this family returned, it usually ant they wanted sothing from the family.
"Third Brother, Sister-in-law, how co you’re back?" Qian Ying, who was hanging laundry, was the first to see the family of three, a little surprised. However, she had a gentle nature and welcod them in directly.
"We ca back to see mom and dad. Second sister-in-law, you guys are sothing else; mom and dad have been back for so long, and you didn’t tell us." Lin Juan complained to Qian Ying as she walked into the main room.
"Mom ca back; does she have to specially inform you? How big is your vanity?" Madam Chen walked out from the room, and upon seeing Lin Juan, her face turned unpleasant, glaring coldly at the family.
If only Xu Laosan were a bit nicer and more sincere to the family, they wouldn’t be so disappointed in them.
"Mom, I didn’t an it like that. We just wanted to co see you." Lin Juan said with an embarrassed look at Madam Chen, sowhat intimidated.
She could no longer put on the airs of a city dweller in front of the big house and the old couple. The big house was doing really well, and even the second and fourth houses were not doing badly either. Only the third house was the worst off, and thinking about it really bothered her.
"Oh, you ca to see us, did you bring anything back? Did these egg cakes cost two yuan?" Madam Chen glanced coldly at the small items the couple brought back, unimpressed. She still saw them as stingy as ever.
Madam Chen’s words left the couple embarrassed. It’s not our fault we don’t have much money; there are expenses all over the house, especially with kids and the couple to feed. Xu Jiang’s modest salary is never enough.
"Of course, we’re not as good as Big Brother and his wife. They’re both workers now." Lin Juan sulked, feeling both sullen and jealous. Just how did people like Li Caixia and her husband find jobs, and in the provincial city of all places?
People who were below her in every way back then were now living infinitely better lives, even buying a house in the provincial city.
When she first heard this news, she thought she must have misheard; she didn’t expect it to be true and secretly harbored jealousy for a long ti.
Who knows where they got so much money from to buy a house in the provincial city, why should they!
"You’re indeed no match for them," Madam Chen said disdainfully. Although the big brother’s family had lots of issues, they really had more conscience than the third house family. She’s always been good to the big brother’s family, and just see her discernnt. Now, not only do the village wives envy her, but even the wives around the provincial city’s house envy her. Why shouldn’t they, with a successful son and even more successful grandkids?
"Alright, old woman, you said enough, co in and sit; it’s sunny outside." Old Xu puffed on a tobacco leaf as he ca out of the woodshed, which was once again piled with firewood. Seeing the third house return, he was happy. After all, they were still his children, and knowing they were well brought him peace of mind.
"Dad, are you all well?" Xu Jiang was touched when his father ca out to diate; he looked at his father excitedly. It had been so long since he’d seen his parents. They didn’t know where in the provincial city they lived, and even if they did, they probably wouldn’t go there. He had no ti with work, and the fare wasn’t cheap either.
The third house situation was still about saving whenever possible.
"We’re all good. What brought you back?" Old Xu took a drag of the tobacco leaf, the smoke blurring his eyes as he looked at his son in front of him. To be honest, the son felt a bit unfamiliar now.
"We just wanted to co see mom and dad. Dongbao wanted to see grandpa too. Dongbao, greet them." Xu Jiang said with a smile. Now that the big house was doing so well and even the second and fourth houses were no worse off, all their kids were so promising, except Dongbao, who’s doing poorly in school. He certainly wanted to revive good relations with the family.
Xu Jiang didn’t believe his son was at all inferior. All the family kids did well because of Xu Mumu’s tutoring. She’s the big sister; there’s nothing wrong with her helping Dongbao. Dongbao is also her brother; what the second and fourth house kids had, Dongbao should also have a share.
But he didn’t dare say this outright. He knew his mother’s temper well. If he dared say it out loud, she’d drive them away with a broom.
"Grandpa, grandma." Dongbao glanced at Madam Chen and Old Xu. On the way there, his parents had instructed him several tis to greet them politely and behave well. They even planned to leave him in the hotown to study with his big sister, sothing he didn’t want at all. He didn’t want to stay there, much less study.
Xu Minglei and the others were in middle school now, soon moving up to second grade. He hadn’t even gotten into middle school. His parents wanted him to repeat a year, but he didn’t like studying at all.
But no matter how much he told his parents, they wouldn’t care about his opinion.
Looking at the hotown’s siblings, it seed like they didn’t want to play with him. On one hand, he didn’t want to play with them; on the other, he felt uncomfortable, feeling left out.
"Good, Minglei, take Dongbao to play." Old Xu said gently. Though he wasn’t fond of his son, he still liked his grandson.
"Okay, grandpa." Although he wasn’t keen to play with Dongbao, Xu Minglei still agreed.
He rembered that every ti Dongbao’s family visited, they always ended up in a fight. Now, Xu Minglei felt he was a grownup and decided to yield to Dongbao.
Xu Mumu didn’t follow them outside but brewed two cups of tea for Xu Jiang’s family.
Xu Jiang went to chat with Old Xu and the others. They hadn’t seen each other in ages, and there was much to say.
anwhile, Lin Juan’s gaze fell on Yin Yang. She noticed him as soon as she entered. Though he barely spoke, his presence was overwhelming.
No introduction was needed; she knew this was Xu Mumu’s boyfriend. She’d heard of Yin Yang’s na, but she never expected him to be so good-looking. She’d never seen soone that handso before.
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