"Big brother, take it back. We’re doing fine, we don’t need it."
"Sister-in-law, this is the al money for the three kids. I don’t want them to go back; they can stay in the village. You take care of them, but the kids need to eat."
"They’ve earned it themselves." Qu Xiaoli didn’t want the money.
"How much can they earn? Sister-in-law, don’t refuse; just accept it. Don’t argue with your big brother."
Li Xue also persuaded, "Second Aunt, this is our al money. We need money for food in the city too."
Li Yungui understood his big brother’s intention, that the nephews and nieces wouldn’t return in a few years, "Xiaoli, take it. You’ll have to prepare clothes and everything for the kids later."
After hearing her husband’s words, Qu Xiaoli stopped refusing, though she thought all the money would be spent on the nephews and nieces.
At this mont, Li Yunqiang ca in.
"Big brother."
"Mm."
"Old Fourth, I’ll get you at buns; they were made this noon."
"Second sister-in-law, I’m full, no need to bother."
Qu Xiaoli didn’t go, instead, she pulled Li Xue to rest and left the place to the three brothers.
When the work bell rang, the two brothers went to work, and Li Yunqiao called his daughter.
"Xue’er, are you used to living here?"
"I’m used to it. Second Aunt is nice, and it’s safe here, no need to worry every day. I’m very happy."
"That’s good. Xue’er, your mom and I got divorced."
Li Xue was stunned, wondering why her mom would agree?
"Xue’er, don’t think too much. She is still your mom, and when she gets older, you’ll still need to take care of her. Though she’s not good, she gave birth to you."
"Dad, why?"
"No reason."
Li Xue noticed that Dad didn’t want to talk, realizing it must be about her own matters—that’s why she ca to live in the old ho, to avoid dealing with her cousin.
"Dad, is it because of the cousin’s matter?"
Li Yunqiao frowned, "Xue’er, how do you know?"
"Cousin ca to school to find ."
"Is this why you didn’t want to go to school?"
"Yes, I hate him."
"Then just stay in the old ho. There’s not much knowledge to learn in school now."
"During the farming off-season, I can learn from Teacher Jiang. Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll take care of my two younger brothers. We won’t abandon our studies."
"Good, Dad trusts you.
Xue’er, your mom and I got divorced. Don’t overthink it; I’ve had enough in all these years."
Li Xue nodded, knowing that mom’s salary was given to Grandma’s family. She felt once she started her own family, it wouldn’t be like this. Even helping out mom and Grandma wouldn’t last twenty years, giving all wages to mom’s family.
"Dad, how is mom now?"
"She’s now cut ties with her family, staying in the dormitory."
Li Xue was puzzled as to why mom would cut ties with Grandma’s family. She really couldn’t understand her.
Li Yunqiao comforted his daughter a while longer before going out together.
His daughter went to work, and he headed back.
Not seeing the second son was regrettable, but hearing that the second son should be very happy from the younger son.
The old saying is true: marry a virtuous wife.
Li Xue watched Dad cycling away. It felt bad inside, even if mom wasn’t good, she was still her biological mother.
But after so many years of Dad and mom getting along, and mom then sending the food brought by Second Uncle to Grandma’s house, and when little brother almost starved to death, they resented mom.
But after the divorce, she felt sympathy for mom; Dad was right, they’ll take care of her when mom gets old.
Feeling a bit lost, she arrived at the wheat field, sitting there picking peanuts. Those sitting together working were the close ones.
"Xue’er, what’s wrong?"
"Just my dad left, and I feel reluctant." Li Xue smiled slightly.
The girls comforted her.
Qu Xiaoli knew that the big brother-in-law must have told Xue’er about their divorce.
At noon, the Wei Family didn’t eat powder intestine; it crumbled when heated, but Jiang Xinyu made spicy sour tripe soup and braised lion head, which the family all liked very much.
"Xiao Jiang, this braised lion head is not bad." Shang Zhenkun praised Jiang Xinyu.
"Mom, I want to eat it again tomorrow."
"No problem, it’ll be braised lion head tomorrow too." Jiang Xinyu would certainly satisfy the kids’ requests.
In the afternoon, Wei Kaiyun still went up the mountain. Now, he dragged back the dead trees, ready to chop them into firewood in spare ti.
But this would never be enough firewood; much more was needed.
Wei Kaiyun thought of the two kids at ho. After sowing winter wheat, he’d buy coal; otherwise, this winter would be too cold.
Furthermore, the Lv Family siblings, Old Yang’s wife, and the brother-in-law would co over; more people ant more firewood consumption.
In the afternoon, before heading up the mountain, Wei Kaiyun visited the pesticide factory. Now their house was built, looking quite good, a line of ten rooms, but the rooms were too small. Now they’re digging dirt pucks, ready to set up the kang.
"Anything you need?"
"Brother Wei, we’re running low on grain."
"Okay, got it. I’ll bring it over tonight. Even if the kang is set up, you’d still have to light a stove, burn coal, right?"
"Yeah, that’s how it is. Brother Wei, we know where to buy coal, all good ones.
Actually, if we dig ourselves, we wouldn’t need to spend money."
"Alright, once you guys clean up here, we’ll discuss it. Why just build ten rooms?"
"Brother Wei, three of us live in one, four rooms are enough."
"Okay, arrange it yourself. If there are leftover materials, rember to build a kitchen. Your construction skills seem quite high now."
Everyone laughed, indeed, they felt they were almost professionals.
In the evening, Wei Kaiyun ca back and directly pushed over one hundred catties of cornal, fifty catties of rice, and a big jar of fat rendered earlier that afternoon. He gave more than half of the pot scrap to them, adding flavor to stewed dishes.
Jiang Xinyu also gave them the leftover pork liver, pork lungs, and pork heart.
"Brother Wei, what’s this?" Shuanzi exclaid in surprise.
"Once you clean up here, we’ll take a trip up the mountain."
This made everyone happy; there would be at to eat then.
At night, Qu Xiaoli told Li Yunqiang about Xue’er’s reaction.
"The girl has grown up, knows more; even if she’s not, it’s still her mom, she won’t feel good inside. Don’t talk about this matter with her."
"Okay, I know, I won’t say anything. Will you check on Chaoyang and the others tomorrow?"
"No need. They’re all grown n now; following Xiao Wei, they’ll have more opportunities to go out. You’re overthinking this."
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