Zhang Aiqin stord away from the table, and Hu Yong’s wife panicked imdiately, hurrying to say, "Sis, where are you going? The al isn’t over yet!"
"Eat? I’m already full just from seeing you guys, why would I need to eat more?" Zhang Aiqin retorted angrily as she returned to her room.
"Sis, don’t be angry, I really didn’t an anything by it," Hu Yong’s wife hastily entered the room to explain.
Hu Yong’s expression was extrely ugly as he picked up a wine glass from the table, downed it in one gulp, and let out a deep sigh. In a low voice, he said, "Su Yang, I’m really sorry. She was in a good mood last night, but today... I don’t know what happened. If I had known it would be like this, I... I should’ve invited you out for dinner..."
"I couldn’t possibly eat out; it’s not every day that I co here, and not to let into the Lian Family ho would be too much," Su Yang joked.
Hu Yong froze for a mont, then awkwardly said, "Eh, I truly didn’t expect it to turn out like this."
Su Yang smiled faintly and gently patted Hu Yong’s shoulder. "Your wife is good to you, and that’s enough!"
Hu Yong said emotionally, "If it weren’t for your sister-in-law’s kindness to , I... how could I have kept going all these years..."
"That’s enough; after all, you’re only living with your wife, not with her family," Su Yang said.
"That’s true," Hu Yong’s face finally held more of a smile. He grabbed a cup from the table and said with a laugh, "Alright, let’s not talk about this stuff. We have to drink to our heart’s content today. Damn it, the most carefree days of my life were spent in the military. Seeing you, kid, reminds of the old days in the army, when I really didn’t have to think about anything!"
In the end, Hu Yong was utterly drunk, curling up on the shabby sofa, murmuring to himself and singing "Green Flowers in the Army" as if he had returned to his military days.
Su Yang also drank quite a bit, but this amount of alcohol was nothing to him.
Eventually, Hu Yong’s wife ca out of the room and offered Su Yang an apologetic smile, "I’m so sorry, my sister... my sister..."
"It’s okay!" Su Yang said with a smile and nod, standing up and saying, "Sister-in-law, Brother Yong has had too much to drink; let him rest for now. There’s no problem tonight; I’ll treat you to dinner!"
"How could that be!" Hu Yong’s wife imdiately objected. "You’re our guest since you’re here, and it’s our duty to arrange the al..."
"Sister-in-law, don’t be polite," Su Yang said with a smile. "I happen to need Brother Yong’s help with a little sothing tonight. Make sure you both co along, then. I will call you this evening!"
With that, Su Yang left without waiting for Hu Yong’s wife to respond.
Feeling embarrassed, Hu Yong’s wife managed a smile, sat next to Hu Yong, and carefully draped a blanket over him.
"Why bother being so attentive? Does he deserve such kindness from you?" Zhang Aiqin walked out of the room and scornfully said, "A complete loser, that young man’s perfectly fine, yet just a few drinks and he’s knocked out. No wonder he hasn’t achieved anything; can’t even hold his liquor, is he even a man?"
"Sis!" Hu Yong’s wife complained, "Old Hu can’t really hold his liquor, and he hardly ever drinks normally. Today he saw his old army buddies and was happy, so he drank so. Don’t give him a hard ti, will you?"
"Happy about what, so happy to get plastered, doesn’t he have to work this afternoon? Casually skipping work like this, his salary will be docked for several days!"
Zhang Aiqin said angrily, "Third, I know you work doing laundry for others at the laundry shop. But have you ever thought about how many pieces of clothing you need to wash just to make up for his one day of skipped work? How many pieces of clothing to cover the cost of this al he’s offered at noon today?"
"Sis, just drop it," Hu Yong’s wife said with slight anger. "It’s been half a year since Old Hu drank, and the first ti in a year he’s brought friends ho. After all, he’s a man, and he’s given so much to this family. He’s done nothing wrong!"
"A man, not having any ability is the biggest mistake!" Zhang Aiqin said angrily, "If you had married Director Lin’s son, now you would be leading a wealthy lady’s life. But look at you, what kind of life is this? Worrying about trivial household things every day, is this what a woman should worry about? A woman should be living a life of leisure, like a lady of leisure, do you understand?"
"Sis, that’s your view, I think my life is quite good," Hu Yong’s wife said with a smile.
"I think you’re just like this Hu Yong, good for nothing!" Zhang Aiqin waved off, "Forget it, I won’t talk to you anymore. I won’t be coming back for dinner tonight. My daughter is bringing her boyfriend ho, they’ve invited to dine at Wanhu Manor!"
"Lili?" Hu Yong’s wife said in shock, "Isn’t Lili just in high school? How is she already dating?"
"So what? Lili is sixteen this year. When I was sixteen, I was already pregnant with her. There’s nothing wrong with dating." Zhang Aiqin paused and then said proudly, "By the way, I forgot to tell you, Lili’s boyfriend’s family is very wealthy. Every ti he takes her out, he drives a luxury car worth more than a million. On this, Lili is much smarter than you; she definitely won’t just settle for any poor boy!"
Hu Yong’s wife looked helpless, "Big sis, Lili should be focusing on her studies now..."
Zhang Aiqin said, "What’s the use of studying so much for a woman? Marrying a wealthy man is what’s important. The more they study, the harder they’ll have to work for life. How can a woman do such hard labor? It makes one age quickly!"
Hu Yong’s wife was left speechless, unable to utter a word. She had always had a huge ideological gap with her elder sister and couldn’t convince Zhang Aiqin.
Just then, a knock ca from outside the door. Hu Yong’s wife hurriedly opened the room door, only to see a four or five-year-old little boy standing at the entrance, crying.
"Xiao Jie, what’s wrong?" Hu Yong’s wife quickly pulled the little boy over, "Aren’t you at school? Why are you back?"
The little boy was the child of Hu Yong and his wife. Hu Yong got married while in the army and after having the child, he served for another two years before being discharged.
The little boy cried and said, "Today the school was going to have a rehearsal for the school anniversary celebration, and the teacher said I’m not participating in anything, so... so they sent back ho until after the celebration, then I can go back to school..."
"Then you should participate in an activity!" Zhang Aiqin said, "What’s wrong with you kid, why so dull? You’re clearly Hu Yong’s seed!"
The little boy obviously didn’t understand the sarcastic tone of Zhang Aiqin’s words, and Hu Yong’s wife said awkwardly at the side, "Sis, the activities Xiao Jie is talking about are things like the school’s winter and sumr camps, which... which are quite expensive, so... so we didn’t sign up..."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Aiqin’s spirits lifted, and she sneered, "Third, you still talk about being happy? You two being poor is one thing, but this is the kind of life your child is leading?"
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