When Zhang Dong and the two others arrived at the Liang Family’s ho, the entire family was already waiting for them.
The Wife of Liang Hao discontentedly glared at Zhang Yu. Originally, if she had co, then the kitchen work wouldn’t have fallen to her.
But today Zhang Yu didn’t co, so she had to take charge, and what surprised her even more was that Liang Yan turned out to be quite clumsy with the chores.
A large table full of dishes kept them both busy and flustered, yet it wasn’t appropriate to criticize Liang Yan.
After her relationship with Liang Yan soured previously, she hadn’t given any money to the household for quite a while, and imdiately the living standards dropped by several levels.
Even though the relationship had eased now, she only brought over so foodstuffs; as for money, that couldn’t be expected.
Zhang Yu received a silent glance from Aunt Liang and just greeted them before moving on.
Aunt Liang noticed Zhang Yu didn’t seem to acknowledge any wrongdoing, "Little Yu, you didn’t co over with your mom today."
"I stayed back by myself to attend classes and study." Since she had already greeted them, she could get back to her books.
Aunt Liang still wanted to have a good talk, to tell her that girls shouldn’t be so lazy, and that her temperant shouldn’t be too independent or too aloof, but should foster relationships with siblings.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Yu showed no intention of continuing the conversation and simply took out her book to read.
"Oh, Little Yu, you’re really serious, bringing your workbook even when coming for a al."
"I know your grades are good, and you work this hard to improve them. If others didn’t know, they might think you look down on them." Aunt Liang knew the Liang Family’s grievance was that they felt looked down upon.
As she expected, the previously cheerful looks on the faces of the Liang Family Elders and Liang Hao, who had been chatting with Zhang Dong, imdiately turned sullen, looking unhappily at Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu continued working on her exercises, "Aunt, my mom used to say you’re quite the talker, and I didn’t believe it."
"Now I really believe it. Aunt, you’re truly capable of turning the living into the dead."
"I just took out my workbook to do so exercises, and you take that as looking down on people. Since you’ve said that, then let say sothing too."
Zhang Yu raised her head and glanced at Liang Bin and Liu Xia who were playing gas on the side.
"I heard from my mom that Liang Bin and Liu Xia didn’t do well in the recent exams."
"Since you think the tuition classes are expensive, then just buy more workbooks and have them work through the exercises on their own."
"Primary school coursework isn’t that complicated, just practice more until it becos familiar."
"Your grades are already so good at First High, can’t you spare so ti to tutor your younger siblings?" Old Madam Liang said displeasedly.
"My grades aren’t way ahead at First High."
"Besides, they have tuition classes, I didn’t attend any classes and still managed through hard work, continuously working hard." Zhang Yu picked up her book to read again.
Zhang Dong understood why the Wife of Liang Hao was unhappy, "Liang Hao, if your family thinks hosting guests is so tiring for your wife, then don’t host them."
"Otherwise, every ti your sister has to rush over at nine in the morning. It was fine before when Little Yu’s studies weren’t too demanding, early was fine then."
"But now, she’s in high school and is much busier. Xiao Xia is also grown up now. Back then, when Little Yu ca to help, she wasn’t even as old as Xiao Xia is now."
Liang Hao hadn’t expected Zhang Dong to directly intervene this ti, looking unhappily at his wife, "When our family hosts guests, we wouldn’t let Little Yu do the work."
"Right, when our family hosts, Aunt, you also never lend a hand when you co over." Zhang Yu responded coolly.
Aunt Liang felt quite annoyed inside and really wanted to just walk out, but she didn’t have the guts, so she took a deep breath, "I’ll go check on the kitchen; it’ll be ready soon."
Liang Yan watched as her sister-in-law turned toward the kitchen while the expressions of Liang Li’s entire family reflected their dissatisfaction.
She pulled Zhang Yu to the side, lowering her voice, "What’s going on with you? How long do you plan to keep making trouble?"
"What trouble? Isn’t it Aunt who constantly targets ? I just study quietly by the side. What did I do?"
"How is it that she cos to our place, and she’s a guest doing nothing, but I co to her place and I have to do all sorts of tasks?"
"Both daughters, you see Aunt just sitting there chatting and drinking tea. Look at yourself."
Zhang Yu leaned closer to her face, took a deep breath in, "Really, you sll strongly of cooking smoke."
Zhang Yu turned around and continued studying earnestly, ignoring the gazes around her.
The Liang Family, previously chatting lively, now wore awkward expressions, unsure of how to continue their conversation with Zhang Dong.
They had hoped Zhang Dong might do a little sothing to help the family, perhaps even helping Liang Hao get a job at a research institute would be ideal.
But the whole situation had been spoiled by the Wife of Liang Hao, and Zhang Dong not only spoke up but also showed a visibly displeased expression.
Despite being elders, at this mont in front of Zhang Dong, the Liang Family Elders had no way to maintain their elder status.
Mother Liang kept giving signals to Liang Yan, hinting for her to co out and handle the situation.
But Liang Yan dared not step forward now; taking any step now would only an trouble.
This atmosphere persisted until lunch was about to end, when the Liang Family Elders exchanged looks and went to the bedroom to fetch so money.
In a brief mont, they returned from the room, handing out New Year’s money to the four children.
Zhang Dong noticed that the red envelopes containing the New Year’s money didn’t seem very thick, but with careful observation, it was clear that Zhang Yu’s envelope was the thinnest.
Zhang Dong looked at Zhang Yu and Zhang Hao, and the forr straightforwardly handed her envelope to him, while the latter hesitated a bit but also gave it to him.
The Liang Family Elders were puzzled as to why Zhang Dong took away the two children’s New Year’s money.
They knew Zhang Dong never took the kids’ New Year’s money; usually, he would just ask how much was given when relatives and friends handed a red envelope to Zhang Hao and the others.
"Son-in-law, what’s this?" Mother Liang sensed sothing was amiss.
"I just wanted to see how much money there is."
"Today, I just heard Little Yu say, over these years, the New Year’s money you’ve given is 100." Zhang Dong said as he opened Zhang Yu’s red envelope.
Liang Yan, having heard Zhang Yu ntion that New Year’s money was 100 earlier, feared trouble might brew and had advised her parents about this when they ca ho, urging them to treat both sides equally.
Seeing Zhang Dong’s actions, she took a deep breath, relieved her foresight prevented an awkward situation.
Too preoccupied with her relief, she didn’t notice the odd expressions on her parents’ faces.
Soon, Zhang Yu’s New Year’s money was opened, "It’s a hundred."
Liang Yan looked at the hundred-dollar New Year’s envelope, "Impossible, impossible."
Liang Yan stood up to seize the red envelope, but Zhang Dong avoided her grasp, shaking the envelope downward a few tis, then holding it open for everyone to see, "It’s just a hundred."
Soon Zhang Hao’s envelope was opened; actually, holding the two envelopes, he had suspected this one might contain more than ten bills.
After opening it, he raised his eyebrow, "Not bad, ten one-hundred dollar US Dollar bills, that’s a thousand US Dollars, roughly over six thousand in value."
"Pretty good, pretty good." Zhang Dong took a deep breath, then directly took out his phone from his pocket, "Little Yu, I’ll transfer you seven thousand more."
Zhang Yu originally just wanted Zhang Dong to see that the Liang Family wasn’t good to her, that she didn’t like the Liang Family, and not to pressure her to have to treat the Liang Family well in the future.
She hadn’t expected Zhang Dong’s approach to be so impressive.
If the occasion wasn’t inappropriate, Zhang Yu would’ve raised her thumb in approval.
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