Chapter 89 It's on Fire

"How is it? Where's the fire?"

Shen Yi pointed to the still-smoking kitchen: "It's alright, the fire is out. My sister-in-law caught fire while cooking, but luckily there's water in the water tank."

At this moment, Shen Hongmei stood frozen in the corner, staring at the kitchen, now completely blackened by the fire, terrified out of her wits. A large hole had been burned through the roof, and sparks were still falling from it intermittently.

Without saying a word, Shen Yi nimbly climbed onto the roof, took the bucket of water handed to him by Liu Xuejun, and completely extinguished the last remaining hidden danger.

Just then, the elderly couple, who had just returned from their walk, rushed into the yard in a panic.

"What happened! Are you all alright?" Zhang Xiuying breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the children were all safe and sound.

But when she walked into the kitchen and saw the mess, her anger instantly surged to the top of her head!

Without even asking, she knew who had done this!

"Boss! Tell me! What exactly happened?!"

Like a child who had made a mistake, Liu Xiangyang stammered, "It's just... it was an accident when I was starting the fire... I didn't expect the fire to suddenly leap up to the roof..."

"An accident?!" Zhang Xiuying trembled with anger, pointing at the couple and yelling, "Didn't you always think you were so capable? Didn't you think cooking was easy? This is only the first meal after we separated, and you've already set the kitchen on fire?!"

"Alright, alright!" Liu Shouren frowned and pulled his wife back. "It's good that she's alright, let's not say anything more."

Zhang Xiuying took a deep breath, glared fiercely at the two good-for-nothings, pointed to the large hole in the roof, and gave a firm order:

"You're in charge of fixing this roof! Also, you need to fill the firewood and water tank tonight! Don't even think about sleeping until you've finished! Da Bao is sleeping with me tonight, so he won't be dragged down by you two idiots!"

After saying that, she picked up her eldest grandson and stormed into the house.

Looking at his eldest son, who was standing there like a wooden stake, Liu Shouren snapped impatiently, "What are you all standing there for? Get moving! It's getting dark!"

After saying that, he went back into the house with his hands behind his back, wanting to avoid seeing or hearing about it.

Liu Xiangyang panicked completely, crying out, "But I don't know how to fix the roof!"

“I can.” Shen Yi leaped down from the roof with nimble movements. “You guys go find the materials, I’ll fix it.”

Liu Zhixia glanced at the sky: "Before it gets completely dark, I'll go gather some firewood."

"I'm going too!" Shen Hongmei exclaimed as if she had grasped at a straw, and quickly followed.

The two remained silent on the way, and after gathering enough firewood, they returned home.

At this moment, the three men in the family had already prepared the materials, and Shen Yi was busy on the roof.

The group worked until dark and finally managed to patch up the big hole.

Everyone washed up and went back to their rooms. Exhausted from the day, they fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.

Only Liu Xiangyang and Shen Hongmei sat on the edge of the bed, staring at each other, their stomachs rumbling.

They haven't had dinner yet.

"How about... you go and make yourself a bowl of noodles?" Liu Xiangyang asked tentatively.

"I'm not going!" Shen Hongmei's eyes reddened. "It'll be dark. What if they set the house on fire again?"

Liu Xiangyang clutched his stomach, filled with regret: "If only I hadn't made a fuss! Two-tenths would have been better; at least I'd get paid and have a hot meal! Now look what's happened—I'm starving on the very first day! How am I going to survive from now on?!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Hongmei's anger flared up instantly: "Are you blaming me? Wasn't I doing this all for our little family? Who knew your parents would be so biased! Sure enough, the eldest is just a weed, and the youngest is the treasure!"

She got angrier and angrier as she talked, and started bringing up old grievances: "When the second son got married, his dowry was more than mine! The third son is a money-loser, but he still got a share when the family divided! And the fourth son, we're not giving him any money now, aren't we just waiting for his business to make big money so we can give him even more?"

Liu Xiangyang was stunned: "No way... Didn't we get the same amount? We both put our fingerprints on it!"

"Why not?" Shen Hongmei sneered. "Once your parents make money, do you think they'll just keep it to themselves? They'll definitely be planning to marry off their fourth son to a city wife! Just you wait and see, the bride price for the fourth son will definitely be more than the second son's! We're just stepping stones for them!"

Liu Xiangyang felt a pang of unease, muttered something, and turned his back to her, saying, "Alright, go to sleep! No matter what, life goes on..."

Shen Hongmei sneered: "Rely on your parents? Forget it! My parents truly care about you!"

When Liu Xiangyang thought about how he was treated like a slave every time he went to his mother-in-law's house and couldn't even get a meal of meat, and compared it with the days when he ate and drank well at his own home, he felt a mix of emotions and didn't dare to respond to the conversation.

The room quickly fell silent.

Outside the door, Zhang Xiuying, holding a bowl, nearly dropped it because her hands were shaking so badly.

She turned around angrily and went back into the house, plopped down on the bed, and pulled the soundly sleeping Liu Shouren up!

"stand up!"

Liu Shouren groggily opened his eyes: "What's going on?"

"Eat eggs!"

“Why are we eating eggs so late at night? It would be better to save them for the children…” Liu Shouren muttered, but before he could finish speaking, he saw his wife’s red eyes in the moonlight and his heart skipped a beat.

This is a great injustice!

When have I ever seen his old woman like this?

“Okay! Let’s eat! We’ll have eggs!” He quickly sat up, picked up an egg and tapped it on the edge of the bed, while gently patting his wife’s back with his other hand. “Here, let me peel it for you to calm you down.”

The next morning, Liu Zhixia and Shen Yi got up early again.

Liu Zhixia glanced at the firewood in the kitchen, somewhat puzzled: "Why does it feel like there's a little less?"

Shen Yi said casually, "I guess my older brother and sister-in-law woke up hungry in the middle of the night and got up to make something to eat."

He glanced at the water tank: "It's not full yet, I'll go get some more."

"Okay, be careful on the road."

Breakfast was ready. Liu Xuejun came out yawning, picked up a freshly boiled egg and took a bite with relish: "Sis, it's so good to have you here. There's food waiting for me when I wake up!"

Liu Zhixia was somewhat surprised: "Why did you wake up first today? Where are your parents?"

"Oh right!" Liu Xuejun suddenly realized. "Mom should be up much earlier than usual. I'll go check on her!"

Yesterday's fire left him with lingering fears, worried that something might happen to his elderly parents.

He had just reached the door of his parents' room and was about to listen to the sound through the crack in the door when the door suddenly opened.

"What are you doing? You're acting like a thief!" Zhang Xiuying glared at him, annoyed.

Liu Xuejun rubbed his nose sheepishly: "I was just worried about you guys! Hey? Mom, why are there still eggshells in your bowl? Have you already eaten?"

"I've already eaten!" Zhang Xiuying replied sullenly. "Tell your sister to cook less, so as not to waste it!"

After saying that, she poured out the eggshells, washed the bowl, and put it back in the kitchen.

Looking at the empty bowl, Liu Zhixia instantly understood what was going on and let out a helpless sigh.

My dear brother and sister-in-law, you've really ruined the last bit of family affection.