Li Chunmei used a handkerchief to wipe away Xia Xiaomei's tears. "Xiaomin, sit with your aunt for a while. Mom will help Dad make dinner. Xiaomei, you should eat with us too."

When Li Chunmei came to the kitchen, she complained to Xia Jianguo, "Your older brother and sister-in-law are really making trouble out of nothing. They've made the whole family unhappy during the New Year."

"It's a waste of energy to argue with them."

"By the way, Jianguo, I'm planning to have your little sister come with us to Shenzhen. She said she wants to go to work with her girlfriends, but I'm still a little worried about it."

"Chunmei, thank you! It's so good to have you, otherwise I don't know how I would have gotten through this."

Li Chunmei felt embarrassed, so she tried to sound tough with words, saying, "Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and cook."

Xia Xiaomei silently shed tears after Li Chunmei left, probably because she was truly suffering inside. Having lost both parents at a young age, she lived with her brother and sister-in-law, enduring unspeakable hardship.

"Auntie, don't cry. You can go to Shenzhen from now on. You can earn money and save it to buy your own house." This time, Xia Xiaomei's fate will change if she changes her route to Shenzhen. She won't run into that scumbag again.

"Xiaomin, you know Shenzhen is a good place, right? How could I possibly afford a house? I'm not educated."

"Aunt, you have to believe in yourself. You can do it. As long as you have a goal, you will definitely succeed."

"Thank you for your encouragement, Xiaomin. I will work hard to buy a house." Xia Xiaomei finally smiled.

Xia Minmin felt a burning hatred whenever she thought of Xia Xiaomei's husband. He was the same age as Xia Jianguo, yet he deceived the naive Xia Xiaomei into marrying him. Before they could save any money after marriage, Xia Xiaomei fell into a pyramid scheme, and the house was built with Xia Jianguo's help.

Xia Minmin felt angry and saddened by Xia Xiaomei's misfortune, thinking that Xia Xiaomei was good to her husband and son but not to herself.

Li Chunmei told her that she should save money to pay for her old age, otherwise her old age would be very difficult. I don't know if she listened to her.

Not long after, Xia Jianguo came in, pulled out a folding table from the corner of the wall, propped it up by the bed, and brought in the food to eat. The main room was facing the wind, and with the door open, the wind was strong in winter, and the food would get cold easily.

Xia Jianguo sat in a chair and said to Xia Xiaomei, "Xiaomei, you should rest well this year during the Spring Festival. Your second sister-in-law and I will give you fifty yuan. Go out and have fun with your girlfriends."

"Second brother, I don't want it! I have money!" Xia Xiaomei quickly refused.

"That little bit of money you had was given to you by your older sister because she couldn't bear to see you like that. It's been almost a year, and no matter how carefully you use it, it's almost gone." Xia Jianguo directly stuffed the fifty yuan he had prepared into her hand.

Xia Xiaomei pushed the money in her hand to Xia Jianguo, but when Xia Jianguo didn't take it, she stuffed it directly to Xia Minmin, who was watching the commotion.

Xia Minmin looked at the money in her hand and stuffed it directly into Xia Xiaomei's pocket, while also patting the pocket.

"Don't refuse anymore. Your second brother can still come up with this money. Don't worry about family matters for a while. You can relax and not feel burdened. Before you get married, your eldest brother and I have an obligation to take care of you."

Upon hearing Xia Jianguo's words, Xia Xiaomei broke down in tears again.

Xia Jianguo was also helpless. He was still studying when his mother passed away, and he graduated the year his father became ill. He had no background or connections and couldn't even get his diploma. Xia Jianshe and his wife believed that he had taken care of his mother before she passed away, so Xia Jianguo should pay for his father's medical treatment and death.

Xia Jianguo knew very well that his father earned the money to treat his mother's illness, but seeing his father lying in bed, he could only choose to endure it.

To earn money for his father's medical treatment, Xia Jianguo would sell hydrogen balloons during holidays. It was dangerous but the profits were very high, and a slight mistake could cost him his life.

In the first year of his marriage to Li Chunmei, Xia Jianguo started selling goods on the streets to earn money to pay for his father's medical treatment. In the second year, due to debts and borrowing money from his maternal grandfather and others, he took over someone else's stall, and his life improved.

"Jianguo, help me catch this, it's so hot." Li Chunmei's voice came from the main room.

Xia Jianguo immediately ran out to take the dishes, saying, "Chunmei, you sit down, I'll get the rest of the food."

After Xia Jianguo made two or three trips back and forth, it was finally time to eat.

Xia Minmin was really hungry today. "Dad, give me a big bowl of rice. I want to eat a lot today."

"Jianguo, it's almost time for bed. Give Xiaomin half a bowl of rice. This girl eats until she's stuffed every day at her maternal grandfather's house!" Li Chunmei glanced at Xia Minmin.

Xia Jianguo handed Xia Minmin half a bowl of rice, "Dad, you should be unyielding and resolute. How could you give in so quickly?"

"Hey, Comrade Xia Xiaomin, I've noticed that ever since you started speaking fluently, your little mouth has been chattering away all day long. You've memorized so many poems, and you speak so eloquently."

"Xiaomin, eat quickly or the food will get cold," Xia Jianguo urged.

Li Chunmei picked up her chopsticks and put some food on Xia Xiaomei's plate, saying, "Xiaomei, you should eat too. Eat more vegetables, or this girl will eat them all."

Everyone was hungry today, and we devoured the three dishes and soup in no time.

Xia Xiaomei got up and started clearing the dishes.

"Jianguo, wash the dishes and boil some water so I can make the bed. Let's finish up early and get some rest. We have a lot of things to do tomorrow."

Xia Minmin followed Xia Jianguo; she was going to visit the old house, which she hadn't seen for many years.

Xia Xiaomin was small and walked lightly, stepping on Xia Jianguo's shadow and following him without being discovered.

Xia Xiaomei looked at Xia Minmin who had followed her and said, "Xiaomin, why are you in the kitchen too? This is dangerous and not a place for children to play."

"Auntie, I came in with Dad. Don't worry, I know I can't touch the coal stove or the fire."

Xia Jianguo then noticed Xia Minmin. "Xia Xiaomin, are you trying to scare your dad to death so you can get a new dad?"

"Dad, my dear Dad, what nonsense are you spouting again? Isn't it you who wants to switch sons?" Xia Minmin immediately turned the tables.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!