Chapter 323 They really came.

"Mom, how did you become rich?"

Jiang Hongying lowered her voice, "Actually, my eldest son wrote me a letter before. For the past two years, he's been asking me if I've given him any money. He said I've been farming all the land back home, and I've even bought land in the city?"

Song Chunxue smiled faintly. It seemed that the eldest brother was eyeing her money and wanted to know if the benefits she gave to Hongying were more than those given to him.

She could understand her eldest son's thoughts; he simply felt that since she was living a wonderful life as a mother, why couldn't she help him, her son, more?

She knew what the eldest brother was thinking without him even having to open his mouth.

“Yes, I bought the land and opened a clinic with my senior brother.” Song Chunxue said calmly, “I can give money to whoever I want. If the boss is not satisfied, let him keep it to himself.”

Jiang Hongying laughed, "If he knew you bought such a big house for us to live in, he would definitely be so angry that he wouldn't be able to sleep for several nights. I don't plan to tell him."

“I know that we are supposed to be looking after the courtyard for the Taoist priest, but the Taoist priest is detached from worldly affairs and will only stay in this courtyard a few times in his life. You came up with this excuse so that we can stay here in peace.”

“In that case, He Chuan’s parents will be too ashamed to move in. Mother, I’m sorry to have troubled you.”

Song Chunxue patted the seat next to her, "Come on up."

The mother and daughter chatted until late at night before going to sleep.

*

He Chuan and Jiang Hongying got up very early.

They usually get up early to feed the livestock and carry manure to the fields, so they can't sleep in.

One of them swept the yard, while the other prepared breakfast in the kitchen.

Seeing the lichen and fresh chives in the kitchen, Jiang Hongying picked through the lichen twice, soaked it in water to wash it clean, and then scraped off several potatoes.

Half an hour later, her chive dumplings were ready, and the children ate them with great relish.

She chopped up the leftover lean meat from last night and mixed it into the filling, making it extra fragrant.

"Mom, I never thought chive dumplings could be so delicious." Xiujuan grabbed a piece and handed it to Song Chunxue. "Grandma, you eat this. It's more fragrant when there's more meat and oil."

Song Chunxue smiled and accepted it. She understood what Xiujuan meant; she meant that she had bought meat and oil, which was why the chive dumplings tasted so good.

They rarely saw any oil or meat in the He family's kitchen throughout the year, let alone had meat to eat for two days in a row.

She ruffled Xiujuan's hair. "You eat too, there's plenty."

She couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Do you want to go home with your grandma and eat meat every meal at my house?"

Xiujuan, her cheeks puffed out, held the chive boxes in both hands and turned to look at Jiang Hongying.

Jiang Hongying couldn't help but chuckle, "Go if you want to."

“I’ll go if Mother goes,” Xiujuan said earnestly. “Grandma won’t be able to reach me to scold or hit me.”

These words silenced everyone at the dinner table.

"Mother-in-law, where is the Taoist priest? Has he gotten up?"

Song Chunxue snapped out of her daze. "He went out to see an old friend. Don't worry about him. He'll be back if he has nothing else to do."

Seeing that He Chuan was still wearing tattered clothes, Song Chunxue pointed to the cloth bag on the low stool next to her.

"He Chuan, change your clothes. You're the only one in the family who wears old clothes. I picked out a new outfit for you yesterday. See if you like it."

He Chuan was flattered and subconsciously looked at Jiang Hongying, then smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Mother-in-law, I'll change into it in a bit."

He ate three leek dumplings and drank some egg drop soup before hurrying to his room.

Wearing new clothes, and with the fact that he seemed to have washed his hair last night, he looked like a completely different person—clean and handsome.

After all, He Chuan is still young; he is only twenty-five or twenty-six years old this year.

The hardships had begun to bend his back slightly, but his smile still couldn't hide his childlike nature.

"Daddy, it looks good." Xiaolong slid off Jiang Hongying's lap, ran over, and happily stretched out his arms. "Daddy, hug me."

The little dragon's childish voice made everyone burst into laughter.

Xiao Long usually doesn't pay attention to He Chuan. He Chuan is too busy to hug him, and he's always covered in grass or dirt, sometimes even smelling like donkey or sheep dung.

Children have a sensitive nose and don't like the smell on them.

"Oh my, Little Dragon, give me a hug." He Chuan laughed as he picked up Little Dragon and lifted him high above his head.

Then he kissed Xiaolong on the cheek, saying, "You little rascal, you're only willing to stick to me today."

Just as everyone was chatting and laughing happily, they vaguely heard someone knocking on the door.

Hearing the noise, everyone quieted down and listened intently.

"Knock knock knock".

"Knock knock knock".

Jiang Hongying asked curiously, "Who is it? Could it be a neighbor?"

“It’s probably He Chuan’s mother,” Song Chunxue stood up. “I’ll go open the door, you guys continue eating.”

"Mom, we're done eating." Jiang Hongying stood up. "I'll wash the dishes."

If that old hag comes and sees her sitting down to eat so calmly, her eyelids could crush her to death.

The children tensed up instantly when they heard that the person knocking on the door might be their grandmother.

Xiujuan picked up the broom. "Mom, I'll sweep the floor."

Xiao Long clung tightly to He Chuan's neck, "Dad, run!"

"..." He Chuan was both amused and exasperated. Sure enough, once someone had someone backing him up, even a three-year-old knew to run away.

Before, at home, everyone could only quietly wait to be scolded.

Xiao Xu was at a loss. He stepped out of the kitchen and said, "I'll go sweep the backyard."

Jiang Hongying looked at He Chuan with a resentful expression, as if to say, "Look how scared your mother has made the child."

He Chuan sighed, "How about we go back with your mother and live in Zhuanglang County? I'm strong enough to help my mother-in-law with farm work, and you'll be more at ease. It's more realistic to be scolded by your own mother; she doesn't seem like the type to scold her son-in-law so easily."

Jiang Hongying's eyes lit up. "Are you serious?"

Over here, Song Chunxue opened the courtyard gate, and sure enough, He Chuan's parents were standing outside.

They both looked annoyed, but the moment they saw Song Chunxue, they both forced smiles.

It's like an old rag suddenly getting painted with oil paint, making it seem like it's about to go on stage and perform.

"Why are you here?"

Song Chunxue stood at the door, looking at them expressionlessly, and made no intention of inviting them inside.

Old Mrs. He smiled sheepishly, "We just came to visit. You see, my mother-in-law was so angry yesterday that she beat someone. He Chuan is my son, and all the children are from our He family."

At this point, Old Mrs. He's smile became even more insincere.

"Hehehe, Hongying is also our He family's daughter-in-law. I treated her badly before, it was my fault. But we are family after all. It's never wrong for me to come and visit them wherever they live in the future, don't you think?"

Song Chunxue chuckled, "The sun must have risen in the west. It's hard for you to say something like that."

The old woman's smile froze for a moment. "Actually, I'm not that old. I'm only a few years older than you."

"You're not old, but in the eyes of children you're like an old witch. When they hear that you might be coming, they're scared and run around like mice."

The old woman fell silent.

He Chuan's father said irritably, "That's still a child of our He family. Blood is thicker than water. I'm his grandfather. They're not afraid of me usually."

Song Chunxue didn't argue with them about it.

"Since you're here, come inside."