In the iron pot on the honeycomb briquette stove next to the stove, the soup was bubbling and boiling, and the aroma of free-range chicken wafted through the courtyard.

Miao Xiaohua swallowed hard and readily agreed.

That's perfect, this way she can stay in the yard a little longer.

"Third brother-in-law, is there still hot water in the thermos? I want to give the two kids a bath first, so it will be easier when Sister Shuixian comes back later!"

As Miao Xiaohua led the people into the house, she asked Wu Xuejun, who was soothing the child.

Before Wu Xuejun could answer, his second brother-in-law, Lin Xiangdong, spoke up first: "Little Hua, you're really diligent. The thermos is in our room, go and get it. I filled all three thermoses with water during the day."

As he spoke, Lin Xiangdong deftly washed the cabbage, scallions, and other side dishes.

While Miao Xiaohua was giving Zhou Wenxin and her sister a bath, Wu Xuejun, who had finally calmed the children down, was sewing clothes for Zhou Guihua while holding the children.

"Tsk tsk, how virtuous she is..."

Just then, a strange, sarcastic voice came from the courtyard gate.

Stooped and hunched over, old and frail, with the skin on her face beginning to sag, Old Mrs. Wu from next door started her sarcasm again at the entrance of the Zhou family's courtyard.

"Oh dear, your parents gave birth to you to carry on the family line and continue your family's traditions, not to have you hide behind women like old women, cooking, washing clothes, and taking care of children."

If your ancestors knew what you were doing, they would be turning in their graves!

Yin and Yang are going in reverse! Yin and Yang are going in reverse!

There's no such thing as a man staying home to take care of the children while the woman goes out to work.

"How can you be so useless? Do your families know?"

Wu Xuejun and Lin Xiangdong are both men, and both are honest, hardworking, and not very talkative men.

They were used to the sarcastic remarks from their neighbors and rarely responded.

However, because they didn't speak, Old Mrs. Wu talked even more enthusiastically:

"Oh dear, now that your wives aren't backing you up at home, you can't even speak properly anymore?"

"Or is it your wives who demand that you be good husbands and fathers, and forbid you from talking to outsiders?"

"All you do all day is hide behind women. If your parents knew, they'd regret giving birth to you. You're such a disgrace..."

What are you saying?

Just as Old Mrs. Wu was getting more and more excited and even went into the Zhou family's courtyard to talk, the closed door of Zhou Shuixian's house was opened from the inside.

Miao Xiaohua stormed out, pointing at Old Lady Wu and starting to curse:

"You old codger, you're so old and you still talk so rudely. You're lucky to have lived this long. How come you weren't beaten to death before?"

Our great Chairman Mao said that women hold up half the sky, men and women are equal, and everyone is a master of the new society.

You're doing something else, sticking to your old-fashioned ways?

how?

You are a remnant of the old society, dissatisfied with our new society, and still thinking about restoring the old society and playing your landlord and official ways.

"Whose family are you from? I'm going to go to your children's workplaces and ask if they hold these feudalistic and outdated ideas there too!"

The moment Miao Xiaohua uttered "old hag," Old Lady Wu wanted to use her special skill: lying on the ground and wailing, hoping to get something from the Zhou family through her crying.

But just as he was about to fall, he heard what the other person said next, and he was so frightened that he didn't dare to move!

In particular, when she heard that the other party was going to her son's workplace, she was so frightened that she walked outside.

The frail old man moved quickly, as if afraid that Miao Xiaohua would pull him back.

Miao Xiaohua walked behind at a pace that was neither too fast nor too slow, yet still intimidating, all the while muttering curses under her breath.

"Old woman, if you can't speak, then don't speak. Nobody will think you're mute."

Gender equality means that women can go to work to earn money and support their families, so why can't men stay at home to take care of the children and do laundry?

Both are contributing to the family, just with different roles. Why should someone be looked down upon for taking care of the children and doing laundry at home?

Does your family have no one at home to take care of the kids, do laundry, or cook?

If the men in your own family don't understand you, it's your misfortune. What right do you have to criticize men in the new society who have higher moral standards?

...

Miao Xiaohua stood at the gate of the Zhou family's courtyard and started yelling at both sides of the alley, making sure that all the neighbors could hear her.

Miao Xiaohua was a feisty person to begin with. She had heard a lot of the swearing things that Comrade Zhou Jingyun's girlfriend said from Zhou Shuixian before, and she had been wanting to give her a good scolding for a long time.

However, this old lady Wu didn't play by the rules and actually ran away.

What a disappointment.

When he turned around, he met Lin Xiangdong and Wu Xuejun's excited and admiring gaze.

"Second brother-in-law, third brother-in-law, what's wrong?"

Miao Xiaohua touched her face to make sure there was nothing wrong, and then asked.

The two men in the courtyard said in unison:

"Xiaohua, you're amazing!"

"Xiaohua, you really don't look down on us?"

Hearing their conversation, Miao Xiaohua asked, puzzled, "Look down on them? Why?"

Without even needing to answer, just from Miao Xiaohua's serious and puzzled look, the two already knew the answer in their hearts.

However, Wu Xuejun, who was holding his child, still spoke up: "They all look down on men who do housework at home!"

Upon hearing this answer, Miao Xiaohua immediately asked nervously, "And what about you yourselves?"

“I don’t look down on myself. Guihua is so busy. Someone has to take care of the children, cook the meals, and wash the clothes. She’s already working hard enough. I can’t leave it all to her, can I?”

I'm just afraid that when my child grows up and understands things, they'll feel ashamed to have a father like me!

Lin Xiangdong, standing to the side, also looked a little disappointed: "Yeah, otherwise, staying at home is quite nice. I don't have to deal with people, it's very comfortable!"

"..."

After hearing these words, Miao Xiaohua was unsure how to respond.

Just then, the three Zhou sisters came home from get off work.

Having overheard quite a bit from afar, Zhou Yuzhu directly addressed Lin Xiangdong, saying, "If you don't like interacting with people, just stay home and cook and do laundry every day. I can support you three. If I work harder and become a team leader like my eldest sister, I'll definitely be able to ensure you can eat meat every day!"

Zhou Guihua also walked over to Wu Xuejun and said, "What are you afraid of? If the child dislikes you in the future, just beat him, beat him to death!"

A child doesn't despise its mother for being ugly, and a dog doesn't despise its home for being poor.

You take care of him so diligently, how dare he complain about you?

Without you, he would probably have starved to death long ago!

Don't worry, if he ever dares to complain about you again, I'll leave him and only want you!

These words warmed Wu Xuejun's heart, making him feel that the other party had seen all his efforts.

Zhou Shuixian, however, asked her two brothers-in-law, "When the neighbors insulted you, why didn't you talk back?"