"It's nothing, just a few words," Huang Shan said, immediately turning his head away, afraid his mother would notice something was wrong.

Sister-in-law Huang didn't believe her at all. "Was it really just a casual remark?"

"That's right, Mother, I have something to do, so I'll go out and take care of it first."

After saying this, Huang Shan didn't dare look at Sister-in-law Huang and left in a hurry.

Seeing this, Sister-in-law Huang angrily threw the rag she was using to wipe the table on it. "So guilty! You still say you were just saying a few words? You're trying to fool me!"

"No, I have to think of a way. I can't let him run wild like this." After muttering to herself, Sister-in-law Huang hurriedly packed her things and left home.

When Sister-in-law Huang came to the Huang family, Huang Xiaosi and Huang Xiaopang had just returned and were talking to Jiang Nuan about the school.

"Mother, you have no idea how jealous those classmates are. Every time they hear the teacher praising us, their faces change immediately!" Huang Xiaosi covered his chest with one hand and covered his eyes with the other, making a gesture of wiping away tears, which immediately made everyone in the hall laugh.

"Fourth Brother," Xiao Wu asked in confusion, "why didn't your teacher hit you? Did all the sticks break and become unusable?"

“Nonsense,” Huang Xiaosi smacked his sister on the head. “The teacher is very fond of my brother now, how could he bear to hit me? I am his favorite disciple.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu rolled his eyes, sniffed, and asked innocently, "Then why were you always getting beaten up before?"

This blunt question made Huang Xiaosi's smug expression freeze instantly. After a moment, he awkwardly asked, "Don't you understand the saying 'the deeper the love, the harsher the criticism'? Hasn't Doctor Gu ever hit you?"

“No, Master doesn’t hit me,” Xiao Wu said, shaking his head. “He said that girls’ skin is delicate and that hitting them too much will leave scars, so he can’t hit them.”

Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaosi immediately turned into a sour lemon.

He was actually exaggerating. The teacher did beat him, but only a tiny bit less than before.

Even this tiny bit made him feel the Master's deep love. He thought he was special, but now he realized that compared to Xiao Wu, he was still a nobody.

Secretly hiding his already rough hands behind his back, he imitated the teacher, shaking his head and lecturing his younger sister, "That's not right. The saying goes, 'When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on someone, it first tests their will, starves their body, empties their resources, and frustrates their actions. Only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one rise above others.'"

"Mother," Xiao Wu was confused, blinked, and asked in confusion, "What does Fourth Brother mean?"

"Xiao Wu, your second sister-in-law is telling you that Mother said this a few days ago," Xie Shi glanced meaningfully at Huang Xiao Si, and then continued, "Your fourth brother means that you should work more and not eat, work yourself to death and go hungry, so that you can be successful."

"Ah," Xiao Wu's mouth gaped open, his face full of distress, "It's over, Xiao Wu can't do it!"

She hates going hungry the most; it's so uncomfortable!

But if you're a spineless person, you'll be looked down upon.

She glanced cautiously at Jiang Nuan and asked hesitantly, "Mother, Xiao Wu can be successful even if he doesn't go hungry, right?"

“That’s right, Xiao Wu can be successful without going hungry.”

“Mother,” Huang Xiaosi said indignantly, “you just spoil her.”

He suffered so much at school, why can't his mother show him some love?

"No way," Xiao Wu snorted. "Fourth Brother is a liar."

"How am I a liar? You brat, can't you talk properly?"

"You're a liar! You eat your fill every day, but you lie to Xiao Wu and say he's starving! Humph!"

"This..." Huang Xiaosi touched his nose, "You can't compare to me."

"No, you liar!"

Jiang Nuan sat in a chair, sipping tea and watching her children play, her smile growing wider and wider.

When Sister-in-law Huang came in, she saw the hall full of people and was very envious. "Yaya, you are now surrounded by your children and grandchildren. Your life is so comfortable."

“Sister-in-law, your better days are yet to come,” Jiang Nuan said, pulling the woman to a chair and pouring her tea before asking with a hint of doubt, “Sister-in-law, you seem troubled today. Has something happened?”

"Sigh, it's all because of that good-for-nothing brat," Sister-in-law Huang sighed deeply. "I'm so worried about him."

"Huh?" Huang Xiaosi asked in confusion, "What happened to my cousin?"

“He’s alright,” Sister-in-law Huang said weakly, “but he’s so stupid, I’m worried.”

"What happened?" Jiang Nuan asked, puzzled. "What did Dashan do?"

"Someone from the Qin family came today. I don't know what they said to him, but he seemed guilty when he saw me. I had a feeling he was going to do something stupid."

"Sister-in-law," Jiang Nuan said, somewhat speechless, "Could it be that you're overthinking it?"

How much distrust must one have of their son to be so paranoid?

Jiang Nuan was very suspicious. What had her nephew done to make his own mother distrust him so much?

“Absolutely not,” Sister-in-law Huang said with great certainty. “That brat Dashan is definitely hiding something from me, and it’s related to the Qin family.”

"Auntie," Huang Xiaosi, intrigued by the gossip, said, "don't you already have some ideas?"

“I do have some plans,” she said, then paused, asking in surprise, “Xiao Si is back? When did that happen?”

"The old lady just noticed me?" Huang Xiaosi was speechless.

He's so invisible! I've already tried to talk to him once, but he's still being ignored!

"No, no," Sister-in-law Huang said somewhat awkwardly, "I was thinking about something else and didn't notice, please don't be angry."

As Sister-in-law Huang spoke, she became more and more excited, and her gaze toward Huang Xiaosi grew increasingly loving.

"Little Si, how many days off from school?"

"Five days," Huang Xiaosi, sensing the change, unconsciously took a few steps back. "Auntie, let's talk this out."

What are they trying to do?

That was terrifying!

He swore on the fat man's good reputation that the old woman's kindness towards him must have ulterior motives.

Offering help for no reason is up to no good!

Huang Xiaosi, wary of what was happening, kept his mouth shut and watched Huang Dasao with suspicion.

“Five days,” Sister-in-law Huang frowned, then after thinking for a moment, her eyebrows suddenly relaxed. “Five days is not bad, that should be enough?”

"Sister-in-law, what do you want Xiao Si to do?" Jiang Nuan asked. "Is it to keep an eye on Dashan for you?"

“That’s right,” Sister-in-law Huang leaned closer to Jiang Nuan and lowered her voice, “Xiao Chuan and the others are too old, the boss will be wary of them. Xiao Si and Xiao Yi are different, Da Shan treats them like children. They are both very clever. With Da Shan’s stupid brain, they will probably be completely under his thumb.”

"What do you two think?" Hearing this, Jiang Nuan turned to her son, "Are you willing to help your aunt with this?"

"Of course not... no way," Huang Xiaosi smiled sheepishly, then rubbed his hands together. "As long as there's a running fee, anything is negotiable."

They couldn't stand staying at home anyway, so going out to play and earning money was perfect.

"Shame on you," Xiao Wu stuck out his tongue, "Fourth Brother is a money-grubber!"

“What’s wrong with money-grubbing?” Huang Xiaosi gently slapped Xiao Wu on the back. “I’m happy to do it, Fourth Brother.”

As she spoke, she smiled ingratiatingly at the two people in the main seat, "Mother, Aunt, what do you think?"