"The Li family members turned green with envy!"

Wang Tiezhu smiled憨厚ly.

"Master, shall we go back to the factory now?"

Su Jianguo glanced at the sky; the sun was already setting in the west.

"I'm not going back. You've all worked hard today, so I'll treat you to a meal at a restaurant."

The three apprentices looked at each other, all feeling somewhat embarrassed.

These days, eating out is a luxury; even ordinary workers rarely get to do it more than once a month.

"Master, isn't this too extravagant?"

Yang Dalei said embarrassedly.

"Stop talking nonsense and get on the ride."

Su Jianguo waved his hand.

The three apprentices began pedaling their bicycles furiously.

Soon, the four of them rushed back to Beijing.

Su Jianguo took his three apprentices directly to the famous "Old Beijing Restaurant" in the city.

The restaurant was bustling with activity, and the waiters, with white towels draped over their shoulders, moved nimbly between the tables and chairs.

Su Jianguo asked for a window seat and ordered four dishes and a soup: braised pork, steamed fish, stir-fried liver tips, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, and a large bowl of egg drop soup.

"Master, this is far too lavish."

Zhao Hongqi swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the braised pork that had just been served.

Su Jianguo smiled.

"Eat up, thanks to you all for keeping things going today."

He knew in his heart that his disciples in his previous life had taken good care of him, especially Wang Tiezhu and Yang Dalei, who often came to visit him after he became paralyzed.

This meal was a small token of his appreciation.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Su Jianguo asked the waiter to pack up a portion of braised pork and two steamed buns.

"Take some back for my wife."

The three apprentices were all somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

In their minds, their master was always a chauvinist who would never think of bringing food home.

Su Jianguo paid the money and parted ways with his apprentices at the crossroads.

He carried the oil paper package and walked briskly home.

On the other side.

The Li family of Lijiazhuang.

After Su Jianguo left, a gloomy and desolate atmosphere descended upon the area.

Mr. Li squatted on the doorstep, puffing on his pipe, his brows furrowed.

Li's mother sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), cursing Su Jianguo with snot and tears streaming down her face.

"That old bastard dares to come to our door asking for money! Jinhua married into the Su family, what's wrong with her taking some money back to her parents' home? It's only natural!"

"Shut up!"

Mr. Li slammed his pipe on the ground.

"If you hadn't spoiled your daughter, would this have happened? Three thousand yuan! Our family's savings of half a lifetime, gone just like that!"

Li's mother trembled at the shout, but then straightened her back.

"What are you afraid of? Jinhua said her father-in-law dotes on her husband the most. Let's go to the city right now to find our daughter and have our son-in-law talk to his father! We'll get the money back!"

Mr. Li pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Alright, call the boss, let's go."

Immediately, Li's father borrowed an oxcart from a neighbor, and with his wife and eldest son in tow, headed straight for the city.

.

As soon as Su Jianguo stepped into the courtyard house, he heard his youngest daughter Su Yuzhen's high-pitched voice.

"I won't wash! Why should I wash the clothes? Isn't my older sister home?"

"Yuzhen, Father said..."

Wang Xiulan's voice was weak, tinged with helplessness.

"Dad said, 'Have I taken the wrong medicine lately? I've never been like this before!'"

Su Yuzhen's voice was full of grievance and dissatisfaction.

Su Jianguo frowned and strode into the courtyard.

Su Yuzhen stood in front of the washbasin, hands on her hips, looking unwilling.

Wang Xiulan stood to the side, holding a washboard, clearly intending to start washing the clothes by hand.

"What happened?"

Su Jianguo asked in a deep voice.

Upon seeing him, Su Yuzhen immediately wilted, but she still refused to back down.

"Dad, I have school tomorrow, and I haven't finished my homework yet."

"so what?"

Su Jianguo handed the oil paper package to Wang Xiulan.

"Here you go, eat it while it's hot."

Wang Xiulan took the oil paper package, and her eyes widened in surprise when she smelled the aroma of meat wafting from inside.

"This...this is..."

"I brought this braised pork especially for you."

Su Jianguo said gently, then turned to Su Yuzhen, his face darkening.

"What did I say yesterday? Starting today, you'll be responsible for some of the housework. What, my words don't carry any weight anymore?"

Su Yuzhen bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.

"But."

"No buts!"

Su Jianguo said sternly.

"When your older sister was your age, she got up before dawn to fetch water and cook, and after school she still had to feed the pigs. And you? You don't even wash your own socks! Don't even think about eating today until you finish washing these clothes!"

Su Yuzhen burst into tears.

Su Yuzhen's cries echoed in the courtyard, her tears falling like rain.

She stole glances at her father's reaction; this trick had always worked before.

Her father would soften whenever she cried.

But today is different.

Su Jianguo watched his youngest daughter perform and even felt a little amused.

"Yufen, move the dining table to the yard."

Su Yufen was taken aback for a moment, then understood what her father meant.

She deftly moved the mottled elm wood square table out and placed it not far from the washbasin.

Wang Xiulan stood helplessly to the side, still holding the oil paper package in her hands.

"Master, this..."

"Sit down and eat."

Su Jianguo said without hesitation, taking the oil paper package from Wang Xiulan and slowly opening it in front of his youngest daughter.

The aroma of braised pork instantly filled the courtyard.

The amber-colored chunks of meat glistened with oil, and the sauce was so thick it could be stretched into strings.

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