"You didn't bring anything? You didn't even buy your dad's cigarettes?" Ding Ermei's face darkened.

Just a few minutes ago, Zhou Fugui said that he had just finished smoking his cigarette when Zhou Bingchen returned.

It's easy to imagine how much Zhou Fugui was looking forward to Zhou Bingchen's gift.

Zhou Bingchen didn't buy anything, so Zhou Fugui must be angry.

When Zhou Fugui gets angry, Ding Ermei is the one who suffers.

"Mom, I was in too much of a rush this time and didn't have time to buy them. You won't be mad at me, will you? Next time I go home, I'll buy you and Dad two portions," Zhou Bingchen said with a smile.

Zhou Bingchen can also say nice things.

In the past, Zhou Bingchen believed that a family didn't need to say nice things; they could show it through their actions.

Now, Zhou Bingchen has become more cautious.

Before figuring out his true identity, Zhou Bingchen felt uneasy and didn't want to spend a single penny on the Zhou family.

"It's not your fault, son! As long as you care about your parents, your parents are happy." Ding Ermei forced a smile.

In fact, Ding Ermei was extremely depressed.

The third brother, usually so honest, is now playing mind games with her.

Next time? It's not easy for Zhou Bingchen to come home, and with just a few words, he postponed the matter of buying her things to a year or two later.

"Mom, where's Dad?" Zhou Bingchen chuckled inwardly, quickly changing the subject.

"Your dad took the last pack of Daqianmen cigarettes and went out to show off. It's rare for you to come home, so your dad is happy." After saying this, Ding Ermei couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Zhou Fugui was convinced that Zhou Bingchen would buy him cigarettes again this time. That's why he reluctantly put half a pack of cigarettes in his pocket and went out to brag.

When I get home and find out that Zhou Bingchen didn't buy anything at all, I wonder how angry he'll be!

"Mom and Dad, I remember all the good things you've done for me!" Zhou Bingchen said, his words carrying a double meaning.

"Hehehe..." Ding Ermei laughed awkwardly.

good?

Ding Ermei dared not agree to this.

The four children in the Zhou family received different treatment from a young age.

The eldest son, Zhou Bingqiang, was Zhou Fugui's favorite.

Zhou Bingqiang had just graduated from junior high school when Zhou Fugui gave gifts to the village's old accountant, asking Zhou Bingqiang to learn skills from him.

A few years ago, after the old accountant retired, Zhou Bingqiang naturally took over and became the accountant of Zhoujia Village.

The second son, Zhou Bingxing, was mischievous and naughty from a young age. He was bad at studying and complained about being tired when it came to chores.

Zhou Bingqiang didn't want to continue his studies after failing to graduate from junior high school.

Seeing that Zhou Bingqiang was not cut out for studying, Zhou Fugui had no choice but to ask a distant relative who was a carpenter to help Zhou Bingqiang become an apprentice and learn the craft.

Zhou Bingqiang went for half a month and then ran away home. He said that being a carpenter was too tiring, so he didn't want to learn it and preferred to work in the production team.

After scolding Zhou Bingqiang, Zhou Fugui sent him back.

A few days later, Zhou Bingqiang came back again.

After several attempts, Zhou Fugui could no longer afford to lose face, so he had no choice but to comply with Zhou Bingxing's wishes.

Zhou Fugui never cared about the third son, Zhou Bingchen.

However, Zhou Bingchen is very clever!

She learned everything quickly from a young age and had excellent grades.

Zhou Bingchen was admitted to high school, but Zhou Fugui was unwilling to support him.

Zhou Fugui told Zhou Bingchen that the family had many children and a heavy burden. Zhou Bingchen's two older brothers had both dropped out of school after junior high. It would be unfair to Zhou Bingqiang and Zhou Bingxing if Zhou Bingchen were to attend high school.

Zhou Bingchen didn't insist, and started working in the production team after graduating from junior high school.

Zhou Bingchen secretly went to town to register for the army.

When the enlistment notice arrived at the Zhou family, Zhou Fugui and his family were dumbfounded.

Zhou Fugui didn't dare stop Zhou Bingchen from joining the army, which allowed Zhou Bingchen to carve out his own niche in the military. Otherwise, according to Zhou Fugui's plan, Zhou Bingchen would have been stuck as a farmer in Zhoujia Village for the rest of his life.

After his fourth daughter, Meimei, entered high school, Zhou Fugui had a different explanation. He said that if girls received more education, they could marry into a better family in the future.

During Zhou Bingchen's childhood and adolescence, Zhou Fugui and his wife showed him no warmth whatsoever, only scolding and harsh criticism.

Zhou Bingchen said he would never forget the kindness Ding Ermei and Zhou Fugui had shown him. Even if Ding Ermei had a thick skin, she couldn't be sure whether Zhou Bingchen was genuinely grateful for their upbringing or was just being sarcastic about their differential treatment.

With this question lingering in her mind, Ding Ermei, who originally had many words of concern and care, couldn't bring herself to say them.

Zhou Bingchen wished Ding Ermei would stay silent.

It's really annoying when someone keeps buzzing in your ear while you're eating.

While Zhou Bingchen was eating in the kitchen, Zhou Bingqiang and Zhou Bingxing returned.

Upon learning that Zhou Bingchen had returned home, the two brothers rushed back to see for themselves and, incidentally, to demonstrate their deep brotherly bond to the villagers.

As soon as Zhou Bingxing entered the door, he was pulled away by Ding Xiaocui.

Zhou Bingqiang learned from Zhao Zhenzhu that Zhou Bingchen was in the kitchen, so he came directly over.

"Third brother, you must be having a tough time in the army lately? You look thinner," Zhou Bingqiang said, feigning concern.

"It's alright, it's all about serving the people! It's not hard work at all." Zhou Bingchen put down his bowl, waved his hand, and said politely.

Zhou Bingqiang was stunned.

How was he supposed to respond to his third brother's words?

"Brother, you look so radiant. Has something good happened recently?" Zhou Bingchen asked.

"Huh? Really?" Zhou Bingqiang couldn't help but reach up and touch his face, a hint of smugness in his heart.

The best thing that's happened to me lately is that I've finally won over Widow Liu!

My third brother has a really sharp eye; he can even tell that something good has happened to him recently.

"Why would I lie to you? Big brother looks full of energy, things must be going well for you lately, right?" Zhou Bingchen started spouting nonsense.

To be honest, Zhou Bingqiang's complexion was sallow, and he even had bags under his eyes, perhaps due to excessive indulgence recently.

"It's alright. There are only so many things to deal with in the village, how difficult can it be?" Zhou Bingqiang said with a smug look on his face.

The two brothers were exchanging pleasantries when Zhou Bingxing entered.

After Zhou Bingxing entered the room, he kept sniffing around.

Seeing the empty bowl in front of Zhou Bingchen, Zhou Bingxing grinned at Ding Ermei and said, "Mom, did you make egg drop soup for Lao San? Give me a bowl too."

"You just finished lunch, and you want to eat egg drop soup again? Is your stomach a bottomless pit?" Ding Ermei glared at Zhou Bingxing and said.

Ding Ermei was very unhappy.

After sending a basket of eggs to my parents' home yesterday, we don't have many eggs left at home.

Zhou Bingxing knew this all along.

If we're making egg drop soup for Zhou Bingxing now, we'll definitely make a bowl for Zhou Bingqiang too.

We don't have enough eggs at home.

"Mom, they're all your sons. If the third son can eat egg flowers, why can't I? You can't be so biased!" Zhou Bingxing said unhappily.

Zhou Bingxing was deliberately causing trouble.

Just now, Ding Xiaocui cried to Zhou Bingchen, saying that Zhao Zhenzhu had scolded her and even tried to hit her.

Zhou Bingchen not only didn't say a bad word about Zhao Zhenzhu, but he also smiled.

Zhou Bingchen is taking advantage of his current success and doesn't respect his second brother Zhou Bingxing at all!