Xu Laosan: "Mind your own business. Just because our family isn't good doesn't mean you are. Be careful, or I'll have Chen Jianguo pull your chair away again and make you fall on your butt. All you do is watch our family make a fool of themselves all day long."

Grandma Chen exploded: "Xu Laosan, you're so ungrateful! Can't you see that your aunt is trying to help you? Chunqin, your third son deserves a beating. Children need to be disciplined. The old saying 'Spare the rod and spoil the child' is always true."

Yang Chunqin ran out of energy after chasing for a short while. Beating a child is really hard work. The Xu family's courtyard could be described as chaotic, with chickens, ducks, and geese all hiding in fear.

The situation at Xu Yaoqiang's house was completely different. Xu Yaoqiang was sitting in the stove tending the fire, Xu Zeyu was cooking, and Xu Daya was being beaten and scolded by her second aunt, who was pulling her hair. All sorts of nasty words came out of her second aunt's mouth, and Xu Daya was being completely crushed by her.

It was obvious that this kind of scene had played out many times. Xu Yaoqiang often wondered how people could change so much. He remembered that before they got married, his wife was very gentle and virtuous. How come she was like a completely different person after they got married?

Xu Yaoqiang regretted it more than once. He only realized after getting married why his parents had been so against him marrying this woman.

But this was his own choice, so who could he tell about his heartache?

Xu Yaoqiang felt sorry for his parents and even more sorry for his children. He knew that if it weren't for his parents' secret help all these years, perhaps his two children wouldn't have been able to grow up.

Xu Zeyu is at an age where he's a bit rebellious. He's already given up hope on his mother. When he can't take it anymore, he runs to his grandparents' house. Even though his grandparents don't like his mother, they have nothing to say about him and his sister.

When Xu Xinning entered the house, Yang Chunqin and Grandma Xu were already busy in the kitchen, Grandpa Xu was chopping firewood, and Xu Laosan was sitting under the eaves doing his homework, while Chen Jianguo watched Xu Laosan do his homework.

Judging from Xu Laosan's condition, he must have been beaten up again.

It has to be said that Xu Xinning knows Xu Laosan very well. If he hadn't been beaten up, how could he be doing his homework so obediently right now, and even having Chen Jianguo supervise him? It must have been arranged by his mother.

Chen Jianguo greeted Xu Xinning with joy, calling her "Sister Ningning," while Xu Laosan looked aggrieved, as if he had finally found his tribe.

Xu Xinning stroked Xu Laosan's buzz cut like she was petting a puppy and laughed, "Got a beating? Did you do something wrong again?"

When Mu Jingheng followed her into the courtyard, he saw Xu Xinning gently and sweetly stroking Xu Laosan's head and whispering to him. This was the first time he had seen her smile in the past half day, and he suddenly felt a little jealous of Xu Laosan.

Xu Laosan, who was seeking comfort from Xu Xinning, sat up straight when he saw Mu Jingheng enter the courtyard, staring intently at Mu Jingheng as if trying to see right through him.

Xu Laosan: "What are you doing at our house? If you have something to say, go to the brigade headquarters tomorrow and talk to my mom."

Because of what happened that afternoon, Xu Laosan had a terrible impression of the educated youth.

Seeing Mu Jingheng's curious expression, Chen Jianguo nudged Xu Laosan with his elbow and asked, "Boss, who is this guy? He's really good-looking."

Xu Laosan said impatiently, "Go away, don't you have any sense?"

Mu Jingheng wasn't angry. He smiled and went over to look at the homework Xu Laosan was doing, saying, "Xu Laosan, you're still as arrogant as you were when you were a kid!"

Xu Laosan was about to say "What's it to you?", but then a thought suddenly struck him and he asked, "Did you also live in a military compound before?"

Mu Jingheng: "Yes! But it's not the same military compound where you live."

Xu Laosan was furious: "Are you kidding me?"

Mu Jingheng: "Why would I tease you? But we met when you were little, and I even gave you your name."

Xu Laosan's eyes lit up immediately. He had always been very proud of his name. Even his teacher said that his name was well-chosen and that one could tell he was a smart child just by looking at his name. So, he naturally looked at Mu Jingheng, who named him, with special regard.

Xu Laosan: "Are you Mu's older brother?"

Mu Jingheng stood where Xu Xinning had just stood, and imitated Xu Xinning by ruffling Xu Laosan's buzz cut. Then, he looked at Xu Laosan with satisfaction and nodded.

Xu Xinning went to the kitchen as soon as Mu Jingheng entered the courtyard.

Yang Chunqin knew Mu Jingheng had arrived. As she walked out of the kitchen, she wiped her wet hands on her apron and greeted Mu Jingheng with a smile, "Jingheng, you're here! Come in and sit down. Don't be shy, make yourself at home!"

Xu Laosan said solicitously, "Brother Mu, let me pour you some water, honey water, it's so delicious. I found the honey myself on the mountain."

Yang Chunqin smiled kindly, seemingly forgetting that she had just had a fierce battle with Xu Laosan: "My third son is rarely reliable, go quickly!"

Xu Laosan's buttocks seemed to have springs attached to them; he stood up in a flash and then darted off to the kitchen.

Chen Jianguo looked at Xu Laosan running away with envy. He also wanted to get to know this handsome older brother! If he had met him earlier, he might have a good name too. He didn't like being called Chen Jianguo. There were many people named Jianguo at school.

Mu Jingheng was led into the main room by Yang Chunqin, and Chen Jianguo quietly followed in. He wondered if it was still too late to ask this older brother for help in changing his name to something better.

Xu Laosan ran away, then ran back, carrying a jar filled with honey.

Yang Chunqin: "Third son, you keep your brother company for a while, Mom will go to the kitchen to cook. Jingheng, sit down, Lao Xu will be back soon, we'll start eating when he gets back."

Mu Jingheng: "Auntie, don't worry about me, I won't be polite."

In fact, Mu Jingheng was really not polite. Due to special reasons, he came to visit without bringing anything. He was thinking of buying something when he went to the supply and marketing cooperative the next day so that he could come over for a meal. If he could please the elders in his family, he might be able to come over and share a meal. He really didn't want to eat at the educated youth settlement. Those people were obviously not good at cooking.

However, in order to leave a good impression on the elders of the Xu family, he cannot reveal this at the moment.

After Yang Chunqin left, Chen Jianguo sidled up to Mu Jingheng and looked at him with hopeful eyes.

Xu Laosan scooped a large spoonful of honey into a glass, then poured in hot water from the thermos, stirred it again, and placed it in front of Mu Jingheng, politely saying, "Brother, have some water."

Mu Jingheng didn't stand on ceremony and picked up the cup to drink. He hadn't had a proper drink of water all day and was extremely thirsty, but the water was too hot and too sweet.

The water in the thermos was freshly boiled. Mu Jingheng blew on it as he drank, while two little admirers watched longingly from the side.