Tao Rui had been searching for a good puppy for three or four months, but couldn't find one he was satisfied with. Since it would be his companion for over a decade, he naturally wanted one that was clever and sensible. His past pets had all been incredibly clever, so his taste was naturally discerning. This delay had dragged on until now.

But it was just a coincidence. He thought that it was the New Year and he had to get some new food, so he thought of fishing again and went to the back mountain alone. Unexpectedly, he met the pregnant and injured wolfdog.

The wolfhound was very alert and ferocious. When it saw Tao Rui, it immediately took an attacking posture with a desperate attitude. Only when Tao Rui released a little bit of spiritual energy and fed the food he had with him did the wolfhound stop its attack and just stared at him warily.

Encountering a pure wolfhound, and such a formidable one at that, was truly a stroke of luck. Tao Rui found a cave and lured it there using the same method he used for attracting spirit pets and demonic beasts, giving it a temporary home. He visited it daily, bringing it food, and only after a few days could he get close enough to apply medicine to the dog.

Then, two puppies were born. To Tao Rui's surprise, the mother was a pure wolfdog, and the father was a pure wolf! He carefully examined the two puppies. They were of excellent quality and would grow up to have intelligence significantly higher than that of ordinary dogs. In short, they were the best of the best in this world.

It took him a few more days to completely gain the dog mother's trust, and then he told Tong Yan to take her to pick up the dog.

Although Tao Rui could not speak animal language, he knew how to communicate with dogs in simple ways, such as not to hurt them, take them away, be their master, etc. When the mother dog saw the stranger Tong Yan and bared her teeth warily, Tao Rui pulled Tong Yan and squatted down. He took out the food he usually fed the mother dog and put it in Tong Yan's hand, then pulled Tong Yan's hand and stretched it forward, indicating that Tong Yan was with him and was harmless.

The mother dog stared at Tong Yan for a moment before sniffing and taking the food.

Tong Yan burst out laughing, "Brother Rui, it's so smart!"

Tao Rui smiled and said, "Do you like it?"

Tong Yan nodded repeatedly, her eyes never leaving the mother dog. Tao Rui pointed inside again, "On that haystack are its two puppies. They haven't opened their eyes yet."

Tong Yan shifted her position and caught a glimpse of the puppies from the gap next to the mother dog. Her heart melted instantly. She didn't know why she had loved dogs since she was little, but she really loved them. Especially a puppy this small and soft. She had never seen one before, and her hands clenched into fists with excitement.

Tao Rui placed the basket he had brought in front of the mother dog, stepped forward, patted her back, and gently petted the puppies, slowly letting them know he was taking them away. His efforts over the previous days hadn't been in vain. The mother dog had understood that Tao Rui was committed to feeding them, and she had come to accept him as her master. To the mother dog, Tao Rui was their savior.

Although the dog mother's thoughts were not that complicated, she did accept Tao Rui. Tong Yan was simple by nature, and the dog mother felt only kindness in her. Since she was with Tao Rui, she did not reject her.

Tao Rui comforted the mother dog for a while, then gently picked up the two puppies and put them in a small basket, covered them lightly with old clothes, and then handed them to Tong Yan.

Tao Rui patted the mother dog's back, and they walked down the mountain together. The mother dog stayed beside Tong Yan all the time, looking around from time to time, and occasionally glancing at Xiao Kuang, as if she was on edge.

Ever since Tong Yan was carried into the basket, she has been emitting a happy aura.

Tao Rui's family needed to prepare food, so they moved the doghouse to Tong Yan's house. Tong Yan insisted on keeping it in her room. It was winter, and the puppy was still small, so Tao Rui let her do what she wanted, helping her build a simple doghouse on the floor next to the kang. Tao Guodong, Wu Xiufen, and Grandma Tong all came to watch.

Coincidentally, as soon as they put the puppies on the cushion, the two puppies opened their eyes one after another!

Everyone laughed at once, and Grandma Tong said, "They seem to be destined to be with us."

Tong Yan's eyes sparkled as she carefully touched the two puppies. Then the mother dog lay down next to the puppies, looking at them vigilantly and refusing to relax.

Tao Rui said, "Let's disperse first and let them adapt to the new environment. It will take a few days for them to call this place home. Tong Yan, don't touch the puppies. The big dog will bite you if it gets angry."

Tong Yan nodded immediately, took a few steps back and sat on the kang, but still looked at them with a smile on her face.

Tao Rui shook his head and said to the elders, "Let's go first. The big dog already knows Tong Yan, so it's better to leave them alone. Tong Yan, remember to give them names."

"Yeah! Okay!" Tong Yan now had something to do. She took off her shoes and lay on the kang, holding her chin and looking at the three dogs. She smiled and frowned, thinking hard about their names.

The next day, Tong Yan excitedly told Tao Rui the names she had chosen: Little Wolf and Little Tiger, hoping they would grow up to be powerful and fierce wolfhounds. The mother dog would be named Ankang. Because they had been seriously injured before, they were lucky enough to be saved by Tao Rui. She hoped they would be safe and healthy in the future.

Tao Rui was a bit surprised. Tongyan's meaning was a good name, so he had no objection. So the name was decided.

Life with a dog is such a joy. The way a puppy looks when it's limp and unsteady is so adorable. For dog lovers, watching them 24 hours a day is never enough. Tong Yan often falls asleep after watching them so much that she becomes too sleepy. When she wakes up in the morning, the first thing she sees is her beloved dog.

Tao Rui also finally came up with a few new foods before the Chinese New Year, including canned fish, smoked fish, spicy rabbit cubes, milk ice cream, etc. Some of them are familiar to everyone, while others are not. But no matter whether they are known or not, the taste of Tao Rui's dishes is unmatched.

This isn't to say Tao Rui's cooking skills have reached top-tier levels, but rather that at that time, popular culinary techniques were limited. There wasn't anything particularly delicious in this village, or even in the town or city itself. If someone from later generations tried to eat there, they'd probably give up after just two bites. Therefore, the delicacies Tao Rui had researched based on his book "The Complete Guide to Gastronomy" became the best in the area. He released a batch before the Lunar New Year, and they were very popular.

Of course, he primarily caters to the wealthy, though the volume isn't huge. He only increases his sales around the time before the Lunar New Year, when everyone is stocking up on New Year's goods. Many people, whether buying gifts for family or simply wanting to splurge on their own, come to Tao Rui for his food. After all, he only requires money, not tickets. During these days of New Year shopping, he offers 10% off and free gifts. He hired helpers to make tons of food for several days, and it all sold out, successfully boosting the reputation of Guoxiu Snacks.

Of course, his hiring of helpers and the fact that he sold so much gave the villagers a new appreciation for his abilities. Furthermore, he had hired help several times during this period, and practically half the villagers had worked for him and received his wages. This gave them a different feeling: Tao Rui was already a big boss in their eyes.

After working so hard before the New Year, Tao Rui made a lot of money. He took a few days off during the New Year and took the opportunity to get closer to his second brother.

Tao Xin and his wife were naturally aware of the popularity of Guoxiu Snacks, and were surprised that Tao Rui had grown his small stall to such a large scale, almost as if they had never known him. However, Tao Rui was still a minor when Tao Xin got married and left home, so it made sense that he would be older and more successful now.

Their relationship had always been ordinary, and Tao Xin had intentionally distanced himself from his family after getting married, so naturally, he wouldn't be close to them now. It was just that he occasionally felt a little regretful when he thought about it. After all, in this day and age, having a good brother to support each other was a good thing, and not having much contact with family seemed a bit weak.

Tao Xin's wife Zhao Yaxiang once bought the meat buns and preserved fruits made by Tao Rui, wanting to try them. She found them delicious, but they lived with Zhao's father and mother and wanted to save money to buy a house and to marry their son in the future, so they were reluctant to spend any money. Later, they never bought any new food made by Tao Rui again.

They never thought that one day Tao Rui would come to their door with gifts and visit them so generously.

The factory was closed for the holiday, and when Tao Rui arrived, Tao Xin and his friends were writing couplets. He met Tao Xin's surprised look and said with a smile, "Brother, it's been a long time since we last met. You're usually busy at work, and I have a lot to do, too. I only came to see you now that we're on holiday. You won't blame me, will you?"

Tao Xin hurriedly asked him to come in. "What's strange? We all know you're busy. Come in and sit down. I'll pour you some tea."

Zhao Yaxiang brought her son and parents to the main hall. Tao Rui greeted them one by one and put the things he was carrying on the ground. "Uncle, aunt, I wish you a happy new year. I don't have anything special, but these are some good food. I'll give them to you to try. Don't be disgusted."

Tao Yonghui noticed with his sharp eyes that the two large baskets were filled with new products from Guoxiu Snacks, such as canned fish, spicy rabbit heads, ham slices, and dim sum, all in pairs. The items he saw were worth ten yuan alone, and that was before he even counted how much was inside.

He opened his eyes wide and looked up at his mother. Zhao Yaxiang was surprised and declined, "Third brother, you just came. What do you want to take? We don't need anything here. The factory even distributed some things for us during the New Year. It's not easy for you to do business. Take it back later."

Tao Xin also poured out some tea and said, "Tao Rui, why are you being so polite? We're all family. I'm happy as long as you and your parents are doing well."

Tao Rui sat down and said with a smile, "Brother and sister-in-law, don't refuse. I made this myself. I thought I sent it in late. I didn't know better before and was too embarrassed to come visit. Now I feel comfortable enough to come over and I want you to taste my cooking." He picked up a package of ham slices, opened it, and pulled Tao Yonghui over, saying, "Xiaohui, come and try it and see if your uncle's cooking is delicious."

Tao Yonghui almost gulped and couldn't help but look up at his parents. Seeing this, Tao Xin smiled and said, "Then go on. Thank you, uncle."

"Thank you, uncle!" Tao Yonghui smiled, took a small bite of the ham, and immediately said in surprise, "Uncle, the meat you cooked is really delicious!"

Tao Rui touched his head and said with a smile, "If it tastes good, eat more. You're still growing. If you run out, ask your dad to get more from your uncle. You'll grow taller in the future."

Zhao Yaxiang smiled and said, "Don't spoil the child. Drink some water and warm yourself up. How's everything going at home? Are your parents doing well?"

Tao Rui nodded and told them about the changes at home. Zhao's father and Tao Xin also sat down to chat with him, while Zhao's mother took Zhao Yaxiang to the kitchen to cook and asked Tao Rui to stay for dinner.

Of course Tao Rui would not refuse. He came here to have a good relationship with his second brother.

The original owner owed Tao Fu very little, because Tao Fu had also done many things that he hadn't done to the original owner. He had already settled all the responsibilities with Tao Fu when they split up. Tao Fu was so annoying, he didn't want to continue to have any contact with him.

But things were different with Tao Xin. Although they were initially distant from their family, the original owner often came to collect money, staying at his second brother's house and refusing to leave, eating and drinking for free. Not only did he not treat them well, he even went to their factory to cause trouble. He was a complete vampire.

Tao Xin and Zhao Yaxiang weren't the type to resort to violence or scolding, nor were they willing to sever ties with the original owner. They simply bore the pain of having their blood sucked out of them for years. They had boundaries and wouldn't demand anything of the original owner, but they weren't wealthy either. With the original owner around, their finances were even tighter, and their moods weren't great either, which naturally made their lives difficult.

Later, Tao Xin and Zhao Yaxiang, once a happy couple, began to argue frequently, their relationship far from what it had been when they first married, and this even had a certain impact on Tao Yonghui. A problematic family environment is extremely detrimental to a child's development. By the time they realized what was happening and simply stopped paying attention to the original owner, some subtle damage had already been done.

Therefore, Tao Rui must compensate his second brother's family. It just so happens that his second brother, his wife and Xiaohui are all people with good character. It would be best for them to visit each other as relatives, and it would also make his parents happier.

Tao Rui took so long to come here just because he wanted to wait for his second brother to see his transformation and accept him more easily to avoid any trouble.

It seems that the effect is very good now, and they are all quite friendly to him.

Tao Rui dined at his second brother's house and shared a few drinks with him before returning home. Before leaving, he repeatedly urged them to return home on New Year's Eve, spending the night there and preferably staying a few days before returning. He also warmly invited Zhao's parents. They had previously lost a son, and now only had one daughter, Zhao Yaxiang. It would be quite lonely for them both to be home during the Lunar New Year, so Tao Rui invited them to celebrate together.

Inviting in-laws to celebrate the New Year together was basically uncommon at that time. On New Year's Eve, Zhao's father and mother did not go to Tao's house. Only Tao Xin and his family of three went.

This was also the first time they saw Tao Rui's new home. When they moved before, their factory happened to be working overtime every day and it was very busy, so they only asked someone to send a housewarming gift over. This time when they came for the New Year, they were really shocked when they saw it. They had never seen such a magnificent house in their lives!

When they walked into the house, they didn't even need to wear cotton-padded jackets or sweaters, just a single layer of clothing would be enough. Moreover, the main room was connected to several bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, so they could go from one room to another inside the house without having to put on clothes and walk outside. This was a layout they had never seen before, but it was so comfortable everywhere, and they felt warm all over, and even their mood improved.

Tao Rui asked someone to buy two small toys for Xiaohui. Xiaohui soon got used to the toys and started playing with them happily. He ran around the house with the little wolf and little tiger who could already run, and the whole house was filled with joyful laughter.

This kind of laughter is the most contagious. Several adults also had smiles on their faces, watching TV and chatting, or picking vegetables and cooking together, completely relaxing. The atmosphere was better than usual every year.

Tao Rui prepared twelve delicious dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner. When they were ready, he called Grandma Tong and Tong Yan to come and eat. They were the only two families at the end of the village, and they had grown very close over the past few months, having already agreed to celebrate the New Year together.

Zhao Yaxiang and Wu Xiufen went to the kitchen to get some rice. Seeing that Tao Fu and his family hadn't arrived yet, they couldn't help but whisper, "Mom, aren't my brother and his family coming?"

Wu Xiufen paused and nodded. "If they really wanted to, they could have paid New Year's greetings to me and your father, which would have been considered filial piety. However, they haven't even shown up. And it just so happens that the third brother doesn't like them either. He announced in front of the whole village that he would no longer have any contact with them. So, that's it."

Zhao Yaxiang, unaware of the severance of ties, was immediately surprised and asked about the whole story. She was even more surprised when she learned that Tao Rui had hit the eldest brother several times. She felt that her brother-in-law had indeed changed a lot and was completely different from before.

But thinking about it, the feud between the eldest and the third child has never ended. The eldest child is always greedy, and the third child will never tolerate any grievances. It would be strange if they could get along. She didn't have any intention of reconciling them. They could just stop interacting, since they rarely saw the eldest child anyway.

This New Year's Eve dinner was a joyous affair, with no one hating on them. Xiao Hui ate his food with big mouthfuls while praising his uncle's cooking skills, which made everyone laugh. Even Tao Xin couldn't help but praise Tao Rui, saying that he had really made it big.

Tao Rui, intent on getting closer, naturally joined in the conversation, and Tao Xin and Tao Rui drank several more glasses of wine. Although the two elders didn't see their eldest son this year, they felt a great deal of comfort in seeing the middle and third sons getting along so harmoniously, and Xiaohui being more lively than in previous years.

At twelve o'clock, a group of them went to the yard to set off firecrackers, hoping that the new year would continue to be prosperous and lively!

Tao Fu and his family heard the sound of firecrackers at the end of the village at home. Their faces turned very ugly. The family of three sat at a small table, eating a simple meal of one meat and two vegetables, looking very lonely.

Xiao Lizhen touched her bulging belly and said unhappily, "It's really interesting over there. They didn't even invite us for the New Year. Are they really going to break off relations? If I had known your parents were so cruel, I should have gone back to my parents' house for the New Year to spite them."

Tao Fu was about to yell at her irritably, but he held it back when he saw her big belly. "Don't think about those messy things, and don't make my son angry anymore. If they don't want to yell, then don't yell. Can't we celebrate the New Year by ourselves? This will save us from going over and getting mad at them."

Xiao Lizhen snorted, "Ever since the third brother started making money, he's become arrogant. The second brother is also a snob. Some people saw them take a lot of things from the third brother this year, at least three times as much as before. They really just cling to the third brother because they see him making money. As for us? He didn't even say hello."

Seeing Tao Yuanyuan absorbed in her eating, not being at all alert, Xiao Lizhen couldn't help but push her, saying angrily, "Eat, eat, eat, all you do is eat. You're completely useless. It's inconvenient for two adults like us to go, and you, a child, don't even know how to go? You're so sweet, you go over and say auspicious things to your grandparents, and they're not going to chase you away? At least go over and have a good meal and get some red envelopes, right? You're thirteen now after the New Year, and when Grandma Tao was thirty-three, she would coax your grandma into giving her money."

Tao Yuanyuan frowned and sneered, "What are you thinking, Mom? If I go, I'll be kicked out, right? Have you forgotten that last time you were pregnant, your uncle dared to hit you? He's not easy to talk to. If he says he doesn't recognize us, then he won't recognize us. My grandparents are the most partial to him, what can he do about me? I'm not going to go and get scolded."

"You kid! You're screwed! What's the point of trying? Will it only get you a piece of skin off?" Xiao Lizhen pushed her again. She quickly ate a few mouthfuls of rice, ran back to her room after finishing it, leaving only the words "I'm not going".

Xiao Lizhen touched her belly and said, "This poor child, I really can't rely on her at all. I just hope my son will have a better future and not end up like her."

"Don't worry, the offspring of my Tao family must be good." Tao Fu said this with some confidence. He didn't think he was inferior in any way. The second son went to the town to work as a worker, and the third son also made money to build a big house. Of course, he felt that the Tao family had good genes, and he had a mysterious confidence in this unborn child.

Xiao Lizhen thought the same. She also felt that her son was blessed because she had been unable to conceive for many years, but she got pregnant as soon as they separated. She always felt that the separation had fulfilled her wish, and the child also knew that their life was better and was willing to come.

People in the village often said that Tao Rui was lucky, and she and Tao Fu obviously could not catch up with him. She felt anxious and hoped that her son would have better luck than Tao Rui and be more successful in the future, so that she could rely on her son to slap Tao Rui in the face.

After thinking about it for a long time, the couple valued their unborn son more and more, almost to the point of protecting a treasure. Now, any delicious food at home was given to Xiao Lizhen. She had gained a lot of weight during her eight months of pregnancy. She would not move if she could, and even left the housework to Tao Yuanyuan.

It was their attitude that made Tao Yuanyuan more sensitive. It wasn't that Tao Yuanyuan didn't want to go to Tao Rui's house, she just didn't want her parents to know.

Early in the morning on the first day of the Lunar New Year, she rushed to Tao Rui's house while her parents were still asleep. She called out "Grandma" twice at the door, calling out Wu Xiufen, and then said with a sweet smile, "Happy New Year, Grandma! I wish you good health and ever-younger life!"

Wu Xiufen was stunned and looked behind her, only to find that she was the only one there.

Tao Yuanyuan said helplessly: "My parents didn't let me come, so I came here secretly. I have to go back and cook for them later."

Wu Xiufen frowned. "You cook for them? What does your mother do at home?"

"She's taking care of the baby. She said she doesn't want to tire my brother out, so she'd rather lie down than sit. She lets me do everything. Look at my hands, they're all cracked." Tao Yuanyuan stretched out her hands to show Wu Xiufen. She wasn't lying. Wouldn't it be easy for hands to become cracked when working on the farm in the middle of winter?

After all, Tao Yuanyuan was Wu Xiufen's granddaughter. Wu Xiufen pursed her lips, led her into the house, and asked her to wish her grandfather, uncle and aunt a happy new year.

Tao Yuanyuan was very sweet-mouthed and seemed very well-behaved, asking everyone to wish them a happy new year one by one.

Tao Rui poured himself a glass of water and said nothing. Wu Xiufen knew he meant he wouldn't even acknowledge his niece. Tao Rui had spent decades studying acting in his previous life, and while his acting skills weren't exactly superb, they were close. He saw through Tao Yuanyuan's little tricks instantly, and naturally had no interest in being a good uncle. He didn't owe Tao Yuanyuan anything.

Speaking of which, in the original script, Tao Yuanyuan pointed at the original owner's nose and scolded her many times, saying that she had no filial piety towards her grandparents and parents, and was a ungrateful little ungrateful person.

Wu Xiufen smiled, gave her fifty cents, and handed her two cakes. "It's Chinese New Year, and you only hear New Year's greetings once a year. This is your lucky money. Go back and celebrate the New Year with your parents."

Tao Yuanyuan understood Wu Xiufen's meaning: giving gifts only once a year, except during Chinese New Year. Zhao Yaxiang, as the elder, also gave two cents, and Tao Rui continued to drink his tea.

So Tao Yuanyuan walked away with a somewhat stiff smile. She saw the toy in Xiaohui's hand. Others would not be willing to buy toys. That was definitely

Tao Rui bought it for her, but when it was her turn, she didn't have a penny.

Tao Yuanyuan felt very unbalanced and unwilling to accept it, but there was nothing she could do. She was really a little afraid of Tao Rui. When Tao Rui hit her father and pulled her mother that day, he was so cold and indifferent. She felt that this uncle was really not to be messed with.

But she felt uncomfortable. She walked away and quietly pouted, holding the 70 cents in her hand, thinking they were so stingy. She lived such a good life every day, I wonder how much money they earned. Her grandparents must have a lot of money, but they just didn't love her.

She tucked the seventy cents into her pocket and ate the snack in a few bites while hiding outside. The snack tasted delicious, better than any she had ever had, but it was a pity there were only two pieces.

After eating, she clapped her hands and wiped her mouth, then ran home to drink a few sips of water to rinse her mouth before starting to cook.

Tao Fu and Xiao Lizhen were unaware of this matter from beginning to end.

Tao Rui's home was warm and comfortable, with a clever and adorable puppy, so Xiaohui didn't want to leave. Even Tao Xin and Zhao Yaxiang were a little reluctant to give up such a luxury, but the second day of the Lunar New Year was a day to visit one's parents' parents, so they stayed until the morning of the second day and then prepared to leave.

Tao Rui packed a basket of food for them and forced them to take it with them.

Tao Xin quickly declined, but Tao Rui stuffed the basket into his arms and said, "Why are you refusing? I'm not giving this to you. It's for my eldest nephew to grow up, and my uncle Zhao and aunt Zhao also need to eat something good. My younger brother didn't have anything before, but now my family makes so much food, so the food must be good. If you're still polite, you're treating me like an outsider."

Tao Xin glanced at Xiao Hui, who couldn't hide his anticipation, and his heart softened, but he accepted it. Feeling a little embarrassed, he patted Tao Rui on the shoulder and said, "Second brother, I appreciate your kindness. Brothers are brothers, so don't be so estranged. If you need anything, come to me. I will definitely help if I can."

"Don't worry, second brother. I'll have to trouble you a lot in the future. The road is slippery, so be careful on your way back."

"Got it, come inside quickly, it's cold outside."

Tao Xin and his friends came pushing a bicycle. The road was slippery and they didn't dare to ride a bicycle with the child, so the couple walked and let the child sit on the bicycle. This way, pushing the bicycle would keep the child warmer.

The backpack Tao Rui had given him was hung on the front of the car, and it was filled to the brim. Everyone who saw it envied Tao Xin for having such a good brother like Tao Rui. At the same time, they also laughed at Tao Fu for being so unlucky, as he had lost such a good brother.

Logically speaking, Tao Xin had already gone to town and had little contact with Tao Rui. Tao Fu and Tao Rui lived together, and if it was a good thing, it would be like the elder brother taking care of the younger brother. How could Tao Rui not be good to his elder brother now that he was rich? But Tao Fu just disliked Tao Rui, thinking he was a burden, and insisted on splitting up the family property, and even took so many things without even realizing it.

Then, at least he had some foresight and tried to help Tao Rui as a neighbor, but he ended up coveting his house again. He was probably the one who wrote the letter of denunciation. Now, Tao Rui had completely disowned him, and no matter how successful Tao Rui became, he wouldn't be able to benefit from it.

Some people who heard Xiao Lizhen say that the baby in her belly was blessed scoffed at her behind her back. "How can that be considered blessed?" "Isn't that more like no blessing?" The child's uncle had just become successful, and her parents had a falling out with him. Look at Xiaohui walking away with his toys; that's what being blessed is all about.

Xiao Lizhen had no idea how many jokes she'd been made of. She'd taken a rare stroll out that day, hoping to soak in the New Year's cheer, when she saw the second brother's family. They were pushing their bicycles back to town, and the basket hanging on the front of the bikes was particularly eye-catching; it was clearly a gift from the old man!

Xiao Lizhen's face looked a little ugly. She asked Tao Yuanyuan to support her and walked quickly towards the second brother's family.

Zhao Yaxiang saw her first and hurriedly took two steps forward. "Sister-in-law, why are you here? Walk slowly and take care of your stomach."

Xiao Lizhen said with a forced smile, "Are you leaving? Why don't you come to our house? Even though we've split up, we're still brothers. How long have you been away from the countryside? Now that you've finally come, you're not even coming in. Someone who doesn't know would think something's wrong between our two families?"

Zhao Yaxiang was quite offended by their shameless request for her things. Even though they hadn't expected anything themselves and had said they would give things to the eldest wife if she was treated poorly, the eldest wife hadn't been treated poorly and had received a lot more. So asking them for things again was just too greedy. She had no intention of associating with the eldest wife at all.

But when they got face to face, she just smiled faintly and said, "I heard that you were pregnant, so I was afraid to disturb you. I thought I would come to see you after you gave birth. How are you, sister-in-law? You look fine."

Zhao Yaxiang meant that she looked plump and didn't seem to have had much trouble. Xiao Lizhen didn't know what to think. She glanced at Xiaohui, touched her belly and said with a smile, "I went to town and had someone take a look. This baby is a boy, isn't that great? Your eldest brother is the eldest son in the family. He's been upset for years because he doesn't have a son, and now he finally has one. When the time comes, you can bring the baby to show Mom and Dad. Won't they be so happy?"

Zhao Yaxiang had always known that she favored boys over girls, so she agreed, "Of course I'm happy. Sister-in-law, it's really cold, go back to the house and warm up. We have to hurry back to town. My parents are waiting, so I won't chat with you anymore."

Just as they were about to leave, Xiao Lizhen reached out and gripped the handlebars, saying with a smile, "We're already home. Come in and sit down. Give Xiaohui some candy." As she spoke, she acted as if she had just seen the basket of things and said in surprise, "Oh, are these things your parents bought for you? Your parents are really enjoying themselves, giving you so many good things. I heard that the third brother's things are quite expensive. Ordinary people like us can't afford them."

The second son and his wife both felt the sour taste in their mouths. Tao Xin said, "This wasn't given by my parents, it was given by the third son. Hasn't he become successful this year? He said he made the food himself and took it back to show my parents-in-law."

Xiao Lizhen chuckled, "The third brother is quite good at dealing with people. But I'm pregnant with the Tao family's grandson, and I haven't even tasted a single Guoxiu snack. The third brother is very tough now, and he ignores us at the slightest thing. You guys better be careful and maintain a good relationship with him."

She waved her hand and said with a smile, "It's all in vain. You two work in town and know much more than us peasants. What don't you understand? I heard that the New Year gifts you sent this year are several times more than usual. You must be smart, not as stupid as my Tao Fu..."

Zhao Yaxiang hurriedly said: "It's not because of this? The third brother went to my house to get something. As his brother and sister-in-law, we must return the favor. It can't be too shabby." She didn't want to talk about these things, but she also didn't want people to think that her family was currying favor with the powerful.

As a result, Xiao Lizhen not only didn't feel the need to return the gift, but she even resented Tao Rui, saying in surprise, "Have you two brothers become better friends? You give and take, so why did he give the gift to the second brother but not the eldest? Speaking of closeness, your eldest brother lives under the same roof with him, so he wouldn't be so resentful, right?"

Xiao Lizhen was angry, but she couldn't hold it in. Furthermore, during the past few months of her pregnancy, Tao Fu had been giving in to her, which had caused her temper to flare up. She spoke rudely and didn't give anyone face.

Tao Xin and Zhao Yaxiang both like to look respectable, but they are not pushovers either.

Zhao Yaxiang's face turned cold and she said, "Then the eldest sister-in-law should ask the third brother. How would we know? It might be because we didn't ask for anything when we divided the family property, and you asked for so many things and still wanted to keep the house. Even clay people have some blood in them, let alone the third brother who never suffers any loss. Anyway, we have always been kind to others when others treat us well. It's mutual. We don't understand anything else."

Xiao Lizhen's expression changed. Just as she was about to speak, Tao Xin pushed the cart forward and said coldly, "Sister-in-law, you should go back to the house. Don't blame us if you get bumped or bruised. We can't afford it. We won't accompany you to talk outside in this cold weather. Let's go."

Zhao Yaxiang even deliberately avoided her and said, "We didn't touch you, sister-in-law. There are people watching over there. Let's not talk about it today."

As the eldest sister-in-law, Xiao Lizhen never had the chance to show off her authority. Seeing them leave without a second thought, her face turned extremely ugly and she started to curse, "What are you so proud of? Aren't you just looking down on us? The third sister has made it big and you're trying to climb up the social ladder. Do you have any shame?"

The second brother's family didn't even look back. Zhao Yaxiang even covered Xiaohui's ears and quickened her pace.

Tao Yuanyuan stared at the basket of food, thinking of the two snacks she'd eaten. Tao Rui had actually given Xiao Hui so much. It was all her parents' fault for being such bad people. She pulled Xiao Lizhen hard, frowning and saying, "Mom, please stop talking. Look, everyone's laughing at us. Go back to the house! Aren't you afraid your son will get cold?"

"What do you mean by 'your son's, your son's'? This is your younger brother!" Xiao Lizhen slapped her in dissatisfaction. Seeing several people looking at her, she walked back unwillingly, still muttering and cursing the second and third brothers. She even cursed the second elder brother, but her voice was so soft that only Tao Yuanyuan heard it.

Tao Yuanyuan helped her back and ran back to the house, thinking that such parents were useless and had the nerve to scold her. They were the real losers!