"You little rascal, you only care about your fifth sister. Your fifth sister doesn't lack money, but your old mother does!" Li Yumei was so angry she felt like her lungs were about to explode.
At this moment, she had completely forgotten the helplessness she felt when the female reporter had been pressing her about the "bride price".
It was precisely because Fifth Sister was rich that Li Yumei was even more furious.
Because she had guessed that her daughters had money, but they hadn't given her a single penny to use.
But she gave her husband a lot of money. Does that mean she should fawn over them like Chen Lao Er did?
Hmph, impossible!
What's even more infuriating is that the family has always paid for their daughters' schooling.
It's money earned from her pastry shop!
That brat Xiao Wu, she talked a good game before, saying that once I went to high school, I wouldn't have to pay for her education anymore.
However, whenever his children would whine a little, Chen Lao Er would eagerly hand them money and send them to school.
Chen Xihua suddenly felt an itch in her nose, and she looked at Li Yumei, whose expression was changing.
I guessed that Li Yumei was probably cursing me in her heart.
But it didn't matter, a smile played on her lips. Apart from money, nothing else mattered.
Chen Xihua would certainly not refuse the money Chen Lao Er would give them for school.
Regardless of what happens to me in the future, whether I take care of Chen Lao Er and Li Yu Mei or not, my older sisters and Xiao Liu will definitely take care of them.
So as long as there are no problems with the company she runs, Chen Lao Er and Li Yu Mei should not be short of money for their retirement.
Moreover, and more importantly.
Chen Lao Er and Li Yu Mei cannot be without money, otherwise they will definitely cause trouble; but they also cannot have too much money, otherwise they will cause trouble.
Both of them are quite the troublemakers.
"Mom, then wait until I grow up and earn money for you to use."
Also, Mother, you...you shouldn't argue with those aunties in the family quarters anymore.
Chen Baohua looked serious as he comforted Li Yumei, and then gently reminded her mother not to let anything slip when they were talking outside.
He glanced at his composed fifth sister again and sighed inwardly. He was having such a hard time!
He also needs to earn money to support his sisters.
In TV dramas, aren't they all about mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law who treat their sons like a sandwich filling?
How did he end up like this, caught between his mother and sister?
"Xiao Bao, remember what you said today?" Li Yumei's anger was even more intense, stuck in her chest, and she turned and went back to her room.
Regardless of his wife's mood, Chen Lao Er was going to visit his elder brother.
When my parents were still alive, they said they would invite the whole family to Yangqing Hotel for dinner to celebrate tomorrow.
The Chen family has produced two top scorers in the college entrance examination; their ancestral graves must be emitting auspicious smoke.
My father said the money would come from his retirement pension.
Chen Lao Er didn't want to waste a single minute; he needed to get the money quickly. What if his father forgot? Or went back on his word? Then he'd have to use his own savings, wouldn't he?
Xiao Wu and Xiao Si came back as top scorers in the exams, which brought them so much honor, so we definitely can't ask Xiao Wu for money.
Chen Xiaoliu spread his hands, looking like he was having a really tough time.
"Alright, Xiao Liu, it's your turn to cook dinner today, stop fooling around." Chen Xihua smiled, raised her chin, and gestured to Chen Xiao Liu.
"Okay, I'm a hardworking little bee." Chen Xiaoliu shrugged and walked into the kitchen with a blank look on his face.
The two sisters, Chen Chunhua and Chen Xiuhua, first looked at their mother who stormed into the room, then at Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu, and finally at their father who walked out of the house with an excited expression.
They all shook their heads, smiled helplessly, and decided that no one should take sides; they should just watch quietly.
They've gotten used to their mother's temper.
——
In the evening, a group of people gathered in the family quarters to gossip.
"I didn't believe it before! Now that I've witnessed it, the fifth son of the Chen family is indeed quick-witted."
"I happened to be standing by the door at the time, and I noticed the look in her eyes when she spoke to that female reporter. I can't describe it."
She stared intently at me, and I felt a chill. I unconsciously straightened up.
Moreover, she was half a head taller than that reporter, and I don't know if it was just my imagination, but she gave off a sense of intimidation. The person speaking lowered their voice.
"I never expected that dark-skinned little girl who came back from the countryside would be so good at studying, and even skipped grades in her exams."
"Chen Xiaowu, you'd better stop talking about her." An old woman's voice was hoarse. She had a full head of white hair, and when she spoke, there was a glimmer in her cloudy eyes, as if she saw through everything.
The Chen family has produced an extraordinary girl; they're truly lucky. It's a pity that some people, whether young or old, have failing eyesight—they deserve it.
"That's hilarious! Who would believe Li Yumei wouldn't ask for a bride price?" came Aunt Zhao's sarcastic remark.
“Exactly.” Li Juan’s voice was sour, but she was very stubborn.
In fact, Li Juan also wanted to ask for more money when her daughter got married, and the groom's family agreed. Although it was her second marriage, Shuiqin kept making excuses and said that she didn't want to get married again.
"What a gossipy woman! You're just envious, aren't you? Which of you doesn't want a higher dowry when your daughter gets married? Our Chen family is just being generous by saying so."
Aunt Chen happened to be coming from a neighboring county. When she learned that her two nieces had been the top scorers in the college entrance examination, she was overjoyed.
Now, who will dare to laugh at her? Divorced women have no one to help them.
She has two nieces who are top scorers in the college entrance examination. If word gets out, who wouldn't envy her?
"Tch..." Caught red-handed by the Chen family, the group knew to tone it down, but some people could still be heard making disdainful noises.
——
That evening, after the Chen family had dinner, the news broadcasts on radio stations across the southern province reported on the Chen family's achievement of producing two top scorers in both the arts and sciences exams.
"We now have some fantastic news to share: this year's top scorer in the national college entrance examination is from..."
Chen Xihua glanced at it casually and thankfully there was no video recording, the kind that captures the entire conversation; it was just a few relatively normal photos.
She had a photo with her fourth sister, then a group photo with her family and the leaders. The photos weren't high-resolution.
"Hahaha... Little Wu, did you see that? I'm on TV! I'm here! Little Wu, you look just like me. Our Little Wu and Little Si are the best."
Chen Lao Er burst out laughing and walked closer to the television, gesturing wildly.
Then, pointing to the photo that had just been released in the news, with himself in the upper right corner, he looked smug and cheerful.
Li Yumei, who was standing next to her, didn't say anything, but her expression betrayed her. It was clear that she was in a good mood, with a smile playing on her lips.
"Hmm," Chen Xihua responded indifferently.
She could already imagine how Chen Lao Er would walk around with such swagger in the future; it would be an eyesore.
"Fifth sister, you're the top female scorer in the college entrance exam, that's amazing! Fifth sister, the photos don't do you off as well as you do in person..." Chen Baohua was about to clear the dishes when she stopped holding the bowl.
His eyes were glued to the news, while he kept praising Chen Xihua.
Suddenly, he felt his fifth sister nudge him. He turned his head and saw his fourth sister staring at him with an unreadable expression. Realizing what was happening, he immediately put on a cheeky and ingratiating smile.
"Wow, my goodness, Fourth Sister, you're amazing! You're the top female scorer in the country!"
Chen Xiuhua rolled her eyes: Chen Xiaoliu, can you be any more perfunctory?
Chen Baohua: He's having such a hard time!
Previously, the other sisters didn't care about these things, but recently he's noticed that they're becoming increasingly fond of vying for his attention.
He likes Fifth Sister the most, and they all know that.
Chen Xihua watched from the side, somewhat pleased.
She felt this was great; the older sisters could actively express their feelings, joy, and anger. They became more cheerful and lively, no longer needing to suppress themselves.
It seems I won't need to liven things up or lighten the mood anymore. Also, siblings shouldn't be too polite to each other, or they'll become distant and estranged.
At 8 p.m., Chen Xihua, who had just returned to her room, received a call from Wang Ying.
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