Jiang Hongying's eyes flashed with jealousy as she watched her niece return on her brand-new bicycle. She said sarcastically, "Oh, Ruyu's back. That bicycle is really fancy. Your grandma really went all out."
Jiang Ruyu glanced at her and retorted without hesitation, "Oh, my aunt is here. I thought some official's wife had come to visit. Why are you putting on such a grand show? My aunt has taken a fancy to my bicycle again. It's a pity I can't give it to you. It was a reward from my work unit. Unlike my aunt, I always get what I want through my own hard work."
Jiang Ruyu didn't hesitate to say that her aunt had done some unreliable things, even trying to take her father's pension. Her grandmother gave her a good scolding before she dared not say it again, and she held a grudge against her grandmother ever since.
Jiang Hongying's face immediately darkened: "You little brat, you're so young but you're so quick-witted. You have no manners and don't know how to respect your elders. You really need a lot of education."
"Hehe, my manners depend on the person. I don't need to be polite to the person who took my dad's pension, right, Auntie?"
"You, you shameless girl," Jiang Hongying was so enraged by her niece's betrayal that she wanted to retaliate.
Grandma Jiang came out of the kitchen with a cold face and said, "Shut up, you shameless bastards. Jiang Hongying, if you don't want to eat, get out of here. Jiang Ruyu, you shut up too."
Jiang Ruyu looked at her grandmother and said with pursed lips, "Grandma, I'm not looking for trouble. If she hadn't bothered me, none of this would have happened. Aunt, I'm only calling you 'Aunt' because of Grandma. Remember, in my heart you're not even as good as my uncle. Don't make trouble for yourself."
Jiang Hongying stamped her foot, pointed at Jiang Ruyu, and looked at her mother: "Mom, look at this girl, does she have any manners as a junior? If she continues like this, I won't dare to visit again."
Grandma Jiang glanced at her granddaughter and sighed inwardly. Judging from the girl's appearance, she probably wouldn't have much contact with this aunt in the future. Her little girl had really gone astray. Fortunately, her son-in-law was an upright person, and her two grandsons were not bad. Otherwise, she would never be able to rest in peace.
"Come or don't come, do you think I care? You're so old and still don't know your place. If you want to leave, leave now." The old lady knew that what that brat had done back then was really too much. Ruyu had just lost her father and was then subjected to such a tantrum by her own aunt. No wonder she held a grudge.
Jiang Hongying's expression froze. She couldn't believe her mother would treat her like this. In a fit of anger, she yelled at the man who was tending the fire in the house, "Liu Yuanchao, are you deaf? Didn't you hear them chasing us away? You're still working there. Aren't you shameless? Xiangqiao, Xuewen, let's go."
Jiang Ruyu walked into the kitchen and said to her uncle with a smile, "Uncle, we really welcome you. You can't leave. My grandma prepared today's meal yesterday. Xiangqiao, Xuewen, come on in and have some delicious food. My sister has prepared lots of good food."
This attitude clearly told Jiang Hongying that she was not welcome in this family. Jiang Hongying was even more furious and wanted to throw a tantrum. Jiang Jianguo heard the commotion and came over. He saw that the whole family was laughing and joking, but the little sister had a ferocious look on her face.
Jiang Jianguo frowned and scolded, "What's with that expression? Did you go back to your parents' house to bring bad luck? Don't make me hit you during the New Year."
Jiang Hongying looked at her elder brother like a deflated balloon, not daring to utter a sound. The eldest brother is like a father. She used to be afraid of her father, but now she is afraid of her brother.
Jiang Ruyu snorted at her sister-in-law who had given up, and was glared at by her grandmother. She stuck out her tongue and grinned at her grandmother. Jiang Jianguo ignored his sister who was becoming more and more clueless as she grew up, greeted his brother-in-law, and Jiang Ruyu brought out her uncle, letting the elders sit in the house and exchange pleasantries.
Lunch was quite plentiful. We had stir-fried spicy crab, two or three pounds of boiled shrimp and snails, braised pork belly, and used the remaining goose to make soup. We also stir-fried hot and sour shredded potatoes, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, and finally stir-fried scrambled eggs with chives. A total of eight dishes, including seven dishes and a soup, was quite a feast.
At the dinner table, Jiang Hongying looked at the crabs and prawns and couldn't help but say, "Mom, you guys are living a very comfortable life. Look at this meal, even my family's New Year's Eve dinner isn't this lavish."
The moment those words were spoken, the pleasant atmosphere froze. Liu Yuanchao, the son-in-law, quickly stood up and tugged at his wife, "Hongying, what are you saying? Sit down and eat. Why are you talking so much? Sit down."
Jiang Hongying was about to explode when her husband said that to her in front of her family. Jiang Jianguo gave her a cold look and said, "Either sit down and eat, or get out."
The words Jiang Hongying was about to say suddenly caught in her throat, unable to come out. She was so upset that her eyes turned red, but she still forced herself to sit in the chair and dared not say anything more.
Liu Xiangqiao and Liu Xuewen, the siblings, exchanged a glance and silently lowered their heads to eat. Their mother's temper could only be tempered when she was with her maternal grandparents' family. At home, she was like a local tyrant, which made them feel oppressed. Only at their maternal grandparents' house could they relax a little.
Jiang Ruyu could tell what her aunt was like at home just by looking at her two cousins. Disgust flashed in her eyes. She found it annoying to even look at her aunt.
But she wouldn't hold a grudge against her uncle and cousins: "Qiao'er, Xuewen, eat your food, pick up some dishes, don't be shy, this is your home. This is food your grandma specially made for you. Come over whenever you have a holiday, and you won't have to pay a penny for the bus fare."
The brother and sister looked up at their cousin and grandmother, wanting to say something, but seeing their mother's unpleasant expression, Liu Yuanchao quickly said, "Mom, don't worry, I'll have them come back to see you more often in the future."
Grandma Jiang sighed as she looked at her son-in-law: "Yuanchao, it's all my fault. I didn't raise the children well. From now on, you three can come whenever you want. I welcome you. Don't worry about what others say. You need to take care of your own family matters. I've raised my daughter badly. You should pay more attention to Xiangqiao and Xuewen."
Listening to his mother-in-law's words, Liu Yuanchao felt both relieved and amused. He was probably one of the few people who, when visiting his mother-in-law's house, was not only not scolded but also coaxed.
Jiang Hongying's face darkened further as she listened to her mother's words. She looked at the table with shame and indignation, feeling that no one was on her side. The resentment in her heart made her stand up abruptly: "Since you don't welcome me like this, then I will never set foot in your house again. Liu Yuanchao, are you leaving or not?"
Old Mrs. Jiang had tolerated this girl all morning, but she couldn't take it anymore. She stood up and slapped her: "You ignorant brat, who are you banging on the table and glaring at? Do you even have the demeanor of a daughter or a parent? You want to leave? Get out now. But Jiang Hongying, if you step out of this door today, I will disown you as my daughter. Yuanchao will be my son from now on, and Xiangqiao and Xuewen will be my grandchildren. You'd better think it over."
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