Chapter 17 Treating the Second Aunt and Daughter to a Bickering
Xu Heye poured a cup of sugar water for her uncle, and then took out the cakes and candies her mother bought for her cousins.
Pang Li drank from the cup, then asked Xu Heye, "I heard from your aunt that you've already enrolled in school. Which school are you attending?"
"At the middle school affiliated with the steel plant."
Pang Li nodded. "The Steel Plant Middle School is pretty good. Are you in the first or second year of junior high?"
"Second grade."
Pang Qiao interjected, "Then, cousin, you and I are in the same grade." Then she asked, "There are some transfer students in my class, but they were already in the third grade before coming to Hucheng. The school was afraid they wouldn't be able to keep up, so they made them start in the next grade. Is that the case with you, cousin?"
Xu Heye shook her head: "No, I was also in the eighth grade before."
"Then why didn't my cousin repeat the grade?" Pang Qiao asked curiously.
"Because your cousin has good grades." Dong Xinghua came over with a basin of washed vegetables. "The school wanted to demote your cousin, but she didn't want to repeat the grade, so she went to the dean and asked to take the exam. Once the papers were corrected, the dean and the principal agreed to let her continue in the second year of junior high."
"Wow, is that true?" Pang Qiao's eyes sparkled with stars. She gave Xu Heye a thumbs-up and said, "Cousin, you're amazing."
Pang Qiao did not envy Xu Heye's good grades, but she admired her cousin's courage. She actually dared to resist the teacher's decision.
You know, every time she saw the teacher, she was like a mouse seeing a cat. It was a lot of courage for her not to run away in fear. Not to mention that she fought with the teacher for what she wanted and successfully got it.
Dong Xinghua glared at her daughter and said, "Pang Qiao, don't just say you admire me. Learn more from your cousin. I'd be very happy if you could improve your grades by a few points."
Pang Qiao knew that the boomerang would definitely hit her, and she pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Mom, do you know who kids hate the most?"
"Who is it?" Dong Xinghua asked casually, taking out the washed radishes and vegetables from the basin and cutting them.
"Other people's children." Pang Qiao said, "Mom, if you don't want my cousin and I to have a bad relationship, you'd better stop saying these spoiling things."
"You--" Dong Xinghua raised her hands in anger. Seeing this, Pang Qiao ran away.
"Don't run. Stand still if you dare, or I'll beat you to death."
Pang Qiao turned around and made a face. "You said you wouldn't run, so why didn't you run? I'm standing here letting you hit me. Isn't that stupid? I'm stupid, but you still expect me to get good grades. Are you stupid, Mom?"
"You...you..." Dong Xinghua was almost mad at this girl. She wasn't like that. Pang Li was also a good-natured person. How could he have such a demon?
Dong Taohua, however, likes Pang Qiao's personality very much. "Qiao Qiao is so kind that others dare not bully her."
"Is that so?" Pang Qiao hid behind Dong Taohua. "Aunt, please tell my mom not to spoil the fun."
Dong Xinghua said aggrievedly: "Sister, look at this girl. For every one I say, she has ten more to say to stop me."
"Alright, you're the eldest brother, don't talk about the second brother. Qiaoqiao's temper is just like yours," Dong Xinghua said. "When Mom was around, she used Sister Ping to criticize us. Didn't you stand up to her and even smash the dishes at home?"
When everyone heard this, they all burst out laughing.
Pang Qiao laughed especially loudly, "Mom, did you hear that? The world is no longer the same as it used to be. Those who slay dragons all become evil dragons. You don't even like grandma comparing you to others, yet you compare me to others every day. It's because I have a good personality, otherwise I would have become introverted, depressed, and ignored you a long time ago."
Dong Xinghua: “…”
This girl is no longer acceptable. Other girls are sweet and caring, but hers is leaky and made of iron, which hurts people.
However, Dong Xinghua was not one to resist advice, so she said, "Okay, okay, I won't say anything more. I won't say anything more."
Pang Qiao quickly came to Xu Heye's side again and said, "Cousin, are you keeping up with the studies? I heard from my classmates from other places that the textbooks they use back home are completely different from those in Hucheng. And some people used to study Russian or Japanese, but now they've switched to English. It's hard to keep up without a solid foundation."
"I'm fine." Xu Heye said, "We also study English in Gan Province. Although the textbooks may be a little different, as long as you learn one thing, you will master all things. If you spend some time, you can still catch up. We are not like the transfer students from the three northeastern provinces." They are the ones who are really miserable.
"Do you want the first and second semester textbooks for junior high? I'd lend them to you if you want." The transfer students in her class were all looking for their old textbooks, hoping to catch up on their basics. Some asked Pang Qiao to borrow them, but she declined. She had known for a while that her cousin would be returning to Hucheng, so naturally she wanted to leave the textbooks with her.
Xu Heye nodded: "It would be great if you could lend it to me, so I don't have to look for it."
Pang Qiao's suggestion was really timely and saved her a lot of trouble.
Pang Qiao nodded: "Are you in a hurry? If so, I'll ask my dad to come over. If not, I'll send it to you next weekend."
"Let's do it next weekend. There's still plenty of time, and it's not that urgent."
While the two cousins were talking, the three adults were busy cooking.
Chicken stewed with day lily, braised pork and potatoes, braised beef and radish, stir-fried lamb with green onions, sweet and sour spare ribs, pork liver and spinach soup, and finally two vegetarian dishes, stir-fried shredded lettuce and stir-fried cabbage with vinegar.
Eight dishes, in this era, is more sumptuous than the New Year. So the grass carp that was still alive escaped the disaster.
In Dong Xinghua's words, there are beef, mutton, stewed chicken and pork ribs. Many families cannot have such a meal during the holidays, so why do they have to eat fish?
If she hadn't come late, the elder sister would have bought all the meat and vegetables. She wouldn't even let her buy the chicken, beef or mutton.
Except for the younger brother, the people in Old Dong's family all eat meat when they pick up the bowl, and curse their mothers when they put the bowl down. There is no need to give them so many delicious foods.
Dong Taohua knew very well that the Dong family was selfish. The reason why she prepared such a rich feast was not only because she wanted to show her filial piety to Old Dong as she hadn't seen him for many years, but also because she hoped that they would be soft-hearted and take care of Xu Heye a little.
Since He Ye doesn't live in the Dong family, she has no vested interests with them. Even if it's just for the sake of this meal, Dong Taohua thinks it's worth it if they take a little more care of her.
After all, there have been two calls from Gan Province, and Dong Taohua still has work to do, so it is impossible for her to take unlimited leave.
Dong Taohua considered quitting her job to come to Hucheng to take care of Xu Heye, but Xu Heye refused. Old Xu also advised her not to quit her job easily.
She now works in the Women's Federation and is considered a state cadre. She has a stable job and a steadily growing income. After working for another ten years or so, she will be able to retire and receive a pension.
If he quits his job now, Old Xu will be the only one earning money at home. The expenses in Hucheng are high and the financial pressure is too great. He can only choose to let his daughter go to school here alone.
Dong Taohua was thinking about something, but that didn't stop her from quickly serving the crispy, tender and delicious sweet and sour pork ribs from the pot.
After this dish is cooked, stir-fry two other vegetarian dishes and cook some pork liver and spinach soup and we can start eating.
Dong Taohua put the ribs on the table, covered them with a plate to keep them warm, then raised her right hand to look at her watch. It was half past eleven, and it would be twelve o'clock in half an hour.
Why haven’t Mr. Dong and the others arrived yet?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
