After saying that, Anle left expressionlessly, leaving Anning slightly stunned.
Judging from what Fourth Sister said, this commotion probably means the family is going to split up, and she'll have to start making money. In the end, the reason this family is living such a miserable life isn't just because of money, but because they're living such cowardly and pathetic lives!
She figured it out a long time ago!
She needs to be able to live a self-sufficient and carefree life, and have the means to earn her own living. She can't let this family of cowards trap her.
When Anning came to her senses, Anle had already disappeared from her sight. She didn't know where Anle had gone. Thinking about how Anle had fallen from the tree a while ago, Anning was a little worried.
She didn't even have time to run to her aunt to apologize. She couldn't find Anle in the three thatched houses, and she even searched the outhouse, but still couldn't find her. Anning quickly took the eggs back to the house, went out of the yard, bolted the two wooden gates, and ran out to look for her.
After circling the village without finding Anle, Anning hurriedly returned home. Her family raised chickens and cattle, but they couldn't be left unattended.
When I came back, I saw An Manyi standing in the yard with his neck held high and a haughty expression.
"Oh, you still have time to go out for a stroll? Alright, now that you're back, I'll give you a heads-up. Your parents asked me to come over tonight to tell you that we have something important to announce, and the whole family needs to come."
Even your second uncle and aunt have to come back. I've already sent Uncle Xu to town to spread the word. They'll be back with your third brother and sister-in-law soon.
Your good days as a family of money-losing beggars are over.
An Manyi said the last sentence with a hint of smugness, his face showing a gloating expression as if he was waiting to see a good show.
An Ning's face turned deathly pale.
Anle, who happened to be strolling back leisurely, grinned and revealed a big, bright smile on his face.
"No, our family's good days are just beginning."
In the evening, An Mancang and his family returned from the mountain and saw An Ning leaning against the kang (a heated brick bed), her little face filled with worry and sorrow.
On the contrary, Anle, who was lying on the kang with his legs crossed, seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, humming an off-key song and fiddling with Qiao Qiuniang's embroidered handkerchief.
Wow, the craftsmanship is truly excellent; it's so exquisite and delicate!
It's far superior to those poorly made, mass-produced machine-made items you buy online, which are full of loose threads.
Her adoptive mother's hands can't be allowed to go up the mountain to do those hand-damaging jobs anymore; they must be properly cared for so they can be used properly in the future.
If this were any other time, and Anle were just playing with this embroidered handkerchief, Anning would have already given her a good beating.
But right now, feeling listless, he had no interest in tidying her up.
Seeing An Ning's obviously troubled expression, An Ding's heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she glanced at An Le, who was lying on the kang (heated brick bed) waving a handkerchief and greeting them with a smile—
That carefree look, the smirk in his eyes, the curve of his lips—to An Ding, it all seemed wicked and sinister, making him even more uneasy.
"What's wrong? Fourth Sister, did Little Sister get into trouble again?"
An Ning's tears instantly streamed down her face, and she sobbed, trying to suppress her sobs.
"Today, our little sister angered our aunt, and our aunt ran back to complain to our grandparents. Our grandparents asked our parents to come over, and I reckon they want to talk about dividing the family property."
"What?" Before An Ding could react, An Yi shouted and glared at An Le, who was lying on the kang (heated brick bed) looking completely unconcerned. He said irritably, "Little sister, have you caused trouble again?"
An Mancang helplessly scratched his head, only able to let out a powerless sigh.
"Oh, why are you such a worry?" Qiao Qiu Niang's tears immediately streamed down her face.
Anle glanced at An Mancang, noticing his expression that seemed to have aged instantly, and chuckled, "What's meant to be will be, Father and Mother, you should hurry on your way!"
If we're talking about this father, there's one thing he does well: he can't bear to lay a hand on his child. Even if he yells at the child to hit him, no matter how angry he gets, he won't actually do it. At most, he'll just give him a stern shout to scare him.
Even when she laid a hand on that old woman, her father, who doted on his child, just thought she was too young and didn't know any better, and he couldn't bear to hit her.
They just brought him back, gave him a scolding, and that was it.
They were nothing like those two old bastards who got angry and started fighting as soon as they started talking.
An Mancang put down the basket, sighed, said nothing, patted Qiao Qiuniang on the shoulder, and went out first.
Qiao Qiuniang wiped away her tears and followed him out the door.
Upon seeing this, Anle scrambled up from the kang (a heated brick bed) and chuckled.
"Eldest sister, second brother, third brother, fourth sister, let's take our little brother and go see what's going on. I want to see how this family is going to divide the spoils!"
Although she didn't care about the rubbish in the house at all.
Seeing that several people were standing still and unmoved, Anle waved his hand to comfort them.
"Oh, is it really that big of a deal? It's such a small thing. Don't be angry. After we separate, I will definitely make sure you live a good life."
The atmosphere in the room was somewhat dull and oppressive. Ankang seemed to sense that something was wrong with his older siblings. He just stared at Anle, who was climbing down from the kang, with his big, wet eyes.
"Come on, little brother, your fifth sister will take you to see the show. Let's see those two old bastards' heartless and ugly faces, who don't care about money. Let you see what kind of scoundrels this family is. When we get back, your fifth sister will cook you delicious food every day, okay?"
The little guy's eyes lit up, his clear eyes filled with innocence and joy.
"Fifth Sister, is there any steamed bun?"
Anle grinned and pinched the little guy's thin, sallow face.
"Yes, there are plenty of things that taste even better than steamed buns. Fifth Sister will definitely raise you to be plump and healthy, like the lucky baby in the New Year's paintings!"
Seeing the younger one leave with the younger one, and remembering the previous incident where Anle took Ankang up the mountain and fell from a tree, An Ding followed them with unease.
"Second brother, I'm going too." An Yi followed An Ding out, the two brothers trailing far behind the two younger ones.
Anle and Ankang tiptoed into the courtyard, peering through the crack in the door of the main house. Seeing a whole room full of people, Anle clicked her tongue in amazement. Wow, this looks like a joint trial.
Besides the old man, An Daliang, who was the owner of the house, there were three other elderly men sitting in the room, listening attentively to what An Daliang was saying.
“Brother Changsheng, you should handle this matter. This family will have to be divided sooner or later. I’m not going with the eldest son, I’m going with the second son.”
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