Chapter 30 Mom and Dad are arguing
noon
The eldest son helped carry the dishes to the table, while the second son set out the bowls and chopsticks one by one.
Little Zhizhi sat on the sofa, happily counting her money.
Grandma Jiang was afraid she would cry, so she not only returned the food tickets to her, but also didn't take the money with her.
So she generously took out five yuan and gave it to the older brother as compensation.
When the older brother received the money, he asked her nervously if she had robbed him. After learning that it was his grandmother's money, he quickly and carefully hid it in his pocket.
Even when their parents weren't looking, the three little ones were enjoying a constant stream of snacks and soft drinks.
"--Have a meal!"
After serving the last dish, "Three Treasures of the Earth," Deng Qiu called the children over to sit down.
Stir-fried eggs with chili peppers, stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, green peppers, and green peppers, stir-fried chicken, and a plate of pickled spicy cucumbers that I took out of the jar this morning.
Seeing that Zhizhi had bought a lot of cucumbers, Deng Qiu thought it would be a waste if they couldn't finish them, so she simply pickled them all and put them in a jar. Every morning, she would take some out and eat them with white porridge, which was quite delicious.
Feeling guilty, Jiang Anchao tried to ingratiate himself with Deng Qiu, hoping to explain and gain leniency.
But Deng Qiu, despite her seemingly kind and easy-going nature, is actually a person with her own opinions and temper.
I haven't even glanced at him since I started cooking.
She picked up a chicken leg and put it into the eldest child's bowl, saying, "Eat a chicken leg to replenish your energy."
Gan Su glanced at her father's face, not daring to touch her chopsticks.
Sensing his son's gaze, Jiang Anchao desperately tried to signal with his eyes.
Don't look at him, he didn't say we can't eat.
Looking at him now, what kind of person has he become as a father? A madman who abuses his son?
Deng Qiu glared at Jiang Anchao with displeasure, "Are you not going to let the child eat or not?"
"I didn't say anything..."
Jiang An felt wronged, but he was in the wrong and didn't dare to argue back in front of his wife.
Gan Su quickly shook her head, "It has nothing to do with my dad. Grandpa has always been like this. Aunt Deng, please don't be angry. I'm not in pain. Let my sister eat the chicken leg."
As he spoke, he tried to put the chicken leg on Zhizhi's plate.
"Eh?! Big brother, you're the one protecting the nest, you're the one who should eat."
Sang Zhizhi reacted quickly and stopped Gan Su from moving.
Zhenwei chimed in cheerfully, "Yeah, yeah, big brother, go ahead and eat."
Jiang Anchao coughed lightly, covering his mouth, and changed the subject. "This morning I went to the police station. Liu Qing's family came and wanted to mediate privately with us. They are willing to pay compensation, and if we forgive them, they hope to get leniency... What are your thoughts?"
Zhizhi, engrossed in her food, didn't even look up. "No, I refuse."
I disagree.
Hearing his younger siblings say this, Gan Su swallowed the food in his mouth and thought for a moment, "Dad, let's keep things separate. Liu Qing has been withholding a lot of our money and ration coupons. There are account books to record it. We have to get this money back. As for the other money, let's just forget about it. Our family doesn't need it."
Zhizhi nodded in agreement; she actually shared the same thought as her older brother.
Who doesn't like money?
But they will not take a penny less of what they are entitled to, nor will they take a penny more than what they are not entitled to.
Liu Qing's family came from a rural background. If they were truly well-off, they wouldn't have coveted the food allowance of her older and younger brothers. The Liu family's desire for reconciliation was, frankly, a way of using the money they had embezzled to demand the release of Liu Qing and her siblings.
To put it bluntly, it's still the mentality of never being satisfied with getting a good deal.
Forget it, I don't want to get involved with this weirdo family.
Deng Qiu's expression was objective and rational. "I've seen the ledger. All in all, it adds up to about three hundred yuan over the years, not even counting grain and meat coupons. It will be extremely difficult for Liu Qing to repay this amount, let alone the extra settlement fee he offered. We cannot accept the settlement; if we do, things will become really complicated. This matter has blown up so much that the leaders can't possibly ignore it. You just need to explain everything clearly, and the leaders will be on our side."
Jiang Anchao hesitated before speaking, "The leader shouldn't interfere in family matters, right?"
Sure enough, he received another eye roll from Deng Qiu after saying that.
“Such a big thing happened in the family compound. The impact could be big or small. The leaders will definitely send someone to investigate. Just tell them the whole story, and someone will take care of it for you.”
I have no idea how he managed to get by in the army; he doesn't even know these things.
Sang Zhizhi understood the implied meaning in her stepmother's words.
In recent years, even large state-owned factories have been fighting tooth and nail for housing allocations, let alone military dependents' homes.
Liu Qing, relying on her status as a martyr's family member, has been living in those two large houses with her children. However, she has always had a bad reputation in the compound, having done many petty thefts. It is estimated that some people have long been fed up with her.
Now that things have escalated, the leaders will probably revoke her preferential treatment. Liu Qing has a rural household registration and can't get a ration of food in the city. She can't support her children with the pension she received for her deceased husband.
Even if she were released, she would probably only be able to slink back to her hometown with her child.
Well, if the wicked auntie is really let go, who knows what heinous things she might do next.
The older brother and younger brother might be able to dodge twice, but they might not be able to dodge a third time. If someone dies before the bad guys are punished, it will be too late.
"Aunt Deng, your stir-fried chicken is so delicious, it's spicy and numbing! My little sister Zhizhi said you can make steamed pork ribs with taro, when are you going to make it for us?"
The second child is the type who eats without a care in the world; once his belly is round and full, he starts thinking about the next meal.
Even though Aunt Deng only stayed for a few days, the food she ate was exceptionally good.
Not only did their home become spotless, but they no longer had to eat cornbread with cold water, and they even had a pretty little sister who gave them pocket money every day to buy milk candy.
I don't know what the older brother is thinking, but he has completely accepted Aunt Deng as his stepmother.
Deng Qiu affectionately patted his little head, "Spare ribs are hard to buy, we'll cook them as soon as we get them!"
Jiang Anchao perked up immediately when he saw her smile.
He imitated his son, picking up a large mouthful of food and praising, "Wife, your stir-fried eggs with chili are also very good! I've already eaten a bowl of rice."
Deng Qiu paused for a second, and the smile on her lips gradually faded.
"Oh, even food can't shut you up. This dish must not be very good either."
Jiang Anchao: "... ..."
He silently picked at the rice in his bowl, not daring to say another word.
The three children barely managed to suppress their laughter when they saw their father get the short end of the stick.
In the afternoon, Deng Qiu went to Suzhou University to complete her onboarding process. Jiang Anchao asked for leave to go with her, but she refused outright in her anger.
Jiang Anchao waited anxiously for a long time before finally seeing Deng Qiu ride his bicycle home when he returned in the evening.
"I made dinner, and they all finished eating and went to Grandma Li's to play. Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"
Seeing that the children were not there, Deng Qiu didn't need to pretend anymore; she went into the house with a cold face.
"Honey, can you say something?"
"You need to explain to me what I did wrong so I can make amends, right? Hey, let's talk this out, don't go!"
Jiang Anchao watched her enter the master bedroom and followed her in, only to find her packing her clothes.
He panicked for a moment, "Where are you moving to? You're not going to sleep with me anymore? Didn't we already decide to be husband and wife?"
Upon hearing him say that, Deng Qiu turned around again, still clutching the blanket.
"Jiang Anchao, I don't want to spend my life with a liar. If your parents hadn't come and told me about your arranged marriage, how long were you planning to keep it from me? Since you already have a fiancée, why are you bothering me?"
She felt a lump in her throat; she had genuinely developed feelings for him after spending these past few days together.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for me to willingly take that step last night.
But now she realizes that she doesn't understand him at all; there are so many things about him that he never tells her.
Deng Qiu took a deep breath, "Let's... forget it..."
Her words hurt Jiang Anchao more than her parents' accusations.
His pupils trembled repeatedly, and finally, unable to suppress his impulse any longer, he stepped forward and grabbed her hand. "What do you mean by 'let it go'? Does it mean the same as breaking up?"
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