Cai Min was taken aback. She knew Yan Erqiang's temper and personality well. He usually wouldn't argue with her, but when he really got angry, he would do anything.
He immediately softened his tone, "Alright then, it's time to give Mom some money for her retirement."
Hearing Cai Min say this, Yan Erqiang also restrained his temper. After all, his third brother's family was there, and it wouldn't be proper to argue in someone else's house.
Grandma Yan nodded: "Okay, you can send me five yuan every month from now on. But if you have any difficulties, you should let us know, and we can help you out."
Cai Min's eyes lit up: "Mom, your pork is delicious. Can we take some back with us when we go back?"
Yan Erqiang fainted. What's wrong with this woman today? She's already grateful for a meal, and she even wants to take it home.
Grandma Yan smiled kindly and said, "This wild boar meat comes from the mountains. If you want to take it back, go look for it in the mountains. If you find it, just take it back."
Cai Min's face flushed red: "You've finished eating all of this, right? I'll go wash the dishes."
Xuemei quickly snatched it away, saying, "No need, no need. You're a guest; I wouldn't dare let you touch it."
Cai Min was a little lost and looked to Yan Erqiang for help, but was met with a fierce glare.
Yan Xiaonan yawned and decided to go to sleep. It was truly an eyesore. To say that her second aunt was stupid and arrogant was to describe her perfectly. She was beyond saving.
Seeing Yan Xiaonan yawning, Cuihua hurriedly went to prepare a basin of hot water. This little girl was very particular; she couldn't sleep at night without washing her face and feet.
Cai Min, who was disliked everywhere, curled her lip. "Does a little girl have to be so precious? How pretentious."
Yan Xiaonan suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Cai Min. Cai Min was startled by Yan Xiaonan's gaze. How could a one-year-old girl have such a look? She dared not look at Yan Xiaonan again.
Yan Erqiang could see it clearly from the side; the girl from his third brother's family was the most formidable character.
The next morning, the hen laid three eggs with a clucking sound. Cuihua was so happy that she kept praising her hen for being so capable, and generously gave her handfuls of chaff.
Grandma Yan looked at Yan Xiaonan with a happy smile, which made Yan Xiaonan's heart pound. Could it be that Grandma knew something?
Breakfast was simple: leftover dough from last night was steamed, resulting in a thick, mushy porridge served with homemade pickled radish. The whole family ate to their heart's content.
Cai Min came out of the house. She hadn't slept well last night and was having trouble sleeping in her new bed. By the time she finally drifted off to sleep, it was already dawn.
Seeing the whole family sitting together on the kang (a heated brick bed) eating breakfast made me feel a little uncomfortable. They were all family, but I felt like the real outsider.
Her two sons were also drinking porridge next to Nan Nan, muttering as they ate, "It's so delicious!" They looked like starving ghosts who hadn't eaten for days.
Cai Min's heart was truly broken. Not only did the man not care about her, but her two precious children were also completely neglected, leaving her forgotten somewhere.
Grandma Yan saw Cai Min and smiled as she invited her to have breakfast. "Cuihua, go and help the child's mother prepare the bowls and chopsticks."
The way she addressed her as "the child's mother" or "Cuihua" determined the closeness or distance between them. Cai Min felt aggrieved; did she really have to hold a grudge like that? It wasn't like she did it on purpose.
Cuihua exclaimed "Good!" and hurriedly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) to get bowls and chopsticks for Cai Min, but Dongnan stopped her, saying, "Mother, sit down and eat slowly, I'll get them." After saying that, she got off the kang.
Yan Erqiang glanced at his wife and children, thinking that the children were just like their mother, both incredibly stupid.
Southeast not only brought bowls and chopsticks, but also thoughtfully filled a bowl with porridge. No matter what, she was still his second uncle's wife, and things shouldn't be taken too far.
Grandma Yan nodded, "He's a sensible and good child." After Bei Nan and Xin Nan finished eating, they picked up their buckets and prepared to leave. Yan Zheng hurriedly put down his chopsticks and tried to follow them.
Last night I heard that the two of them were going to go ice cave fishing. They had been thinking about it all night and were determined not to let it go. Cai Min was so anxious that she didn't even eat breakfast and tried to stop them.
The peaceful morning was broken by the noise from the two children and Cai Min. Yan Erqiang was also worried that the children would get cold if they went out early, so he helped Cai Min to comfort them.
Yan Zheng, having never had such a novel experience before, was unwilling to give it up and insisted on following along. Southwest hesitated, but North and South didn't care about such things; if they arrived late, all the good spots would be taken.
He grabbed Southwest, picked up the bucket and fishing rod, and ran outside. Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Yan Zheng, in despair, burst into loud sobs.
Yan Xiaonan covered her ears; the crying was unprecedented and unparalleled, too piercing to hear.
Grandma Yan looked at them with worry. Why were they making such a fuss? It's just going out to fish, what's the big deal? Sigh, tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Let them get lost after tomorrow.
When Yan Erqiang saw that he couldn't persuade the two children, his temper flared up. He picked up Yan Zheng, laid him across his lap, and hit him hard.
This time, Yan Zheng really cried, cried from the pain. His father was usually all smiles, and if he was unhappy, he would just frown and would never hit him.
But today, their father instilled fear in the two children from the bottom of their hearts. Yan Jing looked at his father's ashen face and dared not utter another sound.
The whole house fell silent. Xuemei started clearing the dishes, preparing lunch, and also had to light the fire, do laundry, and clean. She didn't have time to waste with them.
Cai Min had barely taken two bites of her breakfast when Xue Mei took it away. She was a little angry and was about to speak when Yan Erqiang spoke up: "You all better behave yourselves. If you cause any more trouble, get out of here."
Everyone fell silent. Yan Xiaonan found it both jarring and painful, and cried out to Yan Xiaoqiang in a tearful voice, "Dad, I'm scared, hug me!"
Yan Xiaoqiang rushed over and picked up Yan Xiaonan, feeling sorry for her. She was his little girl, who rarely cried, but had already cried twice since yesterday. She was frightened by them just now.
Thinking of this, she glanced at Yan Erqiang sideways, her blaming look particularly obvious, so obvious that even Yan Yanzheng could feel it.
Yan Erqiang's face flushed red. Yesterday he snatched someone's daughter's steamed egg custard, and today he scared her. He hadn't been back for over ten years, and not only did he come back empty-handed, he also caused trouble and disrupted the peace of the family.
He said coldly to Cai Min, "Go pack your things, we're going back today."
Cai Min and the two younger children were reluctant to move. Why go back when there was so much good food and drink here? There was no food at home anyway. Besides, it was New Year's Eve tomorrow, so they could at least have a good meal.
Seeing that Cai Min didn't move, Yan Erqiang stood up to pack up himself, but Grandma Yan spoke up: "Well, Erqiang, don't rush off. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Let the children have a good meal before you go."
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