Seeing the two adults and two children standing in his yard, he suddenly remembered that it must be his second brother who had returned, but he didn't recognize him because they hadn't seen each other for more than ten years.
Yan Xiaoqiang quickly stepped forward and put his arm around Yan Erqiang's shoulder. "Second brother, you're back! Come in quickly, it's cold outside. Mother, Mother, second brother is back."
Watching the two people walk into the house arm in arm, Cai Min, who had originally wanted to act high and mighty, could only follow behind with her two children, secretly resentful. Xue Mei watched coldly, thinking, "Hmph, so pretentious."
Yan Erqiang stepped through the door and saw an old woman holding a beautiful little girl sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) eating.
He quickly stepped forward and knelt down, saying, "Mother, your son is unfilial; your son has failed you."
Grandma Yan's anger vanished in an instant when her son knelt down. As the saying goes, a man's knees are worth their weight in gold. Since her son had already knelt down, she decided to let it go.
As the old saying goes, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I'm old now, and I can't worry about so much anymore. He sighed and said, "Get up. Judging from your appearance, you've suffered a lot over the years."
Upon hearing this, Yan Erqiang rushed to his grandmother's side and burst into tears. His mother was the best; she knew how hard he had worked. Over the years, only his mother had truly understood him.
Seeing Yan Erqiang wailing and crying, everyone in the room fell silent.
Cai Min was especially embarrassed. What was wrong with Yan Erqiang? He came home and started crying so loudly as soon as he saw his mother. Wasn't he just badmouthing her?
Grandma Yan glanced at the embarrassed Cai Min, nodded secretly, and praised her son's brilliant finishing touch. Just by looking at this woman's clothes and behavior, she knew that she was here to show off.
Since you're here to protest, don't blame me for being ruthless and slapping you in the face.
"Cuihua, Cuihua, take Erqiang and the others inside and settle them in. Tonight, let's make some pork stew with radish and cabbage, and some steamed buns made with mixed flour," Grandma Yan said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Erqiang immediately shook his head, "Mother, your son doesn't have much money to support you in your old age. You can't spend that money to entertain us."
Here he comes. Looking at Erqiang's silly appearance, Grandma Yan took out her pipe and slowly took a puff. "Second son, tell me how you've been all these years. Let your mother know."
Yan Erqiang wiped away his tears: "Mom, when I got to Chuncheng, I only had two yuan left. You need money for food, drink, and even the toilet there, and I don't know anyone there."
While walking, I accidentally bumped into Cai Min, causing her to fall and injure her ankle. Her family didn't ask me to pay compensation; they just wanted me to serve them tea and water until her ankle recovered.
During this time, I stayed at her house. My father-in-law also introduced me to a temporary job at a machinery factory. At that time, the monthly salary was eight yuan, and there was also a dormitory.
Then, then we got married. We originally wanted to come back to see you together, but Cai Min got pregnant, so we had to postpone it year after year.
The voice grew softer and softer, almost inaudible, and then Grandma Yan asked again, "Your father-in-law introduced you to the machine factory, so are your father-in-law and mother-in-law also workers at the machine factory?"
Yan Erqiang nodded: "My mother-in-law's job was given to my sister-in-law, and my father-in-law's job was given to Cai Min, but they are entitled to social security benefits."
"How much money do you give your parents-in-law each month for their retirement?"
"It's five yuan a month, and sometimes I'll buy something and go over to check on things."
"So you're a full-time employee now, how much is your monthly salary?" Grandma Yan squinted her eyes.
“I now have twenty-seven yuan a month.” Yan Erqiang lowered his head to below his waist.
Grandma Yan nodded: "Very good, as long as you are doing well, that's all that matters."
Upon hearing this, Yan Erqiang felt relieved, but he didn't notice that his mother's eyes had dimmed. Yan Xiaonan, who overheard this, looked at Yan Erqiang with disdain.
She crawled over and tugged at Grandma Yan's hand, her clear eyes looking at her. Grandma Yan turned her head and felt a warmth in her heart. The little girl was clearly telling her, "Grandma, I'm here for you."
He picked Yan Xiaonan up in his arms and said, "Is my Nannan hungry? How about I ask your mom to stew an egg for you?"
Xuemei walked over, touched Yan Xiaonan's hand, and said, "Hmm, it's not cold." She then left the house and went to the kitchen.
Cai Min really wanted to go over there. Her two sons hadn't eaten anything yet. Should she ask that girl to cook more steamed egg custard?
But watching her husband talk endlessly to his mother without introducing himself, she was getting a little anxious. And his mother, couldn't she at least ask her?
After coughing a few times, Yan Erqiang was finally awakened. He pointed to Cai Min and said, "Mother, her name is Cai Min. She is the wife I married in Chuncheng. And those two boys are my sons. The older one is called Yan Ge, and the younger one is called Yan Zheng."
Cai Min led her two children forward a few steps and sweetly greeted Grandma Yan, "Hello, Grandma!"
Grandma Yan nodded. A daughter-in-law can call her grandma along with the child, but that's only used when the relationship is relatively distant.
Yan Erqiang's expression changed immediately. Just as he was about to speak, Grandma Yan waved her hand and said to Cai Min with a smile, "My dear, you've worked hard. Why don't you stay at my house for a couple of days before going back?"
These were just polite words spoken to relatives with whom one doesn't visit often. Cai Min's expression also darkened. What a formidable old lady! It's good that things are this way; she can go home earlier.
Just then, Xuemei brought over some steamed egg custard, along with a small spoon specially for Yan Xiaonan. Grandma Yan touched the bowl; it was a little hot, so she put it aside and waited for it to cool down before feeding him.
Yan Xiaonan nodded, playing with her fingers to herself. She found it strange to see the Yan brothers, Yan Zheng and Yan Yan, drooling over the steamed egg custard. Weren't the conditions in the city better?
Suddenly, he noticed Cai Min give Yan Zheng a push. Yan Zheng looked up, and Cai Min winked at the steamed egg custard. Yan Zheng understood and quietly crept over.
He glanced at Nan Nan and saw that she was still playing with her fingers, so he picked up a spoon and started eating.
Yan Xiaonan smiled inwardly. This second aunt really wasn't willing to suffer any loss. Hehe, let's see how she fared.
Suddenly, Yan Xiaonan burst into loud sobs, her heartbroken appearance causing Grandma Yan great distress.
Yan Xiaonan rarely cries, so when she did, Cuihua rushed out of the kitchen and immediately saw Yan Xiaonan pointing at a little boy.
That's Yan Erqiang's youngest son, Yan Zheng, who's using Nan Nan's little spoon to put egg custard into his mouth.
Judging from his eagerness, he seemed to want to pour the whole bowl of steamed egg custard into his mouth.
The scene fell silent. Yan Erqiang grabbed Yan Zheng and gave him a few hard slaps on the buttocks, making Yan Zheng cry loudly.
Cai Min got anxious and ran forward to stop Yan Zheng: "It's just an egg custard, why did you hit him? It doesn't make sense that the little girl gets to eat while the grandson doesn't."
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