As the sun sets, Xizi and his three siblings step into the afterglow of summer and follow Zhang Dad and his men back to the county town. After parting ways with them at the intersection, the four siblings carry cloth bags and bamboo baskets and walk quickly towards home with joy on their faces.
Before you even get home, the mixed smell of steamed buns and stews hangs in the air, making you want to just go into someone's house for a meal.
As soon as they entered the yard, they smelled the unique aroma of steamed buns and stews made from two-grain flour. The four brothers and sisters looked at each other in surprise. They didn't even bother to wash them, but carefully walked around the vegetable garden with cloth bags and bamboo baskets to the kitchen.
Huang Cuilan didn't cook a meal at noon, so she used the two steamed buns left over from the morning to make do with the water. When everyone started cooking, she remembered that the children would be home soon.
"Mom, my brother caught two fish today and gave one to Grandpa. Do you want to eat this one tonight?"
Huang Cuilan looked at the children's greedy expressions and nodded with a smile: "Okay. You can eat as much as you want today. Xizi will bring a bowl of milk to you later."
Xizi's eyes lit up and she said happily, "Okay. My grandma must be reluctant to eat that fish tonight. She just asked me to bring it back, but I refused. She also said to rub it with salt and save it for us to eat tomorrow."
Xiao Zuo: "Mom, we didn't eat there. My grandparents couldn't bear to eat fine grains. My uncle would be heartbroken if he knew. Didn't you see that the bacon was almost moldy? She kept it, saying she would eat it when we got there."
Xiao You frowned and said, "Looks like we still have to write to my uncle. What do you think she wants? She even asked us to help keep it a secret. Big brother, didn't you say my uncle would be back during the summer vacation? School is about to start, why haven't they come back yet?"
Xizi smiled and said, "Didn't Ping'an ask Grandpa to wait for him to come back? He should be here soon. Grandma's birthday is in about ten days, so Uncle should be back soon."
Mai Miao joked, "Second and third brothers, you should start practicing your calligraphy. Grandpa said that later you should write a letter to Xiao Ping'an and let him see how successful his brothers are!"
"You little bitch, you dare to laugh at your brother? Watch out!"
Mai Miao quickly hid behind Xizi, sticking out her tongue and making faces at the two brothers, which made Xiao Zuoyou laugh. The three brothers only had this one sister, and they loved her so much that they didn't even have time to do anything serious.
Xizi patted her forehead and said, "Bad girl!"
After saying that, he looked at the smiling Huang Cuilan, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Mom, I heard that your factory is going to reduce its staffing. Are you okay?"
Huang Cuilan looked at her eldest son, and the thought that someone had taken a fancy to her son made her want to smile. But now, hearing his caring tone, she was overjoyed. Her son had really grown up. "Mom, it's okay."
"That's good. Not working is also good. You can still take care of my dad and us at home. The four of us caught cicada monkeys during the summer vacation and got a lot of money at the purchasing station. We have enough for tuition when school starts, so don't worry. When my aunt comes back, I'll ask her to teach me about herbs. That can also make money."
"It's all because of my uselessness that you've suffered."
"We are so much better than everyone else. Mom, we don't ask you to be very capable. Just stay home and be at ease. We all agree that you should be filial to my grandparents if you have something. As for the other aunts, you should have less contact with them. They are too active and you are no match for them."
Mai Miao nodded immediately, "That's right! As long as you leave my aunt and the others alone, we'll be happy. My aunt is no good, she's too shortsighted and self-righteous, always taking things away from her house. My grandma still thinks she's a good person, but if it weren't for my grandpa backing her up, she'd be a troublemaker."
Xiao Zuoyou laughed out loud. Their little sister's personality is becoming more and more like her aunt's! That's a very sharp point!
Huang Cuilan rolled her eyes at her and said, "She's your elder. Don't be so rude when you say what you think. If someone hears, you might not be able to get married."
Xiao Zuoyou scoffed, and Xizi snorted, "How could my sister be unwanted? That's perfect, the three of us brothers will support her. I don't want her to work like a slacker in someone else's house."
Mai Miao smiled proudly and said, "See? My brother!"
Huang Cuilan smiled and shook her head. "Now that my son hasn't married yet, it's natural for him to have brothers and sisters. Who knows what will happen in the future?" She said nothing more.
After cooking the fish, he made a bowl of it and asked Xizi to take it to his grandparents. When he came back, the family finally had a meal.
At the dinner table, Xizi glanced at his mother. He had just heard the old lady next door say that two guests had come to their house today. He knew who the so-called guests were without hesitation, but he had no idea what they had come to talk about that would make his grandmother leave in a rage.
Unexpectedly, before he could ask, Huang Cuilan mentioned the matter first. She did not hide it from Xizi and told him everything her mother and sister-in-law had said.
Xizi narrowed his eyes and lowered his head to continue eating.
Fifteen-year-old Xizi was no longer a child. He understood his in-laws' intentions and why they were attracted to him. He worked hard to skip grades in school, but he didn't want to just find a wife, especially one from the ambitious Yue family.
"Didn't Grandpa say there's no rush for my eldest brother's marriage? My uncle has already said that a good daughter-in-law brings blessings to three generations. We, the Zhang family, need to take our time in finding the eldest grandson's wife."
Xizi patted her head and said, "Little girl, don't say anything. I know my own business."
After saying that, he looked at Huang Cuilan and said, "Mom, you're right not to agree. I can take the college entrance exam next year, and I'll only be 21 when I graduate. I'm not in a hurry."
Xiao Zuo rolled his eyes and said, "Brother, you are not modest at all. What if you fail the exam next year? Do you think everyone can be like your uncle and get into the capital city with just one exam?"
Xizi didn't get angry after hearing this, she just smiled and said, "My goal isn't that high. I've booked myself into a university in the provincial capital, and if I work hard I should be able to do it. If I go to the capital, you two will definitely rebel."
Mai Miao laughed heartily when he heard this. "Second brother, third brother, you should also work harder! Try to get into university as well. Then I'll have three college-educated brothers. Just thinking about it is impressive."
Huang Cuilan looked at her eldest son and said with emotion, "When you were little, your grandfather said you were a good student. I didn't expect him to be right."
"Mom, I went to see my grandpa last week. He's doing fine now."
The twins, Xiao Zuo and Xiao Zuo, exchanged a wry smile and hurried to eat. Their mother would surely remember this childhood favor forever. Were the three brothers caught in a trap?
No wonder his eldest brother said that the debt of favor was the hardest to repay. Fortunately, his uncle subsidized a lot of game, otherwise the three of them would have paid for their lives by working like slaves for the Huang family.
Huang Cuilan didn't understand her sons' thoughts. She began to recall how her two brothers raised her when she was little, how her father loved her, and how the three brothers fared at their grandfather's house.
Mai Miao rolled his eyes and tried to speak, but was quickly stopped by Xizi, who was three years older than his two brothers and understood many things better.
But human feelings are human feelings. If they retort that their in-laws are good to them, especially that the two aunts appreciate the fact that their uncle sends them meat from time to time, then that would be too mean and too heartless. There is no need to bother with an argument.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
