Chapter 146 Caution is the Best Policy
Logically speaking, the hotel banquet should include all expenses, so why did Lin Jiefang ask Lao San to order chicken separately? Was there really no shady dealing involved?
If there's really nothing wrong, why didn't he mention it at all when he called earlier?
Li Banxia didn't want to think the worst of people, but He Taohua and Lin Jiefang, this mother and son, were different from the others.
How could Lin Jiefang have risen to the top position so quickly without resorting to underhanded tactics?
He Taohua's ability to make Su Youfu devoted to her for life speaks volumes about her methods.
She felt it was better to take precautions.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
Seeing that Li Banxia's expression was off, Su Laosan casually asked a question.
Li Banxia glanced at him and said, "For such a big deal, remember to have someone issue a receipt when you hand over the goods. It would be best to have two people check it carefully to make sure there are no quality issues. Then, make sure the chicken is in perfect condition when you exchange money for goods."
"ah?"
Fang Erniu was still a bit confused, but Su Laosan quickly realized what was going on and frowned slightly, saying, "On such a joyous day, Lin Jiefang dares to dig a pit for me to fall into? Isn't he afraid of ruining the wedding and making a fool of himself!"
"This method won't stop honest people from harming dishonest ones. It's even easier for someone who wants to scam you to do so. It's best to be careful, and it's best if nothing happens," Li Banxia said.
Su Laosan said "Oh," and then added, "Okay, I'll keep an eye on it."
Fang Erniu realized what was happening.
He rolled up his sleeves and cursed, "Whoever dares to cheat us, we'll beat the crap out of them."
"Erniu..."
Su Laosan pressed her hand down and said, "Lin Jiefang's mother is no good, and he's no better. The two of them are cunning and treacherous. We can't give them any leverage."
"Pooh!"
Fang Erniu spat in disgust and said, "There are so many people like this in our village, they're so cunning and annoying. How come city people are like this too?!"
"Does being a good or bad person mean being from the city or the countryside?"
Su Laosan was amused by her words and pulled her aside to whisper to her.
Li Banxia glanced at the two of them, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
She looked up at the sky, glanced at the wilted vegetable leaves, and, taking advantage of the early hour, went to pump water to rinse the vegetable patch.
"Mom, I'm taking Erniu out for a walk and buying some groceries while we're at it."
Su Laosan took Fang Erniu out, and Li Banxia responded and continued with her own business.
The two of them went out empty-handed, but came back carrying a bamboo basket that was full of things. They showed off to Li Banxia, saying that they had only spent one yuan.
Su Laosan said to Li Banxia with a grin, "Erniu can make spicy and sour pickled cucumbers. Doesn't your sister-in-law like them? We'll make them together after dinner."
Fang Erniu looked at Li Banxia with hopeful eyes and nodded repeatedly.
Li Banxia said "okay".
Then I saw the two of them exchange a knowing smile, their smiles sly and mischievous.
Li Banxia, "..."
"Auntie, let me help you."
Fang Erniu ran over to help clear the blockage of mud. Her hands got mud on them, which she then smeared on her face. Su Laosan pointed at her face and laughed. When she touched it, her face was covered in mud.
The two of them burst into laughter for no apparent reason.
Li Banxia observed that the girl's laughter was generous and cheerful, without any affectation; she seemed like a likable girl.
How much money did she give to the third son and his wife in her past life?
Do you think they're bewitched, so obsessed that they wouldn't even care about their own mothers?!
Fang Erniu smiled as she went to the hand pump well, scooped up some water, and washed her face.
Su Laosan brought out a basin, saying he wanted to show Fang Erniu his skills.
"I've really got the hang of making knife-cut noodles now. Listen how well I knead this dough..."
Li Banxia sighed as she listened to the loud smacking sounds of him smashing noodles.
Fang Erniu was blindly praising, "Su Laosan, you're too amazing! You can do everything!"
After kneading the dough for a while, Su Laosan took the hand pump and told Li Banxia to rest on the side.
One of them was pumping water, the other was washing cucumbers. They exchanged a few words and exchanged a few smiles, their eyes...
Li Banxia closed her eyes, picked up her bag, and went out.
I saw a braised chicken for sale, so I bought half of it. I plan to shred it at home and make chicken shredded cold noodles, steamed eggplant with minced garlic, stir-fried long beans with chili peppers, and sprinkle some sugar on tomatoes to make four dishes to serve.
The eldest son and his wife were already used to the two of them being so affectionate. After dinner, the couple washed up, and Li Banxia checked on Su Laosan.
Su Laosan no longer stuttered when carrying her on his back. After he finished carrying her, he saw Fang Erniu's admiring and proud expression, and his chest puffed out incredibly high.
Li Banxia couldn't help but smile and praised Su Laosan a couple of times, "You recited it very well, keep up the good work."
Fang Erniu glanced at Li Banxia, and when Li Banxia sat down on the rocking chair under the wisteria tree to cool off, she whispered to Su Laosan, "Your mother seems to really like educated daughters-in-law. Do you think she'll like me if I can memorize this?"
"Of course! My mom treats my sister-in-law like her own daughter. You see, when she eats at home, there's meat in every meal, and my mom takes care of everything from sour and spicy to salty and sweet. A few days ago, I heard her telling my second uncle that she's going to buy some baby diapers when she goes to Shanghai next time. I heard that they're really expensive, costing a dollar each, and they don't sell them here!"
Fang Erniu's eyes lit up instantly.
She grabbed Su Laosan's arm and said, "Then you must teach me quickly. I will definitely memorize it for the sake of our future children, so that your mother will like me as much as she likes your sister-in-law."
Su Laosan also enthusiastically agreed.
He took out the Xinhua Dictionary and began teaching Fang Erniu, “吖, the radical is 口, six strokes. The first meaning is a dialectal interjection, equivalent to ‘ah,’ which everyone recognizes; the second meaning is a class of nitrogen-containing organic compounds called aqin. They can be used as dyes, photosensitive substances, etc.”
Fang Erniu, "..."
She stared blankly at Su Laosan's mouth, opened her mouth, only managed to say "Ah," then licked her lips and called to Su Laosan, "...Say it again."
Su Laosan repeated it again.
Fang Erniu could read the words, but when she tried to memorize them, it was a different story.
I'm stuck on "a," muttering "aaaa" for ages, but I can't recall a single word from the dictionary. Interjections? What else? What fuel? What does it burn?
Li Banxia couldn't listen to it anymore.
As it was getting dark, Su Laosan sighed helplessly and advised Fang Erniu, "Forget it, this won't work. My mother doesn't like people who try to please you with ulterior motives. Just be yourself. My mother... probably prefers you as you are. Just treat my mother like your own mother."
"Very good!"
Fang Erniu breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and blurted out what was on her mind. Realizing what she was thinking, she quickly tried to cover it up, "Ah, I meant that Auntie liked me the way I was. Um, are you sure you want me to treat Auntie like my own mother?"
"Sure."
Su Laosan laughed, "You have such a good personality, my mom will definitely like you."
Fang Erniu playfully punched him and said, "You're just trying to flatter me."
Su Laosan winced in pain and secretly rubbed the spot where he had been punched while Fang Erniu turned her head away. The next second, he was dumbfounded.
Fang Erniu called out to Li Banxia, "Auntie, I want to eat chicken stew with mushrooms and flatbread tomorrow."
The creaking rocking chair that Li Banxia was gently rocking suddenly stopped moving.
Su Laosan, "..."
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