"I was just helping out with a small favor, there's no need for thanks."
Song Lan smiled, not taking Song Sanhe's words to heart. She then said, "Dad, Mom, I forgot to tell you last night that my second brother and I went into the mountains to dig for medicinal herbs yesterday, and we were lucky enough to find two wild ginseng plants."
Here's what I'm thinking: once I've processed the wild ginseng, I'll take one home. Then, it's up to you, Mom and Dad, whether you keep it for yourselves or take it to the city to sell and improve our family's life.
"We don't need it at home."
Song Sanhe said, "Besides, wild ginseng is a life-saving treasure. You can keep it for your son-in-law. As long as he can wake up soon, that's better than anything else."
Li Jumei chimed in, "Lanlan, your dad and I agree."
“Your son-in-law only needs one, Dad, Mom. Listen to me, consider this my way of showing filial piety.”
Song Lan's attitude remained unchanged: "It's settled then. I'll bring it to you next time I come back."
Why won't you listen to me, child?!
Li Jumei frowned.
"Mom, it's not that I don't listen to you, it's that I want to be filial and do something for you and Dad. Don't you want to give me that chance?"
Song Lan feigned grievance: "Or maybe you're not as genuine as you seem, and you don't really treat me like your daughter."
Song Qinghui felt a pang of heartache: "Since my sister wants to give it to the family, Mom and Dad, you can keep it!"
Song Sanhe: "..."
Li Jumei rolled her eyes at Song Qinghui: "You talk too much!" Then, she turned her gaze back to Song Lan and nodded: "Okay, take it home later, and I'll accept it as a family heirloom."
"There's no need for that."
Song Lan smiled broadly, but said helplessly, "Wild ginseng is precious, but it is just a medicinal herb. Its purpose is to treat diseases and save lives. We can keep it for our own use. Don't really treat it as some kind of family heirloom."
She paused, then added with a hint of mockery, "After all, we don't know what our descendants will be like. What if some generation produces a spendthrift who sells your family heirloom and squanders the money?"
Her words made Song Qinghui burst into laughter: "My sister is right, Mom. You and Dad should just use this to nourish your bodies. Forget about family heirlooms. Just like my sister said..."
What if one of my descendants, or one of my elder brother's or younger brother's, becomes a spendthrift? Then all the filial piety I've shown you two would be wasted by that spendthrift. Would you be willing to let that happen?
Speaking of offspring, Song Sanhe suddenly interjected: "Starting tomorrow, you'll go to work with your mother. If you don't change your bad habits, I think you'll be a bachelor for life!"
If you can't find a wife, how can you talk about having descendants?
Song Sanhe felt that his second son was a real headache!
Song Qinghui tilted his head and said nonchalantly, "My older brother hasn't even gotten married yet, what's the rush for me?!"
"Your older brother has already arranged a girlfriend, and he's just waiting to marry her before the New Year."
Upon hearing Song Sanhe's words, Song Qinghui was taken aback and asked, "How come I didn't know?"
What could you possibly know?
Song Sanhe said irritably, "You're never home, and when you do come back you just stay in your room and sleep. I think you're just spoiled by your mother!"
"Why is it that I spoiled him?"
Li Jumei refused to take the blame. She glared at Song Sanhe and said, "It's the second son who's slippery. I can't control him, and you don't have time to manage him either. Don't try to pin the blame on me."
"Okay, okay, it's my fault."
Song Sanhe dared not go against his wife. He apologized politely, which earned him a cold snort from Li Jumei.
"I've decided to turn over a new leaf!"
Song Qinghui suddenly blurted out a sentence.
Immediately, Song Sanhe and his wife stared wide-eyed at their good-for-nothing son, as if they didn't recognize him.
What kind of eyesight do you have?
Song Qinghui's face flushed, he hummed, raised his chin, and said with an arrogant look, "If you don't believe me, ask my sister. I plan to learn martial arts from her, and at the same time improve my cultural knowledge. Then, when the opportunity arises, I will take the job recruitment exam."
Receiving the gazes of Song Sanhe and his wife, Song Lan smiled and nodded: "My second brother is right. If there is a conscription in our area, my second brother can also sign up to give himself a chance."
"You want to enlist?"
Song Sanhe asked Song Qinghui.
“Dad, it’s not a matter of whether I want to or not, it’s just that we haven’t recruited soldiers for several years, and I want to learn some martial arts from my sister to improve my physical fitness.” Song Qinghui scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “But… but if I have the chance, I’d like to give it a try.”
Which boy doesn't dream of being a hero?
The thought of one day wearing that crisp green uniform made Song Qinghui feel like he could wake up laughing in his dreams.
Song Lan: "I want my second brother to come to my place so I can teach him martial arts."
Song Qinghui: "Little sister, didn't we agree that I would exercise at home?"
What would I do at your place?
Li Jumei objected: "Even if you have a place to stay, given your second brother's appetite, will you and the rest of the family still have food if he goes there?"
"Mom, it's not as exaggerated as you say."
Song Lan smiled and said, "I have a place to stay at home. As for food, it's just an extra pair of chopsticks, which is no problem at all."
"Lanlan, you're not the only one in your family. If your second brother causes a conflict between you and your brother-in-law and sister-in-law, where will your father and I put our faces?"
Li Jumei said, "Besides, your second brother is getting on in years. If he continues to drift around like this, the gossipy women in the village will probably spread even more unpleasant rumors."
"I won't work in the fields to earn work points!"
Song Qinghui blurted it out.
"It's not up to you."
Song Sanhe's face darkened.
"I'm not getting out of bed, what can you do about it?"
As he spoke, Song Qinghui stood up, ready to leave at any moment.
Song Lan: "Second brother, Mom and Dad are doing this for your own good. You work half a day every day, which is a way to exercise. This way, you can also change how the villagers view you. I think it's a good idea."
Song Qinghui remained silent.
Obviously, they were unwilling.
"Although we live for ourselves, can't you, second brother, think about Mom and Dad a little bit?"
Song Lan asked.
Song Qinghui: "I need to think about it."
"Alright, I'll now instruct my second brother on how to do the horse stance."
As Song Lan spoke, she beckoned Song Qinghui to follow. The two arrived at a thick elm tree on one side of the courtyard. Then, Song Lan posed and explained to Song Qinghui. After a while, she told Song Qinghui to do as she said.
Song Qinghui did as instructed.
Song Lan: "Second brother, practicing the horse stance is very hard. If you want to learn martial arts from me, you have to persevere."
Song Qinghui: "I will."
"Then you stay here and do a horse stance, I'll go help Mom clear the dishes."
As soon as the words left his lips, Song Lan walked away.
About half an hour later.
Main room.
"Dad, Mom, there's nothing seriously wrong with your health, but you need to take good care of yourselves for a while to improve your health."
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