The next morning, when Song Anmin and Song Jianmin woke up, they found that no one was home.
There were only a few leftover bowls in the kitchen; there were no steamed buns or dumplings.
Song Anmin roared in shock, "Mom didn't cook our breakfast?"
Song Jianmin had gotten used to it, after all, his mother hadn't cooked for several meals in a row.
Song Jianmin sighed: "Let's eat out."
This morning, the second brother got up and made breakfast. He cooked noodles for Xu Guiying and her husband, as well as Rongrong and Yingying, but didn't want to make it for his other two brothers.
The third brother, Song Anmin, couldn't help but ask, "Fifth brother, how much extra living expenses do you need?"
Song Jianmin worked for only five months, so he needs to pay an additional 30 yuan.
"Third brother, Mom is furious right now. Just hand over the money. It won't sound good to the neighbors if this gets out."
The third brother felt that Song Jianmin was mocking him. "Don't laugh at me. Your matter with Zhang Qingli is still unresolved. I heard Aunt Wang talking about it when I came back yesterday."
Song Jianmin's face darkened. "This was done by Li Xiaozhi. It has nothing to do with Qingli. Mom shouldn't take her anger out on Qingli."
Song Anmin scoffed, "It doesn't matter? Li Xiaozhi is Zhang Qingli's cousin! Mom will never agree to this marriage, so give up on it."
Song Jianmin had to go to work at the factory. After parting ways with Song Anmin, looking depressed, he ran into Zhang Qingli, who was waiting not far from Heping Lane.
"Qingli!"
Zhang Qingli's eyes were red from crying. The Zhang family had been in chaos these past two days. Outsiders didn't know, but Zhang Qingli knew in her heart that Li Xiaozhi was her own brother!
How could she bear to see Li Xiaozhi go to his death!
"Xiao Zhi was just joking around with Yingying that day. Your mother was really something, why did she call the police! If my brother is really executed, I will never forgive your family for the rest of my life!"
Song Jianmin was heartbroken.
"Qingli, we've already called the police, there's nothing we can do about it now."
"It's all your mother's fault for making such a big fuss. I won't marry you until this is resolved!"
Song Jianmin became anxious upon hearing this.
"Qingli, let me think of another way." Song Jianmin turned his head and forgot about what Song Xinfu and Xu Guiying had said.
The question isn't whether Zhang Qingli wants to get married, but whether she can get married right now!
Seeing that Song Jianmin remained silent, Zhang Qingli came up with a plan.
Upon hearing this, Song Jianmin's eyes lit up with joy. If Qingli was pregnant, his mother would definitely make him marry Qingli, and perhaps by pulling some strings, Li Xiaozhi's situation could be resolved.
Thinking about it this way, Song Jianmin didn't want to go to work today.
Since no one was home, he dragged the shy Zhang Qingli back to the Song family home.
Aunt Wang was tidying up vegetables at the entrance of the courtyard when she saw the youngest son of the Song family bring Zhang Qingli home.
Aunt Wang pursed her lips, thinking that Xu Guiying and Song Xinfu were lucky to have such a son.
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Xu Guiying has been working at the supply and marketing cooperative for five or six years. She gets along well with her colleagues. Xu Guiying is good at interpersonal relationships and speaks nicely.
As soon as she arrived in the morning, Sister Wu asked her about her family.
"Guiying, a neighbor from your Heping Lane came to buy something today and we chatted for a bit. How is your family doing these days?"
In her past life, Xu Guiying saved face for several unfilial sons, but in the end, they were not only ungrateful but also complained that Xu Guiying hadn't done enough. In this life, Xu Guiying just wants to live comfortably and doesn't want to meddle in anything else.
"I've heard about how Jianmin managed to find a girlfriend in such a remote corner. There's not a single good person in the Zhang family."
Zhang Qingli has dated several boyfriends, all of whom used the guise of free love to swindle a lot of money from the men's families. Zhang Qingli's brother is the same; he has ruined the lives of several girls.
Old Lady Zhang is a shrew.
Old Man Zhang bought a liquor store on credit but refused to pay.
A series of scandals followed.
Xu Guiying sighed, "In short, Lao Song and I don't agree. If Song Jianmin wants to get married, he should move out of this house. I have no objection if he wants to marry into the family."
Xu Guiying's words stunned everyone in the supply and marketing cooperative.
Xu Guiying used to cherish her youngest son the most.
"Guiying, why didn't you bring your two grandsons today?"
There's an open space behind the supply and marketing cooperative. People who can't easily take care of their children at home can leave them there without worrying about them getting lost.
"Their mother took them back to her parents' home."
"Your eldest daughter-in-law, never mind, let's not talk about her anymore."
Xu Guiying gave a bitter smile and said nothing more.
In the afternoon, after finishing his shift at the bank, Song Guomin went to the hotel first.
Liu Aimei is off work today and has to go back to work tomorrow. No matter what, she has to go back to the Song family today, otherwise no one will take care of her child. If she leaves the child at her parents' home, no one will take care of the child either.
When Liu Aimei saw Song Guomin come over looking dejected, she asked, "What did your mother say today?"
Song Guomin frowned: "Never mind, let's go back first."
Liu Aimei didn't want to go back so easily. "Your mother hasn't apologized to me yet, I don't want to go back."
Song Guomin patiently said, "What can we do if we don't go back? Who will take care of the two children? Just say that I invited you back. When we get back, I'll say a few nice words to Mom. She still has to take the kids to the supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow."
Liu Aimei hesitated, unwilling to lower her head.
After Song Guomin persuaded them for a long time, the family of four finally headed home.
When I got home tonight, the house was cold and empty.
After finishing dinner, Song Xinfu and Xu Guiying went back to their room. Back home, the second and third sons and the eldest son and his wife stared at each other blankly.
The eldest child immediately started calling out "Mom".
The second brother stopped him, "Big brother, have you forgotten what Mom said last night? Now everyone takes turns doing housework and cooking."
Liu Aimei was reluctant, saying, "Everyone's tired after a long day at work, who wants to cook?"
The second son, Song Yangmin, said meaningfully, "Before, Mom had to go to work, cook, do housework, and take care of two grandsons, but I never heard her complain about being tired."
Liu Aimei: "You! Second brother, how dare you speak to me like that!"
After the second brother said that, Song Guomin's face burned. He glanced at Liu Aimei and said, "Alright, the second brother is right. Go and cook first."
Liu Aimei reluctantly went to the kitchen.
It took almost an hour for the Song family to finish their dinner, and the fifth son didn't get home until just in time for the meal.
Stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, braised green beans and eggplant, boiled sliced meat, and sauerkraut soup.
It looks quite decent.
The Song family members sat around the table, their hearts filled with complex emotions.
Especially Song Rongrong, this was the first time she had ever seen her sister-in-law do housework.
Song Yingying carefully picked up some food from her bowl and ate it.
Song Guomin stopped after taking his first bite. The braised green beans were incredibly salty. The others noticed it too, and the fifth brother's face fell. "How can it be so salty?"
Liu Aimei put down her bowl. "It's good enough that there's food at all."
The fifth brother looked embarrassed.
Song Guomin asked, "Fifth brother, you should be grateful to have food ready for you to eat when you come home so late."
Song Rongrong also asked, "Fifth brother, where did you go?"
The fifth brother had just sent Zhang Qingli home when he told the truth, but he was too stupid to do so. He buried his head in his food and didn't say a word.
Just then, Xu Guiying and Song Xinfu came out of the house.
The brothers all stopped eating.
Xu Guiying's first words were, "Give me the money."
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