Wang Lan couldn't bear to eat it herself. She took a small bite of the edge to taste it and then put it in her granddaughter's mouth.
I have to say, this candy is really sweet.
The grandson stuffed a handful of red envelopes into Wang Lan's hand and said, "Grandma, here you go, this is my New Year's money!"
After saying that, he added, "All of what they gave us combined didn't amount to what the pretty auntie gave us."
Duan Lei, the little granddaughter, said excitedly, "My pretty aunt has two little brothers and a little sister at home. They are all very cute. I have already told my pretty aunt that I will go to her house to play tomorrow. I want to help my pretty aunt take care of the children."
Duan Rui quickly raised his little hand: "I want some too! Pretty auntie said she's making fried meatballs at home tomorrow, and she wants us to come and eat them together."
Wang Lan was helpless; she had been captured as soon as she went out.
However, after hearing what they said, Wang Lan felt much more at ease. It seemed that the Qin family's son and daughter-in-law were not difficult people to get along with, otherwise her two children would not like them so much.
After sending her two children to do their work and her two daughters-in-law to cook in the kitchen, Wang Lan looked up at the study upstairs, and then at her two sons.
The eldest brother, Duan Shuo, saw through Wang Lan's thoughts at a glance. The second brother saw through her but pretended not to see it. This wasn't the first or second time his mother had done this, and he was too lazy to say anything anymore. Anyway, even if he said something and changed, she would do it again next time, so it was a waste of time.
Duan Shuo glared at his younger brother with annoyance, then began to lecture his mother, this time with a more serious attitude than ever before.
"Mom, you can't go on like this, or Dad might never forgive you."
Don't be fooled by his seemingly easy-going nature; if his father really angers someone, he can be incredibly ruthless and will never speak to you again.
Wang Lan was well aware of Duan Yannian's temper, which is why she didn't dare to act rashly when she saw Duan Yannian's cold face.
But she has a bad memory and forgets things after a few days. She hasn't changed her stingy habit over the years.
Wang Lan felt guilty: "I just didn't think straight for a moment... Besides, that's three hundred yuan, our family..."
Duan Shuo's face immediately darkened: "Mom! There are eight people in our family, six of whom are workers. You're not trying to say that we're so poor that we can't even afford to give red envelopes to Uncle Qin's children, are you? Then I'd like to ask you properly, where have all the wages we've been paid over the years gone? If you can't manage the money properly, and can't even save up for these kinds of social obligations, then we'll have to find someone else to manage the money!"
Wang Lan immediately became agitated upon hearing this, "How can this be! I'm your mother, we haven't separated our households yet, of course I should be in charge of the money!"
Duan Shuo's face darkened: "Then let's split up! Each of us will manage our own affairs!"
After saying that, he looked at his younger brother Duan Xun: "Do you agree or not?"
Duan Xun immediately said, "Agreed! I've been wanting to see this for a long time. So many people in our family earn money, yet we can't even afford to give Uncle Qin's children a New Year's red envelope! Besides, with so many of us here today, we only gave five red envelopes. What's going on? Aren't we the children's elders? They said that since we haven't separated the family, we only need to give one, but why did Uncle Qin give the children New Year's money, and Huo Xiao and his wife also give one?"
We've eaten and drunk at Uncle Qin's house a lot since we were little. Uncle Qin has been so good to us. Now that he's finally found his son who was lost for many years, he's so stingy with the New Year's red envelopes he gives us. I feel so ashamed!
Since we're going to be so calculating, let's just tally up everything we've eaten, drunk, taken, and used from Uncle Qin's house since we were kids. And my dad, he must have taken a lot of things from Uncle Qin's house and brought them home over the years, right? Let's calculate everything, make sure it's clear, and see if we can pay it all back. If we can, then we'll cut ties and that's it. Otherwise, I'll feel like an ingrate!
Wang Lan was furious. "Shut up! How dare you talk about yourself like that!"
Duan Xun sneered: "Was what I said wrong?"
Wang Lan was speechless after being confronted by her.
Once Duan Xun opened his mouth, he wasn't going to let it go easily, so he just said it all out: "My brother and I have been small fry all these years, but my dad is the real big fish! You feel sorry for him just because he gives people a few New Year's money, but why don't you ask him how many good things he got back from Uncle Qin? For example, today, when we went to Uncle Qin's house to pay New Year's respects, my dad snatched a box of good tea from him."
Wang Lan didn't take it seriously: "How much is a box of tea worth?"
Duan Shuo sneered: "How much is it worth? Well, it's worthless in your eyes. Even the top leaders would want it, but they couldn't get it from Uncle Qin. I remember this is the second time my dad has gotten this tea from Uncle Qin."
Upon hearing his mother constantly measure these favors in terms of money, Duan Shuo couldn't contain his anger.
Wang Lan was shocked: "Those leaves your dad got from his house last time, are they really that valuable... Okay?"
Duan Shuo and Duan Xun both remained silent with cold expressions.
Wang Lan looked embarrassed, knowing that her sons were once again criticizing her for being ignorant.
Duan Shuo was too lazy to say anything more. He was old enough to understand reason, but frankly, he was just stingy and selfish, only thinking about taking good things into his own home and never giving anything back.
"Mom, think it over carefully. If there's a next time, we'll split up the family. And starting this month, we'll only hand over half of our salaries to you. We'll keep the other half for ourselves. From now on, we'll handle things like giving out red envelopes for the New Year or giving gifts ourselves."
He used to be too lazy to care about these things, but now he realizes that if he lets his mother continue to act recklessly, she will offend all the family's relatives and friends.
Especially Uncle Qin, just thinking about what his mother did makes him angry!
“How can this be…” Wang Lan disagreed, but before she could finish speaking, her youngest son, Duan Xun, immediately said, “I think it’s okay!”
Wang Lan retorted angrily, "No way! What's the difference between this and splitting up the family? You two brats are making a scene over something like this during the New Year, aren't you?"
"Do as the children say!" Upstairs, Duan Yannian stood at the study door looking down. "If you don't agree, then let them separate their households and move out. Anyway, it's not like the work unit doesn't provide housing!"
Upon hearing about the family division and seeing Duan Yannian's cold face, Wang Lan was immediately too frightened to speak.
She didn't want to separate the family. After they separated, they would all move out, and the house would be cold and quiet, not lively at all.
What if I can't see my grandchildren every day and miss them?
Finally, Wang Lan reluctantly said, "Fine, fine! We'll do it your way, okay? I just made a mistake for a moment, why are you all acting like this? I'm only doing this for the sake of this family!"
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