Hua Zhian winked at Hua Xiangyun, giving her a look that said, "I'll stand up for you."
Seeing that Hua Zhian was not listening to her, Xun Liangfen could only instruct Hua Xiangyun, "Keep an eye on your brother these days, and don't let him cause trouble."
The feud between our families is known throughout the neighborhood. If anything happens to the other family, our family will be the first one they think of.
"Don't cause trouble for everyone during the Lunar New Year."
“Mom, you’re being way too biased. Your second brother is here. You can just tell him what’s wrong,” Hua Xiangyun said, not one to tolerate her favoritism. When the children were together, Xun Liangfen’s bias was obvious.
Under the gaze of her children, Xun Liangfen felt a moment of unease. "I'm just worried that your second brother won't listen to me. Besides, why are you talking to him about these things? It's all in the past."
“Mom,” Hua Zhian said with a hint of impatience, “it’s only right that she protects her own sister.”
Besides, if Xiangyun has something to say to me, her older brother, what's wrong with her saying a few words?
I don't believe you thought it was no big deal back then, that since the damage had already been done, you shouldn't pursue it? That's not what you were thinking, is it?
Xun Liangfen said, "Your grandma has already asked for compensation. Besides, it's not a big deal. If we keep making a fuss about it, it will be difficult to get along with our neighbors in the future."
Hua Xiangyun touched her forehead, where the wound was no longer visible. "So, does Mom think it's my master's fault for giving me the good medicine, or does she think our family is trying to extort money from us?"
A question flashed through Hua Zhian's mind: When did my little sister get a master?
However, now is not the time to bring this up. If we stay here any longer, there will definitely be a conflict.
They separated the breakfasts. "Little sister, let's eat breakfast quickly so we can catch the first bus."
As before, the two siblings competed to see who could finish breakfast faster, then washed their dishes and stood at the door with their luggage.
Seeing their behavior, Xun Liangfen felt helpless.
The couple felt guilty towards their family over the years, but their children weren't close to them either.
She had only said a few words, but the brother and sister immediately ostracized her.
He sighed, packed his things, locked the door, and led them to the station.
On the way back, he didn't forget to remind Hua Xiangyun, "When you go back, don't meddle in other people's business."
Hua Xiangyun shrugged, making up her mind that she would never go out alone with Xun Liangfen again.
Hua Zhian had no idea what they were talking about. Carrying his own luggage, he walked around Hua Xiangyun's handbag and said, "These aren't heavy. Give me your things."
Hua Xiangyun, carrying some small items she bought yesterday, stepped aside and said, "Mine is even lighter. Second brother, it's so good that you're back. Last year, the New Year was especially difficult because you weren't home."
Xun Liangfen, "..." Last year, she and Baoguo seemed to have spent the New Year in the car...
The two siblings whispered to each other all the way, and even sat together on the bus. Xun Liangfen was angry, but she could only endure it.
Seeing Xun Liangfen sitting in front of them, looking out the window, Hua Zhian said in a low voice, "If Mom's words are unpleasant to hear, just let them go in one ear and out the other."
In my second brother's heart, you are more important than anything else.
Xun Liangfen was rarely home on weekdays, and her younger sister was rather dim-witted and didn't see the difference in how Xun Liangfen treated her and her brother.
However, it's easy to guess that, given her grandmother's preference for sons over daughters, how could her daughter not have been affected?
Hua Zhian felt somewhat confused. She was the weaker party in her maternal family. In her grandmother's patriarchal environment, she should have deeply resented the preference for sons over daughters. However, she did not expect that her grandmother also had this tendency.
Hua Xiangyun accepted the original owner's memories, which were heavily filtered through her lens. In addition, the mother and daughter hadn't spent much time together, so she didn't see the true nature of the situation.
After only two days together, Hua Xiangyun was a little disappointed, but she smiled and said, "It's okay. Mom and Dad are usually busy outside, and they don't have much time to spend with us. We'll get used to each other after a while."
Hua Zhian said indignantly, "Being busy is no excuse. If you can get along with someone, then get along with them; if you can't, then avoid them."
“She’s our mother,” Hua Xiangyun said with a helpless tone, feeling burdened. Her second brother had been so good to her, and she felt a little reluctant to take advantage of him. Should she take advantage of him again?
Hua Zhian: "Fool, listen to what you should listen to, and filter out what you shouldn't."
If all else fails, just push the blame onto me and my older brother. We'll take the fall for you.
Hua Xiangyun lowered her head and remained silent. "..." Once you get married, your little sister will become an eyesore as your sister-in-law... Waaah...
Hua Zhian felt that his younger sister had been wronged, so he quickly took out a small bag of dried yak from his bag. "She must be hungry after eating so little porridge this morning. Use this to chew on her teeth, and we'll be home soon."
Hua Zhian's commune raised a lot of yaks, and these were distributed to them for the Chinese New Year this year. He couldn't bear to eat a single one and dried them all to take back with him.
Hua Xiangyun put the food back, saying, "I'm not hungry yet. I'll eat with my grandparents when we get back."
Seeing that she wasn't eating, Hua Zhian told her some interesting things, and Hua Xiangyun was also eager to find out more. The two siblings chatted enthusiastically all the way.
Xun Liangfen, “…”
&
With Hua Zhian's return and Hua Zhiping's return from his business trip, the courtyard was unusually lively today.
Tian Guihua even prepared a table full of dishes for the New Year, saying, "Today our family is finally reunited."
Hua Baoguo clinked glasses with Hua Guangzong, took a small sip in front of the old man, and smacked his lips.
Hua Guangzong closed his eyes, drank the tea in his hand in one gulp, and imagined it as fine wine, deceiving himself for a moment.
"Zhi'an, how long can you stay this time?" Tian Guihua put a piece of braised pork into Hua Zhi'an's bowl.
Hua Zhian said, "The brigade is scheduled to start work on the eighth day of the new year, and we must go there no later than the fifth day."
"Good lad, not bad, you look much stronger now." Hua Guangzong was more and more satisfied with Hua Zhian the more he looked at him. This tall and strong man finally looked like a real man.
As for Hua Zhiping, he has lived too comfortably in recent years, and all the muscles he used to have have disappeared.
“You work in the fields all day long, doing all kinds of physical labor, look how dark you’ve gotten.” Xun Liangfen put a chicken wing in his bowl. “I remember you like this, eat more.”
Hua Zhian put the chicken wing directly into Xiangyun's bowl, saying, "I don't really like it, but my little sister likes it the most."
Without even glancing at Xun Liangfen's expression, he placed a piece of meat on Hua Guangzong's and Tian Guihua's plates.
Ignoring her daughter-in-law's expression, Tian Guihua urged everyone to eat quickly before the food got cold.
Xun Liangfen said, "...It just so happens that Zhi'an is back too. Our family will go to Xunjia Village tomorrow to say goodbye to your maternal grandfather and the others."
Hua Baoguo: "Let's not talk about these things while we're eating. Let's eat first, or it'll get cold."
Xun Liangfen, “…”
Hua Zhiping raised an eyebrow and glanced at everyone, then turned his head to take care of Li Lijuan, picking up a piece of meat for her and a piece of tofu for her.
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