"Candied hawthorn? What's that? Even Great-Grandma has never heard of it." Madam Niu washed her handkerchief and wanted to wipe An'an's hands, but An'an put her hands behind her back, stomped her feet, and started to act spoiled.
"No, no, I want to eat candied hawthorn!"
Having been pampered by Niu Shi for many years, An'an has become the little tyrant of the family. Whenever things don't go her way, she cries and throws a tantrum, and refuses to walk.
When Niu saw An'an start crying again, she felt very sorry for her and began to complain to her family.
"What kind of candied hawthorn is An'an asking for? Are you all dead? You're just standing there staring!"
"Grandma, we don't know what candied hawthorn is either," Su Nian'er said in the most obedient tone, then turned her head and rolled her eyes.
As An'an's biological father, Su Tianchen put on a stern face, wanting to scold An'an and make him obey. However, when An'an saw Su Tianchen's fierce look, he immediately sat down on the ground and started howling with his mouth wide open.
"Father is scolding me! Father is scolding me! I don't want to live anymore!"
Niu hurriedly took a few steps forward and hit Su Tianchen a few times, saying to An'an as she hit him, "Great-Grandma hit Daddy, Great-Grandma hurt Daddy."
Just as they were getting into a commotion, someone suddenly came into the yard.
Feng Yueniang was closest to the door, so she opened it and went out to see what was happening. It turned out to be Granny Sun from the same village, who was with her little grandson.
"Oh, Su Er's wife," Granny Sun greeted Feng Yueniang immediately upon seeing her. "My little grandson said you have candied hawthorns and he keeps asking for some, so I brought him to see if you still have any."
"Candied hawthorns?" Feng Yueniang was completely confused. "Who told you my family sells that?"
"Some people in the village said they saw your eldest daughter selling these in the city. They were selling very well; people were scrambling to buy them!"
The people inside the room heard it too, and they all looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Didn't your eldest daughter send you anything?" Granny Sun asked, deliberately bringing up a sore spot.
After asking Granny Sun a few more questions, Feng Yueniang finally understood.
It was when someone from the village went to the city on business that they saw Su Yun'er selling candied hawthorns and candied balls. They heard that the candied hawthorns were delicious, so they bought one and shared it with their children.
The child loved it so much that he told the other children in the village, and they all became incredibly envious.
It seems that Grandma Sun's grandson and An'an both came home to ask for candied hawthorns after hearing this.
Feng Yueniang looked embarrassed and said, "My family doesn't have that kind of thing. You should leave now."
"Don't be so stingy. If you have any, please share one with us," Grandma Sun persisted.
"I already said there's none left, why are you still lingering? Hurry up and go!"
The sound of Su Erhe's gruff voice came from inside the house; he sounded extremely angry.
Grandma Sun pursed her lips, muttered something under her breath, and led her grandson away.
After learning the whole story behind the candied hawthorn, the Su family fell silent.
An'an glanced at the adults' expressions, including Niu Shi's, and noticed that everyone looked unhappy, so she quietly shut her mouth and dared not make any more trouble.
"What's going on? Second brother, do you know?" Niu asked Su Erhe and Feng Yueniang.
Both of them shook their heads: "We haven't seen her since the last time she came to cause trouble."
"Tianchen, you saw her in Daliushu Village last time, do you know about this?" Niu asked again.
Su Tianchen also shook his head. Last time, not only did he fail to get in the door, he almost got beaten up. How would he know these things?
"That brat's got some nerve now. She's forgotten we raised her, and instead of repaying our kindness, she comes to our house to cause trouble and steal things. Now that she's getting some benefits, she doesn't even think about our family anymore." As she spoke, Madam Niu glared at Su Erhe and his wife. "This is the child you raised! Look what a thankless wretch you've become!"
“Mother, last time Yun’er came back to borrow money, it was my eldest nephew who gave it to her. Yun’er must be angry about it,” Feng Yueniang said timidly.
Before Su Tianchen could speak up for her, Madam Niu spoke first.
"Shut up!" Madam Niu snapped. "What's there for her to be upset about? This is her family home. Isn't it normal for family members to have little squabbles? And she's getting angry over this? This petty temper of hers is all thanks to you spoiling her!"
Feng Yueniang and Su Erhe lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound after being scolded.
Su Dashan and the others dared not speak, fearing that this nameless anger would burn them.
After a pause, Niu continued.
"Judging from her appearance, she must have made a lot of money selling those candied hawthorns and candied balls."
"Probably," Feng Yueniang replied casually.
“She married out of our Su family, so the money she earns should also be a share of the Su family’s money. Second son, find some time to go and ask her for some money.”
“How can we accept this? Didn’t she already tell Tianchen that she’s not a member of the Su family?” Su Erhe frowned.
"What she says is her business. If her family is in trouble, she has to help; it's her responsibility."
Niu's last words were delivered in a tone that left no room for argument, and no one dared to say anything more.
The meal ended in silence.
After the meal, Wang Yue'e, as the granddaughter-in-law, naturally had to clean up all the dishes and the kitchen. Su Tianchen, feeling sorry for his wife, accompanied her.
Knowing that no one around could hear them, Wang Yue'e lowered her voice and complained to her husband.
"Your grandma is a real devil. Last time she made you kick your sister out, and this time she forced your uncle and aunt to ask your sister for money. How could she be like this..."
She still didn't dare to say the words "shameless".
Su Tianchen sneered: "Grandma has been like this since I can remember. Last time she went to Su Yun'er to ask for something back, she didn't get it back and scolded me. Just watch, Uncle and Aunt will get scolded too."
“That’s right, your sister has changed. I’ve seen her, and she won’t be good to her family anymore.” Wang Yue’e recalled the time she met Su Yun’er. She was no longer timid and submissive, and there was a different light in her eyes. She looked different just standing there.
“Tianchen, last time I came back, I advised you not to listen to your grandma and not to go against your sister. I said that your sister would be the one whose life gets better and better in the future. Look at our An'an, how spoiled she is by your grandma now. I try to discipline her, but I get scolded every time. I don’t want to stay in this house for another day.” Wang Yue’e said in a low voice, expressing her thoughts.
Su Tianchen also sighed: "Even if you don't say it, I can feel it. Every time An'an causes trouble and I want to discipline him, Grandma hits me. How can anyone discipline him like that?"
“If we continue to spoil him, this child will be ruined. Besides, he’s about to start his formal education, and the little money we’ve been secretly saving won’t be enough for his tuition. We might have to ask your sister for help,” Wang Yue’e said.
"Hmph, you're dreaming. We didn't help Grandma and the others when they bullied Su Yun'er before, but now you want her to help us?" Su Tianchen poured cold water on his wife's hopes.
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