Liu Meiling turned toward the sound and immediately saw a table not far off.
Li Baoqing, Li Baoguo, Li Mingliang, and Qin Xiangru were gathered around it, leftovers of braised pork on the table.
From a distance, it looked almost like a family meal.
Seeing her glance over, Li Baoqing slammed her chopsticks onto the table in displeasure, sitting back as she usually did, expecting Liu Meiling to placate her.
But Liu Meiling ignored her.
She added another portion of braised pork, set it on the table, and gave a piece each to Qian Feng and Qian Mianmian: “Eat quickly!”
“Mom! I’m talking to you! My dad just came out of the hospital; a little food to recuperate is fine, but you’re not sick! One meal at a state-run restaurant is expensive.
Even though my brother’s bride price isn’t your concern now, you can’t be so wasteful!
This is exactly when the family needs to save money—can’t you be frugal?
Eating by yourself is one thing, but now you’re dragging these two bastards along too!”
Li Baoqing, seeing Liu Meiling ignore her, flushed with embarrassment and anger. She rushed to the table and yanked on Qian Mianmian’s shirt, toppling bowls, chopsticks, and people onto the floor.
Liu Meiling’s anger flared. She slapped Li Baoqing across the face, her voice cold and firm:
“Had enough?
Just because you can come out and eat, I don’t deserve a meal at a state-run restaurant?
I earn a little over fifty yuan a month. Even if I ate here every day, I could support myself.
What good is it if the family has no money and I’m forced to scrimp while your father does nothing?
I raised you five siblings alone—don’t I deserve a decent meal?
After ten-plus years of hard work, I want a break. So what?
Mind your own business!
Knowing the family is poor, you don’t work part-time, you flirt with a son of a latrine worker, earning money for someone else and not giving a penny to your own mother.
Didn’t you get beaten yesterday? Should I remind you again?”
It was mealtime; the restaurant was crowded. The way Li Baoqing had acted against her mother earlier, now in public, she looked utterly humiliated.
Caught hitting her in front of everyone, Li Baoqing felt her dignity completely shattered. Covering her face, eyes brimming with tears, she said:
“You actually hit me over these bastards!
I came here because you weren’t cooking, and Aunt Qin couldn’t bear it, so she brought me, my brother, and dad for a meal.
If you’d cooked earlier, would I have gone hungry all day?”
In her mind, 0928 urged: “Host, hit her!”
Liu Meiling did not disappoint. Another slap landed on Li Baoqing’s face:
“Go ask around—what family has a grown daughter who can’t cook?
Shame on you!
Everything has to be done by your mother—aren’t you worried about exhausting her?
Do I owe you?
Do I deserve to serve your whole family every day?
What, your legs broken, arms broken, the whole family disabled?
If I’d known you’d turn out like this, I should’ve crushed you at birth.
Ears not deaf? Listen carefully—I’m telling you again.
You’re already eighteen.
My duty to you is done.
I won’t be responsible for your life anymore, and you don’t get to boss me around!
I raised you for over a decade—let your father handle you from now on!”
Qian Mianmian had picked up the fallen bowls and chopsticks, carefully retrieving spilled rice and stuffing it into her mouth one grain at a time.
Qian Feng helped her, tears filling her young eyes. She blamed herself for causing trouble for her aunt.
He patted her head, making sure every grain of rice was eaten.
Li Baoguo cleaned up the braised pork sauce with a bun, sat back, and belched.
This time, he didn’t get involved. His mother’s scolding of him wasn’t like Li Baoqing—just two slaps.
Liu Meiling glanced at Qin Xiangru from the corner of her eye. She could no longer remain seated.
Li Mingliang scowled as usual: “Meiling, this isn’t how you teach children. Baoqing is just a young girl. What’s wrong with a little back-and-forth? As her mother, how can you humiliate her in front of everyone?”
Liu Meiling just wanted a peaceful meal.
Suppressing her anger, she shoveled a few mouthfuls of rice, chewing the braised pork into tiny pieces and swallowing in three bites.
Li Mingliang’s face darkened. Previously, he could scold Liu Meiling and she would brush it off; now she ignored him.
Feeling his authority challenged, his anger flared.
“Liu Meiling! I’m talking to you!”
Qin Xiangru didn’t intervene, just anxiously checked on Li Baoqing, pulling at her cheeks. Finally, she lost patience and grabbed Qian Mianmian and Qian Feng by the ears:
“You two little brats, go back! You made Baoqing unhappy. Kneel and apologize!”
In no time, Liu Meiling finished a bowl of rice. Unable to contain her anger any longer, she grabbed her lunch box, dumped in the braised pork, and lifted the plate.
“You talk too much, babble too much! Your mouth stinks like you ate dung—worse than the septic tank two kilometers from my second uncle’s house!
And you call yourself a good father? Ten-plus years, five kids—have you cared for even one?
All you do is nag!
To hell with you!”
The plate was sturdy. Li Mingliang, hit, was dizzy but unbroken, only looking extremely embarrassed.
Dizzy and unsteady, he squinted to see, and another plate came at him—he collapsed completely.
He never expected Liu Meiling to strike in public!
Qin Xiangru froze, forcing a smile: “Sister-in-law, it’s these two kids being naughty…”
Liu Meiling raised her hand to stop her. She wanted to slap Qin Xiangru too.
Apparently, Qin Xiangru had treated her children just as badly in secret: underfed, scolded, and robbed of dignity.
She recalled the day the children were taken to the hospital—skinny to the bone, full of old scars everywhere except their faces.
Liu Meiling’s blood boiled, but she restrained herself—this wasn’t the time.
“These two kids are better behaved than you. I hear this meal was your treat?
How kind of you, ignoring your own dying child, to treat someone else’s man and kids to dinner!”
At once, diners in the state-run restaurant paused mid-bite.
“Oh-ho~ There’s a big scandal!”
“Mom, we just happened to see the kids starving. I’ve already troubled you at home, so I thought I’d bring them over for a meal…”
Qin Xiangru paused, glaring at Qian Feng and Qian Mianmian with malice:
“Sister-in-law, you don’t understand. These two kids are really unruly. If they hadn’t burned our house, I wouldn’t even be staying at your place.Their dad died in the fire—I’m scared I’ll meet the same fate someday.”
Liu Meiling clenched her fists.
Abuse the children, sure—but to sully their names too?
How much did Qin Xiangru hate her?
“Really? I think the kids are very well-behaved. Since you’re here to repay us for taking you in, might as well treat us for the week too—two yuan fifty in total!”