During dinner, Third Brother and his wife indeed did not show up. The remaining four people sitting together felt much more relaxed. Li Xiangqin looked at Fifth Child and Lao Liu and spoke directly.
“Although it’s summer vacation, don’t let your studies slip. If your grades drop when school starts, watch out for my slipper sole. Especially Lao Liu, you’ll be taking the entrance exam for Senior High School next year. If you don't get in, I’ll send you straight to the countryside for re-education.”
“Mom, I know.” Lao Liu nodded, surprisingly not arguing back.
This made Li Xiangqin deliberately glance at him. “I’m warning you, don’t cause trouble for Old Mother, or I’ll slap your ears.”
Lao Liu stared at Li Xiangqin with his still-developing face, his eyes showing struggle.
“...Mom, next time you hit someone, can you not hit the face?”
“What, are you feeling wronged on their behalf?” Li Xiangqin was surprised. She hadn't realized this boy was so intimate with his elder brothers.
“Cough~, no, it’s just a bit embarrassing. We’re grown-ups now, still getting slapped, it’s humiliating.”
“Hmph~, if you dare to scheme, don't blame Old Mother for being impolite. It’s already giving them Face that I didn't drag you out to the courtyard for public display.
This includes you all. If you dare to do anything out of line, watch out, I’ll go in front of the entire school faculty and students and make you lose Face.”
Li Xiangqin snorted. Eldest Child was a university student, especially concerned about Face. Even if he was made to sign an unequal treaty, he would grit his teeth and endure it.
Although Second Brother had no shame, Wang Yulan had a strong sense of Arrogant pride. Especially in front of poor people like them, she considered herself superior and absolutely disdained lowering herself.
As for Third Brother and his wife, one was brainless and the other was a green tea; they canceled each other out and were not worth fearing.
The remaining few hadn't fully matured yet, so they were easily managed.
Xiao Lao Liu: “……”
Fine, he wouldn't say anything more.
They had to wake up early tomorrow, so after the meal, Li Xiangqin told them to rest early.
While half-asleep, Li Xiangqin heard rustling sounds. Thinking it was Third Brother and his wife, she ignored it, turned over, and continued sleeping.
“Shh~, be quieter, don’t wake Mom up, or we’ll get scolded again.”
“Give me more Noodles... Your mother is something else. She knew we were coming back but didn't make extra food, so I didn't get full.”
“Are you a pig? Two Steamed Buns per meal aren't enough? My brothers only eat one each time.”
Zhao Meijuan shot him a look. No wonder Mother-in-law always called him a brainless glutton who had no awareness. When he reached for the second Steamed Bun, Mom was already unhappy, yet he just kept grinning foolishly.
Moreover, they only brought a pound of apples when they visited today, and Elder brother's wife even found it meager.
“Third Brother and Sister-in-law, didn't you go to your maternal home?”
Xiao Wu rubbed her eyes, standing at the Kitchen door, looking at the two sneaking around, and asked curiously.
The two were startled by Xiao Wu. Seeing her look like she hadn't woken up properly, Third Brother shushed her.
“What are you doing wandering around late at night? Hurry back to sleep.”
Zhao Meijuan’s face tightened, and she lowered her eyes without speaking. Watching Xiao Wu turn and leave, she reached out and pinched Third Brother’s arm.
“I told you to endure it, but you wouldn't listen. Now look, Mom is definitely going to scold me later.”
“It’s fine, Mom always knows I eat a lot. Besides, I can’t sleep on an empty stomach.” Third Brother smiled apologetically, standing aside waiting for the pot to boil.
The next day, Li Xiangqin got up, washed up, and Fourth Child was already busy in the Kitchen.
It had to be said, Fourth Child was truly the most diligent child in the family.
“Mom, just wash your face and you can eat.”
Breakfast was pumpkin porridge, a Basket of freshly made Steamed Buns, a small dish of Pickles and Radish strips, and a small dish of homemade Tofu curd.
After Li Xiangqin washed up and took a sip of water to moisten her throat, she saw Third Brother plop down onto a stool, grab a Steamed Bun, and bite off half of it in one go. This made Li Xiangqin frown deeply.
“Are you looking for a beating this early in the morning? Are you a hungry ghost reincarnated?”
“Mom, Third Brother was secretly eating in the Kitchen last night too,” Fifth Child said, poking her head out from the Bathroom while brushing her teeth.
Third Brother, with a mouth full of Steamed Bun, couldn't argue back, so he could only raise the Steamed Bun and let out a muffled roar toward Fifth Child.
Fifth Child spat out her mouthwash and made a face at him. “Coming back hungry after visiting Relatives, how embarrassing.”
Li Xiangqin glanced at the couple. Zhao Meijuan had an expression as if she had been insulted. With a little thought, she understood what was happening.
Given the Zhao Family’s Nature, they always prepared just barely enough food. It would be strange if Third Brother, such a glutton, was full.
However, this was their business, and she wasn't going to get involved. She wasn't the one going hungry.
“Stop the nonsense and eat quickly.”
Li Xiangqin gave the order, and the bickering ended.
This, however, surprised Zhao Meijuan a bit. She secretly glanced at her Mother-in-law.
That Old hag actually didn't use this as an opportunity to lecture—how strange.
Li Xiangqin finished her meal in a few bites and went straight back to her room to put the prepared documents into her Cloth Bag. When she came out, Fourth Child had also changed into new clothes and was Pushing a Bicycle out the door.
Only after the two of them left did Zhao Meijuan speak sourly.
“Mom is so good to Fourth Sister, giving her a Bicycle and new clothes. Even you, her Son, can’t compare.”
Before Third Brother could speak, Fifth Child gave her a smug look. “My Mom just dotes on us. You can ask your mom to dote on you too; no one is stopping you.”
Zhao Meijuan choked, and the half Steamed Bun in her hand was crushed flat.
“I envy Fourth Sister. Doesn't Fifth Sister envy her? That’s Dacron, five yuan per foot at the Department Store!”
“I have one too. What’s there to envy?”
Xiao Wu tilted her head back and shot her a smug look, which almost made Zhao Meijuan Sharp-tongued.
“Alright, Xiao Wu, are you asking for a beating?” Third Brother glared at her, then turned to his Wife with a fawning smile. “I’ll earn money later and buy you one too.”
“Hmph~, relying on you, I might as well give up on that in this lifetime.” He only earned twenty-one yuan a month, and Mother-in-law took fifteen of it. Buy one, my foot.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Zhao Meijuan slammed the Steamed Bun onto the table, turned, and went back to her room to sulk.
Third Brother turned and glared at Fifth Child. “Are you satisfied now?”
“You’re blaming me?” Fifth Child rolled her eyes, got up, went back to her room, changed into new clothes, and went out to find her friends.
“Hey, Xiao Wu, I have to go to work. Can you wash the dishes?”
“Why should I? Why don’t you ask your Wife to wash them?” Xiao Wu bared her teeth at him, turned, and left without any Reluctance to leave.
Third Brother turned to look at Lao Liu. Before he could speak, little Lao Liu tilted his head back and gulped down the last bit of soup, wiping his mouth.
“Mom told me to study hard, or she’ll slap my ears.”
Third Brother: “……”
Looking at the empty living room, Third Brother felt helpless. By the time he reluctantly finished washing the dishes and left for work, he was almost late and was even seen by the Team Leader clocking in right on time.
Li Xiangqin rode her Bicycle, taking her Daughter, all the way to the Machinery Factory gate. Holding her Old Man's entry and exit pass, she went directly through the Factory gate.
“Mom, I’m a bit nervous.”
“Don’t be afraid. Given your Dad’s Friendship with the Factory Director, he will definitely arrange things properly for you.”
Friendship, that kind of thing, fades when people leave. This is the last time.