The few people pursed their lips, their gazes falling on the Fifth Child and Sixth Child who were burying their heads in their food. Ask them to take care of these two ancestors?
They still have a whole family to support; where would they get the spare money?
Li Xiangqin’s gaze swept over the Eldest Child, Second Brother, and Third Brother. Seeing their furrowed brows, she snorted coldly,
“What’s wrong? You older ones benefited from your parents’ support and got a head start. Now that your parents are aged, you won’t support your brothers anymore?”
Having their words exposed by Mom, the few looked sheepish. “Mom, how could that be.”
“Just looking at you shrinking your necks annoys me. If I had known, Old Mother should have focused her energy on her Job instead; it would have been better than wasting it on you lot.
Rest assured, as long as I can still work, I won’t burden you. I’ve thought it over; I will Return to Work in a few days. Lei Zi and Xiaxia are grown now. Whether you send them to the nursery or take care of them yourselves, you two can discuss it.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the few looked up in surprise, especially the Eldest Son and his Wife, who immediately spoke up in protest without thinking.
“Mom, how can this be? You’ve always taken care of the children; our Jobs can’t be delayed at all?”
The thought of having no one to watch the children made Zhang Yanli anxious. Their Factory was about to start skills assessments, and if it was delayed because of the children, it would affect her promotion.
“You can’t afford to be delayed, so I should be delayed?”
Li Xiangqin Looking at her, her eyes were cold. There was no need to be polite to selfish people.
“The children are yours and your husband’s; you throw them to me instead of raising them—do I owe you? I raised six children; why can’t I handle two?”
“Mom, that’s not the same…”
Before she could finish speaking, Li Xiangqin interrupted her,
“It is indeed different. The conditions now are much better than when I was young. Today, I am notifying you; I am not consulting with you.”
Zhang Yanli was choked speechless and turned to look at Zhang Jianguo,
“Our Factory has already issued a notice that all quality inspectors must undergo unified training. The skills assessment is in three months; I truly don’t have time to watch the children.”
Zhang Jianguo frowned Looking at Mom, feeling irritated.
“Mom, this sudden announcement has caught us completely off guard.”
“That’s because you’ve gotten used to being a Hands-off Manager.”
Li Xiangqin looked at the Eldest Son and his Wife, her expression calm,
“Don’t bargain with me. Once the Fourth Child’s Job arrangement is settled, I will return to the Factory to work. This matter is non-negotiable.”
“Mom, aren’t you making things difficult for your son?”
Zhang Jianguo irritably put down his chopsticks,
“I have to write manuscripts every day, and Yanli also needs to attend the training. This relates to our future promotion prospects. You are our Mom, the children’s Grandmother; isn’t it proper for you to lend us a hand?”
“There are many things that are proper. Your Old Man and I raised you all to adulthood and helped you marry and have children; shouldn’t you be filial?
I take leave and sacrifice my Job and promotion opportunities to watch the children; shouldn’t you show some appreciation? Also, each of you eats here every day with your faces held high; shouldn’t you Pay Food Expenses?”
After Li Xiangqin retorted, her eyes instantly lit up.
That’s right; if they want to eat at her place, they must pay Food Expenses.
Everyone: “……”
It seemed they needed to keep a distance from Mom recently; her firepower was too strong; they couldn't withstand it at all.
“Starting this month, anyone who wants to eat at home must pay Food Expenses per person. If you don’t pay, you don’t eat.”
While the others were stunned, Li Xiangqin looked directly at the Eldest Child,
“Of course, this is voluntary; no forcing. If you don’t want to pay, eat at your own home.”
Having said that, she ignored the stunned crowd and picked up her chopsticks to continue eating.
To argue when she wanted to argue, not bottling it up or enduring it—it was indeed Comfortable. She felt like she could eat half a steamed bun more.
Upon hearing about paying Food Expenses, the food on the table suddenly didn't seem appealing to the few of them.
Today was truly strange; not only were they tired all day, but they were also scolded all day. What on earth was going on?
Li Xiangqin, Full and satisfied, got up and returned to her room.
Zhang Yanli urged her Son and Daughter to finish eating, then hastily stuffed a few bites into her own mouth. Seeing her Mother-in-law return to her room, her Complexion immediately darkened.
Usually, the Mother-in-law cooked meals for the Son and Daughter; now, she had carelessly thrown the responsibility onto her—it must have been Deliberately done.
“Zhang Jianguo, can’t you say something?”
Zhang Jianguo was also Helpless. Mom was too fierce today, impenetrable, leaving him momentarily bewildered.
“Forget it, you take care of them for now. We’ll talk after Mom calms down these few days.”
“It’s easy for you to say; I’m busy too…”
Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Wu chuckled, “Eldest Brother and Eldest sister-in-law, Mom just said she’s going to work to earn money later. It’s very easy for you to have Mom help watch the children—you just need to pay money, right?”
“Wanting money to watch your own Grandson? I’ve never seen such an unreasonable Grandmother in the world.”
Zhang Yanli had a belly full of anger. Hearing the gloating tone of her Husband's younger sister, she immediately shot back.
“That’s not how you should put it. Mom helped you raise the children for five or six years; why aren’t you grateful?”
Xiao Wu covered her mouth in surprise, adopting the posture of someone who enjoys watching drama.
“My Son is the Eldest Grandson of the Zhang Family. It is Right and proper for a Grandmother to take care of her Grandson.”
Zhang Yanli looked coldly at her Husband's younger sister, her tone laced with pride. Having borne a son, she was continuing the lineage for the Zhang Family; she was the greatest contributor to the Zhang Family.
“You said it yourself, I am a Grandmother, not a Mother. I helped take care of you, working from dawn till dusk for six years. If you aren't grateful, fine, but now you resent it? Do I owe you?”
Li Xiangqin stood at the inner room doorway, Hands on hips, coldly staring at the Eldest Daughter-in-law until she uncomfortably turned her face away.
“You and the Eldest Child both have the surname Zhang. If you feel Lei Zi is slighted in this family, you can take the children and go to his Maternal Grandmother's Home to be a Grandson. Let’s see if your Maternal home will acknowledge him?”
Zhang Yanli’s face tightened. Her Maternal home had several brothers; the one thing they didn't lack was grandsons.
“Mom, that’s not what I meant. You are a Grandmother watching your Grandson, surrounded by descendants—that is the joy of family life.”
“Fine, but you two will pay for Xiao Wu’s and Xiao Liu’s tuition fees?”
Zhang Yanli: “……”
Isn't this bullying?
“What? You only want to take advantage but not contribute effort?”
Li Xiangqin walked past her and looked at the Eldest Child,
“Are you two planning to rely on me?”
Zhang Jianguo was startled and quickly waved his hand, “Mom, you’re overthinking it. Yanli was just momentarily flustered. We will figure out a way for the children ourselves.”
After saying that, he even glared at Zhang Yanli, “Hurry up and get ready; we’re heading back first.”
Although Zhang Yanli was dissatisfied, she didn't argue. She took her Son and Daughter to wash their hands, and then the family of four hurriedly left.
The Eldest Child had an apartment assigned by the Newspaper Office, a small two-room unit, which was enough for the family of four.
Seeing this situation, the Eldest Son and his Wife also turned and left.
After they got married, they had one Daughter named Lili, who was three years old this year.
Although her In-laws had arranged a Dormitory at the Cannery for their Daughter, the three of them had been living at the Father-in-law’s house, and their Granddaughter was also taken care of by her In-laws. This was the main reason she had tolerated the Eldest Son and his Wife.