"Jian! Today he hauled a few thousand bricks and even hired a lot of people to help him build a house. He pays a dollar a day and includes meals! Why let others do such good work? We have so many people in our own family, weād definitely be more dedicated than the others."
Lv Cuiping listened carefully, and almost dropped what she was holding.
"The third one wants to build a brick house?!"
"Yes, whatās wrong? Big aunt, how could you not know?"
Lv Cuipingās eyes turned red. She truly didnāt know, how could she possibly know!
Her own son wanting to build a house, such a huge matter, and he didnāt even tell his family, but instead went to outsiders for help. Isnāt that putting the Jiang Familyās face on the ground to be stomped on?
Lv Cuiping couldnāt sit still and turned to go into the house, shouting loudly.
"Eldest Xie! Your son has some guts, just divided the family and now has money to build a big brick house! Look at the ungrateful wretch you raised!"
Everyone in the Xie Family came out, including Xie Yumian, who put down her book and came out.
"Whatās going on, Mom?"
"Your third brother! Quite capable! Got his share of the family and instantly has money to build a big brick house! I was wondering why he divided so simply and neatly, turns out heās been secretly saving up a lot of money all these years!"
Xie Yumian was somewhat in disbelief. She knew her third brotherās temperament very well; heās always been the type to bear hardships himself but never shortchange his family. How could he secretly save money behind their motherās back?
And even if he did save, the money he earned over the years was all sent home, how could there still be money saved?
"Mom, donāt make a fuss yet. Letās go over and take a look before we say anything."
"Go? Of course, weāre going! My son wants to build a house and I canāt go?"
The whole family skipped dinner and came mightily around to the back house. As soon as they arrived, they saw the tall stacks of red bricks, and what used to be a house overtaken by weeds was now tidied up completely, looking nothing like its previous barren state.
The couple had temporarily used bricks to make a kang on the side that hadnāt collapsed. It wasnāt cold these days, sleeping inside wasnāt any hardship.
Looking at these thousands of bricks, Lv Cuiping was so angry she couldnāt even speak.
At this time, Xie Jian happened to bring people back from another direction, and Lv Cuiping rushed forward to ask.
"What is this about?! Where did you get the money to build a brick house?!"
A mud-brick house alone costs nearly a hundred, such a big brick house would cost about three to four hundred.
Three to four hundred!
Where did Xie Jian get this money?
The people helping out looked at each other, quietly moved aside to tidy up. Now it was getting dark, they couldnāt do much, but everyone cherished this money-making opportunity, so they proactively came to help clean up first, intending to formally start tomorrow.
Everyone who could come already knew, that Xie Jian had split from the family, and the Xie Family gave him just one broken mud-brick house out of the entire row of houses, and from Lv Cuipingās words, it was clear that he hadnāt been given much money after the division. Now, she came to ask for an explanation.
Xie Jian, however, wasnāt reactive, calmly addressing them as dad and mom.
"Mom, Iāve already separated, I need a place to live."
Lv Cuiping felt a suffocating blockage in her chest these days and pointed at Xie Jianās nose, shouting.
"Iām asking you, where did you get the money to build a house?"
"I earned it myself."
"You, you... you really did hide money from me!"
As she spoke, Lv Cuiping reached out and fiercely slapped Xie Jianās arm, just like when he was a child, whenever he didnāt meet expectations, it would inevitably lead to a beating. When Xie Jian was young,
he wouldnāt cry out in pain,
and now that heās grown he wonāt either, allowing Lv Cuipingās slaps to fall with loud cracks.
Suddenly, a hand stretched out from behind and grabbed Lv Cuipingās wrist, forcefully pushing her back, causing her to stumble a few steps.
It was Jiang Lai, standing beside Xie Jian with an unfriendly look.
"How dare you push me!"
"The third one! Look at your wife daring to lay hands on your mother! Sheās in need of some discipline!"
The two older brothers, seeing their mother stalled, quickly stood in front to back her up.
Facing two tall and well-built men, Jiang Lai wasnāt afraid at all; cupping Xie Jianās battered arm, she put her hand on her hip and cursed directly.
"Are you looking to hit me?! Everyone come and have a look, see how the Xie Family bullies others! After the division, they just gave away a useless broken mud-brick house without a penny, and now they still want to hit people!"
Lv Cuiping was shocked into urgency upon hearing this.
"Rubbish! Have you done anything since you came to the Xie Family? Have we ever mistreated you? Otherwise, would you look like a rich lady like you do now!"
Looking at Jiang Lai again, although thin and weak, she was indeed white and tender from head to toe. Especially her face, it seemed more delicate and fair than the villageās most beautiful, Xie Yumian, resembling not a country person but someone from the city.
Everyone noticed Jiang Laiās transformation. The way she looked when she first married from the Jiang Family was no secret, emaciated like a bundle of firewood, jaundiced face and rough skin, clearly having endured a hard life.
Now, completely transformed!
Seeing this, Lv Cuiping was also annoyed. Looking closely, Jiang Lai was even more radiant than her daughter. How could a country woman measure up!?
"I turned out this way all because my man is capable. He cares for me, doesnāt make me work, and takes care of everything himself. What does that have to do with you! Iām telling you, ever since the family split, I call the shots in this house. Xie Jian is my man, and no one else will lay a finger on him!"
"Iām his mother! Heās the flesh that fell from my body; I can hit or scold him, none of your business!"
Jiang Lai showed no signs of weakness.
"I couldnāt control what kind of life he lived before, but from now on, Xie Jian is not your old workhorse, and Iāll risk my life to protect him from any discourtesy!"
"You, you, are you trying to rebel?!"
Lv Cuiping was evidently so furious her mind was not normal.
Jiang Lai continued to push.
"Nowadays, the people run the show. Whatās rebellion? Against whom? Do you still think the Xie Family is an emperor or old landlord? Talking about rebellion ā I think you need a better grasp of ideology, maybe you still need some re-education!"
Those dark times have passed.
However, "re-education" had long been ingrained into peopleās minds, causing shivers at the mere mention.
Lv Cuiping turned pale, glaring at Jiang Lai, finally looking at Xie Jian.
"The third one, youāre just going to stand there watching your wife scold your mother?"
Xie Jian finally spoke up, standing in front of Jiang Lai.
"Mom, youāll always be my mom, but Jiang Lai is my wife. Weāve already separated, and from now on, Jiang Lai has the final say in our house."
These words nearly made Lv Cuiping faint with anger, pointing at Xie Jianās nose, unable to speak.
Xie Yumian looked at Xie Jian with red eyes, full of disappointment.
"Third brother, if you canāt see who truly cares for you, youād better not regret it later!"
Jiang Lai peeked her head out from behind Xie Jian.
"Regret what? Regret not being able to serve as your beast of burden anymore? Come off it, pfft!"