"Ridiculous, how can our family be landlords?" Mr. Su became unhappy, "Our family is clearly a lineage of poor peasants, eight generations deep. When I was a child, I was so hungry I ate tree bark and grass roots, and when I wasnât studying, I had to go begging."
"Can you still afford school after eating tree bark and grass roots?" Sheng An wasnât questioning; it was pure curiosity. Their family didnât have money; she had to drop out of school herself. Her sister, despite being stubborn, naive, and easily deceived, did well in her studies.
If it werenât for the lack of money, perhaps their family could have had a college student.
"Uh... this... this!" Old Su was embarrassed by a naive little girl and felt he was losing face. He hastily changed the subject, "Oh? Why hasnât your sister come back yet? Didnât she say she would come back early?"
He was looking forward to it day and night, hoping to see Ningning come back to visit for three days!
"What time is it now? Itâs not even nine." Sheng An said indifferently.
"What time is it? Shouldnât she be back by seven?" Mr. Su, who slept little, woke up at five in the morning and couldnât go back to sleep, got up early to wait for his granddaughter to come home.
"..." Well! His granddaughterâs grandfather was too formidable; she couldnât argue with that.
Sheng Ning and Xu Qigang had just come back when they heard the conversation between the old man and the young girl, and she couldnât help but smile. Such a grandfather, she couldnât help but adore.
"Weâre back!" she called out softly.
Mr. Su, upon hearing this, was overjoyed.
Sheng An immediately dropped the corn she was holding and jumped up to greet, "Sis, youâre finally back..."
Feeling neglected, Xu Qigang stepped aside helplessly.
"Shouldnât the son-in-law be the most popular during the three-day visit? Why do I feel like youâre kind of in the way?" Qin Yue teased, only to receive a glare from Anâan.
"You wouldnât be mistaken for a mute if you didnât talk!"
"Little Anâan, do you know you canât talk to me like that?" Qin Yue played the fool.
Luhua, who was busy in the courtyard, heard the voices and hurriedly came out. Her eyes first went to Xu Qigang, and she said with a beaming smile, "Qigang is here? Hurry inside and sit down. Come on Anâan, help your brother-in-law with the things! Donât let your brother-in-law get tired."
Luhua was like any mother-in-law inspecting her son-in-law, the more she looked, the more she was pleased. The well-being of her daughter in her in-lawsâ house largely depended on the son-in-law, and during these three-day visits, shouldnât she treat her son-in-law well!
"Yes, yes, have you guys eaten yet?" Sheng Laosan, not as mobile, was the last to come out but seemed even happier than Luhua.
"Mom, Iâm not tired." Xu Qigang was too embarrassed to let his little sister-in-law help him with the things, so he quickly went inside to put down the belongings.
"Come have a seat, perfect time for us two to have a chat."
The married couple were welcomed in and split into two camps. Luhua and Sheng Laosan focused on Xu Qigang, Mr. Su and Sheng An on Sheng Ning, leaving only Qin Yue feeling left out.
Qin Yue, "..." So Iâm the unpopular one here. No, he had to act quickly and win over his little wife, or he would have even less status in the future.
"Come here, this is still the changing-mouth fee." Luhua took out a red envelope and handed it to Xu Qigang. Knowing the rural tradition of a mother-in-law giving something to her son-in-law on his first visit, Xu Qigang respectfully accepted it.
"Thank you, Mom!"
"This child, still being so polite with me." Luhuaâs smile was brilliant, even making Sheng An jealous.
Old Su pulled Sheng Ning in front of him, took out a red envelope from his pocket, and shakily handed it to Sheng Ning. "Here Ningning, this is from your grandfather."