Chapter 1309: Chapter 1281: Slapping the Reborn Stallion Man 44
On the afternoon of the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, a fine snow began to fall from the sky. In less than an hour, the entire Yangjiazhuang was covered in a blanket of white. The roofs, the branches, the roads, and even the distant mountains were blanketed with snow.
The entire village stood silent and still.
The people in the village were busy at home preparing New Yearâs food, or just enjoying good food and drinks while resting. In the freezing weather, no one wanted to come out and face the cold.
At the Xiao Family, He Fangfang was busy in the kitchen with Xiao Qin and Xiao Xiu.
The kitchen of the Xiao Family was just a mud-brick house with a stove inside and a cabinet made from old wooden boards.
The cabinet for holding bowls and chopsticks was made from old wooden boards that Xiao Yuan had scavenged, polished, painted, and nailed together.
For the past twenty years or even longer, the Xiao Family didnât even have a cabinet for bowls and chopsticks. After meals, they would just toss the bowl and chopsticks wherever or stack them on the stove. Naturally, when it was time to eat again, they were dirty. The Xiao Family was also lazy; if it was dirty, so be it. It didnât stop them from eating. A little dirt didnât matter.
The phrase they often repeated was: "A little dirt doesnât make you sick."
When Xiao Yuan came, he couldnât stand it. So when he had time while herding sheep, he picked up wooden boards and with some effort, made a cabinet that could store kitchen utensils as well as bowls and chopsticks.
He Fangfang was frying meatballs, looking quite unhappy, her face full of frustration.
Xiao Qin was helping on the side: "Mom, donât think too much. Actually, in my opinion, itâs better that they moved out. This way, you donât have to cook for them every day, and you wonât have to serve them. Itâs all bad with no good."
Xiao Xiu also said: "Exactly. Even if they earn money, they donât hand it over to you. Can you force them? They donât give you money but still eat and drink at home. During celebrations and festivals, you still have to find ways to make clothes for the new daughter-in-law. Isnât that just adding a burden to the family? Itâs better to split up the family early and cleanly."
He Fangfang understood this reasoning too, but she just couldnât get over it in her heart.
Xiao Qun was sitting in the room smoking. He was puffing on his cigarette, exhaling smoke rings one after another, making the room rather choking.
Xiao Yuan sat a bit farther away and spoke to Xiao Qun in a low voice: "Dad, after the New Year, I wonât be able to stay long. I want to take Xiao Bai with me."
"Alright."
Xiao Qun didnât really want such a young child, Xiao Bai, to go out and work. He just thought if Xiao Bai went out to work too, thereâd be another income for the family: "When youâre outside, take care of your brother."
"Okay."
Xiao Yuan nodded: "Dad, donât worry. When I get to the Capital, Iâll find more work. Besides doing odd jobs, I can wait tables, wash dishes. Working two jobs, I can always earn more money. Once I earn money, Iâll send more home. You and Mom take good care of your health. With the money from Qinzi and me, the family can still get by. Plus, without taking care of my brother and Xiao Liâs families, itâs actually less of a burden than before."
Hearing these words, a smile finally appeared on Xiao Qunâs face: "Alright, then, find lots of work. Whatever makes money, do it. Donât be afraid of hardship or fatigue. When youâre young, if you donât strive, then when will you?"
Just then, Xiao Qin brought in food. As soon as she entered, she heard those words, and it felt like there was a thorn in her heart.
She knew their father saw the second son as gentle and easy-going, so he was squeezing Xiao Yuan for all the money he could get, hoping he wouldnât have to work but could still build houses and marry wives for the other sons.
But he didnât consider how hard it is to earn money. He even said let Xiao Yuan take more jobs, without a single worry about whether his son would be exhausted or sick, only thinking about money, thinking only of himself.
Thinking of the life theyâd lived from childhood to now, Xiao Qin couldnât help but feel overcome with sorrow.
If only Xiao Qun and He Fangfang were more diligent, worked harder, the seven siblings wouldnât have been unable to go to school. Her second brother was so smart, buying books and self-studying in the Capital, learning drafting, mathematics, and even studying foreign languages now to expand his business. If only the family had sent the second brother to school sooner, maybe he would be like Anning, also a top scorer in the college entrance exam. Even if not the top scorer, he could have gotten into a good university for sure.
With these thoughts, Xiao Qin didnât look at her father kindly and left after putting the meal down.
"That damned girl."
Xiao Qun cursed, and seeing there was meat on the table, he didnât wait for anyone else. He picked up the chopsticks and started eating.
He had just taken a couple of bites when a figure rushed over. Looking up, he saw it was the mute coming.
The mute entered, smelling the meat, and immediately sat down, grabbing chopsticks to pick out the meat to eat.
Xiao Hei sat next to the mute, using his chopsticks to pick out meat for the mute: "Lili, eat more."
At this time, Xiao Li also entered the room.
He brought in Li Huihui, and as soon as he saw the eldest serving meat to the mute, he quickly seated Li Huihui down, picked out several pieces of meat, and fed them to Li Huihui: "Huihui, hurry and eat. If itâs not enough, Iâll get more from the kitchen. Eat more, see how thin you are."
Xiao Qun watched as his two sons and two daughters-in-law picked out the best things on the table to eat. No one suggested letting others eat first, nor did they say to wait for the people cooking in the kitchen to come join them. This made him so angry his hands were shaking.
Xiao Yuan watched from the side at the four of them eating greedily and couldnât help but frown.
He got up and went into the kitchen.
Seeing Xiao Yuan coming in, He Fangfang quickly handed him some fried meatballs: "Eat quickly, if you donât, you wonât get any later."
Xiao Yuan couldnât eat much, but since He Fangfang shoved them into his mouth, he had no choice but to eat them.
After eating the meatballs, Xiao Yuan spoke to He Fangfang: "Mom, after the New Year, ask Dad to clear out our homestead. Once spring arrives, Iâll find a way to send some money back. Build two rooms for Eldest and Xiao Liâs families and split them off sooner."
"Alright."
He Fangfang knew what Xiao Yuan was concerned about and agreed: "Iâll handle it. If your dad doesnât agree, I wonât let it go. Which daughter-in-law just thinks about lazing around and eating without doing any work? Iâm a mother-in-law busy in the kitchen all morning, while those two wake up late and only look for food without helping at all."
The more He Fangfang talked, the angrier and more sorrowful she became: "They say raise sons for old age security. But looking at it, I canât count on my sons. Iâm afraid your dad and I will be driven out by you siblings before weâre too old to move."
Xiao Yuan said sternly: "What are you saying? Even if they wonât take care, I wonât just stand by. Donât worry, as long as I have a bite to eat, you wonât starve."
He Fangfang lowered her head and wiped away a tear: "Second son, donât listen to whatever your dad says. Things are hard for you out there. When you earn money, eat better yourself. Donât ruin your health. Everything is fleeting; health is the only real thing. If you ruin your health, youâll be the one to suffer."
Xiao Yuan agreed: "I know. Iâm going out for a walk."
When Xiao Yuan left, he walked to in front of the Yang Familyâs gate.
He saw smoke wafting up from the kitchen roof at Anningâs house. After standing for a moment, he went further on.
When Xiao Yuan reached the village entrance, Anning caught up with him.
"Here."
Anning took out a hot steamed bun from her arms and handed it to Xiao Yuan: "Hurry, eat while itâs hot."
Seeing Anningâs bright smile, Xiao Yuan smiled too: "Is it freshly steamed?"
"Yes."
Anning handed the steamed bun to Xiao Yuan with a smile: "Itâs my handiwork. I know you crave this. I planned to have Xiao Qin take it home for you, but I didnât expect you to be out. Since no oneâs around now, hurry and eat."
Xiao Yuan took a bite of the steamed bun, tasting the slightly sour flavor of fermented dough and the soft sweetness of red beans mixed with sweet potato and dates.
"Delicious."
He smiled and took another bite: "Iâve longed for this taste so much, Iâll never forget it in a lifetime."
"If you like it, Iâll make more for you next time." Anning took out a small cloth bag from her arms, filled with fragrant stir-fried walnuts: "Here, take this to enjoy as a snack."