Chapter 44

Li Jianguo dragged his son, Li Shengli, into the room. As soon as the door was shut, he scolded him, “You little brat, are you trying to make sure this family never knows peace?”

“How was I supposed to know? Who knew Mom would react that way?”

“You ungrateful brat! That’s two yuan we’re talking about! If she hadn’t reacted, that would’ve been the real surprise. Your father here is out of money today—give me some.”

“What? Dad, you’re asking me for money?”

“You little punk! I feed you, clothe you, and your grandma gives you two yuan in pocket money every month. Meanwhile, I work my ass off, making barely 20 yuan a month, and I have to hand it all over to your grandma!”

Li Shengli clutched his pocket protectively. “Dad, asking me for money is as good as asking for my life. At school, everyone dresses neat and clean, and they all bring snacks—except me.

If I don’t take a little extra money, who’s going to respect me? Do you want everyone to know I’m just some poor kid from the countryside?”

Li Jianguo didn’t bother listening to his excuses and simply raised his hand. “Enough talk. Hand over the money.”

Li Shengli pointed to his own face. “Go on, hit me! Right here!”

Li Jianguo let out an annoyed huff and lowered his hand. “You’re spoiled rotten by your mother.”

“Alright, alright, Dad, don’t be so worked up. It’s just two yuan! When I grow up and make lots of money, I’ll definitely take good care of you.”

“You? Take care of me?”

“Hah! If not me, then who? My sisters? Those money-draining burdens?”

“Alright, alright, I can’t argue with you. Your cousin Xiao Chan is here too. After dinner, let her tutor you properly—you have to pass the high school entrance exam this time.”

Li Shengli scoffed. “Hah! With her level of knowledge, she might not even be better than me! You want her to teach me? Forget it!”

“Your cousin Xiao Chan is the most educated one in the family—at least she graduated high school. And you? You little brat, if you don’t pass this time, I swear I’ll break your legs!”

Hearing this, Li Shengli’s eyes darted around, and he quickly said, “Got it, got it!”

Meanwhile, Li Yuechan sat at the dining table, watching her family happily eating together as if that dramatic scene from earlier had never even happened.

Alright then. Maybe this was just how they lived—arguing and bickering, but somehow staying healthy through it all.

Huang Hehua picked up a large, soft steamed bun and handed it to Li Jianjun. “Oldest, this is yours. You’re our family’s main labor force, so eat more!”

“Ah, thanks, Mom!”

“Old Second, this is for you. You’ve been working hard outside—eat more too!”

“Ah, thanks, Mom!”

Then, Li Yuechan watched as her grandmother split a steamed bun in half, giving one portion to each of her two daughters-in-law. Li Xiangdong and Li Xiangxi each received a whole bun, while Li Shengli, Li Meiling, and Li Meixia only got a quarter of a bun each.

When it was finally her turn, Li Yuechan reached out her hand directly. “Grandma, if I don’t eat enough, I’ll feel weak!”

Huang Hehua’s hand trembled just as she was about to break the bun. “Eat, eat, eat! Aren’t you afraid of stuffing that tiny body of yours?”

Despite her words, she still stuffed a whole bun into Li Yuechan’s hands.

By the time it was Li Meili’s turn, the buns were already gone.

Li Meili stared at her grandmother in disbelief, bit her lip, and lowered her head.

Li Yuechan glanced at the stir-fried mixed vegetables on the table and the dried radish. She instantly lost her appetite.

At that moment, she saw her eldest aunt walk out of the kitchen, carrying a small bowl of steamed egg custard. She placed it directly in front of Li Shengli. “Shengli, you need brain power for your studies. Eat more and nourish yourself!”

No one else seemed surprised. Since Li Shengli was still in junior high, Huang Hehua had been having her eldest daughter-in-law make steamed egg custard for him every day. Liu Xinghua had complained about it before, but it was useless— the old woman simply wouldn’t listen.

Seeing the egg custard in Li Shengli’s bowl, Li Yuechan suddenly smacked the table with a loud “PAH!”

The entire family was stunned, all eyes turning toward her. No one knew what this girl was up to.

Huang Hehua immediately shouted, “What are you doing, you little troublemaker?!”

“Grandma, where’s my egg custard?”

“What egg custard? Only Shengli needs it for his studies. What do you need it for?”

Li Yuechan’s eyes widened like copper bells as she stared directly at her grandmother. “Grandma, where’s my egg custard?”

Huang Hehua’s old face turned red as she thought for a moment. Then, puffing up her chest, she declared, “There isn’t any!”

“No egg custard? Then no one should eat!” Without another word, Li Yuechan reached out, ready to flip the table.

At that moment, the entire family reacted faster than lightning, swiftly picking up their bowls.

Li Yuechan’s hands froze in midair. She suddenly recalled that she had done the exact same thing once before.

Seeing the situation, Huang Hehua immediately wailed, “You little plague! How did I end up with such a heartless granddaughter? Are you trying to anger your poor grandmother to death?!”

“Grandma, my mother gives you so much money every month, and I can’t even have two eggs?”

Huang Hehua immediately clamped her mouth shut. But she refused to back down and continued wailing, “You’re already old! And you still want eggs? Shengli is younger than you! You’re actually fighting him for food? Don’t you have any shame?”

“Grandma, Shengli is a whole head taller than me. Do you really have no idea why I’m so short?

Back when I was five, I got caught in the rain, and you wouldn’t take me to the hospital. You just let me burn up with a fever at home for three days straight!

That fever ruined my body, stunted my growth! If not for that, do you think I’d be this short? No way!

I don’t care—you owe me!”

Huang Hehua’s mouth snapped shut. Her eyes darted around, searching for a response, but before she could say anything, the old man of the house spoke up.

“Enough chatter! Old woman, go steam some eggs for Xiao Chan.”

Zhang Laidi stood up immediately. No one in the family dared to mess with this niece of hers. Besides, the girl was only staying for a couple of days. “Alright, Dad.”

Li Yuechan raised an eyebrow at her grandfather and, without a shred of hesitation, took the egg custard right from in front of Li Shengli.

“I’ll eat this one first—I can’t stand being hungry!”

Li Shengli’s eyes widened in disbelief as he watched his egg custard disappear right before his eyes.

Liu Xinghua had been listening to the entire argument. She glanced at Li Jianjun, but the man showed no reaction.

That third sister-in-law of hers must be giving the old lady quite a lot of money every month—otherwise, how could she be so overbearing that even his wife didn’t dare to speak?

The old man’s voice rang out again. “Start eating!”

The chopsticks around the table moved like lightning. In the blink of an eye, the plate of mixed vegetables was gone. Even the bowl of salty dried radish had been emptied, not a single piece left.

Li Yuechan finished her egg custard, drank a bowl of porridge filled with coarse grain bits, and ate her one whole steamed bun. She was only about 30% full.

Once dinner was over, everyone went about their business. Li Meixia and Li Meiling quickly cleaned up the dining area.

Feeling bored, Li Yuechan strolled around the courtyard. When she wandered into the backyard, she saw a patch of vegetables growing nicely. With a smooth motion, she plucked a few and threw them into her space.

Just then, Li Xiangdong walked over. “Xiao Chan, here—this is for you.”