Chapter 12: Chunni

The eldest brother asked about Li Xingguo’s work and the other children’s employment situation.

“The second son can’t just do temporary work all the time. Why don’t you buy him a job with some money?” The eldest brother suggested.

Wu Zhiqiu knew that things would develop in the future. Even if they found a job, they would be laid off in a few years. Finding a job was pointless.

It would be better to do some small business.

But she couldn’t tell her eldest brother that, he would think she was biased and not serious about her work.

“I know, I’ll buy one for the second son when there’s a suitable one.” Wu Zhiqiu said perfunctorily.

“I’ll keep an eye out for you at our factory.”

After dinner, Wu Zhiqiu didn’t stay long. It would be difficult to catch a bus when it got dark.

The eldest brother and his wife saw Wu Zhiqiu off.

“Little sister seems to be living a good life! The bicycle is pretty nice!” The eldest sister-in-law noticed the bicycle as soon as Wu Zhiqiu entered the house.

“Little sister has suffered for half her life, she should enjoy herself a bit.” Wu Huai’an was still very much the eldest brother, he took care of all his younger siblings.

The eldest sister-in-law nodded, “If Xingguo cared a little about the family, little sister’s life would definitely be better.”

Wu Huai’an sighed, every family has its own problems!

When Wu Zhiqiu got home, Li Mancang had also returned. He hadn’t eaten in the village, he came back right after returning the money!

The old couple pushed the nice bicycles into the house.

The family was still waiting for them to eat. When they saw the nice bicycles, the children immediately surrounded them.

“Mom and Dad! Why are there two nice bicycles? Are they for me?” The third son immediately jumped over, his eyes fixed on the nice bicycles.

Li Fengchun’s eyes also lit up, the ladies’ bicycle was for her to ride to school, right?

“Get out, you little bastard! Are you sent by the monkey king to cause trouble? Why are you always where there’s trouble? What do you mean they’re for you? How dare you! These are for me and your dad, get out of here!” Wu Zhiqiu launched into a tirade. She hadn’t realized how troublesome her youngest son was before.

He was like a troublemaker, always butting in, farting, and grinning!

“You two bought them, don’t you go to work on foot? What do you need a bicycle for?” The third son stared at the bicycle with shining eyes, defying death, if it was given to Meina, she wouldn’t be very happy!

“Go to hell! Do I want to walk every day? I walk for over an hour to and from work! It’s just that I didn’t have a bicycle, your workplace is closer than mine, why don’t you walk?” Wu Zhiqiu was so angry that she even cursed herself.

The third son looked at the bicycle, not giving up, “Didn’t Dad have a bicycle? Why buy another one?”

“It’s none of your business, you didn’t contribute a penny.” Li Mancang glared at his youngest son, his bicycle was barely a bicycle, he spent more time fixing it than riding it.

“Grandpa, the nice bicycle is so beautiful!” The second son’s eldest grandson touched the bicycle in admiration.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I think so too, Grandpa will take you for a ride tomorrow.”

“Great, thank you, Grandpa!” The three little radishes shouted happily.

The second son looked enviously at the two bicycles.

Li Fengchun lowered her head, her eyes filled with disappointment! Her parents were really something, they were so old, and they still bought nice bicycles!

The third son was scolded like a dog, but he still looked at the nice bicycle. If he didn’t fight for it, it would really belong to his parents.

“Mom, Meina doesn’t have a bicycle.”

“It’s none of my business!”

“Mom, how can you say that, Meina is my girlfriend! Your future daughter-in-law!”

Wu Zhiqiu looked at her youngest son with a sarcastic smile.

I’m still your mother, I feed you, I clothe you, I raised you to be this big, I’ve been walking to work for decades, and I haven’t seen you care about me once! My daughter-in-law? I don’t even want this son anymore, let alone a daughter-in-law? Go wherever it’s cool and fan yourself!

The second daughter-in-law rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath,

“He’s a flirt, but he won’t get married.”

He Meina was pretty, but she didn’t have a formal job. The neighbors often gossiped about her. Today she was sent home by this man, and every day that man waited for her at the entrance of the alley. He didn’t look like a decent person. I don’t know what possessed my younger brother, he treats that kind of person like a treasure!

“Mom, we’ll be filial to you later.” The third son saw that both his parents were dissatisfied with him. His mother had been looking at him like he was trash these past few days, she no longer called him her precious son.

“Humph! You don’t care about us now when you’re young and strong, how can we rely on you when we’re old and blind?” Wu Zhiqiu scoffed.

“Mom, don’t worry, Meina and I will definitely take good care of you when you’re old.” The third son said sweet words, his eyes still glancing at the bicycle.

“Relying on you is like relying on a dog, it’s more practical.” Wu Zhiqiu knew her youngest son’s character. People say that a man forgets his mother when he has a wife, but he doesn’t even have a wife, and he’s always scheming against them! He can’t stand to see them doing well!

“Mom! You’re hurting my feelings!”

“You’re scheming against us all day, and you’re hurting our feelings! Since you’re so heartbroken, you should marry into the family!”

The third son stared at her in disbelief.

“Mom, you want me to marry into the family?”

“Yes, that way you won’t be constantly thinking about my job or my bicycle. You should marry into another family, don’t think about anything here.”

“Dad, Mom wants me to marry into another family!”

“Then you should marry into another family! Don’t come back here scheming all the time!” Li Mancang said indifferently. He could see that the third son was unreliable. Luckily, he still had the second son, and his daughter-in-law was good. They would be fine living with the second son!

The eldest and third sons were both schemers, they only knew how to scheme against them.

The third son clutched his chest, his face full of disbelief. He had been abandoned by his parents!

How could a man marry into another family and still show his face in public?

“I’m not marrying into another family!” The third son threw down those words and slammed the door as he left.

The second daughter-in-law rolled her eyes. He’s cunning, lazy, and greedy, you want to marry into another family, who would want you?

Don’t you have a mirror or pee? Look at your own pathetic self!

Wu Zhiqiu had already eaten at her parents’ home, so she didn’t eat anymore. She helped the second daughter-in-law watch the children eat.

Li Fengchun didn’t say a word, she ate quickly, her eyes glancing at the bicycle, then she went back to her room.

Wu Zhiqiu ignored her. She would have to beg the family one day! She would see how she would deal with her! She looked down on this and that, acting like she was some kind of princess!

After dinner, Wu Zhiqiu took out one hundred yuan and handed it to the second daughter-in-law.

“I didn’t give you anything when you got married. You’ve been working hard taking care of the family all these years. We don’t have much now, but this one hundred yuan, buy yourself two nice pieces of clothing.”

The second daughter-in-law looked at Wu Zhiqiu, tears welling up in her eyes. This was the first time someone had acknowledged her efforts in this family.

Before, everyone in this family, except for her father-in-law, looked down on her, her mother-in-law, younger sister-in-law, and younger brother, they thought she was from the countryside.

Even though she had given birth to three sons, her mother-in-law hadn’t changed much towards her!

Today, her mother-in-law actually said she worked hard!

Wuwuwu… The second daughter-in-law covered her mouth and sobbed.

The second son’s eyes were red. He thought his mother would never approve of his wife! Ever since he insisted on marrying Chunni, his mother hadn’t looked at his wife with a good eye!

The children saw their mother crying and quickly hugged her.

“Mommy, what’s wrong?”