Chapter 30: Crying with Anger

“Besides, Third Brother, don’t keep using my education against me. Didn’t Mom and Dad let you study? It’s because you couldn’t focus; you were either last or second to last!”

“Oh right, when you were second to last, it was because the last one was absent. Otherwise, your grades would have been quite stable!” Li Xingguo added.

Wang Yue had a disdainful smile on her lips; how foolish he was, always talking about others!

The third brother’s face turned red from what his elder brother said. “But I didn’t spend the family’s money!”

“If you wanted to spend it, you’d need to be able to pass the exams!” Wang Yue was too lazy to argue with him.

“What do Grandma and Grandpa want to eat tonight?” The focus now was on the old couple; she couldn’t be bothered with that scheming little brother. If it weren’t for the old couple being here, Wang Yue wouldn’t have let him in!

The old man smacked his lips. “How about we go eat hot pot? I heard from the old men in the courtyard that it’s really delicious. I’ve never eaten it in my life!”

Wang Yue… Old man, do you know how much hot pot costs? You just want to eat without thinking about the expenses!

Cursing the old man in her heart, her face turned from white to red and then back to white. “Grandpa, if you want to eat, let’s go!” Wang Yue squeezed out this sentence through clenched teeth.

“I knew my granddaughter-in-law is the best! We’re really enjoying great fortune by coming here! We’ll have plenty to brag about when we go back!” The old man grinned, showing his remaining two big teeth, not forgetting to provide emotional value to this peacock.

Wang Yue gritted her teeth and shot a fierce glare at Li Xingguo.

Li Xingguo smiled to comfort his wife, saying it would be soon, just a couple more days before they would send them to their parents’ place!

The third brother’s eyes lit up at the mention of hot pot; he had never eaten it before.

He Mei Na had hinted several times that the lamb there was delicious! However, he was too poor to afford it!

When the old lady heard they were going out to eat, she quickly moved her old legs into the house to put on a thick cotton coat, helping the old man with his cotton coat and shoes as well.

Li Xingguo and his wife had just entered the house, still not having taken off their clothes, and were about to leave.

The third brother followed closely behind them.

Wang Yue tugged at Li Xingguo’s arm and gave him a look over her shoulder.

Li Xingguo glanced at the third brother, who was following them eagerly, and nodded.

The group exited the family compound, preparing to take the bus.

Li Xingguo said to the third brother, “Third Brother, you should go back. It’ll be dark soon, and the roads won’t be easy to walk on!”

The third brother was taken aback. “Elder Brother, I’m not going back! I want to go with you!”

Wang Yue pouted. “Third Brother, just don’t go with us. Hurry back home; Mom and Dad should be off work by now. You’re not a child anymore; help out at home!”

“Work can be done any day. My main task today is to accompany Grandma and Grandpa,” the third brother realized that the elder brother and sister-in-law didn’t want to take him to eat hot pot, but it was hot pot! He had to eat it today; he had never had it before!

“Grandma and Grandpa don’t need you to accompany them; your big sister-in-law and I can manage! You go home and have dinner,” Li Xingguo rejected him again.

“Going home isn’t as important as accompanying Grandma and Grandpa,” the third brother said, shamelessly getting closer to the old man.

Wang Yue gritted her teeth. “Third Brother, are you planning to treat Grandma and Grandpa to hot pot?”

“Big sister-in-law is joking! I have no money! I still have to borrow from you and elder brother!”

Wang Yue glared angrily at this shameless little brother. If he insisted on following them today, then no one would go.

Li Xingguo pushed his glasses up. “Third Brother, stop messing around. Hurry back home; one day when you have money, you can come back and accompany Grandma and Grandpa!”

“No, if you don’t take me today, then you shouldn’t go either,” the third brother stubbornly insisted.

Hearing that they wouldn’t go, the old man was not pleased.

“Third Brother, you ate a big bowl of noodles and six eggs at your elder brother’s place this afternoon; you’re still full, right? Stop messing around and

“Get out of here! You messed up my meal; I’ll beat you to death!” The old man glared, his eyes wide. His little grandson was too thick-skinned; he had to be driven away, or this meal was going to be ruined!

It was hard enough for the eldest grandson and the peacock to prepare to splurge; once they passed this village, there wouldn’t be another chance!

The third brother looked at the old man with grievance. “Grandpa, I want to eat hot pot too!”

“If you want to eat, earn it yourself. Don’t come crying to us about being poor; who owes you anything? Your elder brother should honor us; I’ve never heard of brothers needing to honor each other!” The old man had a fierce expression.

The third brother shrank back.

“Elder Brother, are you really going to deny your brother a bite to eat?”

“You already ate six eggs and a big bowl of noodles; what more do you want?” Li Xingguo frowned.

“I want to eat hot pot!”

“Go home! No one is eating!” Wang Yue was getting angry. She was already worried about money and didn’t want to spend it. Now that the third brother was causing trouble, she wanted to spend even less.

“You little rascal, if you dare to mess up my hot pot, I’ll have your father break your legs! Get lost!” The old man was truly furious.

The third brother’s eyes turned red. “Grandpa, I’ve never eaten hot pot before. Can’t I just eat with you once?”

“If you want to eat, earn it yourself. Stop trying to take advantage! You’re a grown man; aren’t you ashamed? Let’s go, ignore him!”

“Don’t follow us!”

The old man warned the third brother again.

The third brother watched the four of them walk further away in the cold wind, no one turning back to look at him.

A tear rolled down his cheek!

The third brother had never felt so suffocated.

Although they didn’t often eat meat at home, whenever they did, it was always focused on him. His parents had never treated him like this.

They say there’s a special bond with grandparents, but he couldn’t see any of that with his grandparents.

Seeing that the third brother hadn’t followed, the old man finally relaxed. That brat almost made him miss out on hot pot!

A few days later, the eldest grandson’s wife discovered they hadn’t eaten, and they were going to eat hot pot? It would be polite to just sweep him out the door!

After a few stops on the bus, they arrived at the hot pot restaurant.

This hot pot restaurant had been around for over ten years and had never closed even during the country’s toughest times.

There were quite a few people in the hot pot restaurant, including many foreigners.

It was the first time for the old man and woman to eat at such a nice place, and their eyes were wide with wonder! Seeing foreigners was especially novel; those foreigners really looked different from them!

They had to take a good look; they would have plenty to brag about when they returned to the village!

Li Xingguo and Wang Yue had come once before on their wedding anniversary.

The prices here were high, and their economic situation didn’t allow them to come often.

The waiter led them to their seats and handed the menu to the old man, who naturally seemed like the elder, so the waiter naturally handed the menu to him.

“Grandpa, let me order!” Li Xingguo reached out to take the menu.

“I’ll take a look first; Grandpa can read too!” Can I eat if I give it to you?

The sight of the plates of meat on the menu made the old man’s mouth water uncontrollably.

“This one, this one, and this one too, and also this one…” The old man pointed at the dishes on the menu while the waiter noted them down.

Wang Yue kicked Li Xingguo under the table.

How much is all this going to cost? A plate of meat here costs seven or eight bucks! The old man had already ordered over ten dishes!

Wang Yue thought they should just order two plates of meat and then get some vegetables, frozen tofu, vermicelli, and so on; just a simple meal would be enough!