Chapter 23: Dividing Two Hundred Dollars of Famine

In the courtyard

Today, Wu Zhiqiu and Li Mancang both returned home.

The couple came back after finishing their meal at a restaurant. Wu Zhiqiu heated the kang in the room, while Li Mancang lit the stove.

After washing up, they prepared to go to bed.

In the main room, the third son and Li Fengchun were anxiously waiting, their hungry eyes sparkling.

However, Wu Zhiqiu never entered the kitchen.

Just as Wu Zhiqiu was about to close the door to sleep, the third son finally couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Mom, aren’t you going to cook?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I’m on a diet!”

The third son… his mom only weighed about 90 to 100 pounds; a gust of wind could easily blow her away. Did she really need to lose weight?

“Mom, we haven’t eaten yet!”

“Oh!” Wu Zhiqiu responded and was about to close the door.

“Mom! We haven’t eaten yet!” The third son raised his voice.

“Are you trying to die? Why are you shouting? If you haven’t eaten, then cook for yourselves! Don’t you have hands and feet? Why shout at me!” Wu Zhiqiu put her hands on her hips, glaring at the third son.

The third son swallowed hard. “But Mom, aren’t you going to make us dinner?”

“Why should your mom cook for you? You’re all adults now. Shouldn’t we enjoy the fruits of your labor and have you cook for us?” Li Mancang said with a gloomy face.

“Dad, we’re not married yet. In every family, it’s the mom who cooks for the children!”

“In which family do unmarried children hand over their salaries? In which family do children still listen to their parents?” Wu Zhiqiu retorted.

Mentioning salaries made the third son shrink back; his two salaries weren’t even enough for him to spend! If he handed them over, how could he take Meina out to watch movies and eat?

“Third son, starting this month, you must hand over your salary!”

“Mom! Mom! How can you bear to take that little salary from me?”

“Then you won’t eat at home, and don’t stay in the house!” Wu Zhiqiu said expressionlessly.

“Mom! Are you trying to cut me off?”

“You can think of it that way! Which family doesn’t have their unmarried children hand over their salaries to their parents? You’ve been living off us for so many years, and you still expect me to serve you!”

“Then what will I get from the division of the family? How much money will you give me? I should at least get a room!” The third son quickly calculated the family’s assets, his eyes darting towards the two new bicycles.

Wu Zhiqiu smirked coldly. “You haven’t contributed a single cent to this family. Everything in this house was earned by your dad and me. What does it have to do with you? Why should we give you anything? There’s no money or house to give; the family still has a famine of six hundred dollars, and you want two hundred!”

The third son… “Mom, you’re too biased. The eldest brother and the second brother are both married, and you’ve given them money. Why is it that when it comes to me, I have nothing and still have to deal with a famine? I won’t do it!”

Biased? Wu Zhiqiu heard that familiar phrase again. If she were biased, she indeed was in her last life, but she favored both the eldest son and this youngest son.

What has happened in this life cannot be changed, and what hasn’t happened definitely won’t happen.

In this life, she won’t favor anyone!

“Your second brother got married and didn’t bring any money home. He has been living here for so many years, and his salary has all been handed over. The chores inside and outside the house are all done by your second sister-in-law!

As for your eldest brother, a few days ago, I took back the betrothal money I gave to Wang Yue, including the money for the wedding furniture. In the future, your eldest brother’s salary will also be halved, as our retirement fund.

Since you think I’m biased, I will treat you according to the standards of your elder brothers. If you get married, you won’t get a single cent. If you live in this house, you must hand over your entire salary. If you want to live separately, you’ll pay half your salary as our retirement fund every month!”

“No way!” The third son yelled, straining his neck!

Wu Zhiqiu sneered, “Didn’t you say I was biased? What’s wrong? Now that I’m treating you equally according to your brothers’ standards, you’re not satisfied? If you hand over this month’s salary, then it’s fine. Starting next month, if I don’t see your salary, you can just get out!”

“Mom, are you still my mom? Is it really necessary to pressure your own son like this?”

“I’m not your mom. If you think someone else can be your mom, go find them!” Wu Zhiqiu replied bluntly.

“Dad, aren’t you going to do something? Mom is trying to drive me to death!”

“Your mom is right!” Li Mancang was already unhappy that his youngest son, who wasn’t married, didn’t contribute any money to the family!

In their courtyard, which family doesn’t have their children hand over their salaries? Even if they live separately, each month they would still give a few dollars as a gesture of respect, but their family is special!

The third son clutched his chest, his face full of hurt. He felt that the two people in front of him were definitely not his real parents!

His mom used to love him so much; how could she say such heartless things to him?

The invisible Li Fengchun had been silent all along.

If even the third brother’s mom was being driven out, what could she, the less favored daughter, expect?

Li Fengchun was now afraid that Wu Zhiqiu would see her. Without a job and unable to earn money, she was the most worthless person in this family, still relying on family funds.

She feared that if her mom got angry, she would be kicked out and wouldn’t have money for tuition or living expenses!

Wu Zhiqiu ignored her youngest son’s wounded gaze and slammed the door shut.

To be honest, it still felt uncomfortable for her to be looked at like that by a son she had spoiled all his life.

Every time this happened, Wu Zhiqiu would recall the time when they stood outside in the heavy snow discussing their surgery fees.

She acknowledged that her parenting had issues, and she was willing to change!

After Wu Zhiqiu and Li Mancang entered the house, Li Fengchun quietly went to the kitchen to boil two bowls of plain noodles.

She and the third brother each had a bowl.

The third son had just acted like he was in despair, but it didn’t stop him from eating!

After all, he didn’t have to hand over his salary this month; he would think of a way next month!

There was no way he could live separately; with his meager salary, he was afraid of starving!

Early the next morning, Li Fengchun got up early and prepared breakfast.

By the time Wu Zhiqiu woke up, breakfast was already on the table.

Li Fengchun even smiled at her in a flattering way.

Wu Zhiqiu didn’t show any displeasure; while eating, she thought about how she had spoiled these kids too much in her past life.

Now she didn’t want to indulge them anymore. Look, they were all quite sensible and knew what they should do.

After finishing breakfast, the third son washed the dishes, swept the floor, and behaved submissively.

He was no longer the one who shouted about favoritism yesterday!

Wu Zhiqiu didn’t pay attention to them; after finishing her meal, she rode her bike to work.

Who cares what they think? As long as she didn’t have to do anything when she got home and no one bothered her, that was enough!

Seeing that his parents had gone to work, the third son quickly pedaled his bike out of the courtyard.

However, he wasn’t going to work; he headed straight for his eldest sister’s house!

He rode quickly, and when he arrived at his sister’s house, she was just stepping out with a full bag, ready to go to work.

Fenglan looked at her younger brother, whose head was steaming, and thought something must have happened at home.

She quickly asked, “Little brother, what happened? Is there something wrong at home?”

There was nothing wrong; the third son was just afraid that if he arrived too late, his sister wouldn’t be home, which was why he rode so fast, making sparks fly from the bike tires.

“Big sister, nothing’s wrong. I just haven’t seen you in a long time and missed you!” The third son was clever and sweet-tongued.

Yuan Manman pouted, looking down. With such a big incident at home, her uncle hadn’t come over even once, and now he was trying to sweet-talk her mom!

Fenglan was very pleased to hear this. “You don’t need to be in such a hurry to miss me! Come in with me!” She said as she opened the door she had just locked.

“Mom, we’re going to be late for work!” Yuan Manman quietly reminded her.