Chapter 18: The Humble Uncle

Old Madam Su glanced at the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law pair, shook her head, then held little Su Huan in her arms and kissed her lovingly. She smiled, “My granddaughter’s pee this time was wonderful!”

Su Huan had been feeling shy about not being able to control her bladder, but when she heard Old Madam Su say that, she couldn’t help but grin widely. She waved her little hands in Li Sumei’s arms and babbled, “Yiya yiya~”

Afterward, Old Madam Su called her son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons into the main room to rest.

As for the yelling coming from the inner room—Zhang Li scolding Qian Cuimiao—everyone acted like they hadn’t heard a thing and didn’t get involved.

About half an hour later, there was noise at the entrance.

Zhang Hongzhuang had returned.

The entire Su family stood up and looked toward the courtyard gate where an old man entered.

The old man’s hair was messy, his back was hunched, and he was carrying over a hundred jin of firewood on his back. The sons and daughters-in-law shoveling snow in the courtyard acted like they didn’t even see him. Only a little boy, about the same age as Yan Qi and Yan Xing, ran up excitedly and said, “Grandpa, Grandpa! Your older sister is here to see you!”

The old man was stunned. Following the direction his little grandson pointed, he saw Old Madam Su walking excitedly out of the main room, her eyes filled with both joy and concern. Seeing her, Zhang Hongzhuang’s eyes turned red. With a thud, he dropped the firewood and ran straight into her arms without hesitation.

“Sis! Sis! It’s really you! I thought I’d never see you again in this lifetime! Waaaah!”

Old Madam Su hugged him while crying, then started hitting him, “You good-for-nothing! Our parents left us such a nice house on Chang’an Alley, how could you sell it? I heard you even gambled? What did I always tell you? No gambling! No gambling! Why didn’t you listen?”

“Sis, it’s my fault, it’s all my fault! Now that you’re here, don’t leave! Just stay and live with us! I’ll take care of you!”

Zhang Hongzhuang cried and laughed as she scolded him, like an innocent child.

The Su family members were moved by the reunion of the siblings—eyes turning red with both relief and emotion.

But just as Zhang Hongzhuang finished speaking, Zhang Laoda (the eldest son) jumped in and said anxiously, “Dad! Are you senile? You can barely support this big family of ours, and now you want to support them too? You trying to starve us all to death?”

Zhang Hongzhuang’s face turned red. He scolded, “Tiegen’er! How can you talk to your aunt like that? Apologize!”

But Zhang Laoda ignored him completely. At this moment, Zhang Lao’er (the second son) walked over too and complained, “Dad, this is really too much. If you let Aunt stay in our house, where are we supposed to live?”

Zhang Hongzhuang replied, “We’ll divide up the rooms for tonight. Let the nephews and their wives squeeze in with you for now…”

The Zhang family all sneered coldly at his suggestion and turned their heads away without responding.

Old Madam Su could see it clearly now—Zhang Li was the one in charge in this household. Her younger brother, even at his age, had to go out and chop so much firewood alone to support the whole family. Clearly, he had suffered quite a bit in this home.

But regarding the gambling and selling of the inheritance from their parents, Old Madam Su hadn’t gotten to the bottom of it yet. So she restrained her urge to scold these ungrateful wolves. As Liu Yingying and Li Sumei helped wipe her tears, she said to Zhang Hongzhuang, “Little brother, your sister doesn’t want to trouble you. Is there still space in the woodshed in your backyard? Our family can make do there for one night. Tomorrow, take us to see the village chief—we’ll figure out how to build our own house and get land.”

Zhang Hongzhuang quickly refused, “The woodshed? No way! There’s no heated brick bed, no kang, it’s freezing at night—you’ll freeze to death!”

At that moment, Zhang Li came out supported by Qian Cuimiao and said, “Why not? I think that’s just fine. Since your elder sister doesn’t want to trouble us, why shouldn’t we grant her wish?”

Zhang Hongzhuang’s face turned beet red with anger, but he didn’t curse. Instead, he glared at her and said, “Wife, that’s my older sister! When our father died early and our mother was in poor health, she’s the one who raised me! Don’t you remember? She even gave me the dowry our father left her so I could get married! And when our eldest was seriously ill and nearly died, it was also my sister who—”

The Su family had never heard Old Madam Su talk about her past at her maiden home, and now, hearing it from their uncle, they all felt disappointed and disheartened by how Zhang’s family treated her.

Zhang Li remained unmoved, her drooping triangular eyes looked at Old Madam Su indifferently, “So what? It’s not like we begged her to do those things. Didn’t she say she did it willingly? What, does she now want us to repay the favor? If that’s the case, fine. I’ll take our whole family to sleep outside tonight, give them the house, and let us all freeze to death!”

As she spoke, she led her sons and daughters-in-law toward the door. As she passed by Zhang Hongzhuang, she even took his little grandson away from his side.

“Wait, wait! Can’t you be reasonable? My sister came from far away to rely on me. How could I let them sleep in the woodshed!”

Zhang Hongzhuang rushed to stop her and get his grandson back, but Zhang Laoda and Zhang Lao’er shoved him aside with a glare. “Then let them sleep in the woodshed! Otherwise, we’ll freeze to death outside with Mom!”

“You—”

Zhang Hongzhuang was helpless, angry and anxious. Suddenly, Old Madam Su patted him and said, “Let’s go. Take your sister to look at the woodshed. Your nephews and their wives are tired from the journey and need to rest.”

Zhang Hongzhuang looked at her, his lips trembled. In the end, he wiped his tears and snot and said thickly through his nose, “Sis, I’m sorry.”

He looked as lost as a child.

Then, Zhang Hongzhuang lit a tung oil lamp and led the Su family to the woodshed.

Zhang Li saw that Old Madam Su didn’t even glance at her while passing, so she coldly snorted and took her sons and daughters-in-law back inside. Before entering, she deliberately said loudly, “Laoda, Lao’er, splash some water at the entrance—drive away the bad luck!”

“Yes, Mom.”

Su Laowu, who was walking last, heard the sound of water being splashed and scrubbing on the ground. His face darkened, and his fists clenched tightly.

Li Sumei gently held his hand and shook her head slightly.

Their uncle had no status in the Zhang household and couldn’t speak up, yet he was willing to argue with Zhang Li for their sake. If they made a scene, it would only put their uncle in an even harder position.

Looking into her gentle eyes, Su Laowu nodded silently and ignored the noises behind him.

The woodshed wasn’t dirty at all. On the contrary, because Zhang Hongzhuang often maintained it, it was actually quite clean.

Su Lao’er, Su Laosan, Su Laosi, and Su Laowu helped Zhang Hongzhuang clear a space, but he quickly waved his hands, “You all sit and rest! You must be exhausted after traveling so far. Let me handle this work!”

They instinctively glanced at Old Madam Su and, seeing her watching Zhang Hongzhuang, smiled and took the firewood from his hands. “Uncle, we’re all family—why separate who does what? You go talk with my mom. It’s been so long since you two siblings last saw each other—you must have a lot to say.”

“Ah… Ah…”

Zhang Hongzhuang wiped his nose and sat down beside Old Madam Su, feeling embarrassed. “Sis, I’m sorry…”

Old Madam Su smacked him lightly. “Stop saying sorry already! Let me ask you—what’s this I’ve heard from people in Chang’an Alley about you gambling? What’s that all about?”

Zhang Hongzhuang froze, a blank look on his face. “Gambling? What gambling?