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Today, Wu Zhiqiu and Li Mancang both returned home.The couple came back after eating out. Wu Zhiqiu lit the kang (heated brick bed) in the room, and Li Mancang lit the stove.
After washing up, the couple prepared to go to bed. In the main hall, Li Xing’an and Li Feng Chun waited anxiously, their eyes gleaming with hunger.
But Wu Zhiqiu still didn’t go into the kitchen. Just as Wu Zhiqiu was about to close the door and go to sleep, Li Xing’an finally couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Mom, aren’t you making dinner?” Li Xing’an hungrily asked. “No.” Wu Zhiqiu shortly replied. “Why?” Li Xing’an and Li Feng Chun both asked. “Dieting!” Wu Zhiqiu playfully replied again.
Li Xing’an thought that his mother only weighed eighty or ninety jin (approximately 80-90 pounds); a strong wind could easily blow her away. Does she really need a diet?
“Mom, we haven’t eaten yet!” Li Feng Chun yelled. “Oh!” Wu Zhiqiu replied with an “oh” and prepared to close the door.
“Mom! We haven’t eaten!” Li Xing’an raised his voice. “Are you trying to kill yourselves?! What are you yelling for? If you haven’t eaten, make it yourself! Don’t you have hands and feet?! What are you yelling at your old mother for?!” Wu Zhiqiu stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Li Xing’an.
Li Xing’an swallowed his saliva. “Mom, aren’t you going to cook for us anymore?” “Why should your mother cook for you? You’re all grown up; shouldn’t you be supporting us, and you should be cooking for us?” Li Mancang said with a gloomy face.
“Dad, we haven’t gotten married yet; in every family, the mother cooks for her children!” “Which family’s unmarried children don’t hand over their wages? Which family’s children still listen to their parents?” Wu Zhiqiu asked back.
At the mention of wages, Li Xing’an shrunk his neck. His wages weren’t even enough for him to spend! If he handed them over, how could he ask He Meina out to watch movies and eat?
“Third son, starting this month, you must hand over your wages!” Wu Zhiqiu said. “Mom! You’re heartless to take all my meager wages!” Li Xing’an replied. “Then don’t eat at home, and don’t live in this house!” Wu Zhiqiu said expressionlessly.
“Mom! Are you kicking me out?” Li Xing’an asked. “You can think of it that way! Which family’s unmarried children don’t hand over their wages to their parents? Only you, eating and drinking for so many years, still waiting for your old mother to serve you!” Wu Zhiqiu said.
“Then what are you kicking me out for? How much money will you give me? I should at least get a room!” Li Xing’an quickly calculated the family’s assets, his eyes glancing at the two new motorcycles. Wu Zhiqiu sneered. “You’ve never given the family a single cent. Everything in this house was earned by your father and me. What does it have to do with you? Why should I give you anything? There’s no money or house; there’s still two thousand yuan of debt, so I’ll give you two hundred!”
Li Xing’an angrily said. “Mom, you’re too biased. Big Brother and Second Brother are both married, and you spent money on them. Why is it that I get nothing, and you even want to give me some debt? I won’t do it!”
Biased? Wu Zhiqiu heard these familiar words again. In her previous life, she was indeed biased, but it was towards the eldest and youngest sons. This life, what’s done is done, and what hasn’t been done will never be done. She wouldn’t favor anyone in this life!
“Your second brother’s marriage didn’t cost the family a cent. Your second brother’s family has lived here for many years, and his wages have always been handed over. All the housework, inside and outside the house, was done by your sister-in-law! As for your eldest brother, a few days ago, I got back the bride price I gave to Wang Yue, including the money spent on furniture and the wedding. From now on, the eldest brother will also hand over half his wages as our retirement fund. Third son, since you think I’m biased, I will treat you according to the standards of your elder brothers. No money for your marriage. If you live in this house, you hand over all your wages. If you move out and live alone, hand over half your wages as our retirement fund!”
“No way!” Li Xing’an yelled. Wu Zhiqiu sneered. “Didn’t you say I’m biased? Now that you’re treated equally according to your brothers’ standards, you’re not satisfied? This month’s wages are considered settled. Starting next month, if I don’t see your wages, you can get out!”
“Mom, are you still my mother? Is this how you treat your own son?” Li Xing’an sadly asked. “I’m not your mother! If you think someone else can be your mother, go find them!” Wu Zhiqiu retorted sharply.
“Dad, aren’t you going to do something? Mom’s going to kill me!” Li Xing’an look at his father and begged. “Your mother is right!” Li Mancang had long been dissatisfied with their youngest son not contributing money to the household even before marriage.
In the courtyard, whose child didn’t hand over their wages? Even if they had split off and lived separately, they would still send a few yuan as a gesture of respect. Why was their family any different?
Li Xing’an clutched his chest, looking wounded. He felt that the two people before him were certainly not his real parents! His mother used to love him dearly; how could she say such heartless things to him?
Li Feng Chun, the invisible person, had remained silent. If even Li Xing’an mother was kicking him out, what chance did she have as the less favored daughter? Li Feng Chun was afraid that Wu Zhiqiu would notice her; she had no job, couldn’t earn money, and was spending the family’s money. She felt like the most worthless person in the family.
She feared that if her mother lost her temper, she would be kicked out and left without money for her tuition or living expenses! Wu Zhiqiu ignored her youngest son’s wounded gaze and slammed the door shut with a bang. To be honest, seeing the son she had spoiled for so long look at her this way still made her feel uncomfortable. At times like this, Wu Zhiqiu would think back to the snowstorm when they stood outside discussing surgery fees. She acknowledged that her parenting had issues, and she was determined to change!
After Wu Zhiqiu and Li Mancang went inside, Li Feng Chun quietly cooked two bowls of plain noodles in the kitchen. One for her, and one for Li Xing’an. Despite Li Xing’an’s earlier display of anger and frustration, it didn’t stop him from eating! After all, he didn’t need to hand over his wages this month; he would think of something for next month! Moving out and living on his own? That was impossible! With his meager wages, he feared starving himself.
The next morning, Li Feng Chun woke up early and prepared breakfast. By the time Wu Zhiqiu got up, breakfast was already on the table. Li Feng Chun flashed a smile at her, hoping to win her over.
Wu Zhiqiu didn’t put on a stern face; while eating, she thought about how in her previous life, she had spoiled these kids too much. Now, she didn’t want to spoil them anymore. Look at them; they were all pretty sensible and knew what they should do.
After breakfast, the third son washed the dishes and swept the floor, behaving like a model son. He was no longer the one shouting about bias! Wu Zhiqiu ignored them, finished her meal, and rode her bike to work.
Whatever they thought didn’t matter to her; when she got home, she didn’t have to serve anyone. As long as no one made her uncomfortable, she was fine.
Li Xing’an saw that his parents had gone to work, so he quickly hopped on his bike and left the courtyard. However, he wasn’t going to work; instead, he headed straight to his elder sister’s house.
Riding quickly, when Li Xing’an arrived at his sister’s house, she had just stepped out with Manman, ready to go to work. Li Fenglan looked at her younger brother, all sweaty and out of breath, and thought something must have happened at home.
She quickly asked, “Little brother, what happened? Is there a problem at home?” No problem at all! Li Xing’an was just worried that if he didn’t hurry, his sister wouldn’t be home; that’s why he was riding so fast, causing sparks to fly from his bike tires!
“Big sister, it’s nothing. I just haven’t seen you for a long time and missed you!” Li Xing’an, quick-witted and sweet-talking. Manman pouted, keeping her head down. With such a big situation at home, this little uncle hadn’t come to check on them even once, and now he was trying to sweet-talk their mother!
Li Fenglan was pleased to hear this. “You didn’t have to hurry so much just to say you missed me! Come in with me!” She opened the door, which she had just locked. “Mom, we’re going to be late for work!” Manman quietly reminded her.