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“Brother Huaixu , you still haven’t told me when you came back,” Lan Xin continued to ask.
Jiang Huaixu clicked his tongue in annoyance. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
Before Xu Chunian could express her thoughts on his lack of manners, the cold glare from Lan Xin shot toward her.
Zhuzhu had little presence anywhere; she just kept her head down, fiddling with the small pig toy in her hands while the adults talked.
The atmosphere in the room was quite quiet, with only the sounds of Jiang Mingqian and Jiang Huaixu exchanging questions and answers.
“Master and Madam, dinner is ready,” the servant broke the silence.
“What about Xiao Chen?” Jiang Mingqian asked.
“He’s not back yet,” Lan Yueying, who had been silent, replied. “Forget him, let’s all sit down first.”
Just then, there was a sudden sound of the door opening.
Everyone turned to look, and a tall, eighteen-year-old boy entered, holding a basketball. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and he was panting, his features somewhat resembling Jiang Huaixu’s.
“Dad, Mom,” Jiang Jingchen called out, his gaze landing on Jiang Huaixu.
However, Jiang Huaixu ignored him and placed his teacup down on the coffee table.
When Jiang Jingchen saw Xu Chunian, his eyes clearly reflected disdain.
Xu Chunian averted her gaze, understanding that this was their first meeting, and she had already been disliked.
Lan Yueying stood up. “Why are you sweating so much? Go wash up; did you just run back?”
Jiang Jingchen scratched his head. “No, I wasn’t running back; I just walked a bit fast.”
*
At the dining table
The sounds of chopsticks clinking filled the air. The family hadn’t prepared anything suitable for children, so Xu Chunian simply fed Zhuzhu, who was holding the small pig toy and obediently opening her mouth for food.
“How can you eat while playing with a toy?” Jiang Mingqian glared at the small pig in Zhuzhu’s hand, looking displeased. “At her age, shouldn’t she have learned table manners? Is this how children from humble families behave?”
Suddenly speaking startled Zhuzhu, who looked at him with her big, grape-like eyes, frightened.
Lan Yueying patted Jiang Mingqian’s hand. “She’s just a child; why are you picking on her?”
“A child? She’s almost three and can’t even speak properly, so of course, she’s still a child.”
Xu Chunian had been silent all afternoon, but she understood now that this family looked down on her as an unsuitable daughter-in-law, and they even extended that disdain toward Zhuzhu. Since the moment they arrived, they hadn’t even glanced her way.
“Zhuzhu isn’t even three yet and isn’t very skilled with chopsticks. At home, she uses child-friendly utensils, and when we’re out, I feed her.”
Jiang Mingqian was already dissatisfied with her and put down his chopsticks. “Is this how you speak to your elders?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t speak this way to respected elders,” Xu Chunian replied fearlessly.
“You…”
“Alright, alright, it’s my fault. I should have remembered that Zhuzhu can’t use chopsticks yet,” Lan Yueying interjected to ease the tension.
“How can you blame her? Jingchen knew how to eat by himself and put away his toys when he was three.”
Her tone was sarcastic and pointed, and before Xu Chunian could respond, Jiang Huaixu slammed his chopsticks down on the table. “Do we have to argue every time you come back?”
“If you found someone more understanding, we wouldn’t have to argue every day you come home.”
Xu Chunian also slammed her chopsticks down on the table. “Who isn’t understanding? Dealing with a picky father like you, who wouldn’t go crazy?”
“Who are you calling a picky father?”
“You,” Xu Chunian raised her voice. “You are the picky father.”
Jiang Huaixu: “…”