Chapter 30

“This kid of yours sure talks harshly,” the eldest brother Qiao Yougen frowned. “We were just anxious to come see you. We rushed over right after work and forgot to bring a gift.”

His wife, Qian Chunhua, quickly agreed, “Besides, you’re a junior—you shouldn’t be asking for gifts like that. It’s really rude.”

“Harsh words, huh? Then what about how you behave?” Qiao Xinyi shot back. “I just got back to the Qiao family today, and you’re so anxious to come after work? It’s been a whole week already—still not enough time to prepare?”

“Look at what you’re saying—one week and still not ready? Are you expecting us to prepare a bicycle or a house for you that it takes this long?” The faces of the three siblings instantly changed.

“You must be dreaming in the daytime! Who said we were preparing a bicycle for you? A house, huh? You’ve got some nerve!” Qiao Dongmei yelled. “We’re elders, and just coming here is already showing you respect.”

“Oh? If you talk like that…” Qiao Xinyi took a step back and pushed Qiao Dongmei out. “Get lost. I don’t care about face, so don’t waste your face on me.”

Qiao Dongmei froze, stunned—she had never seen anyone so stubborn.

“I, Qiao Xinyi, am ill-mannered and rude—yes, you’re right about that!” Qiao Xinyi’s gaze swept over the couple Qiao Yougen and Qiao Chengda. “Are you two leaving on your own or should I personally kick you out?”

Qiao Dongmei finally snapped out of it and raised her hand to strike Qiao Xinyi. But Qiao Xinyi was ready—when Qiao Dongmei swung, she grabbed her wrist and with her other hand slapped Qiao Dongmei across the face.

Smack! This slap was even louder than before. Five bright red palm prints immediately appeared on Qiao Dongmei’s face.

The slap stunned everyone in the room.

“Didn’t I tell you I’m rude and ill-mannered? So why are you still trying to fight me?” Qiao Dongmei stood at the door, clutching her face, shouting curses and crying. Qiao Xinyi’s slap had hurt so much it made her dizzy.

“Who dares hit my daughter? I’ll kill you!” Chen Ju flew forward in a fury seeing her daughter slapped.

Qiao Yunbai quickly grabbed Chen Ju from behind, holding her tightly to stop her from getting near Qiao Xinyi.

Qiao Baihe saw Qiao Yunbai struggling and also helped block Chen Ju.

Chen Ju was furious and wildly punched and scratched at Qiao Baihe and Qiao Yunbai.

“Qiao Baihe, Qiao Yunbai, let this old woman come through. Does she really think I’m afraid to slap her? Let go—watch me slap her to death.”

Qiao Xinyi growled as she pushed threateningly toward Chen Ju. Her fierce demeanor and tone made no one doubt she really would slap Chen Ju.

Qiao Laiwang hurriedly restrained Qiao Xinyi, shouting at Chen Ju, “Mom, can you stop interfering? Look at the mess in this house!”

“One person gives way, another says less—that’s family. It’s best to keep things peaceful and harmonious,” said Lin Jianye, Qiao Dongmei’s husband, quickly stepping in as peacemaker to help calm Chen Ju, the mother-in-law. 

Qiao Xinyi wasn’t new to calling out Qiao Laiwang’s name; he was already used to it and had long known she disliked him. The family had been eating watery, bland meals for days, and the hunger made his eyes go blurry. He had hoped to eat a proper meal tonight, but Chen Yubing’s cooking turned out just as bad as a few days ago. 

Qiao Laiwang was resentful that Chen Yubing didn’t give him any face, but after Qiao Xinyi’s words, he also thought his elder brothers hadn’t acted properly. When had he ever gone to their homes empty-handed? But his brothers? For over ten years, none of them ever brought gifts when coming to his place—not even during holidays. In the past, Qiao Laiwang never minded these little things, but after several days of hunger, all he wanted was a full meal, and thinking about it made him feel bitter inside. 

Since the day he found out his mother spent his entire salary on those brothers, Qiao Laiwang finally realized she was truly biased. After today’s incident, he woke up to the fact that his brothers never took him seriously. They’d spent so much money on him, but a decent person wouldn’t come empty-handed to his house today. 

With a dark face, Qiao Laiwang reached out to Chen Ju. “Mom, give me some money. I’ll go to the state-run restaurant and buy a few dishes. We’ll just make do tonight.” 

Chen Ju wouldn’t give him money. She crossed her arms behind her back and shouted, “I don’t have any!” 

She wasn’t stupid. After Qiao Laiwang found out and got so angry, he definitely wouldn’t hand over his salary to her again. The little money she had left was probably the only money she could keep for herself recently. She had been so hungry these days she secretly bought steamed buns to eat, and even if she skipped dinner today, she wouldn’t take money from the house. 

“Mom, don’t you still have a few dozen yuan?” Qiao Laiwang asked. 

“I spent it all!” Chen Ju shouted. “It’s all because of the good daughter-in-law you married—she’s starving me to death! At my age, how many days of hunger can I take? I have to spend money to buy something to eat myself. You beast, do you really want me to starve?” 

Chen Ju unleashed a storm of curses at Qiao Laiwang, bottling up her anger for days until she finally got this chance. 

“You spent all those dozen yuan? By yourself?” Qiao Laiwang was stunned speechless. 

“Dad, you don’t know—Grandma goes to the state-run restaurant three times a day,” Qiao Yunbai interrupted. “She actually eats secretly by herself? Baihe and I don’t get any, but I thought Dad would have some share.” 

“Chen Ju, you old woman, you really have some nerve~” Aunt Zhang Hua squeezed up next to Qiao Dongmei outside the door. “You don’t like daughter-in-law Chen Yubing, you don’t like granddaughter Qiao Baihe, but you’re this selfish? You let your grandson and own son go hungry for days.” 

“How am I selfish? I’m so old I can’t stand hunger. Laiwang and Yunbai are young; they won’t die from hunger. Besides, I raised Qiao Laiwang all these years. Now I’m old, shouldn’t he be supporting me? Why do I have to feed him and his son instead?” Chen Ju shouted back loudly. 

Seeing the argument about to escalate again, Qiao Yougen hurried to stop it. First, he told Zhang Hua, “Aunt Zhang, don’t interfere in our family matters. Go back and make your dinner.” Then he called over Qiao Dongmei and Qiao Chengda and said, “Our family will chip in two yuan and half a jin of ration tickets to go buy some food from the state-run restaurant. We have to eat something tonight, right?” 

With that, Qiao Yougen took out two yuan and half a jin of ration tickets. Qian Chunhua’s face darkened, and she reached out to grab the money. 

“Why should we pay for the meal at the second brother’s house?” 

Qiao Yougen glared sharply at Qian Chunhua, making her hands fall back obediently. Since Qiao Yougen had already taken out money and ration tickets as an example, Qiao Dongmei and Qiao Chengda, even if reluctant, couldn’t refuse to show respect to their eldest brother.