Chapter 456: Chapter 486: Incorrigible
With mixed feelings, Qin Bogang watched as his mother wiped her reddened eyes, then happily came over to take the cured meats, roast duck, and pastries.
"Oldest, you actually brought back so many things!"
Even the stern expression on Mr. Qin’s face softened slightly.
Qin Bogang thought for a moment before deciding to speak up. "I bought these two items, and Xiao Na mailed back those two. The rest of this huge pile was all sent by Zhong Hui."
Sure enough, as soon as the words left his mouth, Mr. Qin’s expression turned cold again. Old Mrs. Qin, worried he would take his anger out on all the nice things, hurriedly took everything.
Mr. Qin’s voice was hoarse from years of smoking. He sneered, "Is he treating me like I’m dead? Mailing a few things back like he’s giving handouts to a beggar?"
Nearby, Qin Jiqun chimed in to stir the pot. "Forget Xiao Na—a married daughter is like spilled water. But what’s the deal with Second Brother? Is he not even coming home for the New Year? Does he even care about Mom and Dad anymore?!"
’I can’t talk back to Father, but surely I can lecture my little brother?’
Frustrated, Qin Bogang looked at Qin Jiqun and said, "Do you have any right to talk? If you hadn’t thrown a tantrum over wanting a house and nearly gotten Xiao Shi lost, and then later made a fuss about swapping brides and almost hurt Xiao Jiao, do you think Second Brother and his wife would be this disillusioned with the family?"
Qin Jiqun was full of twisted logic. "So what?" he retorted. "The kid wasn’t lost in the end, right? Besides, it’s not like I was the one who kidnapped them! And that bride-swapping thing? It didn’t even work out! I’m still a bachelor! You and Second Brother both have a wife, kids, and a happy home. What about me? All I have is a son and nothing else!"
Qin Bogang was so furious his chest ached. "You don’t make any effort to improve yourself, and you’re going to blame other people for it!"
"That’s enough, Oldest!" Mr. Qin began to defend his youngest son. "It’s a holiday. You’re hardly ever home, and the moment you are, you start picking on your brother. Is that all you’re good for?"
Qin Bogang felt utterly drained.
He’d actually felt bad about not staying home for the New Year. He had been torn about it before coming.
But now, it seemed there was nothing to be torn about.
"Fine. Dad, since you can’t stand the sight of me, I’ll just be like Second Brother and Xiao Na from now on. After all, your precious youngest son is the only one you care about. Here are the living expenses from me and Second Brother for the coming year. Take it. If you want to give it all to the third brother and leave yourself and Mom to eat nothing but scraps, that’s your choice!"
Qin Bogang’s voice was very loud when he said that last part.
Because the neighbors were all poking their heads out, listening in on the commotion.
There were no secrets in the village. It was considered unfilial for children not to visit their elders during the New Year. But what if there was a reason? What if the elders had done so much that their children’s hearts had turned completely cold?
Everyone in the village knew about Mr. Qin’s favoritism and his preference for sons over daughters.
The last things Qin Bogang shouted were meant for everyone to hear.
It wasn’t that he, his second brother, and Xiao Na were unfilial. They wanted to be good children, but to their parents—not to their own younger brother!
After saying his piece, Qin Bogang left without a backward glance. He missed the last bus and had to hitch a ride on a delivery truck belonging to someone from his village. The truck’s window was broken, however, and by the time he got home, he was shivering uncontrollably.
Sun Li had thought he wasn’t coming back. When he walked in, she was about to make a sarcastic comment or two, but then she saw how utterly dejected he looked. Possessing a sharp tongue but a soft heart, she immediately poured her husband a cup of hot water instead.
"Bogang, what’s wrong?"
Qin Bogang suddenly reached out and hugged his wife. The gesture startled Sun Li so much that she almost dumped the cup on his head. After all, they’d been married for years and their child was already so big; they were never this affectionate.
"Qin Bogang, what in the world is wrong with you?"
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