Chapter 396: Chapter 406: Homecoming_1
Zhao Hongmei angrily carried Erhu home and scolded her husband Zeng Changzhi, who was reading the newspaper, "Look at what the kid across the hall did to our Erhu. I don’t know how they raise their children, he’s so arrogant."
Zeng Changzhi looked at the scratches on Erhu’s face and felt a little upset. He took Erhu into his arms and said, "Mo Wang and Xiaopang are small. Plus, it must have been Erhu who started the trouble."
Zhao Hongmei glared at him and said, "But Lu Zhanguo was standing right there, watching his kid scratch ours and he did nothing. What kind of integrity is that?"
"That’s enough. Look at what you’ve done in spoiling Erhu. It’s good to let him realize that not everyone in the world will spoil him," Zeng Changzhi touched Erhu’s face. Although he felt sorry, he also knew Erhu was spoiled and had a big temper.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hongmei angrily grabbed Erhu and said, "If anyone hits you in the future, hit them back. If you win, mom will make you boiled eggs."
Zeng Changzhi shook his head helplessly, "What kind of parenting is that? You have no sense of right and wrong."
Carrying her child, Zhao Hongmei yelled at Zeng Changzhi, "Look at you, so self-righteous, and look at Lu Zhanguo protecting his child. When your son gets scratched like this, you still say that Erhu is in the wrong. I don’t know if this will leave a scar."
"If it leaves a scar, let it be. Why would a boy care about it?" Zeng Changzhi finished speaking and took his newspaper into the bedroom. He could only sigh at Zhao Hongmei’s limitless indulgence towards their child. Every time he tried to correct Erhu, Zhao Hongmei would rebut him with countless excuses and complaints.
Only Zhao Hongmei herself could discipline Erhu; if anyone else, including Zeng Changzhi, said a word, she would immediately pick a fight with them.
Gu Xiaobei also decided not to let Xiaopang and Mo Wang play with Erhu anymore. She couldn’t guarantee that Mo Wang and Xiaopang wouldn’t scratch or beat Erhu again. Given Zhao Hongmei’s temperament, it was better to avoid unnecessary contact. Fortunately, the kids often played in the other courtyard and wouldn’t encounter each other frequently.
On the day Ji Xiangdong and Bai Xiaolan arrived in the provincial capital, it was a Sunday. Lu Zhanguo had to pick them up at the train station early in the morning.
Wen Xiuqing thought for a moment and said to Gu Xiaobei, who was busy in the kitchen, "Why don’t we invite Ruirui over for dinner? We can wash her dishes separately." They always had communal chopsticks when having meals at home.
Gu Xiaobei was wrapping dumplings. Hearing Wen Xiuqing’s suggestion, she reluctantly said, "Okay, since my older brother is returning, let’s have a family meal together."
Wen Xiuqing smiled with satisfaction and walked into the room to ask Lu Songyuan to invite Lu Ruixue for dinner, while she watched the two children.
Not long after, Lu Songyuan returned with a gloomy face. He walked into the kitchen and roared at Wen Xiuqing, "From now on, let’s consider that girl dead to us. No one should meddle in her affairs."
Wen Xiuqing was playing with the dough with the two children at the small table. She asked in astonishment, "What happened?"
Lu Songyuan snorted, "This ungrateful bastard returned the rental lease to the landlord, sold the rice, noodles, and oil at home to the landlord at a low price, took the money and disappeared."
Wen Xiuqing looked at Lu Songyuan in surprise, "Didn’t she still in yesterday morning when you delivered the meat?" After saying this, she glanced uncomfortably at Gu Xiaobei.
Gu Xiaobei was wrapping the dumplings with her eyes down and pretended not to hear Wen Xiuqing’s words.
"She ran away early this morning. Better for her to have left, now, we can finally have some peace," Lu Songyuan said, voicing his bitter feelings but masking them with harsh words.
Wen Xiuqing felt unhappy and her eyes reddened again. Why was Lu Ruixue so stubbornly resistant to change?
They heard the sound of the main gate creaking open, and then Bai Xiaolan stormed in. She smiled at Lu Songyuan and Wen Xiuqing and said, "Mom and dad, we’re back."
Wen Xiuqing’s mood improved a little. She smiled and said, "We’ve been looking forward to your return. Quickly, go warm your hands."
Gu Xiaobei looked at Bai Xiaolan, whose hair had grown noticeably longer and who had gotten a bit tanned, but was full of vigor. She teased, "You must have traveled many days on the road."
Bai Xiaolan took off her coat and warmed her hands by the stove. "We walked nearly twelve days. It was snowing there, so the roads were difficult to tread on." Once her hands were warm, she ran to the two children, crouched down, and hugged them, saying excitedly, "Our Mo Wang and Xiaopang have grown up and become even more beautiful."
Wen Xiuqing looked at her rash actions and wanted to say something but hesitated. She wondered whether the oldest daughter-in-law was expecting a child.
Lu Zhanguo and Ji Xiangdong put their luggage in the west room before coming to the kitchen.
Ji Xiangdong greeted Lu Songyuan and Wen Xiuqing with a smile, casually moved a stool to sit next to Wen Xiuqing, and also pulled a stool for Bai Xiaolan.
Lu Songyuan had lost his previous anger and happily said, "How long are you going to stay this time?"
"We’ll return after the New Year. We’ll return to Capital City after New Year’s Day, before coming back here to celebrate the New Year with you all." Ji Xiangdong laid out their itinerary briefly.
Wen Xiuqing sighed and said, "You are going to have a wedding in Capital City. Your father and I should be there, but Xiaobei can’t leave her business."
Bai Xiaolan casually suggested, "Why don’t we just take Mo Wang and Xiaopang back to Capital City?"
Wen Xiuqing felt tempted, but ultimately decided against it. It would be troublesome if something happened to the kids. If they took the children to Capital City and something went wrong, they would feel guilty for the rest of their lives.
Gu Xiaobei said with a smile, "Mom, you go back with my older brother and sister-in-law. I can look after the kids by myself for a few days. If it gets too busy, I’ll find someone to help look after them. We can make do. Besides, my brother and his wife are going to have a wedding, you and dad should be there."
Lu Zhanguo, who was helping Gu Xiaobei cook the dumplings, also said, "You can go back without worries. I can take an early year-end leave to stay home and watch the kids."
Lu Songyuan happily said, "Then it’s settled. This way, we won’t worry, and we can enjoy our time back home. I have to say, I miss the old fellows in Capital City."
The dumplings were almost ready. Gu Xiaobei urged Bai Xiaolan and the others to wash up. She took the fried bread that was fried last night and brewed some pickled chili peppers, cut them into shreds, and mixed them with sesame oil.
When the dishes were served, Gu Xiaobei saw Bai Xiaolan sit down and pick out all the cilantro from her bowl. She curiously asked, "You don’t eat cilantro?" This cilantro was the last little bit left in the field before the snow, which Lu Songyuan had dug up, roots and all, and placed in the vegetable cellar, burying the roots in the sand. They would only use a few stalks to add flavor when making soup.
While meticulously picking out the cilantro, Bai Xiaolan said, "I eat it, but Xiangdong doesn’t."
Wen Xiuqing looked at Bai Xiaolan with satisfaction. This gesture really pleased her.
