Chapter 287

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

To Chai Zhongxiao, Chai Youqing was merely one of his sons.

A son he only remembered when he was short of hands at home. As for other times, Chai Zhongxiao never really looked favorably upon Chai Youqing.

Chai Zhongxiao felt that this son, Chai Youqing, was excessively useless.

He neither had the sweet tongue of the second son, Chai You Fu, nor was he endearing like the youngest son, Chai Youde.

How could a wooden and useless son be liked by his father?

Chai Youqing was precisely such a person.

However, Chai Youqing felt quite good about himself.

This was also the main reason Chai Mi felt extreme aversion toward Chai Youqing.

With no one else from the family following along, Chai Youqing carried a bowl of steaming hot mutton dumplings to the Laozhai all by himself.

The Laozhai had already fallen into a wretched state beyond recognition. The room where Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong lived didn't even have windows anymore. Fortunately it was summer now; in another month or so, when Mid-Autumn arrived, if it were deep autumn, Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong would have a miserable time of it.

Through the window without glass, Chai Youqing saw his old father Chai Zhongxiao squatting at the Kang Tou smoking, while his old mother Wang Huirong was leaning askew against the wall, grimacing in pain but not daring to make a sound.

Chai Youqing felt this heartache.

Old Mother's arm is broken, I'm helpless to do anything, the third son Chai Youde is unfilial, and the second son Chai You Fu can't be the master of the house, can't make decisions.

This family is going to fall apart...

Chai Youde happened to be sleeping in the room; he abruptly raised his head and saw Chai Youqing had come. He froze for a moment, then got off the Kang and went out.

Arriving in the Courtyard, looking at Chai Youqing, puzzled: "Big Brother, what did you come here for?"

Chai Youde didn't quite believe Chai Youqing could bring money for Chai Zhongxiao, after all, the Back Courtyard is now run by Chai Mi.

What Chai Youqing says doesn't count at all.

Then what did Chai Youqing come for?

"I came to bring our Mother a bowl of dumplings to nourish her body," Chai Youqing sighed and said: "Mother's arm is broken, it must hurt terribly, and her health is in very poor shape. These are mutton-filled dumplings; eating them can help replenish her body."

Chai Youde's mouth gaped open; for half a day he couldn't utter a word. He looked at Chai Youqing with the eyes one uses to look at a fool.

The problem was Chai Youde didn't realize Chai Youqing was playing dumb...

So, Chai Youde felt this thing was fucking bizarre!

Chai Youde was truly dumbfounded. He blinked, looking at the bowl of steaming mutton dumplings in Big Brother Chai Youqing's hand, then at the old mother inside whose face was twisted in pain, and at the old father at the Kang Tou smoking stuffy smoke with a sinister gaze.

This... has Chai Youqing gone stupid? Or is he purely here to add to the trouble?

Old Mother Wang Huirong's arm is broken; can eating dumplings make the arm grow back? Isn't this fucking talking nonsense?

The problem is, do Old Father and Old Mother lack this bowl of dumplings right now? They lack money now! They lack money, so Chai Youqing just doesn't give money, and still fucking comes to deliver dumplings?

Looking for fault!!!

"Dumplings? Mutton-filled?" Chai Youde's voice even went up an octave, carrying a tone of disbelief. He subconsciously glanced toward the room. "Big Brother, you... you bringing a bowl of dumplings over at this time... what's the meaning of this?"

Chai Youde actually didn't feel particular aversion toward Chai Youqing in his heart, so he also didn't really want Big Brother Chai Youqing to be too embarrassed: "You go back. If Dad sees you bringing dumplings, he'll fly into a rage again. At that time, once you're not in this Courtyard anymore, he'll start spouting 'five horses long spears' again. Who the fuck can stand that?!"

Chai Youqing was choked by his retort; that "filial piety"-brought self-satisfaction on his face also froze, looking somewhat awkward: "What what meaning? Giving Mother something good to eat to replenish her body! Look at how much pain Mother is in... Besides, me bringing dumplings is being filial to Mother... why would Dad get angry?"

Chai Youde was nearly driven mad with anger.

"No, if you're being filial, then take out some money for Mother's medical treatment!!!"

"Go go go... Big Brother, I'm not having an easy time either. You hurry up and leave, don't upset everyone."

Chai Youqing didn't leave... he still kept wrangling with Chai Youde.

Result...

Inside the room, Chai Zhongxiao had long since heard the Noise.

Those words "mutton dumplings" were like sparks flying into his ears, igniting the evil fire in his heart with a "whoosh" straight up.

He abruptly stood up from the Kang Yan; the tobacco pipe nearly snapped in two...

Chai Zhongxiao couldn't be bothered to put on shoes, and came out cursing and swearing: "(profanity asterisks)... this dog-calf plaything!!! Chai Youqing, you really fucking deserve to die! How did I give birth to a dog-thing like you back then!"

And Wang Huirong heard it too. She lay prone on the Window Sill looking outside; that mutton fragrance seemed to have already drilled into her nose, temporarily suppressing the heart-piercing pain in her arm.

Dumplings. Wang Huirong had boiled many recently, but not only did she not get to eat any, her arm was even broken by Chai Zhongxiao.

Wang Huirong's life is bitter, but she still doesn't dare say anything.

Say too much, and she'll get beaten.

She moved with difficulty, staring longingly toward the direction of the Chai Family Old House Neighbor's Door, saliva flowing out uncontrollably...

Alas! If only I could eat a bite of dumplings.

How wonderful that would be!

These days are passed, truly too hard to endure!

Simply, not a life for humans at all!

Wang Huirong even felt the family had directly regressed thirty years, back to the time when even eating was a struggle.

Truly, have nothing of whatever you want...

Except, there's no famine.

Nothing at all!!!

In a few steps Chai Zhongxiao leapt to the Chai Family Old House Neighbor's Door, shoving aside Chai Youde who was blocking the doorway. That old face flushed deep red from anger and a sense of twisted humiliation.

Chai Zhongxiao was furious!

Chai Youqing doesn't do any work at home, so what good is he?

No good!

Chai Youqing doesn't give any money to the family, so what good is he?

Also no good!

Useless Chai Youqing, not only did he not give money, but he even deliberately brought a bowl of mutton-filled dumplings to make things difficult for his own father?!

How could Chai Zhongxiao endure this?!

He stared fixedly at the bowl in Chai Youqing's hand; those round, plump white dumplings were glaringly offensive to him, simply a display of Chai Youqing's family living well, a naked mockery and charity toward him, this down-and-out old man!

And Chai Mi was there smirking, slapping him in the face!

Chai Zhongxiao no longer cared whether this was Chai Mi's intention or Chai Youqing's true meaning.

Anyway, disgusting!

Extremely disgusting!!

"Fine! Chai Youqing! You've really gotten capable!" Chai Zhongxiao shouted loudly, his voice trembling slightly, speaking in a desperate tone: "Your mother's arm is broken! She's in pain almost to death! You, this 'filial son and worthy grandson,' bring a bowl of dumplings?! You think you're sending off a beggar?! Huh?!"

The problem is, this really is deliberately making things difficult for him, Chai Zhongxiao!

If Wang Huirong had gone to the hospital and had surgery, then Chai Youqing sending a bowl of dumplings would be understandable.

Or if Chai Youqing had taken out money, sending a bowl of dumplings afterward would be fine too.

But now Wang Huirong is at home.

Chai Youqing didn't spend a single fen, and he even deliberately came over to watch the excitement?

Is this something a human would do?

Even a dog wouldn't be this much of a dog!!

Chai Youqing clearly didn't know Chai Zhongxiao would react like this...

He shivered in fright, the bowl in his hand almost unsteady: "Dad... Dad, no... that... I just... just wanted Mom to eat something good..."

Chai Youqing actually truly wanted Wang Huirong to eat something good.

It's just that maybe this timing wasn't good.

Besides, Chai Youqing still felt this was a filial act...

"Eat something good?! Eat your mother's good!"

Chai Zhongxiao couldn't listen to any explanation at all, the anger accumulated over countless days.

And Chai Zhongxiao's recent frustration from being too poor to live, plus his hatred toward Chai Mi and Chai Youqing for "not saving someone on the brink of death," were all ignited by this bowl of dumplings right now.

Chai Zhongxiao grabbed the bowl of dumplings and smashed it directly onto Chai Youqing's head.

"I let you eat! Eat your mother's eat! You dog thing!!!"

Crunch!

"Ow..."

The bowl shattered, and the scalding hot dumplings and dumpling soup were poured directly onto Chai Youqing's head.

Although several minutes had passed, the dumpling soup wasn't a hundred degrees anymore, but it was still eighty or ninety degrees.

Plus the bowl broke and directly cut a wound on Chai Youqing's head.

Chai Youqing instantly had a cut on his head, and being scalded, he cried "Ow..." and stumbled back several steps in panic, falling directly to the ground.

"It hurts..."

Chai Youde watched from the side with glee: Hehe, he wouldn't leave when told to!

Chai Youqing really deserved it!

The dumplings had all fallen to the ground; eating them was already scorching, and now they were covered in dirt, filthy beyond measure.

Chai Zhongxiao still wasn't satisfied, went up and kicked Chai Youqing several times.

"You bastard! What are you pretending to be here? Your mother's arm is broken, you don't pay money, and you deliberately bring a bowl of dumplings to make things difficult for your mother? You son of a bitch, how did I raise such a heartless thing?!"

Chai Youqing was kicked directly onto his butt on the ground, clutching his stomach and shouting in pain.

It's not that Chai Zhongxiao's outburst is blameworthy.

Mainly, apart from Chai Youqing thinking he was being filial, every normal person thought Chai Youqing had a problem.

Whether it was Chai Mi's thoughts before Chai Youqing went out, or now Chai Zhongxiao and Chai Youde's views, it was that Chai Youqing came to find fault...

Chai Youde wasn't much of a person, but he wasn't stupid.

He watched Chai Youqing being beaten by his old father from the side, but felt somewhat satisfied and gleeful: Serves you right! Let you act rich! Let you overestimate yourself!

He shrank his neck, then retreated several steps, not daring to step forward to break up the fight, afraid of being implicated.

Chai Zhongxiao was famous in the family as the "head of the household"; the whole family was under Chai Zhongxiao's control. Even though Chai Youqing was almost forty, Chai Zhongxiao would hit if he said hit, and curse if he said curse.

Not indulging him at all.

Of course, all this was Chai Youqing's own doing.

And Wang Huirong on the kang watched with wide eyes as that life-saving, fragrant bowl of mutton dumplings fell to the ground, covered in dust, her heart breaking.

Wang Huirong felt that at least her eldest son had brought a bowl of dumplings, and she felt quite warm in her heart.

Because compared horizontally, neither her husband nor her other sons cared about Wang Huirong at all.

But Wang Huirong's word didn't count in the family either.

Watching Chai Youqing being beaten, Wang Huirong could only close her eyes.

That way, she wouldn't see...

Chai Youqing was beaten with no power to fight back, his face and hands struck several times, burning with pain.

And Chai Zhongxiao struck truly hard, with the momentum to beat him crippled here, fighting desperately...

Thinking of his old mother Wang Huirong's arm being broken, Chai Youqing was now afraid too.

Chai Zhongxiao really wanted to beat himself to death...

To save his life, Chai Youqing scrambled backward in a panic, fleeing the Old Chai Family's dilapidated courtyard in a wretched state.

"Scram! Get the hell away from me! Dare come again, and I'll break your dog legs!" Chai Zhongxiao chased to the courtyard gate, roaring at Chai Youqing's staggering fleeing figure, his heaving chest rising and falling violently as he panted heavily.

When Chai Zhongxiao returned to the courtyard again, looking at the broken bowls and dumplings.

He spat fiercely: "Pah! Using this plaything to humiliate me?! Chai Youqing, Chai Mi! You wait for me! Tomorrow! Watch how I deal with you!"

Chai Zhongxiao abruptly turned, roaring at the terrified Wang Huirong and the neck-shrinking Chai Youde inside the room: "Pack your things! Leave at first light tomorrow! Take this ruinous old bitch with you! I'm going all out this time! If I don't flay a layer of skin off them, I won't be surnamed Chai!"

Wang Huirong nodded trembling in fear.

Che Lianyun in the West Room had heard all of this clearly, the cold laugh at the corner of her mouth becoming even more obvious.

Hehe.

You go ahead and make trouble, the bigger the better. She turned up the radio volume a bit, the warbling singing drowning out the sounds outside.

Out of sight, out of mind; unheard, even less trouble.

Anyway, the ones who can't afford to eat are Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong, not her Che Lianyun.

Two good-for-nothing playthings, causing a loss of life would be even better.

Old Chai Family, one death means one less.

On the other side, Chai Youqing held his beaten aching arm and cheek, walking home with uneven steps.

Chai Youqing actually still didn't quite understand why Chai Zhongxiao would get angry and hit him...

Arriving at the doorway, he saw the courtyard main gate was closed.

Chai Youqing knocked on the door.

From the other side came Chai Xiu's voice: "Dad, my sister said. Given your overly excellent performance, let's separate households and live apart. You live yours, we mother and daughters live ours."

Chai Xiu paused and said: "My sister has moved your luggage to that courtyard by the ancestral hall."

When Chai Youqing went out, Chai Mi already knew the current situation, so she had already thrown Chai Youqing's luggage into that courtyard by the ancestral hall in advance.

That courtyard by the ancestral hall, there are still three rooms of slightly drafty tile-roofed houses, which Chai Zhongxiao was forced to give to Chai Mi in the end because he owed Chai Mi those two thousand yuan.

Now, Chai Mi put it to use.

"Food and necessities, all moved over for you. From now on, we are two separate families. My sister said to have Mom and you divorce, Mom doesn't quite agree. But Dad, your situation is special, my sister absolutely refuses to let you in. So you'd better honestly go to the ancestral hall courtyard, let's separate households and live apart. My sister also said, your land totals three mu plus, you farm it yourself from now on. The land divided to us mother and daughters, we want it ourselves. This house you built, wait a few days, my sister will spend money to build a house on that ancestral hall courtyard. From now on, we will..."

"Cough cough... you walk your single-plank bridge, we walk our Yangguan Road."