Chapter 310: Back to teasing the autumn wind again?

Since Wu An was coming along on this trip back to the natal home, Mei Yueqin placed extra importance on it, taking many items so that we would have more face when we arrived.

There's a bit of showing off in it.

Wu Ping was quite supportive; the in‑laws had bought many gifts.

Wu An looked, found a box, and packed the Earth Dragon and Crab Tiger he was raising.

Mei Yueqin saw it and shouted, "Second son, what are you doing?"

"There's no need to take this."

"I've packed a lot of Shrimp Crab; even if we have more, the family can't finish them."

Wu An said calmly, "One thing at a time; this is my intention. The Earth Dragon and Crab Tiger are good for the elders, let the two elders try them."

Mei Yueqin shook her head, "Save it for dad."

"What's there to keep? If the afternoon is free, I'll go to Panshuikeng and catch two more for dad."

"You …"

"Listen to me."

Wu An spoke and placed the box into the carriage.

Wu Ping laughed, watched until Mei Yueqin looked over, shrugged and said, "These days at home, whoever earns money gets to speak; A An's words are more effective than our dad's."

Mei Yueqin, displeased, asked, "Who are you pointing at?"

Wu Ping looked mortified.

Wu An clapped gleefully, "Sister‑in‑law, go for him."

After tidying up, Mei Yueqin asked, "Second son, are you riding a bike?"

Wu An shook his head, "No, I still have a headache."

"Yesterday you weren't allowed to drink, but you insisted on drinking with dad."

"I won't drink next time."

"Really?"

"Next time, definitely."

Mei Yueqin rolled her eyes, too lazy to say more; in the past, when the family ate together, everyone ignored each other, eating in silence, the atmosphere was terribly stiff.

Now the two grandfathers are drinking, almost to the point of calling each other brothers.

Drink more if you want, that's fine.

That's pretty good.

Mei Yueqin rode a bike.

Wu Ping and Wu An, the two brothers, sat opposite each other in the rear carriage.

Just left the house.

Just happened to meet the neighbor Duan Dajie returning from a visit, who asked in surprise, "Early in the morning, gathering a crowd for what?"

"Going back to the natal home," Mei Yueqin laughed happily; "My brother and sister‑in‑law came back from work, perfect for the family to gather."

"Yo, A An is still following …" Duan Dajie looked at Wu An, smiled and greeted.

"Hmm." Wu An nodded, pursed his lips in a smile, "I haven't seen Uncle Mei and Aunt Ah Mu before."

"Ah… yes, I remember when you were in school, you often went with Yueqin." Duan Dajie said, recalling.

Mei Yueqin started the vehicle and quickly vanished around the corner.

Duan Dajie pursed her lips and said, "Tsk, now you're doing well, you have the face to follow along."

…

Shangwancun.

Meijia.

The elders got up early; at the first light, Mei Donghai rose to sweep the courtyard. Soon, Mei Wen and his spouse also got up; seeing Mei Donghai sweeping, Mei Wen's wife hurried over to take the old man and let him rest.

The old master's bones aren't in good condition; if he throws out his back, the trouble would be even greater.

Mei Wen also began taking meat out of the refrigerator, planning a table of dishes for noon; he works outside, cooking meals for people at construction sites.

Later, the work went well, and he also took his wife and children out.

When a construction phase ends, he gets free time to come back and rest a few days.

When the boss takes on the next site's cafeteria, he has to bring his wife and children over; fortunately, it's not a constant run—basically just circling the construction sites around the city.

The old couple entered the kitchen, "Is there anything you need help with?"

Mei Wen laughed, "Dad and Mom, there's nothing that needs help."

"I like to work alone."

"You just sit and have tea; I guess Mei Yueqin and the others will be arriving soon."

The doorway.

From somewhere came Mei Xiaoxiao's shout, "Dad, I'm watching at the doorway."

The old couple came out of the kitchen.

Mei Donghai looked toward the west room and asked, "Has Xiao Wu not gotten up yet?"

The wife said, "He's up."

"He hasn't left the house."

"I'll go call him."

Mei Donghai shook his head, "Forget it, still immature. Look at A An, that kid; before he was also reckless, now he's different."

The wife remained silent.

Just as they were speaking, a child's shout came from the doorway, "Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt is here, coming on a motorcycle."

"Aunt, aunt." As she followed, the voice faded away.

The idle Mei Donghai elderly couple walked out the door, seeing Mei Xiaoxiao shouting while running over.

Mei Yueqin quickly stopped the car and let Mei Xiaoxiao get in.

Mei Xiaoxiao is just over five, not shy at all; after getting in the car she called "Uncle!" and waved at Wu An: "Hello!"

Wu An rubbed her head, laughing: "Call me uncle; when you were little I held you, and you even peed on me."

"I was little back then."

"Haha, how old are you now?"

"I'm five and a half!" Mei Xiaoxiao said proudly: "When school starts I'll be a big kid in the senior class."

Seeing his mature little-kid demeanor, everyone was delighted.

Mei Yueqin slowly drove the car to the gate.

Before the car had fully stopped, Wu An jumped out and greeted: "Uncle Mei, A Mu, long time no see, how's your health?"

Mei Donghai extended his hand.

Wu An was startled, then quickly reached out; Mei Donghai grasped his hand and smiled: "Good, doing well."

"Good lad, getting more handsome all the time."

"Good, good."

Beside her, the old woman also laughed, her wrinkles bunching together: "You're also spirited."

"Just a bit darker than when you were little."

"Mei Yueqin said you're busy outdoors every day—how's it going?"

"Not bad, anyway I'm saving money to build a new house." Wu An laughed: "It's just that I've been out gathering seafood and fishing every day, getting tanned; yesterday I went to Panshuikeng and got some seafood to present to you two."

Mei Wen's daughter-in-law, having swept the floor, came out, saw a carload of things, and said: "This... this gift you brought is too much, isn't it?"

Wu Ping chuckled: "Sister-in-law, not much, not much—how could this be much?"

"It's not like we haven't come in a long time; soon my school starts and I'll be busy too."

Before, the young couple often relied on the elders for various help; plus, recently Wu An's burden added to it, so Mei Wen and his wife also took out the elderly support money they gave the elders and used it to subsidize Mei Yueqin.

Judging others by oneself.

Mei Wen and his wife are good people, but they inevitably have some reservations in their hearts.

Even if their own family doesn't say anything, the neighbors and villagers still gossip behind their backs.

Now that the family situation has improved and finances are looser, they certainly ought to show off more.

Especially neighbor Chen Lin; whenever they came to visit relatives, they always had to drop by and make sarcastic remarks.

Now when they come they bring lots of gifts—see what she still has to complain about.

Speak of Cao Cao and he appears.

Chen Lin heard the commotion in the courtyard, came out, saw Wu An slightly startled, then said in a sarcastic tone: "Yo yo yo, I thought who was coming."

"Isn't this A An?"

"Really, it's been a while since we last saw each other."

"Here to mooch off us again, eating and drinking for free?"

After saying that, she gave a half-joking, half-mocking laugh.

Previously, Mei Yueqin brought Wu An to the Mei family to visit relatives, and indeed it was to improve their meals.

These words are very familiar; Wu An has certainly heard Chen Lin say them many times before.