Chapter 241: Even a Tiger Won't Eat Its Cubs

"Human hearts are all made of flesh. I've said all I have to say; you two go home and think about it yourselves," the First Uncle said, then walked toward his home.

Qin Huairu glared at the smirking Second Uncle, then turned to Liu Guangtian and said, "You don't know how much Director Dong and Li Xuewu like you; they both wanted to transfer you to their side to be a driver. Sigh..."

Liu Guangtian's eyes turned red when he heard Qin Huairu's words.

Seeing the fish had taken the bait, Qin Huairu continued, "Li Xuewu even told me that since you're like this, your younger brother Guangfu shouldn't be any worse. He said since you're all neighbors, he has to help out when he can. You also know how good the benefits are in the Security Team now. He said Guangfu looks sharp and would definitely make it into the Security Team."

Liu Guangfu was just drifting through school and had long wanted to get into the factory.

But what time was it now? There was a surplus of personnel and no positions left; he could only drift along like this. How could he resist this temptation from Qin Huairu?

"Sigh, now, it's too late to say anything. Just wait, Li Xuewu will be back tomorrow..."

Qin Huairu sighed, walking home as she spoke. Once she got home and closed the door, she started to laugh.

Her approach was the classic "start the fire but don't bury the ashes." Now, she had left the Second Uncle to worry about his two sons, who were looking at him with red eyes.

At this moment, Yu Li was carrying a bowl of vegetables, two steamed buns, and a small pot of wine toward her home.

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu couldn't help but swallow when they saw this, glancing toward the direction of the inverted wing-room.

Looking at what Yu Li had brought out, they thought about what Qin Huairu had brought out.

"Dad..."

"Dad..."

Yu Li carried the food into the room and saw that Yan Jiecheng had already sat up, looking less resentful than before.

"Did you hear it all?"

Yan Jiecheng hung his head and nodded slightly, then whispered, "What kind of mess is this?"

Yu Li placed the potato stewed with meat she was holding onto the table by the kang, put the two steamed buns into a bowl, and finally placed the pot of wine beside the bowl.

Seeing Yan Jiecheng didn't move, she set out the wine cup that had been covering the pot and poured a cup of wine for him.

"Biaozi from the outer courtyard asked why you didn't come to eat and wanted to find you. I turned him away, saying you were tired today and had fallen asleep. This is the wine they saved for you; it's still warm."

Yan Jiecheng looked at the meat in the bowl, then at the white liquor in the cup, and asked hesitantly, "They saved this for me?"

Yu Li sat on the edge of the kang, looked at Yan Jiecheng, and said, "Biaozi said you acted like a real man today. He told you to eat and drink as you should, and not to take anything to heart."

Yan Jiecheng rubbed his face with both hands and said, "Today, I've truly lost all face."

Yu Li looked at her toes with an indifferent expression and said, "I won't force you; you decide for yourself. If you feel that living like this is tiring, then we'll just go to the Rolling Mill and work properly. We'll do whatever job they give us."

Yan Jiecheng still covered his face and didn't speak. Seeing that Yan Jiecheng was about to put on another act, Yu Li continued.

"We won't drive for him anymore either. That fabric is still in the trunk, untouched. We should return it to them."

Yan Jiecheng was shocked by his wife's words. He took his hands off his face and asked in surprise, "That fabric was bought for you. If we return it, will you still be able to work?"

Yu Li was blunt. She raised her head and looked at Yan Jiecheng, saying, "I won't work anymore. Things have already turned into such a mess, what's the point? Tomorrow, I'll tell Li Xuewu we won't serve him anymore. I'll just go home and cook for you."

Yan Jiecheng stood up with a start and said to Yu Li, "Why? We just saw hope in this life, why stop now?"

Yu Li looked at the agitated Yan Jiecheng and said with a sneer, "Just because of what your mom and dad said. If you keep working, you won't be your parents' son anymore, and I'll have become the vixen who ruined your family."

Yan Jiecheng waved his hands excitedly and said, "I earned this money with my own ability, and I got a good position. Why should I stop? I earned it through my own hard work, and I didn't steal or rob anyone!"

Yu Li pointed toward the front courtyard and said, "But people are talking about me. That fabric—do you really think others are blind? Go listen under your own window and see what your mother is saying."

Yan Jiecheng, of course, knew his mother couldn't say anything good. He walked to Yu Li's side and comforted her, "Let them say whatever they want. We'll live our own good life. Li Xuewu has already promised to let me drive for him. Our combined wages are almost catching up to Dad's. After a few years of hard work, we'll have everything."

Yu Li wiped her tears and said, "I'm afraid my reputation will be ruined, and it's your mom who's ruining it. Why don't we return the fabric? I won't do this job anymore."

Yan Jiecheng squatted in front of Yu Li and grabbed his wife's hands, saying, "Why stop? You must do it! We'll take what Li Xuewu gives us. We're running errands for him; he's giving us face."

Yu Li looked at Yan Jiecheng with red eyes and said, "Aren't you afraid of the neighbors gossiping? Especially your mom. If she says there's something between me and Li Xuewu, wouldn't you... maybe we should just forget it."

Yan Jiecheng shook his head and said, "It's just my mom and dad misunderstanding Li Xuewu. I've already asked the people in the Security Section, and I haven't heard of anyone giving Li Xuewu gifts."

Yu Li wiped away her tears and asked, "How do you know they're telling the truth?"

Yan Jiecheng curled his lip and said, "Xu Ning's family is the poorest. They have seven children. He'd like to give gifts, but he has to be able to afford it. But look at him now, he's a deputy section-level cadre."

Yu Li didn't know about the Security Section either, but hearing Yan Jiecheng say this, she couldn't help but let out an "Ah!"

Yan Jiecheng wiped Yu Li's tears and explained, "I don't believe that those who don't give gifts can get promoted so fast. We're neighbors, you're helping out in his unit, and I'm running errands for him. He wouldn't treat us unfairly."

Yu Li looked up at Yan Jiecheng and asked, "So we continue?"

Yan Jiecheng nodded and said, "Continue. Others don't know about that fabric, but don't I know? I accompanied Li Xuewu to the mall, and he asked me if I wanted to buy it. I said I couldn't afford it, so he bought it for me. This is him giving us face. There's no 'melon patch or plum tree' suspicion or any of that nonsense."

"My parents are just jealous of us and stingy about the money for finding a job, so they're saying Li Xuewu pocketed it without any basis. I've already asked about the price of getting in through connections at the factory; he actually did use up some favors."

"Don't pay them any mind. They're just framing a good person. Feel free to do your work. I don't believe anyone in this courtyard who gossips; I only believe you and Li Xuewu."

"You're my wife, we're one. You wouldn't harm me. Li Xuewu is my leader now. I'm so poor I live in this small, broken room, what could he possibly want to trick me out of?"

As he spoke, Yan Jiecheng felt relieved and hungry, so he sat at the table to eat.

Yu Li got the chopsticks for Yan Jiecheng. When she handed them to him, she said, "But didn't you hear the Second Uncle say you're Li Xuewu's dog? That sounds terrible."

Yan Jiecheng took the chopsticks his wife handed him, tapped them on the table, picked up a piece of braised meat, and took a sip of the Northeast loose white liquor.

"Sss—"

Sipping the white liquor, he felt it was much more fragrant than the wine at home, and he let out a deep breath of alcohol.

"Heh, the Second Uncle is just jealous. You don't know, he's crazy about wanting to be an official and can't stand others being better than him."

As he spoke, seeing Yu Li still standing by and serving, he said, "Don't mind his gossip at the door. He's just anxious because he can't suck up to Li Xuewu. He wants to be a dog but can't even manage that. Didn't you see how anxious his two sons are?"

Yu Li poured more wine for Yan Jiecheng and said, "Eat some meat. Seeing Sha Zhu stewed this when he came back tonight. I saved the good parts for you."

Yan Jiecheng ate another piece of meat and said, "When would we ever dare to eat meat like this at my parents' place? Heh, with food like this, if they say I'm Li Xuewu's dog, heh, then I'll just be Li Xuewu's dog."

Yu Li handed the wine cup to Yan Jiecheng and said, "Don't talk nonsense. What dog or not dog? That sounds awful."

Yan Jiecheng drank another cup. This sip was a bit rushed, but he felt relieved inside. A red flush appeared on his face, but his mouth didn't stop.

"Master Yang Er at Qin Huairu, busy running around for Li Xuewu's family, cooking and chopping vegetables. She even goes to the west courtyard at night to fill the stove. If you want to talk about being a dog, Qin Huairu was the first one, but look at Qin Huairu now."

Yu Li sat on the edge of the kang and whispered, "That's true. I heard she was removed from her post because of a fight, but I don't know how she got promoted again. It's all a mess, I don't understand."

Yan Jiecheng picked up a steamed bun and started eating, answering Yu Li's words while chewing.

"What fight? That was an opportunity Li Xuewu arranged. Others don't know, but I'm in the Security Section, don't I know?"

"The Security Li Kezhang was transferred to the guesthouse. The original staff wouldn't submit to discipline. This Qin Huairu really dared to seize the opportunity; she took a bunch of women from the workshop and went there. It was a huge scene. In the end, they said she was removed from her post, but look at her now. She's become a section chief through the 'worker-as-cadre' system. Don't you understand what's going on here?"

Yu Li said in surprise, "No wonder the First Uncle was talking about this at the door just now, and the Second Uncle didn't even dare to refute him. There's something going on here."

As she spoke, Yu Li asked in a low voice, "Then what about what the Second Uncle said, that he heard Qin Huairu was in Li Xuewu's room in the middle of the night?"

Yan Jiecheng looked out the window and whispered, "I think it's eight or nine out of ten true. Otherwise, why would she, Qin Huairu, get promoted? That's a cadre position; she jumped several levels in one step."

Seeing the envy in Yu Li's eyes, Yan Jiecheng comforted her, "It's fine. She does her thing, we do ours. You just work hard for Li Xuewu at home, and I'll drive for him properly at the Rolling Mill. We'll definitely be able to live well."

Yu Li's eyes rolled, and she poured Yan Jiecheng another cup of wine, saying, "Drink more. You must be tired these past few days, right?"

"Mm-hmm, can't drink too much. I have to sleep after eating. I have to get up early tomorrow morning to add water to the car and wipe it down. Tomorrow, Li Xuewu is going hunting with the head of our section."

Seeing Yan Jiecheng wasn't drinking anymore, she put away the wine cup and pot. While working, she asked, "Didn't they say they were going to test the radio station?"

Yan Jiecheng ate the steamed bun and vegetables, answering Yu Li, "Heh, who knows? There's a new hunting rifle in the trunk of the car. One hundred yuan—he spent it just like that, without even blinking. He really spent a lot of money today."

Yu Li asked in confusion, "Isn't it just these fabrics and toys? There's a gun too?"

Yan Jiecheng looked at Yu Li and said, "There's more. I'm telling you, but don't go spreading it around: Li Xuewu might be keeping a woman outside."

"Ah! You can't talk nonsense like that!"

Yan Jiecheng chuckled, "What nonsense? He bought a pair of women's leather shoes at the mall, nearly ten yuan. He said to wrap them up, and he did, without blinking. At the Dong'an Market, he bought books and rabbit meat and had me deliver them to the side of the lake, and told me to pick him up tomorrow morning. If that's not keeping a woman, what is?"

Yu Li's mind raced. Listening to Yan Jiecheng describe how dashing Li Xuewu was at the big mall and how he threw money around, she couldn't help but feel incredibly envious.

"He's keeping Qin Huairu in the backyard and another one outside, and he's not even married yet."

Yan Jiecheng said disdainfully, "So what if he's not married? In the old days, it wasn't uncommon for someone capable to have three wives and four concubines. Even now, it's not rare to have two wives at home. Let alone keeping a widow or a mistress; even married women are willing to chase after someone like this. It's not strange."

Not strange? Yu Li always felt Yan Jiecheng was hinting at something, always talking about "doing this and doing that." Now he was talking about married women—what did he mean?

"You're his driver. If you see these things, just pretend you didn't. Don't go spreading it around. Maybe he's testing you today."

Yan Jiecheng finished the steamed bun in his hand and ate the vegetables clean before saying, "Do you think I don't know? I wouldn't spread it even if it killed me. I'll keep all these things buried in my stomach. I'll just drive for him quietly. If he does well, our family does well."

Yu Li touched Yan Jiecheng's head and said, "That's good. You're becoming more sensible. My man is becoming more capable."

Yan Jiecheng took off his coat and pushed Yu Li's hand away, saying, "You hurry up and clean up. I have to sleep. Don't disturb me; I really have to get up early tomorrow."

Yu Li glanced at the "battle-avoiding" Yan Jiecheng and carried the bowls and chopsticks back to the inverted wing-room to clean up.

Yan Jiecheng, on the other hand, was full and satisfied, so he lay down.

Being full and satisfied doesn't necessarily mean one has to lie down. Li Xuewu had to get up from the kang now to clean up.

Perhaps he had used too much energy, and Lou Jie was on strike, but they hadn't even eaten dinner yet.

Li Xuewu had no choice but to fend for himself.

Following Lou Jie's instructions, he clumsily cleaned the rabbit, added potatoes and radishes, and stewed a small pot.

He also brought out his specialty: while steaming the rice, he also steamed a bowl of egg custard.

After placing everything on the kang table, he dampened a towel to wipe Lou Jie's face and hands, serving her dinner.

"Serves you right! See if you'll be stubborn again in the future. If you tire me out, you'll have to cook for yourself."

Li Xuewu served Lou Jie some rice and inserted a spoon into the egg custard for her.

"When it's time to act, I act. I'm willing to cook for myself, but I'll never treat you or myself poorly."

"Pah! You're just an animal, you don't know what tired is."

"I'm willing."

Li Xuewu scooped a spoonful of egg custard into his bowl, added a bit of pickled vegetable soup, and mixed it with the rice to eat.

It's unclear what kind of eating method this was, but Watching Lou Xiaoe picked up a piece of rabbit meat for Li Xuewu.

"Taste the dish you made yourself. Is it good?"

Li Xuewu picked it up, tasted it, and said, "Mm~ not as good as what you make."

"Slick-tongued."

Watching Lou Xiaoe scolded Li Xuewu, but she felt sweet inside.

Li Xuewu gnawed on the rabbit meat and said, "I can't argue with you on this. You know whether I'm slick-tongued or not."

"Why are you so glib? Eat your food properly."

Li Xuewu was eating properly, but someone else's meal wasn't going well.

"Master Yang Er at you, what were you bickering with the Second Uncle for? You ended up getting yourself involved. Even if Li Xuewu wasn't home, it wasn't your turn to stand up for him."

Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Qin Huairu put down her bowl and said, "We can't just eat the food and then let others scold us. Li Xuewu isn't here, but how do you know he won't hear about it? Won't Yan Jiecheng and his wife tell him?"

Jia Zhangshi said helplessly, "But look at what people are saying about you now. They're all saying your cadre position wasn't obtained properly."

Qin Huairu looked at her mother-in-law and said, "Don't you know whether my position was obtained properly? You wouldn't learn from the Third Aunt and splash dirty water on your own daughter-in-law, would you? If that's really the case, I'll resign from this position tomorrow."

Jia Zhangshi held her bowl in surprise and said, "Are you crazy? Don't you know how much a cadre earns a month? We just saw hope, and if you resign, our family will be drinking northwest wind again."

Qin Huairu looked at Jia Zhangshi and asked, "Then what do you say we should do? Can I cover people's ears or block their mouths? It's not like I can control what they say. Anyway, every time I go, I take Banggeng with me. My body is upright, so I'm not afraid of a crooked shadow."

Jia Zhangshi curled her lip and said, "Mm-hmm-hmm, I know your body is upright. Whoever dares to talk about you, I'll fight them to the death."

Xiaodang and Little Huaihua were still young and didn't understand what their mother and grandmother were talking about, but Banggeng could understand.

Tonight, when Banggeng was playing in the courtyard, he saw these two scenes and knew the neighbors in the courtyard weren't saying good things about his mother.

But what Banggeng could be sure of was that every time he went to Wu Shu's house with his mother, it was normal, and there wasn't the kind of thing these people in the courtyard were talking about.

"My mom is upright. Every time I go to Wu Shu's house with my mom, nothing happens. How come it becomes something when it gets to their mouths?"

Jia Zhangshi looked at Qin Huairu and said to Banggeng, "Yes, yes, yes, Grandma also says your mom is upright. They're all jealous that your mom is going to be a cadre and earn more money. They're not good people."

Little Huaihua looked at her grandmother, then at her mother, and asked, "Mom is going to earn more money, so can I wear new clothes for the New Year?"

Jia Zhangshi thought carefully about Qin Huairu's current salary. Isn't that right? Compared to this good life, what are a few gossips?

"Your mom's salary is 37.5 yuan now, ten yuan more than before. This year, our family can have a good New Year. Each of you three will get a set of new clothes; Grandma promises."

Seeing that her mother-in-law was no longer talking about her and Li Xuewu, Qin Huairu picked up her bowl again and continued to eat.

"Although the salary is higher now, we should still save where we can."

Jia Zhangshi nodded and said, "I know. It's just that the New Year is coming, so let the children be happy. We don't need it; we'll just live as we always have."

Qin Huairu was a cadre now, and her salary had increased, so Jia Zhangshi was also polite when talking to Qin Huairu, no longer being sarcastic like before.

"This is the last day at Li Xuewu's house. From now on, we'll have to cook our own dinner. I have to study at the factory and will be back late, so you make dinner."

Jia Zhangshi nodded with a smile and said, "You don't need to worry about it. Just wait for a ready-made meal when you get home. I'm not seventy or eighty yet; I can still help you for another twenty years."

Seeing that her mother-in-law wasn't acting up, Qin Huairu felt better. She looked at the coat her mother-in-law was wearing and said, "Tomorrow when I'm off, we'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some fabric for the children, and I'll buy a piece for you too. You haven't made new clothes in several years."

Jia Zhangshi was surprised and laughed, unable to close her mouth, saying, "No, no, I can still wear this one. Make a set for yourself."

Qin Huairu served vegetables to the three children and said, "The guesthouse is going to issue new clothes, so I'll just wear that set. It's better to make one for you; the cuffs of this one are already fraying."

Jia Zhangshi laughed and said, "Good, good, good, that's great. From now on, you just focus on your work. You don't need to worry about things at home; I'll wash the children's clothes."

Qin Huairu suddenly had a dreamlike feeling of "a poor couple's hundred sorrows." When there was no money before, they often argued and bickered, and it was either this part hurting today or that part hurting tomorrow.

Now that there was money, nothing hurt anymore, and without her even asking, the work was being fought over to be done.

"Aren't your bones hurting? I'll come back and wash them."

Jia Zhangshi waved her hand and said, "If I tell you to work properly, then work properly. You don't need to worry about the house. I use hot water to wash clothes; how much could it hurt?"

Qin Huairu pointed at the three children and said, "After school, don't always think about running out. Stay home and help Grandma with the work."

Xiaodang and Little Huaihua both nodded in agreement, but only Banggeng said unwillingly, "I still have to feed the chickens."

Qin Huairu pointed at Banggeng and said, "Then help Grandma with the work after feeding the chickens. Don't think I don't know you want to go play in the inverted wing-room. Let me tell you, don't run over there. They're all busy, and there are valuable things in the inverted wing-room."

Banggeng said unconvinced, "Wu Shu told me to go."

Qin Huairu glared and said, "Even if your Wu Shu said so, it's not allowed. Listen to me."

Seeing his mother glare, Banggeng could only bury his head and continue eating. As for whether Manager Jia actually listened, that was another matter.

At this time, Xiaodang whispered, "Wu Shu is so nice. He even promised my brother to take us to his house to take a bath."

Qin Huairu pointed at Xiaodang and said, "I know. Don't remind me. I'll take you after dinner, but listen well: no being naughty. If you don't listen, I won't take you next time."

"Got it," the three children answered in unison.

Jia Zhangshi looked at the children, then at Qin Huairu, and said, "This Li Xuewu is quite good to the children."

Qin Huairu pointed at the pockets of Xiaodang and Little Huaihua's clothes and said, "Master Yang Er at the pockets of these two children. During this time, when have they ever been without sugar balls? If they keep eating like this, they'll get cavities."

"I'm not afraid, sugar is delicious," Little Huaihua said, raising her small face.

This sugar was all given by Banggeng, so Banggeng said, "This was given to me by Wu Shu. Some were rewards for feeding the chickens, some were rewards for running errands, and some were rewards for helping the Great Uncle move things."

The "Great Uncle" in Banggeng's mouth was Li Xuewu's Great Uncle. No one knew who taught him, but Li Xuewu and Banggeng's mother...

Now Banggeng followed Li Xuewu and called the grandfather "Great Uncle." Now Li Xuewu could rub shoulders with Banggeng.

Because they weren't relatives and the grandfather was easygoing, Banggeng followed Biaozi and the others and called him Great Uncle. The grandfather agreed, and the half-grown children on the street all called him that. The grandfather was called Great Uncle, and Second Uncle Ye was called Second Uncle.

"Eat less of the rewards too. Your teeth haven't even grown in properly. If you eat too much, your teeth will rot."

Jia Zhangshi didn't care about the children's teeth but asked about the Second Uncle's matter.

"What's up with this Second Uncle in the backyard? He's always talking nonsense."

Banggeng also heard the Second Uncle talking about his mother, so he replied, "Tell Wu Shu to deal with him."

Qin Huairu glared at Banggeng and said, "Eat your food. Don't interrupt adult matters."

After scolding Banggeng, Qin Huairu said to her mother-in-law, "His mouth is on him; let him be."

Jia Zhangshi asked hesitantly, "Then what about the matter with their family's two boys?"

Qin Huairu asked in confusion, "What matter?"

Jia Zhangshi whispered, "It's what you said about Li Xuewu and some director wanting to use their family's second and third sons."

"Hahahaha, hahahaha."

Qin Huairu laughed twice and replied under her mother-in-law's panicked gaze, "I was lying to them. I didn't expect them to actually believe it. Just watch, they won't have any peaceful days in their family from now on."

Jia Zhangshi looked at Qin Huairu speechlessly, feeling that this daughter-in-law had changed—she had become treacherous and vicious. She must not provoke her again in the future.

This woman didn't look like a good person!

Qin Laoer Uncle's family, which "wouldn't have peaceful days," was indeed waging a war, and it was the most serious kind of cold war.

Qin Laoer Uncle sat by the Eight Immortals table, in front of him was a plate of fried eggs and a plate of peanuts, as well as a white wine pot and a small white wine cup. He was listening to the radio while eating peanuts and drinking wine.

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu sat by the dining table, holding steamed buns, eating porridge with a plate of pickled vegetables, and glancing at their father from time to time.

Qin Laoer Aunt looked at her old man, then at the two children, not knowing what had happened.

The usually talkative Second Son didn't speak, and the Third Son, who usually didn't get along with him, was winking at him.

Qin Laoer Uncle actually hadn't listened to the news on the radio either. He mechanically handed the wine cup to his mouth, then reached out to pick up a peanut.

By the end, the peanuts on the plate were gone, and his hand fumbled around the plate for a long time.

In the past, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu would have fought to refill it, but today, both of them sat by the dining table without moving.

Qin Laoer Aunt looked at the Second Uncle, who should have been angry, still fumbling around. Fearing her old man would get angry, she said to Liu Guangtian, "Second, go refill some peanuts for your dad."

Liu Guangtian looked up at his father, then lowered his head and continued eating.

Seeing that she couldn't order the Second Son around, the Second Aunt said to the Third Son, "Guangfu, go, refill some peanuts for your dad."

Liu Guangfu was young, spoke straightforwardly, and dared to speak. Seeing his mother pass the buck, he curled his lip and said, "I'm not going. The job that was almost in hand is gone, and he still has the leisure to drink and eat peanuts?"

Of the two brothers, Liu Guangfu had the most resentment. Even if Liu Guangtian couldn't suck up to Li Xuewu, he could still be a worker, but Liu Guangfu was different.

Where was there a position to be assigned now? Everyone was fighting for it until smoke came out; even the job of cleaning the toilet had people fighting for it.

Hearing that Li Xuewu had the intention to promote him, but it was ruined by his own father, how could he be happy?

Once he wasn't happy, the words he didn't dare to say in the past came out.

Seeing his younger brother take the lead and say what he didn't dare to say, Liu Guangtian followed up, "What does it have to do with our dad if the sky falls? He's a seventh-grade worker, he drinks and eats eggs every day, he's comfortable. At most, he manages our eldest brother; he doesn't care if we live or die."

Qin Laoer Aunt was angered by the two sons' complaints and pointed at them, scolding, "How can you talk about your dad like that? Just asking you to get some peanuts and you're like this. What else can I count on you for?"

"Hmph, count on them? I'd rather starve to death," the Second Uncle slammed the wine cup on the table and stuffed the fried egg from the plate into his mouth.

Liu Guangfu said unconvinced, "Don't count on us, but don't hold us back either."

Qin Laoer Aunt slammed her chopsticks on the table and asked sternly, "Who's holding you back? I raised you just to have you become monsters?"

Liu Guangtian put his finished rice bowl on the table and sneered at his mother, "You'd better ask my dad. Ask him what good deeds he did to make us lose the opportunity that was almost in hand."

Qin Laoer Uncle had just gotten the egg into his throat when he heard his two sons' words. The egg got stuck in his throat, and he almost choked himself to death.

"Cough, cough, what did I do? You believe whatever that Qin Huairu says, right? You don't believe your own father, but believe an outsider?"

Liu Guangtian mocked, "Since you have something to say, why didn't you confront Qin Huairu and the First Uncle just now? If not, we'll go find Li Xuewu tomorrow when he comes back and ask him clearly."

Liu Guangfu saw his father was about to get angry, so he quickly put his rice bowl on the table, pulled his stool back, and prepared to slip away at any time.

"Go, go, go ask him. Don't call me Dad anymore; go call Li Xuewu Dad."

Liu Guangtian held his neck high and replied, "I have to ask clearly, and I have to apologize to him. I have to explain clearly that my character isn't like yours, so it doesn't affect my image in Li Xuewu's heart."

"Exactly, exactly, I'm going too. The job was almost in hand; it can't be affected by your mistake."

Qin Laoer Uncle was almost driven crazy by the two brothers. He pointed at Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu and said, "Are you two so willing to learn from Yan Jiecheng and be Li Xuewu's dog?"

Liu Guangfu was relatively dull. Seeing his father speak so harshly, he stiffened his neck and said, "If I could really get into the Rolling Mill, become a Security Team member, and become a regular worker, so what if I'm a dog? I want to be a person. I'm still your son; have you ever asked about my work?"

Liu Guangtian also raised his eyebrows and said, "Qin Jie already said that Director Dong liked the ashtray I sent him very much and wanted me to drive for them. It's because of you that Yan Jiecheng picked up the bargain."

"Now you say Yan Jiecheng is a dog, but he drives a brand-new jeep in and out, and even his wife can get benefits from Li Xuewu. What right do you have to look down on Yan Jiecheng? What right do you have to look down on us?"

Liu Guangfu stood up following his second brother and said, "Exactly, you're just a worker in the workshop, not even a cadre. What right do you have to look down on Qin Jie, who's a section chief? What right do you have to look down on Li Xuewu, who's a section chief?"

Qin Laoer Uncle opened the lid of the wine pot and poured wine into his throat, mouth to mouth, wanting to swallow that piece of egg.

But he was misunderstood by the Second Aunt, who thought the old man was acting crazy from the wine, so she stepped forward to grab the wine pot from the Second Uncle's hand.

Qin Laoer Uncle swallowed a mouthful of wine, and his throat was cleared, but his heart was blocked. He didn't need the Second Aunt to grab the wine pot in his hand; he swung it directly at the two brothers.

"Crash!"

This wine pot was white porcelain. For stability, the wine pot was cone-shaped, and the bottom was thick. This blow hit Liu Guangfu directly on the forehead.

The wine pot fell to the ground, and the blood on Liu Guangfu's forehead also fell.

"Third!"

"Guangfu!"

Liu Guangtian saw his third brother knocked unconscious directly. He supported Liu Guangfu, and seeing the blood on his brother's forehead gushing out, Liu Guangtian was so scared that he carried his brother on his back and ran out in a panic.

Behind him came the Second Uncle's roar: "Don't worry about him, the rebellious beast, let him die!"

Seeing the Second Uncle was really angry, the Second Aunt could only watch helplessly as the second son carried the third one out the door, muttering, "What is this for? What is this for?"

Liu Guangtian carried Liu Guangfu on his back and just ran to the middle courtyard when he met Qin Huairu, who was taking her children to Li Xuewu's house to take a bath.

"Ah, Guangtian, what's wrong?"

Seeing Qin Huairu take the initiative to greet him, Liu Guangtian said with a crying voice, "Qin Jie, my brother was hit by my dad with a wine pot, and blood is gushing from his forehead."

Qin Huairu said anxiously, "Even a tiger won't eat its cubs. Why is the Second Uncle so ruthless? Hurry and send him to the hospital."

Liu Guangtian agreed and was about to run out when Qin Huairu grabbed Liu Guangtian and said, "Wait for me, I'll go find a car for you."

As she spoke, she turned to Banggeng and said, "Take your sister home and wait for Mom. Mom will be back in a while."

Banggeng looked at the bleeding Liu Guangfu and said to Qin Huairu, "Mom, come back early."

Qin Huairu settled the children and took the bewildered Liu Guangtian to Yan Jiecheng's house in the front courtyard, just in time to see Yu Li coming out with a rice bowl.

"Ah! What's wrong?"

Qin Huairu grabbed Yu Li's hand and said, "Don't ask, is Jiecheng lying down? We have to beg Jiecheng to drive Guangfu to the hospital."

Yu Li was also a kind-hearted person; how could she watch Liu Guangfu lying on Liu Guangtian's back bleeding?

"He's not lying down. I'll go call him."

Before she finished speaking, and because the room was small, Yan Jiecheng had already put on his clothes and opened the door, asking, "Qin Jie, what's wrong?"

Qin Huairu said anxiously, "Jiecheng, hurry and get the car. Liu Guangfu was hit by his dad and is bleeding from his forehead. It doesn't look good, hurry."

Yan Jiecheng looked at the still-unconscious Liu Guangfu in the light of the room. There was indeed a large gash on his forehead, and it was bleeding now.

"Qin Jie, it's not that I'm unwilling to make a trip, but this car isn't mine; it's the factory's, and it's a new car. Even Li Kezhang Li doesn't dare to use it for private purposes."

Qin Huairu knew this was Yan Jiecheng using the Second Uncle's threat to report Li Xuewu for private use of a public vehicle as an excuse.

"What time is it now? Liu Guangfu is Liu Guangfu, and the Second Uncle is the Second Uncle. You drive the car; if Li Xuewu asks, just say I promised."

Yu Li also said from the side, "Hurry, human life is at stake. You're still thinking about the car. Guangtian, did you bring money?"

Liu Guangtian handed his monthly salary to his mother, and he didn't bring any money when he came out.

"Sister-in-law, I..."

Yu Li took out the 10 yuan Li Xuewu gave her from her pocket and stuffed it into Liu Guangtian's hand, saying, "Just because you called me sister-in-law, don't say anything else. Go see a doctor with your brother."

Liu Guangtian was really anxious; he could feel his brother's blood dripping down his neck.

"Sister-in-law, wuwuwu."

A big young man actually started crying.

Seeing Qin Huairu speak and his wife also say they should go, Yan Jiecheng quickly went back to the room to get the keys and ran to the west courtyard.

Qin Huairu and Yu Li organized adding hot water from the thermos in the inverted wing-room and at home to the car's water tank.

With the help of Biaozi and the others, they lifted Liu Guangfu into the car. Yan Jiecheng started the car, took the two brothers, rushed out of the opened gate, and went to the hospital in a flash.

The remaining people stood in the west courtyard looking at the thermos in each other's hands, then at the backyard that had been quiet all along, each with their own thoughts.

Qin Huairu helped Yu Li clean up the inverted wing-room and boiled water for several thermoses before going home to take her three children, who couldn't wait, to Li Xuewu's house in the backyard to take a bath.

When she walked to the moon gate in the backyard, she just saw the Second Uncle standing by the door looking this way.

Qin Huairu was angry at the Second Uncle for meddling and talking nonsense, and now she was even more disgusted that the Second Uncle had been so ruthless in hitting his son.

She walked to Li Xuewu's house, opened the door, let the three children go in first, and then turned to look at the Second Uncle and said, "Li Xuewu is on duty at the station today. We're coming to his house to take a bath; I'm telling you."

Seeing Qin Huairu talking to him, the Second Uncle thought she was talking about the third son's matter, but he didn't expect it to be about the children taking a bath.

"Why are you telling me this? Does it have anything to do with me?"

Qin Huairu said mockingly, "I have to tell you, otherwise I'm afraid you'll misunderstand that I brought the children here to sleep with Li Xuewu, and if you hear my voice in Li Xuewu's room, what if you go to the factory to report us? After all, your mouth is sharper than the old women on the street."

"You! Qin Huairu, what do you mean!"

Just as Qin Huairu and the Second Uncle were confronting each other, the First Uncle came out of the room with his clothes draped over his shoulders. Seeing the two arguing in the backyard, he walked through the moon gate and said, "Why are you arguing again?"

Qin Huairu sneered, "Qin Laoer Uncle is so dedicated. He doesn't even care that he beat his son until his head was broken and bleeding. Isn't he standing guard for Li Xuewu? I'm just praising him a few times, heh."

After speaking, she turned and entered Li Xuewu's room, leaving the First Uncle frowning at the Second Uncle.

"Old Yi, this, this Qin Huairu is looking for trouble, she..."

Qin Laoer Uncle looked at the First Uncle aggrievedly, his mouth full of grievances.

The First Uncle frowned and said, "Alright, you know the cause of the matter yourself. Hurry up and clean up to go see Guangfu. You really dared to be so ruthless."

Qin Laoer Uncle also knew to be afraid and muttered, "I drank too much, and I lost my hand when I got excited."

The First Uncle glared at the Second Uncle and didn't say anything else, turning around and returning home.

It was truly lively in the courtyard today. Just because of a jeep, so many messes were made. Li Xuewu, of course, didn't know that so many "battles" had occurred while he was away, but even if he knew, it wouldn't be strange, because he himself was also fighting.

"Go, go, are you a donkey?"

Li Xuewu was a person who didn't focus on talking, but only on action. ===== CHAPTER 242 =====