""Sister-in-law, listen to this—I heard that the gifts you brought for mom for Lunar New Year were all nice things. And those clothes worn by Xiao Yue and Xiao Jun, they can’t be cheap, right?" Tang Zhenghong had envied them for a while. It wasn’t just Tang Zhengde’s family; even at Grandma Tang’s house, the entire family had new clothes.
"These clothes were all sent by Mingli." Though Zhang Hualian wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, she wasn’t foolish either.
"Mingli?" Tang Zhenghong’s eyes lit up instantly, and she remembered that not only did Tang Zhengde have a store, Mingli was no longer working in the restaurant, but instead had set up his own vendor stand.
She had vaguely heard about it but had never actually seen it.
This year, her family bought a new black-and-white TV, but there was no money left to buy new clothes for everyone, so they didn’t go to the county town to shop but bought the clothes in the town.
Tang Zhenghong immediately stood up and joined the men at the main table, saying, "Mingli, that’s not very kind of you. You sent clothes to everyone but not to us."
"Big sis, I don’t make clothes. If I sent them to everyone, I wouldn’t even have enough money left to get married," Tang Mingli replied with a grin. In this family, aside from his second brother, whom he respected the most, his third sister and fourth sister seemed to only think about taking advantage of him.
Usually, they would borrow a few dimes today, a few yuan tomorrow, later it became ten yuan, five yuan, and they never once thought about returning it.
If his third and fourth sisters were good people, he might have let it go. But they not only failed to repay the money, they also badmouthed him behind his back, saying he was unreliable, dabbling in this and that. When he got injured last time, it was his second brother who took care of him. His third and fourth sisters didn’t even show their faces.
"Mingli, what you’re saying—I’m your big sister," Tang Zhenghong said unhappily, turning her eyes around, she asked, "Mingli, can you sell clothes?"
"My business is small scale, I can’t afford to hire people," replied Tang Mingli with a smile.
Tang Zhenghong hit a snag and then turned her attention to Tang Zhengde, asking, "Second brother, do you need someone to work at your store?"
"Your sister-in-law and I are enough to handle it," Tang Zhengde replied offhandedly, then added, "Aren’t you and Jianguo doing just fine selling items from the Southern Goods Store in town?"
"What’s so good about that when a few more Southern Goods Stores have opened up in the town?" Tang Zhenghong replied irritably.
Tang Zhenghong had a fiery temper: quick to flare up, and quick to cool down. After lunch, she soon began to show off, "The new TV we just bought is really nice, and the dramas on it are so good. Mom, when will you come stay at my place for a few days?"
Tang Zheng Yue curled her lip, thinking to herself, it’s just a TV, isn’t it? From the moment she walked into her parents’ home, she must have heard about it at least five times already.
Tang Jun, on the other hand, admired it greatly. He whispered to Tang Yue, "Sis, there’s a TV at our school, it’s really nice to watch."
"Focus on studying for now; our family will get one too in the future," Tang Yue said with a reassuring smile.
Tang Jun’s eyes immediately sparkled, and he said excitedly, "Sis, TVs are really expensive. Can we afford one?"
He didn’t get to finish his sentence as Chen Gang chuckled dismissively from the side, "Tang Yue, do you even know how much a TV costs?"
Tang Yue raised an eyebrow and said, "Probably around three or four hundred."
"That much money, can you afford it?" Chen Gang looked at her disdainfully and said, "You’re the second uncle’s stepdaughter, no wonder you don’t resemble him."
Zhang Hualian and the others were talking and didn’t pay attention to the children’s conversation."
Tang Min was about to blurt out "burden," but her father had scolded her for this matter before, so she closed her mouth and just glared at Tang Yue, whispering to her cousin who was quietly standing aside.
Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Laidi were about the same age as Tang Min, and the three of them whispered among themselves, effectively isolating Tang Yue.
"Chen Gang, my sister is my father’s daughter, what do you mean by that!" Tang Jun suddenly stood up, shielding Tang Yue in front of him. Now, he could not stand anyone speaking ill of his sister.
"What I said is the truth." Chen Gang put on an adult’s demeanor and said, "My mom said that Tang Yue is just the stepdaughter of Second Uncle, a burden brought by Second Aunt, not Second Uncle’s biological child. I’m not wrong."
"Don’t you dare say that, my sister is not a burden!" Without thinking, Tang Jun swung his fist and smashed it into Chen Gang’s face.
Caught off guard, Chen Gang was punched. In the Chen Family, he was a little bully who feared neither heaven nor earth. Having been hit, it was unthinkable for him not to fight back.
Brothers joining the fray, Chen Lie also jumped in, and in no time, the three kids were scrapping together in a tussle.
Tang Yue never expected Tang Jun to resort to a fight. The altercation happened so fast, it took her by surprise. By the time she reacted, the three were already fighting fiercely, with Tang Jun taking on two by himself and, being younger than Chen Gang, quickly ended up at a disadvantage.
"Xiao Jun." Tang Yue, worried, stepped forward to grab Chen Gang and pull him back. She wasn’t strong enough to restrain him, and Chen Gang was ruthless, specifically targeting Tang Jun’s face and other painful spots.
Worried for Tang Jun, Tang Yue grabbed Chen Gang’s shoulder and bit down hard.
Chen Gang, in pain, involuntarily let go of his grip.
Tang Jun took the opportunity to push Chen Lie away and shouted, "Dad, help!"
Tang Jun’s voice was loud and immediately drew the attention of the adults in the house. Meanwhile, he threw himself onto Chen Gang. Chen Gang kicked out and struggled violently, trying to shake off Tang Yue.
"What’s going on here?"
Tang Zhengde arrived late. By the time he got there, Chen Jian Country had already separated the fighters. Chen Jian Country, with a dark expression, pulled open Chen Gang’s shirt and upon seeing the deep bite mark, his heart ached. His son, who he normally couldn’t bear to hit, had been bitten by Tang Yue.
"Are you a dog?" Chen Jian Country said, his face darkening.
Tang Yue pursed her lips and retorted, "If he hadn’t hit Xiao Jun, why would I bite him? The thought disgusts me."
"Ptui." Tang Yue forcefully wiped her mouth. If it weren’t for her lack of strength, inability to beat Chen Gang, and worry for Tang Jun, she would not have resorted to biting. Just now, Chen Gang’s fist had hit her stomach and he had kicked her foot, causing her intense pain.
"Sister, are you okay?" Tang Jun hurried to help Tang Yue up, his concerned look made Tang Yue feel that the pain in her foot was worth it.
"What’s happened here? How did you end up fighting?" Tang Zhengde asked, looking at the disheveled Tang Yue and Tang Jun, he too felt distressed.
"Dad, it was Tang Jun who started it," Chen Gang quickly interjected to tattle, saying, "He hit my face, it hurt so much."
Chen Gang, covering his face which had been hit by Tang Jun’s first punch, was swollen and bruised, making him look rather pitiful.
"Son, don’t be afraid," said Chen Jian Country sympathetically. "Second Brother, about this matter, your Xiao Jun was in the wrong."