"I want to eat fish, I want to eat fish."
Despite her eldest grandson’s crying and making a scene, Mrs. Zhao still chose not to intervene.
"Get up..." Captain Zhao said sternly, glaring at his grandson who was sitting on the ground, thrashing and rolling about, his expression somewhat ugly.
It had to be said, Da Shu did have some fear of Captain Zhao, his grandfather. Now that he had been scolded, he quickly climbed up from the ground and ran to his room.
Growing increasingly displeased with Da Shu’s mother.
Now feeling a dislike for all three daughters-in-law.
The eldest son’s wife was too weak, unable to support the main branch of the family.
The second son’s wife was too shrewish.
Laosan’s wife was too theatrical.
"It’s time to go over..." Mrs. Zhao voiced out.
Planning to go early to lend a hand, this autumn rain made it colder, and night fell even sooner.
"Team Leader, something’s happened! Er Dan’s been beaten and is causing a fuss about splitting the family."
Er Dan had fallen into the river this morning; how did he get beaten now that it’s almost dinner time?
"Let’s go, have a look. You go and call for the old party secretary."
If there was a family division, it made sense to call some of the village officials to witness the situation.
Mrs. Zhao didn’t follow them but instead went over to Yun Xiaoxiao’s side.
"Third Brother, Third Brother, something’s happened. Er Dan was beaten by his sister-in-law, and now he’s making a commotion about splitting the family. Are you going to take a look?" The visitor was Cao Dali, who, having saved Er Dan in the morning, didn’t want anything untoward happening to him.
"The clothes Er Dan is wearing are yours; his sister-in-law wants to strip... off your clothes."
Yun Xiaoxiao turned sharply towards Cao Dali, then shockingly glanced at Zhao Tianlei. Something about that didn’t sound right.
Although Zhao Tianlei initially didn’t want to get involved in Er Dan’s issue, Cao Dali’s words, which made his wife look at him incredulously, almost made him want to throw Dali out.
"What nonsense are you spouting? What’s this about Er Dan stripping... my clothes? If you have nothing to say, then don’t say anything."
Trouble comes from above when one is idly at home.
Having taken a metaphorical blow to the nose, Cao Dali also belatedly realized there might be some issues with what he said.
"You go along and have a look; don’t let Er Dan’s sister-in-law strip... or tug at your clothes anymore," Yun Xiaoxiao said, a hint of laughter in her eyes. If they weren’t there, she would have already burst into laughter.
"It was the clothes I lent to Er Dan," Zhao Tianlei corrected helplessly. Why did his wife say the same thing?
Zhao Tianlei, pulling Cao Dali along, left the house while saying to Dali, "What’s this about stripping my clothes? You make it sound like Er Dan’s sister-in-law is harassing me or something. If I weren’t at home, would your sister-in-law have misunderstood?"
Cao Dali wanted to object: But Er Dan’s sister-in-law really was tugging at Third Brother’s clothes, wasn’t she?
He hadn’t said anything wrong, had he?
"Hurry up, hurry up."
The two men left and just missed Mrs. Zhao who came calling.
"Where’s Laosan?" asked Da Bao’s mother.
Given how Laosan doted on his wife, taking on any task he could handle, why would Laosan’s wife be left here cooking?
"He just stepped out..."
Mrs. Zhao saw the dumplings on the cutting board.
"You’ve made dumplings too?"
Yun Xiaoxiao nodded with a smile, "Da Bao’s father caught a wild duck while fishing. We used the breast meat for dumpling filling, and the rest of the duck went into making sour radish duck soup."
Since Laosan’s family was having meat, they invited them over for dinner.
Mrs. Zhao promptly said, "Er Dan was beaten by his sister-in-law, so your father went over to check on him. Er Dan has had a hard life; he was the late child of his parents, younger even than his nephew. While his parents were alive, the family managed to get by."