Han Qingsong’s tone seemed normal, but Second Brother Han could hear a bit of indifference. Knowing that he was angry about what he heard just now, Second Brother was too embarrassed to follow him back to his place, so he said, “Old Three, don’t be angry— you built a brick house while our parents are still living in a broken thatched cottage. Therefore, there was just a small issue of envy.”
He didn’t hear Han Qingsong’s reply. Without saying anything else, he turned around and went home.
The Second sister-in-law grabbed him and said in a low voice, “You idiot.”
She stretched out her hand to grab the food. When she found out that there was meat, she whispered happily, “Meat!”
She picked it up and stuffed a piece into her mouth before stuffing another piece for her husband. She grabbed the rest and stored them for her children to eat.
The Second sister-in-law scrambled to take all the meat that was stacked in the bowl. She even squeezed the vegetables for good measure, fearing that she might have missed some meat that was at the base. She also didn’t care about her unhygienic actions whilst doing so.
At this time, Gumi came out and shouted, “Second Uncle, Second Aunt, what are you eating?”
As soon as she yelled, Han Jinyu rushed out, “What are you doing?”
Second Brother Han hurriedly said, “They’re not here, but Old Three brought a bowl of vegetables and a pack of mooncakes for our parents.”
Fortunately, it was so dark that things couldn’t be seen clearly.
Afraid that his sister would inspect him to the bone, he hurried home whilst Han Jinyu chased after him.
The Second sister-in-law hurried back to the east room and placed the meat she stole in the empty bowl that was meant for water. She would give it to her children later, so she washed her hands clean.
Second Brother Han went into the main room and put the big bowl and mooncakes on the table. At this time, the second sister-in-law had also come over.
However, Han Jinyu wouldn’t call it quits, claiming that there was undoubtedly meat in the dish, but the two of them must have chosen to sneakily eat it, “Look at this dish, it’s a jumbled mess, as if someone had been rummaging through it! How can you be so disgusting?”
She stared at the mouths of her Second Brother and Second sister-in-law again, “Look at your oily mouths, how much did you steal? Tell me, how much did you steal?”
She stomped her feet and cried to her parents, “Look at your filial son!”
Ever since coming home, Han Jinyu hadn’t had a piece of meat for many agonising days.
Old Lady Han stared at Second Brother Han and his wife gloomily, scolding them, “You lazy donkeys, you stay behind when you work, but you’re the first ones to reach out for food?! Why are you so shameless to the point of no return? You’re so greedy! You’re already at a mature age, and yet, your actions merely have been regressing— how embarrassing!”
To receive such a scolding, especially in front of the younger generations, was absolutely embarrassing for him. Second Brother Han couldn’t stand being humiliated like that no matter how thick-skinned he was, hence becoming unhappy.
When his Fourth Brother and his younger sister weren’t home, he would even try to please the old lady. But ever since the younger ones have been present, it seemed like nothing was going in his favour.
The Eldest Brother hurriedly persuaded, “Mother, calm down. Perhaps the Third Family gave us a bowl of vegetables without meat. Besides, there are mooncakes, so let’s eat some of those.”
The Second sister-in-law immediately echoed, “It’s just that there is no meat. The Third Family is so stingy, how could they be willing to give us meat?”