Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Liao Zhaoji’s Calculations (6)_1 Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Liao Zhaoji’s Calculations (6)_1 “Ruan Jiandang, are you deaf or what? Her family is eating meat, but she didn’t invite us! What do you think that means?”
Liao Zhaoji grew more and more indignant as she spoke, gesturing incessantly to illustrate just how big the rabbit was, and how generous the main house could be, yet they didn’t invite them over for the meal and instead closed the door to eat by themselves.
“That’s big brother’s rabbit he caught himself. He can eat it however he likes. What’s it to you?”
“But you’re his brother. He’s eating meat and doesn’t even think of you!”
“And what about you, do you think of their family when you eat meat?” Ruan Jiandang countered.
Liao Zhaoji pursed her lips, at a loss for a comeback. After pondering for a while, she finally said, “That’s different. He’s the elder brother, and you’re the younger brother. He should be looking out for you. Besides, under the same roof, there’s no such thing as eating meat sneakily. If word gets out, it’ll be…”
“Enough, shut your mouth!” Ruan Jiandang saw that he couldn’t reason with her. Seeing her speech grow increasingly unreasonable, he barked angrily, “If you’re not going to cook, then get out!”
With that, he bent down to stuff matches into the stove, and Liao Zhaoji could only step forward to help.
By the time their meal was ready, the main house had already finished eating. Ruan Chi and Ruan Wei returned, smacking their lips with satisfaction. Surprised to see them still cooking, they asked, “Dad, Mom, how come you haven’t eaten yet?”
“Now you remember we’re your parents. Just now while eating meat…” Liao Zhaoji glared at the two brothers. On the other side, Ruan Chi pulled Ruan Wei by the sleeve into the inner room, cutting off the rest of her complaints.
Liao Zhaoji glared at their retreating backs. If these weren’t her own sons, she really felt like hitting them over the head with a spatula!
While Liao Zhaoji was filled with sourness and rage, the Xiu Family next door was not having a peaceful time, either.
The Xiu Family’s kitchen was in the same direction as Ruan Jianguo’s, and when meaty aromas wafted their way, they could smell it too.
Xiu Cheng, who was six this year, salivated at the smell of the meat, feeling even his bowl of egg didn’t taste good anymore.
He looked up at Liu Mei across from him and cooed, “Mom, I want to eat meat, too.”
“Eat, eat, eat! You think you were born with their luck?”
Liu Mei was also tantalized by the smell of the meat. Hearing her son, she snapped and gave Xiu Cheng a flick with her chopsticks. He had always been spoiled and wasn’t used to being hit, so he immediately burst into tears. He didn’t want to eat anymore; dropping his chopsticks, he jumped off his chair and ran out of the kitchen.
Xiu Jianlin watched his son run off with a heavy heart and asked her, “Why did you hit him for no reason?”
“Think I wanted to? If it weren’t for your lack of ability, would our mother and son be eating this chaff and swallowing vegetables? Look at them; they eat meat every day. They’re probably sick of it!” Liu Mei snorted, angry at the memories of the day and further agitated by the sight of Xiu Jianlin, who couldn’t do anything right.
This man was not as tall and imposing as Ruan Jianguo, and his appearance was also average. His ability to earn money was even less comparable; he couldn’t even catch a pheasant or a rabbit. She couldn’t even catch a mouse! She really didn’t know what she saw in him in the first place.
And his late wife, the boy’s birth mother—she was said to be just like Shu Jiao, from a good family and good-looking. How could she have been blind enough to fancy such a man?
“What do you mean ‘chaff’?” Xiu Jianlin frowned, poking at the greens and sweet potatoes stewed with rice in his bowl, considering this quite a decent meal.
He was a simple man who never compared himself to others; as long as he could provide for his wife and son, he was satisfied.
“There’s no talking sense into you!” Liu Mei, tired of the conversation, quickly scarfed down her bowl of rice. Placing her bowl down, she said to Xiu Jianlin, “Later, you clean up the kitchen and be quick about it, the price of oil has gone up again!”