Ruan Jiaojiao's body was young and frail. As she listened to the conversation among the others, she gradually began to feel sleepy and unknowingly leaned against Ruan Jianguo, closing her eyes.
Feeling the soft touch at his side, Ruan Jianguo turned his head and immediately softened his gaze. He put down his chopsticks and brought her into his embrace.
He lowered his voice and said to the Ruanlin Family matriarch, "Mother, I'm thinking of heading north in the latter half of the year."
Upon hearing this, the matriarch paused in her movements and glanced at Ruan Jiaojiao in his arms. She huffed but did not reply whether it was all right or not.
Ruan Jie looked at the Ruanlin Family matriarch and then at Ruan Jianguo. His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing.
He knew why his father wanted to travel north, but he wasn't looking forward to it at all. In fact, he felt some resentment. Although the main reason for his sister's illness a few days earlier was his second aunt, in his eyes, his mother was also the fundamental cause of his sister's near fatal illness.
After Ruan Jianguo said this, the atmosphere in the kitchen turned somewhat tense.
Only Ruan Jiaojiao slept deeply, completely oblivious to it all.
The Ruan Family residence was a standard siheyuan-style dwelling. The four Ruan brothers each occupied one side. As Ruan Jianguo's side ate their meal. the second household next door was also dining. Ruan Jiandang's wife, Liao Zhaoji, chewed on the pungent pickled vegetables in her mouth. Thinking back to the egg and minced meat soup she had just seen in the main hall, her face was full of a cold sneer.
Ruan Jiandang glanced at her but said nothing. However, the youngest Ruan Wei saw his mother's almost contorted expression and couldn't help but ask, "Mom, what are you laughing at?"
"Eat your food! Don't mind other people's business. Have you done your homework today? All you know is to roam around outside all day. People who don't know better might think a monkey is your mother! I'm warning you, if you bring home another zero this year, you'll see what I'll do to you!"
Having said that through gritted teeth, Ruan Wei pursed his lips and turned away, but when his eyes met with Ruan Chi's, he couldn't help but look away again.
After speaking to Ruan Wei, Liao Zhaoji turned to Ruan Jiandang, but she couldn't hold back the resentment in her heart and said bitterly, "Jiandang, is your mother sick in the head? She treats such a worthless girl like a treasure... "
Before she could finish her sentence, "Snap!" Ruan Jiandang slammed his bowl onto the table, causing the entire table to shudder.
Ruan Wei and Ruan Chi were startled, both shrinking their necks. Liao Zhaoji was also scared pale, then realizing what she had said, she muttered, attempting to explain, only to be sternly interrupted by Ruan Jiandang, "If you keep spouting nonsense, believe it or not, I'll beat you to death!"
All four Ruan brothers were strong and burly men, revered in the entire brigade. Even though she had never been beaten, Liao Zhaoji was still terrified by the shout, covering her face with her hands and nodding, not daring to say another word.
Having lost his appetite, Ruan Jiandang turned and left the kitchen.
Liao Zhaoji watched his retreating figure, her eyes turning red, not with fear but with hatred.
She couldn't understand how the entire Ruan Family could be such a group of oddities. She had borne three sons and considered herself a significant contributor to the Ruan Family. Yet, the Ruan Family cherished a girl who was nothing but a financial loss.
"That Ruan Jiaojiao is just a liability. She will be someone else's gain in the future. Why does the Ruan Family dote on her so much?"
"Mom, my sister is not a worthless girl. She is our Ruan Family's little princess," Ruan Wei, who also didn't like his mother speaking about his sister this way, said with an unhappy expression.