The Beautiful Brother of the Orion’s Family (Wearing Book) - 235

 

| TBBOTOF | 235

For five or six days, Wei Zhonghong has been feeling unsettled. Recently, when Wu Hong accompanied Wei Dong on a business trip, he was often mentioned in conversations. 

After he returned, he came over to eat every day, even though he didn’t know exactly how much money he earned. This trip, however, resulted in less profit.

Initially, things had become quite unpleasant between her and her daughter-in-laws, but neither of the two daughters-in-law wanted to continue the conflict, especially with the New Year approaching. It would be a terrible time to stir up trouble, as their mother-in-law would surely give them a big lesson.

So, the four of them got together and decided to talk to their mother and apologize.

Unexpectedly, when they opened their mouths, the fourth son’s side actually approached their mother first, which made it seem like they were just here to eat!

Although that was the implication, no one was happy about being brought up like that.

The expressions of the two daughters-in-law turned sour, but Wu Hong didn’t seem to notice or care. He happily told his mother that he would follow Wei Dong to sell goods in the spring. The ducks they had prepared before the New Year were enough, and he wanted to ask his mother if she wanted to prepare a batch too, so he could earn some pocket money.

Wei Zhonghong naturally agreed, saying it was fine. She usually helped her fourth son make marinated ducks. This was something she was used to, didn’t take much time, and even if it was tiring, she could still earn money. 

If she worked for two or three years, she would be able to save enough for her and her husband’s burial funds.

Who would be against earning money? Of course, she was willing to help.

As the two chatted happily, the faces of the two daughters-in-law grew increasingly unsightly.

Liu Shi forced a smile and pretended to ask, “Mother, are you tired from making marinated ducks? Do you need me to lend you a hand?”

Wei Zhonghong immediately showed her displeasure, her face darkening as she asked, “What are you doing standing here? Don’t you know I can’t stand you?”

Then followed a heated argument, with both sides shouting and getting red in the face.

However, in the end, Wei Zhonghong held the upper hand. After all, she was the mother-in-law, which placed her on a moral high ground; even a single act of filial piety from her would be enough to make the others feel shame.

But how could they endure this in front of gold and silver?

Especially since this person’s heart was already a bit crooked. When she returned home that night, she thought it over: if they were to be unfilial, they might as well do it—if they continued to be so repressed, they would truly end up impoverished.

Their third brother lived too far away for them to reach, but they could see that the fourth brother was about to get rich, and their parents also had some money in hand—so why should they be the only ones who were poor?

Thinking about it this way made it even harder for them to sit still.

Thus, they started coming to argue with Wei Zhonghong every day. After a long day of shouting, Wei Zhonghong grew weary, and they all felt quite agitated.

A few days ago, Wu Hong had been afraid that their mother would feel wronged and had supported her from the side. Initially, the eldest and second sons didn’t say anything, but when they saw the youngest brother blabbering on, they could no longer hold back and joined the fray.

However, these two brothers were not as straightforward; they only pulled Wu Hong aside to lament their poverty.

Wu Hong was so annoyed that he could hardly stand it. Wei Zhonghong had let the two daughters-in-law come over these past couple of days to stir up trouble, but she had clearly told them that she couldn’t agree to their demands; if she did, they would only become more unreasonable.

Wei Dong walked into the courtyard with a basket. The door to the house was half-open, as if they were afraid the people outside wouldn’t hear the commotion inside.

The two daughters-in-law were really outdoing each other in how loud they could scream, and the three children were crying along with them. Just listening to it made Wei Dong frown.

Wei Zhonghong stubbornly held her ground, sitting cross-legged on the kang, cracking sunflower seeds while watching them create chaos.

A couple of days ago, she had argued with them, but later she just stopped responding altogether, complaining that her throat hurt.

Let them make their noise; she could waste time with them if it came to that.

Throwing the sunflower seed shells on the ground, she glanced at the three wailing children, and her anger flared up again.

The eldest had two kids, and the second one had one; it was appalling that they brought their children to cry in front of her like this. What kind of future could children raised this way have?

Wei Zhonghong couldn’t help but glare at her two daughters-in-law, wishing she could just throw them out.

“Auntie,”

Just as she was grinding her teeth, she suddenly heard a cold voice. Wei Zhonghong was taken aback for a moment before realizing it was Wei Dong, and she quickly turned to look.

“Dongzi? Why aren’t you coming in? It’s so cold out here!” She hurriedly brushed the sunflower seed shells off her lap, pushed aside the eldest daughter-in-law who was blocking her path, and walked over.

Wei Dong waited for her to open the door and, upon seeing her, said, “My dad came back this morning. Ah Xu said he wanted to stew fish, so I just caught some from the river and brought you some.”

He handed over the basket, and Wei Zhonghong was surprised to see it. She reacted like Luo Pingping, saying, “Why do you have so many? Just take half back; you won’t be able to eat all this.”

Wei Dong replied, “If we can’t finish it, just freeze it in the snow pile.”

“Mother, how can we not finish it? We’re here too; we can share it and definitely finish it.” As soon as Liu Shi heard that Wei Dong had brought fresh fish, she quickly followed him out, grinning widely at him.

Wei Dong ignored her, but Wei Zhonghong said, “Auntie, I’m slaughtering the New Year pig in a couple of days. You and Uncle should come over for a pig feast then.”

“When are you slaughtering it? I want to do it too. I won’t raise pigs next year; it’s too exhausting,” Wei Zhonghong said as she welcomed Wei Dong into the house instead of walking out. “Did you hear them crying in the yard just now? If the eldest or second come to find you, don’t agree to them.”

“Agree to what?” Wei Dong asked, not understanding.

Wei Zhonghong raised her voice, turning her head toward the two daughters-in-law who were watching them and said, “Don’t agree to them if they want to follow and make marinated ducks. Be careful; if you leave the ingredients out, someone might steal them!”

“How can you say that, Mother?” The eldest daughter-in-law was unhappy and took a step forward.

Wei Zhonghong turned around and pulled Wei Dong along, coldly snorting, “I’m just saying, a bunch of greedy wolves—like a pile of stinking dog poop that can’t be shaken off!”

Wei Dong sighed; they were stubbornly sticking to their positions, and Aunt’s temper wouldn’t settle down.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Why not just divide it up?”

“I wish we could!” Wei Zhonghong bit down hard, her anger flaring. “But they won’t do it! I suggested dividing the money and land so everyone could live their own lives, but they completely disagreed. None of them are fools; they see that my fourth son is rising up, so how could they not cling to him and suck his blood dry?”

Wei Dong said, “Then just give them a good beating. Once it hurts, they’ll be honest.”

Wei Zhonghong was taken aback for a moment. After a while, when the two reached the gate of the courtyard, she pulled Wei Dong and asked, “Why? There has to be a reason for this.”

As Wei Dong stepped out the door, he turned around and gave her a cold smile, saying, “I don’t need a reason for anything.”

The implication was clear: if he wanted to do something, he wouldn’t need any justification!

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TL: Sorry for the late update! I was busy today that I forgot to update.