Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading

Chapter 184: A Gentleman Argues, Not Fights

The family enjoyed their meal immensely.

Especially the two little brothers, who ate like they hadn’t had a meal in ages, even using bread to wipe the plates clean.

Su Jianwu happily burped, rubbing his round belly: "If only our family could eat like this every day, that’d be great."

Su Jianwen slapped him on the face: "Wake up, stop dreaming. We’d be lucky to have a meal like this once a month."

Liu Cuilan tidied up the table as she spoke: "If you two could make me proud and bring home a certificate for the top three, I’d be able to hold my head high in the village and promise to make you an even better feast."

Su Jianwu licked the corner of his mouth: "Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to get first place, our class’s top student won’t allow it."

Liu Cuilan glared: "What does your score have to do with the top student in your class?"

Su Jianwu said: "He always uses his elbow to block me from copying during exams, otherwise, I’d definitely be in the top three..."

He was talking non-stop when he realized the atmosphere around him seemed a bit off.

Su Jianwen silently moved his chair aside, looking at him with a ’you’re so doomed’ expression.

Su Xiaoxiao, recognizing the situation, picked up a broom from the side and handed it to Liu Cuilan with both hands: "Mom, here you go."

Realizing what he’s about to face, Su Jianwu screamed as he jumped off the chair: "Mom, mom, I was just kidding. Our teacher says gentlemen use their words, not their fists... Ah... ah... it hurts..."

His words were cut off with a scream as Liu Cuilan raised the broom high, sneering: "Your teacher didn’t tell you not to easily offend your mom, did he? That’s the consequence!"

Su Jianwu jumped three feet in the air, covering his bottom: "Mom, mom, I was wrong, I won’t copy the top student’s answers again."

Liu Cuilan continued to glare: "You can’t copy from anyone, top place or not!"

After a round of wailing and crying, Liu Cuilan put the broom away, while Su Jianwu covered his reddened bottom, tears welling up.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Liu Cuilan had just finished cleaning the dining table when someone knocked on the courtyard door.

She wondered: "Hey, wasn’t it today we didn’t bring anything back for anyone else?"

Su Xiaoxiao glanced at the wall clock; it was a little past six. Could it be the washing machine she ordered arriving so quickly?

Just as she was pondering, Su Jianwen already dashed over to open the door.

Grandma Liu stood at the doorway with a big smile, holding an aluminum lunchbox with three large, round buns snug inside.

Just the sewing machine she brought over made her daughter-in-law almost too happy. It was a nice gesture as they had just made meat buns at home, so Grandma Liu brought some over to thank them.

Liu Cuilan followed to greet her as well, and Grandma Liu stuffed the lunchbox into her hand: "Cuilan, your Xiaoxiao helped my family so much, I really don’t have much else to give her. We just made some meat buns, my daughter-in-law wanted me to bring some over for you to try, don’t mind them, okay?"

"Auntie, why say that? Neighbors should help each other with small things without fuss. Times are tough for everyone, you should take these buns back for the little ones to eat."

She tried to return the lunchbox, but Grandma Liu was immediately displeased: "Cuilan, if you do this, I’ll feel awkward asking Xiaoxiao for help in the future."

After saying that, Grandma Liu turned and left quickly on her bound feet.

Liu Cuilan had no choice but to accept the buns and turned to face Su Jianwu’s fiery gaze.

He was staring at the buns in the lunchbox, licking his lips: "Mom, the buns won’t taste good if they’re cold tomorrow, how about..."

Liu Cuilan slapped him on the head without mercy: "Eat, eat, all you think about is eating. Even Pigsy wasn’t as gluttonous as you in his reincarnation. It’s only been a few minutes since dinner, how are you hungry again?"

Su Jianwu pouted, muttering quietly: "Didn’t I just get a beating?"

"Do you want another beating then? See if you can digest them and eat all three buns?"

Su Jianwu immediately went silent, recalling the pain of the broom; his bottom was still sore and throbbing. He dared not stir up trouble again.

"Mom, I was just joking. I’ll go back inside with Jianwen to do homework."

After saying that, Su Jianwu quickly grabbed his brother and hurried back inside with one hand on his bottom.

Liu Cuilan was about to take the buns inside when the old lady’s voice sounded in the west wing.

"Daughter-in-law, I’d like meat buns. Bring me a couple."

Zhao Chunhua, having eaten well and dressed warmly at Su Xiaoxiao’s house, enjoyed a couple of comfortable days, began ordering around unceremoniously.

Liu Cuilan couldn’t be bothered to respond, snorting: "Mom, these meat buns are a gift for Xiaoxiao. If you want some, you should ask for Xiaoxiao’s opinion first."

"She’s just a girl; she doesn’t have the final say here. Hurry up and bring me a couple; I’m still hungry."

Zhao Chunhua, due to a stroke, was mostly bedridden, either eating or sleeping.

The meat kept accumulating on her, and her appetite grew by the day, almost matching a sow ready for market.

Upon hearing this, Liu Cuilan’s face fell instantly: "So what if she’s a girl? Aren’t you relying on this girl? You’ve been sick for so long, but has your precious youngest son ever visited or brought you anything?"

Zhao Chunhua was rendered speechless, almost breathless by her words.

She was desperately craving meat, but Liu Cuilan was reluctant to give her much, adding to her frustration.

Unable to leave the house, unable to argue, she could only seethe.

Back in the day, she’d have scolded and beaten Liu Cuilan, but now, reliant on Liu Cuilan’s care, she’d have to swallow this frustration.

Liu Cuilan saw Su Xiaoxiao still standing in a daze: "Ignore your grandma; since she can’t move around, too much meat will constipate her."

What Liu Cuilan said was true; patients bedridden for long periods shouldn’t eat too much meat as it easily leads to constipation.

Su Xiaoxiao knew Liu Cuilan was tough but soft-hearted, otherwise she wouldn’t have taken in her annoying grandma.

As they were about to go inside, they heard another knock at the courtyard gate.

Liu Cuiran wondered: "At this hour, who could it be again?"

Su Xiaoxiao glanced at the clock in the living room; the hands precisely pointed to six-thirty.

In her mind, she thought this time it should be her washing machine.

She quickly said: "I think it’s the washing machine I ordered."

Liu Cuilan was puzzled: "What chicken? We’ve finished eating, why buy a chicken now?"

"Who’s it from? I’ll tell them we don’t want it for now."

While speaking, Liu Cuilan opened the courtyard door.

Upon opening, she saw a large cardboard box, taller than a person, placed facing the courtyard door.