novelraw Chapter 157 Old age makes you useless; even a broom can't keep up.
Chapter 157 Old age makes you useless; even a broom can't keep up.
The sound of two people kicking and stomping on the kang mat inside Guan Yutian's room.
"Second brother, I really don't want to get involved in your family's affairs."
But my second sister-in-law and Sister-in-law Guimei were both very good to me, and I couldn't bear to see my second sister-in-law follow in Sister-in-law Guimei's footsteps.
How you talk to others is your own business; your sister-in-law has never interfered with it.
Why is she scratching her nose and face at you now?
It's all because Wang Shuqin is Yutian's wife.
Although you are not related by blood, it still messes up the generational order.
If you continue like this, you will not only hurt my second sister-in-law's feelings.
You'll also become a jerk dad in your kids' eyes.
What will you do when they grow up, get married, and you're old by then, and nobody treats you like a human being?
Second brother, you should stop now while no one else knows.
Yuxiu is getting married soon, and you can't manage without my second sister-in-law at home.
You should quickly apologize to my second sister-in-law, make amends, and bring her back so you can live a good life together.
Zhang Changyao lectured Guan Lin at length, but seeing Guan Lin keeping his head down and remaining silent, he stopped talking.
"Changyao, would you believe me if I said I was just massaging Shuqin's back?"
Yutian is such a heartless child. Shuqin is pregnant and has back pain, so she asked me to massage it for her.
"Don't tell your second sister-in-law about this when you go back. I'll go pick her up tomorrow," Guan Lin said to Zhang Changyao in a pleading tone.
"Second brother, I believe you. If Wang Shuqin has back pain in the future..."
"You let the children massage him/her, but you're a man too, your hands are as heavy as Yutian's."
Zhang Changyao took a deep breath, exhaled, and pushed open the door to go back to his own home.
As winter sets in and dawn breaks late, Zhang Changyao wakes up early to light the stove and heat the kang (a traditional heated brick bed).
They warmed the house before hitching up the donkey cart and heading to Ganggang Village.
Upon entering the courtyard, Yang Deming was indeed not found in the house.
When Yang Wuni's sister-in-law Wu Fengxia heard that Yang Wuni had given birth to a son, she clapped her hands with joy.
Yang Xiuqing fed the pigs into the house and saw Zhang Changyao shyly lower his head.
"Sister-in-law, Wu Ni asked me to bring Uncle to my house so he can live with us in his old age. My newly built house is spacious."
Zhang Changyao looked around but didn't see his uncle Yang Deshan.
"Uncle Changyao went to sell dry tobacco at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative and will be back in a little while."
Whether I go or not is not up to me; it's up to my uncle to agree.
Xiuqing, go and find Hu Xianjun. Tell him your uncle-in-law has come and ask him to come and keep you company.
Your uncle lives far away, so eat early and go home. Don't let him work until dark.
Wu Fengxia put down her needlework and went to the fields to boil water and cook.
Hu Xianjun arrived quickly; before he even entered the house, he grabbed a bundle of corn stalks from the woodpile.
"Uncle-in-law, did you rush out for the train this morning?"
Hu Xianjun threw down the corn stalks and came into the house to greet Zhang Changyao.
"Yes! They came out at daylight, so the donkey cart was moving slowly."
Zhang Changyao took the cigarettes Hu Xianjun handed him, but stopped Hu Xianjun from lighting them.
He doesn't smoke, and he feels it would be impolite not to accept a cigarette.
Wu Fengxia and Yang Xiuqing steamed a pot of dumplings with fermented rice flour and pickled cabbage filling.
There were no other dishes; each person held a rice bowl and waited without eating.
The two were not familiar with each other, so they just stared at each other without saying a word.
"Changyao, people say that when the son-in-law enters the house, the chickens lose their souls."
When you leave, take our two old hens back with you to make soup for Wu Ni to help her recover.
You two sons-in-law, young and old, should just make do with this bite.
Seeing that the two of them weren't eating, Wu Fengxia assumed they were complaining about the food.
"Sister-in-law, we can't eat before Dad and Uncle come back."
Let's wait for Dad and Uncle; they should be here soon, right?
Zhang Changyao put down his rice bowl and looked out the window.
"Uncle sells cigarettes quickly; he'll be back after noon."
Father might not be so sure; those who lose their claws will come back earlier.
You two don't need to wait; it won't taste good if it gets cold.
Wu Fengxia picked up her chopsticks and placed a large, shiny yellow dumpling in the bowls of Zhang Changyao and Hu Xianjun.
"Oh dear! You don't even wait for the elderly when you eat. You're old and useless now, you're just sticking your butt out like a broom handle."
Yang Deming, with his hands behind his back, saw someone eating through the window, muttered something, and pushed the door open to enter the room.
"Dad, why are you back so early today? I thought I'd have to wait a while!"
Wu Fengxia quickly got up and went to the cupboard in the outer room to get bowls and chopsticks for Yang Deming.
"Can you not come back sooner? If you play a little longer and come back, you won't even see the dumpling wrappers."
What, are you mute? You don't even call your father-in-law "Dad".
And you, you little brat, you took a bite before everyone else had even eaten?
Just like your damned, despicable father, you can't even speak properly.
Yang Deming sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed) and cursed every single one of the scumbags.
"Father, Wu Ni gave birth to a big, healthy boy. Chang Yao came to deliver the news."
Seeing that Zhang Changyao and Hu Xianjun didn't dare to say anything, Wu Fengxia finished pouring the wine and told Yang Deming.
"Oh? Wu Ni has given birth to a baby boy. I need to go see my old daughter."
Eat quickly, then leave. It'll be dark and cold soon, making it difficult to walk.
Yang Deming's wrinkled old face broke into a wide smile as he tapped Zhang Changyao's rice bowl, signaling him to eat.
"Hu Xianjun, you eat too."
Zhang Changyao picked up a dumpling for Hu Xianjun, then lowered his head, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
Yang Wuni repeatedly told Yang Deming not to go.
Now look what's happened! This old man is going on his own initiative, and we can't stop him.
"Dad, don't go. Wu Ni is in confinement after childbirth. You have a bad temper, and you might upset her again." Wu Fengxia tried to dissuade Yang Deming.
"What are you angry about? I'm her father, how dare she try to pull a hornet's nest against me?"
When the rear guard returns in a little while, tell him to deliver a message to his fourth sister.
Tell her to take more meat to see Wu Ni, and not to be so stingy.
She's a butcher in her own family, and I, her own father, haven't seen a single piece of her flesh.
It's understandable that I would give meat to my own sister who is in postpartum confinement to help her produce milk.
Yang Deming drank a cup of wine and ate a dumpling, without even looking up at Zhang Changyao.
Zhang Changyao was racking his brains, but he couldn't find a reason to stop Yang Deming from going to his house.
"Changyao, Uncle is back." Wu Fengxia pointed to Yang Deshan carrying a tobacco pouch outside the window.
"Okay! I'll go pick up Uncle and call him in for dinner."
Zhang Changyao put down his chopsticks and was about to get down from the ground.
"Changyao, hurry up and eat. Your uncle is fine; let him take his time to get ready."
Yang Deming gestured with his chopsticks at Zhang Changyao, preventing him from getting off the ground.
Zhang Changyao stopped behind Hu Xianjun, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
"Dad, Changyao is here to pick up my uncle. Wuni said she wants my uncle to go to her house."
Wu Fengxia advised Yang Deming, hoping he would be sensible enough not to go.
"Changyao, then hurry up and call your uncle. We'll leave after your uncle finishes eating."
This kid is really thoughtful; he even remembered to bring his uncle along.
"Dad, Changyao didn't say you were allowed to go, so you'd better not go and join the fun."