novelraw Chapter 221: The Hapless Eldest Sister 36
Chapter 221: The Hapless Eldest Sister 36
However, in the previous life, not a penny of the rent was spent on the original host; it was all saved by Ma Xiaolan to buy houses and get wives for her two sons, and to prepare a dowry for Zhong Yuanfen.
Thinking about the Zhong Family, Yuan Chun seemed to have not received any news from the Zhong Family for a long time.
After dinner, while Wang Ziteng was washing dishes, Yuan Chun summoned the system and asked, "007, how is the Zhong Family doing lately?"
"Host, after you left, the steel factory’s punishment for Zhong Damin was issued. Ma Xiaolan got so angry upon learning that half of Zhong Damin’s monthly salary would compensate you, she fell ill."
"After Ma Xiaolan fell ill, the Zhong Family became chaotic. No one washed clothes, swept the floor, or cooked meals. It was Zhong Damin who went to the steel factory’s cafeteria to bring back food, so the Zhong Family didn’t go hungry."
Later, when Zhong Damin spent all his pocket money, Ma Xiaolan had no choice but to drag her sick body to cook, wash clothes, and clean.
No matter how hard or exhausted she was, she didn’t have the heart to make the three kids work.
And those three kids seemed oblivious to Ma Xiaolan’s struggles; none thought of lending a hand. After school, they acted like masters, waiting to be fed.
"In the month you left, half of Zhong Damin’s salary was deducted and sent to you. The remaining half barely covered the three children’s school fees, while living expenses were covered by the money Ma Xiaolan made from gluing matchboxes."
Ma Xiaolan had to do household chores, serving the needs of Zhong Damin and his three sons, while also gluing matchboxes until ten at night. Seriously ill as she was, she couldn’t bear such a load and soon fell ill again.
With no money for Ma Xiaolan’s treatment, Zhong Damin had to go to the factory to advance half a month’s salary to let Ma Xiaolan stay in the hospital for three days, finally getting better. Yet after being discharged, she had to continue working, getting up early and staying up late every day; no one at home extended a helping hand, and before long she looked ten years older and her hair turned white.
Back then, when the original host was around, she did all the household chores, keeping Ma Xiaolan younger than other women of her age. Now, she’s older than her peers.
Earlier this year, after washing beddings and clothes all morning, Ma Xiaolan was too exhausted to cook, so she asked Zhong Yuanfen to make porridge. Zhong Yuanfen pulled Zhong Guoqiang and Zhong Guohao, saying, "Mom, eldest brother and second brother are bigger and stronger than me. You should ask them to cook; I’m still young and not strong enough, I can’t even lift the pot."
It made Ma Xiaolan furious.
Ma Xiaolan, pained by her children, didn’t let them work due to her motherly love. Yet when she commanded, they wouldn’t move, the children wouldn’t work; this was their unfilial behavior.
Ma Xiaolan felt a little heartbroken at the time.
But after all, Zhong Yuanfen was her dear daughter whom she had cared for many years; she couldn’t bear to hit or scold her. In the end, she dragged her weary body to make the porridge herself.
"Host, Zhong Guoqiang’s grades are even worse this time; in the final exams, his total score across several subjects was less than 100. Zhong Damin gave him a beating, accidentally breaking his leg, haha... Zhong Guoqiang spent New Year in the hospital."
"The Zhong Family couldn’t afford to pay for Zhong Guoqiang’s leg treatment, so Ma Xiaolan sold half of their food rations. Without the original host’s help in earning money for white Mantou, the Zhong Family drank porridge every day, and everyone lost a lot of weight."
Yuan Chun’s lips curled up with a smile, "The Zhong Family deserves it."
Yuan Chun thought she might never see the Zhong Family again in this lifetime.
Unexpectedly, on the first day she and Wang Ziteng returned to school, she saw Ma Xiaolan at the school gate.