“Dad, it’s all your fault for kicking them out back then!”
Yun Goudan frowned, his heart filled with regret.
He was practically kicking himself.
Yun Wangcai slammed down his pipe, saying irritably, “How was I supposed to know they’d become so rich?
Besides, when they came to us for help back then, didn’t you and Jin Ping also turn them away?”
The house on the mountainside was the most imposing and luxurious in Dashui Village.
He never imagined that the Yun family would buy it.
That was fifty taels of silver!
Their entire family, working tirelessly without eating or drinking, tightening their belts, couldn’t save fifty taels in a lifetime.
Lu Jinping sat on a stool, cracking melon seeds with her legs crossed, “What can we do? Dad already severed ties with them, didn’t he?”
They couldn’t exactly beg for money, could they?
Yun Wangcai snorted, “We’re brothers, our bones are connected even if they’re broken.
Now that he’s doing well and looks so prosperous, he should help us out a bit!”
Yun Goudan’s eyes lit up at this. He chuckled, “Dad, their family is celebrating their child’s full moon banquet today. How about… we go join the fun?”
Lu Jinping rolled her eyes, “Hmph, celebrating a girl’s full moon banquet? Don’t they feel ashamed!”
It’s just a snot-nosed brat, what’s there to show off about?
A married daughter is like spilled water.
When she grows up, she’ll just be a money-losing burden!
Little Xi Tian, who was eating porridge in the courtyard, sneezed, wrinkling her little nose.
“Achoo!~”
Who’s thinking of me?
Little Xi Tian pursed her lips and continued to eat her porridge.
Yun Wangcai pondered for a moment, then nodded, “Alright, let’s go see the Yun family!”
After all, family ties are blood ties and should never be broken.
Inside the Yun family courtyard, four large tables were set up.
The large iron pot in the kitchen was simmering with roe deer meat, and many mischievous boys were peeking in from the doorway.
The smell of the meat was so enticing!
Aunt Zhang had arrived early, carrying a basket of eggs.
The full moon feast was scheduled for the evening, and with many villagers attending, more food would need to be prepared.
Gu Shi held Little Xi Tian and sat in the main hall, chatting with the other women.
“Little Tian Bao, call me Grandma, Grandma will give you candy!” Aunt Zhang dangled a piece of malt candy, teasing Little Xi Tian.
Little Xi Tian opened her mouth.
Aunt Zhang, your generation is mixed up!
Your granddaughter still has to call me Aunt!
Huang Xiangyun chuckled beside them, thinking that when Tian Bao grew up, she would have her youngest son marry her.
To be her daughter-in-law.
Little Xi Tian, completely unaware that she was being considered, let out a soft, cute yawn and fell asleep in Gu Shi’s arms.
Fu Daqiang brought a slab of tofu, Village Chief’s wife Liang Yueshui carried a basket of sweet potatoes, and Du Lao San brought three bundles of green onions.
Villagers never attended feasts empty-handed; they always brought something to eat, whether it was brown sugar, goose eggs, or vegetables.
Yun Daman put the extra ingredients into the vegetable cellar for his own family to eat.
Jinshan and Jinhe were playing outside the door when they suddenly saw Yun Wangcai’s family approaching with smiles.
“Why are you here?” Yun Jinhe pulled his younger brother behind him, his attitude firm.
That night, he had seen what kind of person Yun Wangcai was.
He was the one who had made them stay in a broken temple (a privy), and he was also the one who had refused them entry and treated them with indifference.
Yun Wangcai’s old face was beaming with smiles. He reached out to pat Yun Jinhe’s head, “Oh, nephew, your uncle brought you something delicious!”
He then glanced at Yun Goudan, “Goudan, quickly give your nephew some candy!”
Yun Goudan smiled knowingly and took out a handful of candy from his pocket, “Here, have some!”
“I don’t want it!” Yun Jinhe refused outright and ran off, pulling Yun Jinshan with him.
Lu Jinping spat, “Pah, ungrateful brats!”
As if anyone wanted to give you candy.
They say if the beam is crooked, the rafters will be crooked too.
With such terrible attitudes from the two brats, their parents must be no better.
Yun Wangcai glared at Lu Jinping, “When you see your elder uncle and aunt later, don’t chatter nonsense. Watch your mouth!”
Lu Jinping didn’t listen to a word. She stepped over the threshold and entered the courtyard.
“Good heavens, this house is amazing!”
Lu Jinping’s eyes widened, and she looked around, “Dad, tell elder uncle, let’s move in too!”
“I’ll talk to him!” Yun Wangcai said confidently.
This courtyard was so large, it was just a matter of asking to have a few rooms allocated.
In the main hall, Zhao Guihua had just finished pouring tea for the guests when she saw Yun Wangcai’s family stride in.
Gu Shi frowned slightly and put down her teacup with a ‘bang’, “Yun Wangcai, did you come to the wrong door?”
The unspoken meaning was that their Yun family did not welcome him.
Little Xi Tian blinked her eyes.
For some reason, whenever her mother put on a stern face, she exuded an aura of unyielding authority.
It was as if in this small world, she was the sole ruler, allowing no one to overstep or be presumptuous.
The women in the room shivered, feeling a sense of dread.
Yun Wangcai was momentarily stunned, his old face flushing red, “I, I…”
Seeing this, Yun Goudan said with a fawning smile, “Aunt, we heard you’re holding a full moon banquet today, we’re here to help!”
“Yes, yes, help!” Lu Jinping spat out the melon seed shells from her mouth, her smile more like a grimace.
Little Xi Tian gave them a disdainful look.
Truly, shamelessness knows no bounds.
She just wanted to strangle these utterly despicable relatives.
Gu Shi narrowed her eyes and sneered, “If I recall correctly, our two families severed all ties that night.
Since we are no longer relatives, our Yun family does not welcome you. Get out!”
Yun Wangcai’s face turned as red as a monkey’s backside. He suppressed the urge to get angry and said sheepishly, “Sister-in-law, I was confused that night, don’t take it to heart.”
“What does my confusion have to do with you?”
Gu Shi curled her lips, her expression cold, “If you don’t leave now, don’t blame me for being impolite!”
Yun Wangcai’s face turned crimson, and he gritted his teeth, his anger surging to the top of his head.
Their family had a terrible reputation in Dashui Village.
The villagers avoided them like the plague.
Every autumn harvest, every family would work together, united and helping each other.
However, the Yun Wangcai family were all lazy.
They planted less land, so they didn’t have enough to eat.
Thus, Yun Goudan would take Lu Jinping to beg for food from each household.
Over time, no one gave them charity anymore.
“I can’t talk about this with you. Where’s my elder brother? Call him out!” Yun Wangcai roared.
Aunt Zhang sneered, “Yun Wangcai, have you no shame? Now that they’re doing well, you come crawling to them. When they were in desperate straits, why didn’t you take them in?”
Huang Xiangyun also echoed coldly, “Exactly. You’ve already broken ties, yet you’re shamelessly fawning over them. Aren’t you disgusting?”
“If I were you, I would have already hit my head against a wall and died, rather than come out and embarrass myself!” the Village Chief’s wife said with disdain.
Little Xi Tian grinned and giggled.
The more Yun Wangcai’s face contorted in ugliness, the happier she became.
It was so satisfying!
The men in the courtyard, hearing the commotion, also rushed in.