"Mother, how about we go to the Zhao family?" Wang Dazhi said, lying on the bed.
"Are you stupid?" Old Mrs. Wang scolded, "Didn't you hear them say that Zhao Laosan lent money to Yueying? What if Zhao Laosan forces us to pay it back when we go to his door?"
Wang Dazhi said, "The child is back. If we don't go see him, what will others think of us?"
"Who cares what they think? Will we lose two pieces of flesh?" Old Mrs. Wang sneered. "Besides, it's a good thing that Yueying is working for the Zhao family now. Zhao Laosan is helping you raise your wife and children. When the children grow up, won't they call you 'Dad' and pass on their family line to you?"
"But that Zhao Laosan isn't a good person, Yueying is at his house..."
"Zhao Laosan is a good-for-nothing, what are you afraid of?"
"But didn't Father say he...?"
"Don't listen to his nonsense. If Zhao Laosan were really capable, he would have been married long ago." Old Mrs. Wang sneered, "Even if Zhao Laosan really wanted to do something, he would only have a fleeting moment of pleasure. What are you worried about?"
Wang Dazhi was speechless.
Old Wang also said, "Your mother is right, let's just leave it at that. That wretched Yueying, she's already back in the village and doesn't even know to bring her child home. She has no manners at all."
Old Mrs. Wang said sadly, "What's the use of saying all this? We've sold all our fields. How are we going to live from now on?"
The elderly couple cherished their land dearly, but when it came to the matter of offering incense, Old Wang finally gave in.
"Dazhi, go find Yueying in a few days. Although she has left home, she is still one of our family members. From now on, make her bring back grain every month!" Old Wang said.
Wang Dazhi nodded, feeling indignant that Wu Yueying had returned to the village but not gone home. "That bitch, I'll find a time to teach her a lesson!"
...
That night, Zhao Zheng sent Yan Dali away early, then took out an egg pancake from his pocket and handed it to Liu Tieniu, saying, "Tieniu, this is your reward dinner."
Liu Tieniu was delighted. "Uncle, this is... an egg pancake?"
Zhao Zheng nodded, "I really owe you a lot today, otherwise, I would have suffered a great loss."
Liu Tieniu patted his chest and said, "Uncle, don't worry, with me here, no one can bully you!"
"Tie Niu, your uncle took Yan Dali as a student today. You're not unhappy about that, are you?"
Liu Tieniu's face stiffened. "No, I'm just a farmhand myself, I have no right to make demands."
Zhao Zheng patted him on the shoulder, "Tie Niu, don't underestimate yourself. Actually, I've always thought highly of you. Now that you've come to my house, I'll definitely treat you like my own child. This Yan Dali does have some issues. You have to keep an eye on him for me, understand?"
"Don't worry, Uncle, I definitely won't let his evil scheme succeed!" Liu Tieniu said hurriedly.
"I only took him in because I had no other choice. I was afraid he would cause trouble, and you know the Yan family's character." Zhao Zheng sighed, then changed the subject, "Compared to him, I definitely trust you more, so from now on you not only have to keep an eye on him, but also keep him in check. When I'm not home, you have to make him listen to you, understand?"
"There may be more and more people in the family in the future. I hope you can be my right-hand man and help me with my problems. I will definitely not treat you badly."
At this point, Zhao Zheng paused, "When the time comes, I'll find you a wife. If she can't have children, that's okay too. I'll go outside and bring you a son who will take your surname, so that someone will burn incense for you in the future!"
Liu Tieniu stared blankly at Zhao Zheng, then felt an overwhelming sense of emotion, and tears suddenly streamed down his face.
Large tears fell to the ground. Even when Wang Dazhi kicked him and smashed them, he had never cried so bitterly.
Why are you crying?
"Uncle, you're so good to me, even better than my own parents," Liu Tieniu said gratefully. "I will treat you like my own father from now on!"
It's done.
Making empty promises is one of Zhao Zheng's specialties.
He patted him on the shoulder. "Things will get better and better. But I still hope you can improve your relationship with your parents. After all, they are the ones who gave you life and raised you, you know?"
Liu Tieniu thought to himself, "My dad bullied Uncle Zhao like that before, and Uncle Zhao even told me to be filial to them. Compared to him, my dad is really a scoundrel!"
"They didn't treat me like a son, and I don't want to treat them like my parents either. I'm like this now because of them!"
Zhao Zheng immediately transformed into a caring uncle, comforting Liu Tieniu until Liu Tieniu was moved to tears.
I talked him until my lips were dry before I finally let him go back.
After leaving the Zhao family, Liu Tieniu felt a warmth in his heart, and the gloom of the past few days was swept away.
So what if he's a piece of trash? Uncle Zhao is a piece of trash too.
Isn't he doing just as well?
I will also work hard to get married, raise a son, and live a good life so that everyone will look at me with new eyes!
He returned home in the dark, and instead of going to his own room, he went to the inner room.
It was rare for Mrs. Liu to light an oil lamp.
When she saw her son return, she didn't give him a friendly look. "What are you doing here?"
Liu Tieniu took out the large pancake from his pocket, and without saying a word, sat down and started eating. "Tsk tsk, this egg pancake is really delicious, so fragrant!"
Feeling unbearably hungry while lying in bed, Liu Laosi sat up abruptly. His mouth watered as he looked at the flatbread in Liu Tieniu's hand. "Tieniu, what kind of flatbread are you holding?"
"This egg pancake is a reward from Uncle Zhao." Liu Tieniu tore off a piece and put it in his mouth. "This piece is a bit salty, probably because he put too much salt in it, but it's still delicious. My sister-in-law Zhaodi's cooking is really good."
The egg pancake was so oily, it made my hands all slippery!
Mrs. Liu's eyes widened. "An egg pancake made with oil?"
"Mom, I'm hungry." Liu Tielu, who was sleeping in the middle, had already been drooling. Seeing his second brother eating so happily, he wished he could rush over and take a bite.
"Yes, it's an egg pancake made with oil." Liu Tieniu was extremely proud of himself. Looking at the three people who were drooling with envy, he said, "Want some?"
Liu Laosi nodded repeatedly and said in a commanding tone, "Nonsense, tear it in half!"
Mrs. Liu said, "That Zhao Laosan is such a spendthrift, eating so well. Let's see how long he can last!"
Liu Tielu pleaded, "Second Brother, can I have something to eat?"
Liu Tieniu chuckled, "Want some? Make it yourself!"
As he spoke, he gathered the egg pancake into a ball and stuffed it into his mouth. "Awesome! This is the best way to eat pancakes!"
"This egg pancake is a hundred times tastier than the wild vegetable pancake!"
Seeing this, Liu Laosi's fists hardened with anger. "You wicked beast, are you deliberately trying to tempt me?"
The old woman was so angry her nose was crooked. "You heartless bastard! You have good food but you won't give it to your old mother. You'll be struck by lightning!"
Liu Tielu swallowed hard, his voice trembling with tears, "Second brother, I beg you, please take a piece of the egg pancake out of your mouth and let me taste it, okay?"