Back To The 80s-Chapter 499 - 510: Headache_1

Chen Qiumei’s mood suddenly darkened. If what Bai Xiaolan had said was true, they wouldn’t benefit much from their visit. Furthermore, seeing the stingy attitude of that damned girl, they wouldn’t be able to extort a penny from her if they were broke.

Mo Wang, who had been quietly sitting nearby, was intrigued by the knife Bai Xiaolan was using to peel potatoes.

Liao Zhe, on the other hand, was not so quiet. At the age of four or five, he was in the peak of his naughtiness, treating a small stool as a horse and riding around the table. He eventually resorted to cursing Mo Wang, who was blocking his path, shouting "Blind man, move!" He then forcefully shoved Mo Wang away.

Caught off guard by the unexpected push, the younger Mo Wang toppled over. Seeing him about to fall onto the stove, Bai Xiaolan quickly threw down her knife and used the back of her hand to block him from hitting the stove. An intense, burning pain shot through her hand as she angrily reprimanded Liao Zhe: "How could you push your younger brother like that? Do you know how dangerous it was? You’re much older. How could you do such a thing?" She was truly angry. Chen Qiumei was just standing there, not saying a word. What good was she? What if Mo Wang had hit his face on the stove and disfigured himself?

Scared and feeling wronged, Mo Wang began to cry.

A bit disgruntled, Chen Qiumei retorted: "He didn’t get burnt, did he? Why are you scolding the kid so harshly? However old he is, he’s still a child."

Bai Xiaolan disregarded her comment with a huff: "Then why don’t you mind your own kid and his destructive behavior? Had my quick reflexes not blocked him, Mo Wang’s face would have been singed by the stove."

Upon hearing Bai Xiaolan’s reprimand and Mo Wang’s crying, Wen Xiuqing and Gu Weimin rushed in, clearly alarmed.

"What happened? What’s wrong?" Wen Xiuqing, holding Doudou, crouched down to check on the tearful Mo Wang. Had he hit himself somewhere?

Chen Qiumei laughed dismissively and said: "It’s fine, it’s fine, just children fooling around. Liao Zhe inadvertently pushed Mo Wang a little."

"What do you mean it’s fine? If I hadn’t blocked his fall, Mo Wang’s face could have been ruined! Look at my hand." Bai Xiaolan, outraged, showed Wen Xiuqing and Chen Qiumei her burnt hand. Though the heat from the stove had never been significantly high as a soup was being boiled, the temperature was still high enough to scald. The back of Bai Xiaolan’s hand, having made contact with the stove, was red, with a burn the size of a coin blistering on it.

Chen Qiumei was surprised. She hadn’t expected Bai Xiaolan to be such an unbending individual who would hold onto such a trivial issue so tightly.

Upon hearing this, Gu Weimin angrily slapped Liao Zhe’s head: "Behave! Why are you so naughty?" He ended up slapping him another two times, causing Liao Zhe to sit on the ground crying and kicking.

Wen Xiuqing sighed. Holding Doudou with one arm and hugging Mo Wang with the other, she lovingly instructed Bai Xiaolan, "Rinse your hand in cold water. Beside the TV cupboard in the eastern room, there is badger oil that Zhanguo brought back last year. Apply some of it to your hand."

Only then did Bai Xiaolan feel the intense burning pain. She glared at Liao Zhe, picked up Doudou, and left. She was the type to never indulge those she disliked, regardless of their age or gender.

After Bai Xiaolan had left the room with the child, Chen Qiumei voiced her displeasure: "The child certainly didn’t do it intentionally. Why are even adults taking it so seriously?"

Wen Xiuqing had to suppress her resentment once more. Regardless, Gu Xiaobei’s parents were present so she needed to be tactful. She couldn’t let things get too awkward. Smiling, she said, "Xiaolan was just worried about Mo Wang. If his face had indeed been injured, our regret would be too late."

Chen Qiumei muttered inaudibly, "But his face wasn’t injured, right?"

Gu Weimin glared at her: "What are you saying? You’ve spoiled the child." Turning towards Wen Xiuqing with a forced smile, he said, "I’m sorry, Sister-in-law. Qiumei spoils him so much. He’s normally very sweet; it’s just that he can be a little wild at times."

Seeing Gu Weimin’s reaction, Wen Xiuqing could only hug Mo Wang and reply, "Oh, it’s fine. Adults must take responsibility when looking after children. After all, what do they understand? It’s the adults who need to teach them properly."

Upon return after spending the day out with Xiaopang, Gu Xiaobei saw Lu Songyuan seated all alone in the courtyard. Hearing voices from the kitchen and seeing no one in the courtyard, he was puzzled. Why had they left Grandpa in the courtyard while they were busy chatting in the kitchen?

After parking her bike and taking Xiaopang off, Xiaopang, holding a fistful of colorful jelly beans, joyfully ran towards Lu Songyuan and said, "Grandpa, candy. Mum bought candy for grandpa."

Lu Songyuan chuckled delightfully, "Grandpa doesn’t want any. Xiaopang, you can have them."

Upon hearing the conversation in the yard, Wen Xiuqing, carrying Mo Wang, came out. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Seeing Mo Wang’s tear-filled eyes, his long eyelashes still damp, and his small nose twitching, Gu Xiaobei felt a pang in her heart. She extended her arm and took Mo into her arms, "What happened to Mo Wang? Why is he crying so hard?"

Chen Qiumei also came out and upon hearing Gu Xiaobei’s question, hastily replied, "Liao Zhe was playing with him and he accidentally fell down."

Bai Xiaolan, who had already spread some badger oil on Doudou’s hand, came out carrying Doudou. Hearing what Chen Qiumei said, she sneered silently without a word.

Looking at the expressions of everyone, Gu Xiaobei felt as if something minor had occurred while she was absent.

Wen Xiuqing quickly took the meat brought on the bike to cook. Gu Xiaobei also changed clothes, ready to help, but Wen Xiuqing stopped her, "You stay in the yard and watch the kids. I can do the cooking myself." She didn’t trust Liao Zhe.

Gu Xiaobei took out a few jelly beans for Mo Wang and then for Liao Zhe.

Liao Zhe complained about the small quantity and demanded, "Give me all the candies in the bag." As he spoke, he tried to snatch the bag.

Gu Xiaobei tightened the mouth of the bag and said, "Only these are left. You got just as many as your siblings. Either take it or leave it." She then clenched her hand around the bag, ready to stand up.

Liao Zhe was sulking and grumbled, "Stingy, drinking cold water, marrying a wife with four legs, giving birth to a son without thighs."

Chen Qiumei was grinning and looked at Liao Zhe without any intention of reprimanding him. Gu Xiaobei held the candy bag, turned around, and placed it into the house.

Seeing this, Liao Zhe ran towards Chen Qiumei, hitting her, "Give me candy, quick."

Chen Qiumei laughed and coaxed him, "Grandma has candy in her pocket. I will give them all to you." Saying this, she took a handful of candies from her pocket and handed them to Liao Zhe.

Gu Xiaobei felt that Liao Zhe was completely spoiled by Chen Qiumei.

Wen Xiuqing sincerely prepared an abundant lunch, including braised pork, beef stew with potatoes, sauerkraut stir-fried with vermicelli, sour and hot shredded potatoes. She even mixed some shredded radish and peeled a plate of eggs.

Looking at the dishes on the table, Chen Qiumei changed her mind. With such a good standard of living, the family must have some wealth. Who would dare to eat so lavishly after the New Year? Her attitude suddenly became modest.

Throughout the meal, Liao Zhe only ate meat and refused to eat rice. Wen Xiuqing couldn’t help but say, "Let the child eat more vegetables and rice. If he only eats meat, I worry about his digestion."

Chen Qiumei waved off her concerns with a smile, "Oh, it’s fine. My Xiao Zhe isn’t delicate at all. He can eat meat and drink cold water without any issues."