Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 725 - 600: Sibling Thoughts

As the sun set in the west, Xi Zi and his three siblings, full of joy, followed Mr. Zhang back to the county town in the glow of the summer twilight. After parting ways with them at the intersection, the four siblings, carrying cloth bags and bamboo baskets, briskly walked home with happiness on their faces.

Not yet home, the air was filled with the mixed aroma of corn bread and stewed dishes, making one feel an impulse to enter any house for a meal.

Upon entering the courtyard, they were greeted by the unique fragrance of mixed flour steamed buns and stew. The four siblings exchanged surprised glances, not even bothering to wash their hands as they carefully maneuvered past the vegetable garden, cloth bags and bamboo baskets in hand, heading straight to the kitchen.

Huang Cuilan hadn’t made lunch either, subsisting on two leftover corn breads with water. As every household started cooking, she realized that the children would be returning soon.

"Mom, today big brother caught two fish and gave grandpa one. Shall we eat this one for dinner?"

Noticing the children’s eager faces, Huang Cuilan smiled and nodded, "Alright. Today you will eat to your heart’s content. Later, Xi Zi, take a bowl to your grandma." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Xi Zi’s eyes lit up with joy as he replied, "Okay. Grandma surely won’t eat the fish tonight; she just told me to bring it back, but I didn’t take it. She even said she’d salt it and save it for us tomorrow."

Xiao Zuo commented, "Mom, we didn’t eat over there. Grandpa and Grandma can’t bring themselves to eat refined grains. If my little uncle knew, he’d be heartbroken. You should’ve seen how even the smoked meat was going moldy, and she’s still keeping it, saying she’ll wait for us to come over to eat."

Xiao You frowned and said, "It looks like we need to write a letter to my little uncle. What’s Grandma hoping for, making us keep secrets? Big brother, didn’t you say little uncle would come back for the summer vacation? It’s almost time for school to start, why aren’t they back yet?"

Xi Zi chuckled, "Didn’t Ping’an tell Grandpa to wait for him to come back? It should be soon. Grandma’s birthday is in ten days or so, little uncle should make it back by then."

Mai Miao teased, "Second brother and third brother, you two need to start practicing your writing. Grandpa said you need to write a letter to Little Ping’an so he can see how accomplished his older brothers have become!"

"You brat, still daring to make fun of your brothers, watch out!"

Mai Miao quickly hid behind Xi Zi, sticking out her tongue and making faces at her older brothers, causing Xiao Zuo and Xiao You to laugh. They only had this one sister, so they cherished her too much to ever truly get upset.

Xi Zi patted her on the forehead, "You little rascal!"

After speaking, he glanced at Huang Cuilan, who was smiling warmly, hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Mom, I heard the factory is planning to cut staff. Are you okay?"

Looking at her eldest son, Huang Cuilan recalled how people had taken a liking to him and couldn’t help but smile. Listening to his concerned tone, she was overjoyed, thinking her son had truly grown up, "Mom is fine."

"That’s good. Not working could be nice too, you can take care of Dad and us at home. This summer, us four siblings caught cicada larvae and exchanged them at the purchase station for quite a bit, enough for the tuition fees. Don’t worry. When my little aunt comes back, I’ll ask her to teach me about herbal medicine, which can also earn money."

"It’s all because Mom is useless, making you suffer."

"We’re much better off than many others. Mom, we don’t ask for you to be incredibly capable; just rest assured at home. We all agree on providing for Grandpa and Grandma. As for other family members, you’d better have less contact with them; they’re too scheming, and you’re no match for them."

Mai Miao promptly nodded, "Exactly! As long as you ignore my aunt and her family, we’re very happy. My aunt is not reliable; she’s shallow and thinks she’s clever, always secretly taking things home. My grandma even thinks she’s a good person. If it weren’t for my grandpa keeping things in check, she’d be a family-wrecking woman."

Xiao Zuo and Xiao You laughed heartily upon hearing this. Their little sister was becoming more and more like their eldest aunt! Truly hitting the nail on the head!

Huang Cuilan glared at her, "That’s your elder. No matter what you think, don’t say it out loud. Be careful, or you won’t be able to get married if people hear."

Xiao Zuo snorted contemptuously, while Xi Zi hummed in agreement, "My sister not wanted? Then that’s perfect; the three of us brothers can just take care of her. I don’t want her going to another family to work herself to death."

Mai Miao laughed proudly, "See? My own brother!"

Huang Cuilan shook her head with a smile. Now that the daughters-in-law aren’t yet married into the family, the siblings naturally get along well; who knows what the future holds. She didn’t say more.

Once the fish was done cooking, a bowl was taken to Xi Zi’s grandparents by him. Finally, when he returned, the family could eat together.

At the dinner table, Xi Zi glanced at his mom, remembering what the old lady next door said about two guests visiting today. He could easily guess who these ’guests’ were, but unfortunately, he didn’t know what was discussed that caused Grandma to leave in such a huff.

Unexpectedly, before he could inquire, Huang Cuilan brought up the matter herself, explaining frankly what her mother and sister-in-law had discussed with her.

Xi Zi narrowed his eyes, then lowered his head to continue eating.

At fifteen, Xi Zi was no longer a child; he understood the intentions of his relatives and why they took a liking to him. He was working hard to skip grades and attend school, but he had no intention of casually finding a bride, especially one from the ambitious Yue Family.

"Didn’t Grandpa say not to rush about big brother’s marriage? My little uncle did stress the importance of a good wife benefiting three generations. For the heir of Old Zhang’s family, the choice of grandchild-in-law should be made carefully."

Xi Zi tapped her head, "Little girl, don’t speak out of turn. I know what I’m doing."

Then, he looked at Huang Cuilan, "Mom, you were right not to agree. Next year I can take the university entrance exam, and I’ll only be twenty-one when I graduate; I’m not in a hurry."

Xiao Zuo rolled his eyes, "Big brother, you’re not humble at all; what if you don’t pass next year? You think everyone can get into Beijing like little uncle did?"

Xi Zi wasn’t annoyed by this; he smiled, "My goals aren’t that high. I’m aiming for a university in the provincial city, and with some effort, I should make it. If I did go to Beijing, you two might just rebel."

Mai Miao giggled, "Second and third brothers, you also need to work hard! Strive to get into a university too, then I’ll have three college brother graduates, how impressive that will be."

Huang Cuilan looked at her eldest son, feeling sentimental, "When you were little, your grandpa said you had potential for studying. I didn’t expect him to be so right."

"Mom, I went to see Grandpa last week. He’s doing well now."

Xiao Zuo and Xiao You listened and exchanged a wry smile, then quickly focused on eating. The debt of kindness from childhood was surely something their mother would remember for a lifetime. Were the three brothers tied to the family with this obligation?

No wonder their big brother said debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay. Fortunately, their little uncle supplied them with plenty of game, or else the three of them might be working off the debt to the Huang family forever.

Huang Cuilan didn’t understand her sons’ thoughts. She started reminiscing about how her two brothers cared for her in childhood, how her father doted on her, and how the three brothers were treated at Grandpa’s place.

This caused Mai Miao to roll her eyes and want to speak, but she was quickly stopped by Xi Zi beside her. He was three years older than his siblings and understood things more clearly.

But a kindness is a kindness. If they counter-attacked by saying the maternal family was kind, especially the two aunts who valued little uncle for the occasional meat offerings, it would be too harsh and unkind, not worth the effort for a verbal battle.