Chapter 1673 - 1093: Differential Treatment
Ignoring Zheng Sanqiao’s unpleasant expression, Chuxia pretended not to see it, reached out to pinch Shuanshuan’s chubby little cheek, and smiled, "Shuanshuan, do you remember your aunt?"
"I remember!" The little one wasn’t shy at all and grabbed Chuxia’s arm, "Auntie, yesterday I went with Dad to see my brothers. They’re really cute. Why didn’t you bring them to play?"
"Do you like them, Shuanshuan?"
"Of course!" The little one nodded vigorously, "I like Nannan and Beibei. Dad said if I go to college when I grow up, I can go find them to play."
Lin Chudong helplessly smiled as he explained, "Ever since we got back yesterday, he’s been talking non-stop about how much he likes Nannan and Beibei and wants to play with them. I told him that if he wants to play with them, he has to study hard and become a successful kid. Once he goes to college and lives closer to Auntie’s house, he’ll be able to play with his brothers often. I didn’t think he’d take it so seriously, haha..."
"Brother, are you just saying this for fun?" Chuxia glared at Lin Chudong, "Shuanshuan is so smart; going to college is a very normal thing for him. How can you underestimate Shuanshuan?"
"Exactly!" Liu Meiqing burst out from inside the house like the wind, and familiarly took Chuxia’s hand, "The environment in the city is really nourishing. Our Xia looked good before, and now she’s even more like a fairy. Look at how pretty she is; she’s rare and precious. Come on, sit inside! Your brother is so foolish, he was just too happy seeing you to remember anything else."
"I’m not an outsider with Brother, there’s no need for so many formalities..." Chuxia silently withdrew her hand and smiled at Liu Meiqing, "Sister-in-law, go ahead if you have things to do. I’ll just say a few words to Brother and then leave."
"Xia, are you still holding a grudge against Sister-in-law?" Liu Meiqing grabbed Chuxia’s hand again, "Sister-in-law used to be in the wrong, petty-minded, but she now knows she’s wrong. Xia, you be generous, don’t hold it against Sister-in-law, okay?"
"What’s Sister-in-law saying?" This time, Chuxia openly broke her hand free, "There is no grudge between us, but there is definitely no affection either. And as for why, I think Sister-in-law understands, so I won’t go on..." She said as she smiled at Lin Chudong, "Brother, I just came to see you and Shuanshuan. I’ll be heading back now. We’re leaving this afternoon, so if you have time, come over and visit."
Lin Chudong hurriedly said, "Alright, alright, Xia, go ahead and get busy, there’s nothing here for you to fret over."
As Chuxia’s figure disappeared, the smile on Liu Meiqing’s face vanished completely, and she glared at her husband, "How could you be so foolish? She came here herself, and you don’t know to ask for a little benefit from her?
With her family’s current situation, even a little leakage from the fingers would be enough for us to roll around and eat. Even if you don’t care about me and the parents, you should at least care about your son, right?"
"That’s right, Chudong, it’s rare that she still acknowledges you, how can you be so dumb?" Zheng Sanqiao said as she pursed her lips, "Even those distant relatives in the village are getting lots of benefits from her. We’re family with her, yet we’re left out altogether."
"Shuanshuan, come on, Dad will take you out for a walk." Lin Chudong, tired of dealing with his wife and mother, grabbed his son’s hand and walked outside. He was completely disappointed in these family members. His only hope now was to educate his son well and help him grow up successfully. As for his parents and wife, they could do as they pleased; he wouldn’t worry about them anymore.
"I’ve raised this son for nothing... Raised him all this way, and he’s become an ungrateful wolf who doesn’t see his parents anymore. Why didn’t I just throw him against the wall back then? I wouldn’t have to endure his attitude now..."
Already outside, Lin Chudong listened to the half-singing, half-wailing cries coming from his mother in the yard, and sighed deeply. This was his mother indeed! As soon as things didn’t go her way, she’d start throwing a fit.
The problem was, this behavior never brought her any benefits, yet she enjoyed doing it repeatedly.
He just couldn’t understand. Why should others who have it good automatically give her something?
And his wife too, others having a good life is their business, what right does she have to expect a handout from them? Why not reflect on how they treated others before?
Ah!
"Dad, why did you sigh?" Shuanshuan looked up at his dad, puzzled, "Dad likes Auntie so much, but why don’t Mom and Grandma like her?"
"Do you like Auntie?" Lin Chudong looked at his son and asked seriously.
"I do." Shuanshuan nodded, "Auntie is pretty, she gives Shuanshuan good food, smiles at Shuanshuan, praises me for being able to go to college, and Auntie’s brothers are great, Shuanshuan likes them."
Lin Chudong squatted down and looked seriously at his son, "Shuanshuan, do you know why Dad keeps you by his side and not let you be with Mom and Grandma?"
"Because you’re afraid I’ll learn to curse from them."
"That’s right..." Lin Chudong sighed and hugged his son, "Dad is afraid that if you stay with them too long, you’ll become like them, and Dad doesn’t want to ruin your life.
So Shuanshuan, now that you’re older, even if Dad isn’t beside you to teach you, you need to learn to distinguish right from wrong, understand?"
Shuanshuan looked at Lin Chudong with some confusion, and after a while, nodded.
"I feel sorry for you, son. You’re so young, how can you really understand what your dad’s talking about? Never mind, I’ll keep a good eye on you and make sure you don’t go astray..."
The little guy looked at his own feet: "Tch, Shuanshuan doesn’t walk crookedly. Shuanshuan walks with his foot flat, not crooked at all. Don’t worry, Dad!"
Lin Chudong: "..." Well, he admitted that talking to the child was like casting pearls before swine. How much could a three-year-old possibly understand?
"Auntie is over there!"
Following Shuanshuan’s little hand, Lin Chudong saw Chuxia standing with Lin Chuchun. The corners of his lips curled up unconsciously—this little cousin of his was truly a sentimental one!
In this big family, only he and Chuchun, plus the little aunt’s family, sincerely cared about the second uncle’s family. So even after confirming that the second uncle wasn’t truly related, Chuxia remained close to them.
Grandpa and Grandma and Dad, Mom, Uncle Three and Aunt Three saying the younger uncle’s family is unfeeling is truly laughable. Why haven’t they thought about how they treated the younger uncle’s family back in the day?
Being human, how can you have double standards for yourself and for others?
Thinking it over, Lin Chudong held his son’s little hand and went over. As they came closer, Chuchun noticed them and greeted them with a smile: "Big brother, are you and Xiao Shuan eavesdropping on my conversation with second sister?"
Lin Chudong shook his head helplessly: "I saw you over here, so we came to find you. How is that eavesdropping?"
"Big brother, did Eldest Uncle’s Wife and sister-in-law pester you again?" Chuxia asked with a smile, having lived opposite Zheng Sanqiao and Liu Meiqing before, of course she knew their personalities.
"Oh..." Lin Chudong shook his head, smiling helplessly, "That’s just the way they are, probably won’t change, Xia, don’t stoop to their level.
If you don’t want to see them, just don’t go out of your way to find big brother when you come back. As long as I know you’re back, I’ll definitely bring Shuanshuan to see you."
"I don’t really mind whether I see them. They don’t bother me, but big brother, if I visit, you’ll probably get annoyed every time..." Chuxia shrugged, "So I won’t go over and cause you trouble."
"What’s the trouble? Even if you don’t go, they’ll still pester me, it’s just their personality..."
Lin Chuchun interrupted Lin Chudong, looking helpless: "Big brother, are you hoping sister visits you or hoping she doesn’t?"
"Of course I hope Chuxia visits..." Lin Chudong awkwardly scratched his head, "I’m just worried Xia might get upset."
"You underestimate the situation. Do you think Eldest Uncle’s Wife and sister-in-law dare to upset sister now? Even if sister scolded them, they wouldn’t dare utter a word in return..." Lin Chuchun shrugged, "Living with them all these years, don’t you know what their temperaments are like?"
"Forget about them, it’s rare to meet up. It’s such a happy occasion, why keep talking about unhappy things?" Lin Chudong shifted the topic, "What were you talking about earlier?"
"I asked him how his revision was going..." Chuxia paused, sighed, and looked at Lin Chudong in exasperation, "Big brother, guess what he said?"
"He probably said he can recite the books backward, and there’s no reason he’ll fail the exams."
"Big brother, you really know him well..." Chuxia gave a thumbs-up, "He said exactly what you just did..." Then, Chuxia’s expression became serious, "Big brother, Chuchun, regardless of whether there’s any blood relation between us, I still consider you all family, and I genuinely want to help you.
So, if there’s anything tough in the future, don’t hesitate to ask me. I can’t really help much on big brother’s side right now, but Chuchun’s side, don’t feel you have to be so distant.
I just hope you can go to a university in Capital City, be closer to us, so we can look after each other. Regarding performance and all that, I definitely won’t interfere."
Chuchun thought for a moment and nodded: "Alright, I’ll listen to sister."
"That’s more like it..." Chuxia sighed helplessly and looked at Lin Chudong, "He was actually thinking that as long as I’m in Capital City, he should absolutely not apply to a university there.
Saying he fears if he gets into a school there, his mom and dad, grandpa and grandma might follow, and drag me down. Do you think, even if they’re completely unreasonable, would they follow just because he got into university?
Fine, even if they really did follow, would you think I’d truly entertain them? Dream on, I’ve been cleanly offended by them. I treat big brother and Chuchun well because they earned it. Them, why would they deserve it?" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)