Xu Ying didn't care at all, glanced at Third Aunt Xu, raised her eyebrows with a smile, and said, "Third aunt, let's eat."
Third Aunt Xu looked at the man, then ultimately listened to Xu Ying and uneasily sat down, ready to eat at the table.
As soon as she sat down, several kids also took their seats.
Xu Ying smiled and told them to eat, just waiting for the goodwill value to arrive.
Sure enough, as Third Aunt Xu and the others started to eat, the system's notification tone followed. [Goodwill value +1, goodwill value +1…]
For lunch, in addition to the stewed chicken soup, there was also a dish of scrambled eggs.
Third Aunt Xu was reluctant to eat the meat and sipped the chicken soup, her eyes suddenly lit up, "This chicken soup is too delicious! JianShe, you taste it."
She scooped up some and raised her hand, Xu JianShe, seeing this, opened his mouth ready to drink.
Xu Ying knocked on Third Uncle Xu's wrist, "There's none for you."
Xu JianShe, seeing the meat soup that was about to reach his lips taken away, became so anxious that he scratched his head and ears, "Yingying, stop teasing your third uncle. Third uncle really dislikes working, it's too tiring."
Xu Ying was furious, her gaze cutting across Xu JianShe like a blade, "Too tiring, so you don't go. Even you, a grown man, finds working the fields too tiring, then what about my third aunt? She, a woman, married to an irresponsible man like you, has to earn work points in the fields to support my cousin and you, and then come home to wash clothes and cook for you all. Is she tired? Tell me, is she tired?" The last sentence was shouted by Xu Ying.
She truly couldn't understand why some men were so heartless. For their own comfort, could they really not see how much their wives and daughters suffered?
Those scumbags, those faithless men, they all deserved to die.
Xu Ying's eyes held a fierce determination, shooting daggers at him like the edge of a blade.
Xu JianShe was so frightened that he trembled; it was his first time feeling such a chilling coldness from his niece.
"She, she must be tired too!" Xu JianShe muttered, his mouth twitching.
"Not just tired, she's very tired, both physically and mentally exhausted. Why did she have to marry a bastard like you? Xu JianShe, look around and tell me which family has a woman supporting them. How did the Old Xu Family produce such a failure as you?" Xu Ying angrily said.
The more she thought about what her uncle had done, the more she felt like she was seeing a fusion of Dong Wenzhong and herself, which disgustingly appalled her. Half like Dong Wenzhong, betraying her third aunt, and the other half like herself, solely indulging in the joy brought by her family, without giving a moment's thought to their efforts.
"My daughter is right. Old Three, you've grown up. You have a wife and children. When will you ever become sensible?" Mr. Xu spoke up from the doorway, supporting his daughter's face. Who said his daughter was unreasonable and ignorant? He thought his daughter was very astute. Listen to these words she said; they hit right to the core.
Mr. Xu looked at his own younger brother with sheer disappointment on his face.
"Dad, when did you get here?" Tears welled up in Xu Ying's eyes, adding a misty layer.
"I came to see you. You haven't been back the whole morning, and your mom is waiting for you to come home for dinner." Mr. Xu looked at the damp eyes of his daughter, heartache written across his face. His unreliable brother must have really upset her.
"Eldest brother, I know I was wrong." Xu JianShe said, head bowed and tone dejected.
It was unclear whether he genuinely felt remorse or was putting on another act.
Mr. Xu no longer had any hopes for his younger brother; he had always been this way. It was hard to believe that Third Sister-in-law had been steadfast with him all this time.
"Daughter, let's go home. If this boy doesn't get his act together, I'll personally speak to your grandfather about letting your third aunt divorce him. Then you can go wherever you please, but Third Sister-in-law and the child will stay here. You can just get lost." Mr. Xu spoke warmly to his daughter while turning to glare fiercely at Xu JianShe.
"Dad, just wait a minute. I still have something to say to Third Uncle."
Mr. Xu frowned and just watched helplessly as his daughter led her third uncle to the side.
He pricked up his ears curiously, wanting to listen in on what the two were saying.
However, their voices were too soft; he couldn't hear anything at all, and as he watched his brother's expression turn from shock to guilt and then to a full smile, it made Mr. Xu itch with curiosity.
After leaving Third Uncle Xu's place, Mr. Xu couldn't hold back and asked with a straight face, "Daughter, what were you talking to your third uncle about?"
Xu Ying smiled mysteriously, "Heh, it's a secret."
She quickly changed the subject.
"I think Third Aunt Xu is so pitiable, married to a man like third uncle, her whole life has been ruined by his hands, and those few cousins are also pitiable."
Mentioning this, Mr. Xu's face showed disappointment. Indeed, his brother's wife and children were pitiable, but despite scolding and beating, that youngster just wouldn't listen.
They can't beat someone to death, after all.
"Dad, leave third uncle's matter to me, you and grandpa are not allowed to interfere with what I do with third uncle," Xu Ying said coyly while clinging to his arm.
She still wanted to try; even though third uncle was bad, he never mistreated their family members. No matter bad his temper was, he had never once turned his face against his father or her grandpa.
She felt that such a person wasn't fundamentally bad and that he could be turned around with some reeducation.
Mainly because she still needed third uncle's help with something.
"You?" It wasn't that Mr. Xu didn't believe in her, but his brother's ways were deeply ingrained, seemingly unchangeable.
"Yes, dad, is that okay?" Xu Ying asked with mock anger.
Mr. Xu immediately agreed. What was there to disagree with? No matter how his brother was taught, it was always the same. If his daughter wanted to try, then let her.
This way, his daughter wouldn't be idle and end up seduced by those ink-headed boys from the Youth Corps.
"Alright, we'll do as you say."
When Xu Ying and Mr. Xu returned home, the whole family hadn't started eating yet. Seeing her return, everyone's face was filled with smiles.
"Daughter, come and eat quickly."
"Little sister, your sister-in-law has poured hot water for you, go wash your hands."
"Right, wash your hands first." His daughter was the cleanest of all. Ever since she stayed with her eldest aunt for a while, she developed the habit of not drinking raw water and must wash her hands before eating.
She preached about how raw water was unclean, could have parasites, and that drinking it could make you sick, give you a stomach ache, and not washing hands could be just as bad, anyway, a whole bunch of things.
Eldest Sister-in-law Xu had checked the temperature of the water, which was just right as Xu Ying put her hands in.
It wasn't until Xu Ying sat down that the family began to eat.
After lunch, Xu Ying returned to her room and devoted herself to self-improvement. In her previous life, in order for Dong Wenzhong to pass the examination for the commune teacher position, she had gathered many books and even went to the commune school to ingratiate herself with the teachers there to obtain valuable materials.
Then she marked the key points and dedicated her time to help Dong Wenzhong study, which eventually allowed both him and Chen Yanran to pass the exam and become commune teachers.
A flicker of hatred crossed Xu Ying's eyes; they would probably miss the opportunity of becoming teachers in this life.
She found the books previously owned by her elder brother and marked all the knowledge points that she knew from her past life.
It took her the whole afternoon to complete, both drawing and writing, and as she looked at the several books she had finished, Xu Ying stretched lazily.
She ran out cheerfully, "Second Brother, these are the notes I wrote especially for you, I've marked all the key points for you, look at them while you study."
Second Brother Xu wore a beleaguered face, "Little sister, you're not joking with your elder brother, right? Just by looking at these, I can pass?"
"Second brother, this is the intelligence I've specifically gathered for you. The upcoming exam will be very close to what I've marked. If you're not happy with it, I'll give it to Eldest Daughter to look at," she said, turning to leave with the books.
Second Brother Xu looked shocked, "Little sister, you're not joking, right? The commune school's test papers are classified documents; where did you get this information? You're not pulling my leg, are you?"
Xu Ying lifted her head, "Second brother, I am your own sister; could I possibly trick you? Alright, I'll be honest with you.