Chapter 124: Chapter 124: The Meat Is Gone

The Gu family was enjoying a harmonious and happy atmosphere.

Over at the Xu family in Xujia Village, things were just as festive—except for Lin Xiaomeng.

Today was Saturday, the day Xu Huaiyu’s prospective partner was coming to visit. Really, it was just a chance for the whole family to meet the Xu family. If they liked what they saw, the match would be settled; if not, that would be the end of it.

Xu Huaizhi had come home yesterday afternoon. Although he hadn’t brought any meat, his factory had given out sugar coupons, so he gritted his teeth and bought a whole pound of White Rabbit candies for his son.

But as soon as he got home, his mother intercepted him, saying she’d “keep them safe” for him.

He was used to being filial and didn’t want to argue with his mother. After all, there was only one child in the family, Dacheng, so he’d get to eat some eventually.

When he got back to his room, his wife told him about Xu Huaiyu’s partner coming over.

He was happy for Xu Huaiyu and immediately put down what he was doing to go to the river and catch some fish for the event the next day.

Xu Huaizhi was a skilled fisherman. He worked until evening and came back with a bucket full of fish and shrimp.

Liu Guifang looked at the bucket with delight, counting on her fingers as she planned, “These three small carp can make a nice carp and tofu soup. There’s a mandarin fish and another carp—we can braise or stew them, that’ll be the main dish. And these river shrimp can be stir-fried for another plate. Not bad, not bad, the eldest really comes through.”

Xu Huaiyu came home late as usual. Seeing the fish, all he said was, “Thanks for your hard work, big brother.”

Lin Xiaomeng wished she could grab her husband by the ear and scold him. That’s all the gratitude he got, and yet he still ran around fetching fish for them.

Early the next morning, Liu Guifang woke up the whole family. “Today is Huaiyu’s big day. You, as his older brothers and sisters-in-law, need to pull yourselves together. If you mess up Huaiyu’s marriage, I won’t let you off!”

Of course, this was mainly directed at Lin Xiaomeng.

Xu Huaiyu just turned over in bed and went back to sleep. Even a big day couldn’t keep him from sleeping in.

Lin Xiaomeng had no choice but to get up, tucking the quilt around her son so he could keep sleeping.

No matter how much she disliked these lazy good-for-nothings in the Xu family, life still had to go on. Otherwise, the only option left was to take her son and leave.

But she wasn’t ready for that yet. After all, Xu Huaizhi still had some potential, and he was her son’s biological father. Unless she was truly desperate, she didn’t want to give up.

Xu Huaizhi got up too, ready to get to work.

The couple were still groggy and getting dressed when a shrill scream came from outside: “Ah!”

This was immediately followed by Liu Guifang’s angry shouting: “Which heartless thief stole my meat?!”

The whole family was instantly wide awake.

It wasn’t that a single pound of meat was so precious—well, it was expensive, but not priceless. The point was, it was the only decent meat dish they had for today’s important event. And now it was gone!

Even Xu Huaiyu, who was usually half-asleep, jumped out of bed, not even bothering to put on his clothes. He anxiously asked, “Mom, what happened? Didn’t you say you locked the meat in the cabinet? How could it be gone?”

His partner’s father had a proper job. If they couldn’t even serve up a pound of meat when he came over, he’d look down on them, and the whole thing would fall through.

Liu Guifang was dumbfounded, pacing around in a panic.

“What are we going to do? Oh my heavens, I swear I locked it in the cabinet. I opened it this morning, and all that’s left is the bowl—the meat is gone!”

As she spoke, she suddenly looked toward Lin Xiaomeng’s room. “It must be the eldest daughter-in-law! We argued a couple of days ago—she must have done it!”

Liu Guifang, desperate for someone to blame, immediately targeted Lin Xiaomeng.

Mother and son had just reached the door when Xu Huaizhi opened it. “Mom, what are you yelling about so early in the morning?”

Liu Guifang slapped her thigh in frustration. “Why am I yelling? Ask your good wife if she stole the meat we needed for today’s event!

How did I end up with such a greedy daughter-in-law?

You can guard against thieves day and night, but you can’t guard against a thief in your own home! Oh, heavens!”

She pinned all the blame on Lin Xiaomeng.

Xu Huaizhi, of course, didn’t believe Lin Xiaomeng would steal anything.

“Mom, maybe there’s some misunderstanding. Why don’t you look again?”

Liu Guifang shoved him aside, ready to storm into the room and confront Lin Xiaomeng.

Lin Xiaomeng stood behind Xu Huaizhi, her face dark.

She’d wanted to let her son sleep a bit longer, but the old woman had woken him up anyway.

“Lin Xiaomeng, hand over the meat! If you don’t, I’ll make Huaizhi divorce you today!” Liu Guifang shouted in anger, not caring what she said.

Xu Huaiyu followed behind, glaring at Lin Xiaomeng in solidarity.

But Lin Xiaomeng wasn’t about to take the blame. She raised both hands to the sky and swore, “If I took your meat, may I die a horrible death, my guts rotting and blood pouring from every orifice! And whoever did take your meat, may they choke on it and give birth to a child without an anus!”

Lin Xiaomeng already had a good idea who the real culprit was, so she cursed deliberately.

In this family, the only one with sticky fingers was that brainless Xu Meiling. Who else would steal the meat meant for her own brother’s matchmaking event?

Liu Guifang’s precious daughter was finally going to get what she deserved—serves her right.

The older generation took oaths very seriously. Seeing how firmly Lin Xiaomeng swore, Liu Guifang started to waver.

“It really wasn’t you?”

Xu Huaizhi chimed in, “Mom, don’t make a fuss. Xiaomeng isn’t that kind of person. It’s not like we’re starving.”

Xu Huaiyu was no fool. Hearing Lin Xiaomeng’s curse, he immediately thought of his dear sister Xu Meiling.

Xu Meiling had stolen food from her sister-in-law more than once.

And the part about “giving birth to a child without an anus”—did the eldest sister-in-law know something?

Xu Huaiyu’s mind raced, and he quickly pinned the blame on Xu Meiling.

“Mom, could it have been Meiling?”

Liu Guifang flinched, remembering Xu Meiling’s history. She was starting to believe it might have been her daughter, but she still tried to defend her. “Impossible! Your sister would never do such a thing! Besides, she’s moved out.”

Xu Huaiyu snapped, “Why couldn’t she? She even stole eggs from her own nephew, let alone a pound of meat. She probably took it to nourish that lame husband of hers!

Just because she moved out doesn’t mean she can’t come back. You probably didn’t even think to guard against her, did you?”

Liu Guifang fell silent. Of course she hadn’t guarded against her own daughter. Now that Xu Huaiyu had said it, she was even more convinced Meiling was the culprit.

Sigh, flesh and blood on both sides—what was she supposed to do?

Thinking of Lin Xiaomeng’s earlier curse, she shot her a fierce glare, then stiffened her neck and said, “So what if it was Meiling? My daughter is pregnant—she can’t have something nice to eat?”

Xu Huaiyu ran out, cursing as he went, “Mom, you’re just spoiling her rotten! That brat ruined my big day—if I catch her, I’ll beat her senseless!”"

"Chapter 125: Patching Things Up

Lin Xiaomeng cursed inwardly, thinking they deserved it. Xu Huaiyu wasn’t any good either—serves him right if his marriage gets ruined.

The old lady always favored the youngest. Who knows how much more biased she’d be once he’s married?

Lin Xiaomeng had no intention of letting her own hardworking “old ox” of a husband support the whole family.

Besides, she hadn’t gotten involved in today’s mess at all—it was all Xu Meiling’s doing. Watching the family tear each other apart was truly satisfying.

Xu Huaiyu stormed over to Xu Meiling’s house. The couple was still asleep inside.

After moving in, Chen Jianghe, though reluctant, had no choice but to share the same kang bed with Xu Meiling. There was only one kang in the new house, and it was getting colder—sleeping on the floor was out of the question.

His leg couldn’t handle it, and Xu Meiling was pregnant—there was no way she could sleep on the floor. Plus, if he needed to get up at night or get a drink of water, having Xu Meiling nearby was more convenient.

In short, he had to compromise.

They simply drew an imaginary line down the middle of the kang and slept together.

Hearing Xu Huaiyu banging on the door outside, Xu Meiling had no choice but to get up.

“Third Brother, what’s gotten into you, yelling so early in the morning?”

Xu Huaiyu was furious, practically shooting daggers at her with his eyes.

“Did you take the meat from home?”

Only then did Xu Meiling remember that today was the day Third Brother’s fiancée was coming over. She immediately felt guilty.

On moving day, she’d been upset, knowing she wouldn’t be able to mooch off the family’s meat anymore. So she’d secretly taken Liu Guifang’s key and stolen the piece of meat Xu Huaiyu had brought home.

She hadn’t thought much of it in the heat of the moment, but now that she’d cooled down, she realized how important that meat was. If her brother’s marriage fell through because of it, she’d be the villain for all time.

“What meat? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice lacking confidence.

Xu Huaiyu’s eyes were bloodshot as he gritted his teeth. “I don’t believe you! Unless you dare to swear a curse—if you took the meat, may the child in your belly not survive!”

Xu Huaiyu had picked up this trick from Lin Xiaomeng.

Sure enough, Xu Meiling immediately cracked, furious.

“Xu Huaiyu, are you even human, cursing your own nephew? I don’t have a brother like you!”

“If you didn’t take it, what are you afraid of? Do you know this meat is tied to my whole future? If you ruin me, don’t think you’ll get off easy! I swear, I could beat you to death right now!”

Xu Huaiyu raised his arm high, but seeing her slightly swollen belly, he gritted his teeth and put it down, instead kicking the door hard, making it bang loudly.

Now certain she’d taken the meat, Xu Huaiyu charged straight into the kitchen and started searching everywhere. Xu Meiling tried to stop him, but he was acting like a madman—she was honestly scared he’d hit her, so she could only watch as he tore the place apart.

Xu Huaiyu finally found the last three taels of meat under the cupboard.

Xu Meiling had been slicing off a little each day to cook, so the fact that there were still three taels left was pretty good.

Liu Guifang had followed Xu Huaiyu over. Seeing him actually find the meat, she shot Xu Meiling a fierce glare.

“You greedy brat, serves you right! Let’s see how you get out of this one. Your father’s furious at home, and your third brother hates you now!

Don’t you know what you can and can’t take?

Still hoping for help from your family? You’ve already offended your eldest brother, and now you nearly ruined your third brother’s marriage. What’s next, you want to go to heaven?”

Liu Guifang pinched her hard.

Xu Meiling was finally scared, clinging tightly to Liu Guifang’s arm.

“What am I going to do, Mom? Please talk to Third Brother and Dad for me—I didn’t mean it, I’m just pregnant and craving meat!”

Xu Huaiyu had already stormed off with the meat.

“See if there’s anything decent at home you can give your third brother to make it up to him, calm him down a bit. And don’t forget to come over and help later. I’m heading back—there’s a lot to do at home!”

After Liu Guifang left, Chen Jianghe was fuming and let Xu Meiling have it.

“If you ever steal again, I’ll divorce you and won’t want the child either. I mean it!”

He was dead serious, his eyes fierce, scaring Xu Meiling half to death.

She was the type to bully her own family, but she knew very well that while the Xu family might forgive her for a lot, Chen Jianghe would not.

So she immediately backed down.

“Fine, I promise, okay?”

The damage was done, and Chen Jianghe could only try to patch things up.

He took out a five-tael meat coupon from his own pocket—his parents had just mailed it to him this month, along with thirty yuan and some grain coupons.

Xu Meiling didn’t know about this yet, but now it had to be used in an emergency.

“Here’s a meat coupon. Take it to your third brother, and no more tricks. Otherwise, I really can’t stay with you,” Chen Jianghe sighed.

Xu Meiling took the meat coupon and happily trotted off, grabbing a pack of biscuits from home on her way out."

"Chapter 126: Yan Lijun, The Meeting