CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER 76: UPROAR (FOURTH UPDATE)

Beisitian carefully drew the patterns on white silk fabric. Any mistake would result in flaws in the embroidery.

This time, it wasn’t for fulfilling a task, but to punish Zhang Baoli.

Beisitian finished the final touches, flipped the hoop to inspect both sides, and seeing no issues, began threading the needle.

This time, Zhang Baoli had prepared everything for her, including small scissors and thimbles, as well as some other tools, but Beisitian wasn’t accustomed to using them and set them aside.

She started the needlework, focusing intently. Her usual speed was fast, but this time she deliberately slowed down.

Large pieces demand precision, and what matters is patience. Beisitian adjusted threads and colors, slowing down even more.

Embroidery requires a lot of energy, so Beisitian initially didn’t plan to take it on. If it hadn’t been for Zhang Baoxia’s excessive behavior, she wouldn’t have decided to embroider such a large piece.

She had planned to stop embroidering once she found buyers for her calligraphy. Embroidery strains the eyes, and embroidery women often go blind earlier than others.

Writing nurtures the heart and soothes emotions, and Beisitian preferred cultivating her mood.

Once she started embroidering, Beisitian was fully absorbed, and since no one visited Luo Er’s family during this time, she didn’t worry about being interrupted.

...

Luo’s house.

At the dining table, Luo Aiguo’s eyes were red, indicating he had cried. Luo Xuhua was relatively composed, having anticipated these changes, and due to his disappointment in Luo Aiguo, his emotions were less expressed.

Old Mrs. Luo sat on the kang, her face tense and silent, while Luo Xuqiang drank with Luo Aiguo and Luo Xuhua.

The food on the table was all vegetables, with a few traces of meat, which added a bit of flavor.

Since Xuqiang’s wife was watching the children, Qin Hongmei was the only one busy at home, looking quite displeased as she prepared food clumsily, causing frequent loud noises among the pots and pans.

"Dead broke fool, went away for so many years, how could he not die outside, and even dared to return!" Qin Hongmei muttered under her breath.

"Hopefully he hasn’t come back with a mountain of debt..." Qin Hongmei’s greatest worry now was this. Luo Xuhua should be unaware of past events, otherwise, he wouldn’t call her Aunt Qin upon returning.

Luo Xuhua’s good attitude made Qin Hongmei even more suspicious. She feared this guy had returned with huge debts and was here to ask for money!

Many villagers had similar experiences; claimed they went out to sea, but without the brains, lost everything and still incurred massive debts. Those with a shred of dignity would either drown themselves or hang themselves, rather than return to demand money to repay debts.

Not facing Luo Aiguo directly, Qin Hongmei cursed Luo Xuhua with a feral expression while cooking.

In the east room, after several rounds of drinking, Luo Aiguo started reminiscing about the past. He talked about how Luo Xuhua was just a child back then, running all over the hills and even returning with a snake wrapped around his waist as a belt.

He couldn’t help but tear up while recounting, and Luo Xuhua listened quietly, as these memories indeed saddened him.

Luo Xuqiang urged Luo Aiguo not to drink too much. Seeing Luo Aiguo ignoring him, he could only plead with his eyes to Luo Xuhua.

"Dad, let’s talk for a while; you’ll get sleepy if you drink too much," Luo Xuhua said.

Upon hearing this, Luo Aiguo quickly put down his glass, "You’re right, we need to talk properly, no sleeping!"

Right after he finished speaking, there was a sudden ’bam’ sound as chopsticks hit the table. The three men looked over and saw it was Old Mrs. Luo.

Old Mrs. Luo put down her chopsticks and lifted her drooping eyelids, looking at Luo Xuhua, "Huazi, what have you been doing out there all these years?"

Outside, Qin Hongmei pricked up her ears to listen as soon as she heard Old Mrs. Luo’s question.

Luo Aiguo frowned. He had never asked this question, seeing how Luo Xuhua’s clothes were faded from washing, and he returned without even a bag, perhaps only having the clothes on him. He didn’t want to ask, fearing it would make him sad.

Luo Xuhua seemed a bit uneasy, his expression unnatural, "I was an apprentice for a while but didn’t succeed. Later, I tried to do some business, but regulations were strict. In short, it’s just been like that."

Old Mrs. Luo listened to his stammering and incoherent replies, her face darkening further.

"Don’t you greet people when responding? How poorly behaved! Your dad is a city person, and you embarrass us out there!"

Luo Xuqiang lowered his head, as if he hadn’t understood, this was intentionally stirring up trouble.

Luo Aiguo was somewhat unhappy, "Mom, Huazi just returned, can you say less?"

"Why!" Old Mrs. Luo glared, "Can’t I speak? I have the right to speak up, and no one in this house can stop me!"

"Yes, no one’s stopping you. It’s just that Huazi just came back," Luo Aiguo said.

Old Mrs. Luo snorted coldly, her eyes coldly fixed on Luo Xuhua, "Tell us why you’ve returned this time!"

"I’m back to go home, naturally," Luo Xuhua didn’t look happy. He glanced at Luo Aiguo, noticing his mix of grievance and helplessness, and lowered his gaze.

"Home?" Old Mrs. Luo’s voice was sharp, "Huazi, it’s not that I am unforgiving, but this house simply can’t accommodate you. You see, there isn’t any room to stay, and food is limited. Your dad is supporting the old and young. You’re grown, capable of supporting yourself. Your dad has Qiangzi, doesn’t need you for old age support, you just take care of yourself!"

Old Mrs. Luo, relying on her seniority in the household, spoke bluntly without mincing words.

Outside, Qin Hongmei heard this and wished she could rush in to cheer.

Luo Xuhua’s face darkened; was this an open attempt to drive him away?

Upon hearing this, Luo Aiguo’s eyes bulged, "Mom, what are you saying, Huazi is my son. As long as I have food, so does he! Huazi, you live here, stay with me!"

Luo Aiguo practically shouted the last sentence.

Old Mrs. Luo heard it, and nearly fainted with anger. Luo Aiguo had never opposed her, always siding with her before his wife. Yet now, he contradicted her for the offspring of a village woman, embarrassing her in front of younger household members, tears immediately came down.

"I can’t live anymore~ Heavens, take me away, I can’t live, my son treats me like this, heartless, lost conscience! Treating me this way will not end well!"

Old Mrs. Luo wailed loudly, and not just the immediate neighbors heard, but the entire street too.

Luo Aiguo’s face instantly darkened.