Reborn in the 60s, I hunt to support my family and even seduce the village beauty.

Chang Kun stood at the door without moving, his gaze shifting from the old lady to the table, and then from the table to the bowl of scrambled eggs in front of Xiao Shui.

Xiao Shui's scrambled eggs were golden yellow and smelled delicious, but what about the old lady's?

In front of the old lady's seat was a rough porcelain bowl filled with a thin cornmeal porridge, so thin that you could see your reflection in it.

The same thing was in front of Fan Degui: a bowl placed on the edge of the table, untouched, chopsticks lying across the rim of the bowl, and half a piece of black bread next to it, which looked unappetizing.

Chang Kun's anger flared up again.

Fan Laibao was still showing off his steamed buns, opening the oil paper package to reveal the plump, white buns inside, still steaming slightly, and the aroma of meat immediately filled the air.

He picked one up and handed it to his mother: "Mom, try it. It's from Jiumeizhai, with pork and scallions. It's so delicious."

She picked up another one and handed it to Xiao Shui, saying, "Niece, you have one too."

Chang Kun looked up at the old lady and said, "Grandma, you really need to get your eyes checked. It's not a good idea to keep putting it off."

The old lady was handing a steamed bun to Xiaoshui when she heard this and waved her hand.

"It's an old problem, why bother with it? Just get more rest."

"I've seen doctors before, and they said there's nothing they can do, it's just a waste of money. It's nothing serious, I can still see."

Chang Kun glanced at her swollen eyelids and squinted eyes; this was hardly the appearance of someone who "could still see."

Fan Degui sat opposite, holding a bowl of thin porridge but not drinking it. His gaze fell on the several packets of greasy buns on the table. He looked up and asked Fan Laibao, "Where did you get the money to buy so many buns?"

Fan Laibao was taken aback by the question and mumbled, "Huh? Oh, steamed buns... Never mind that, I have money..."

Fan Degui stared at him for a couple of seconds, then turned to look at Chang Kun without asking any more questions.

He knew his son's character very well.

He usually eats, drinks, and has fun on his own; when has he ever thought about home?

I guess Chang Kun bought these steamed buns for me.

Thinking about this, he felt a little embarrassed. It was truly shameful to have such a son!

Fan Laibao sat on the stool for a while, his buttocks twitching as if they had thorns in them.

He coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and began to speak.

"Dad, the money my sister brought back..."

Fan Degui paused for a moment, holding the bowl, without looking up.

Fan Laibao licked his lips, moved his chair forward, and got closer.

"Two hundred yuan is just sitting there. Give me a hundred, I need to quickly bribe that leader, the work can't be delayed any longer."

"Take another hundred to buy some things, like cigarettes and alcohol. We should give them as gifts; the boss has asked for them, so we can't be stingy."

He paused, then added, "I'll talk to my boss and ask him to give me a better job, instead of just making me watch the gate. What future can you have watching the gate?"

Fan Degui put down the bowl without saying a word.

Seeing that his father remained silent, Fan Laibao grew bolder and continued counting on his fingers.

"There's not much left... I'll keep another twenty or thirty yuan. I need to dress presentably for work, buy a couple of outfits, so people won't look down on me, right?"

Chang Kun sat beside him listening, and he was furious.

The moment this kid opened his mouth, he had arranged all two hundred yuan for him: bribing the leaders, giving gifts, and buying clothes, without mentioning his parents' debts at all.

After finishing his calculations, Fan Laibao turned his gaze to the burlap sacks by the wall, rolled his eyes, and spoke again.

"Dad, I'll take half of this wheat flour and half of this cornmeal with me. I want to visit my father-in-law's house tomorrow, and I can't go empty-handed, it wouldn't look good."

Chang Kun was completely speechless.

This kid isn't just after money, he's got his eye on the grain too.

It's impolite to visit your father-in-law's house empty-handed, but it's shameless to eat and drink for free every day at your own home.

That's shamelessness!

Fan Degui finally spoke, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth: "That's what your sister saved up by scrimping and saving! It's for your parents to eat!!"

Fan Laibao was taken aback, his smile faltering, but he stubbornly retorted.

"I'm not taking it for free. I'll start earning money after I get a job..."

"You made money?" Fan Degui interrupted him, slamming his chopsticks on the table. "When has any of the money you've earned ever entered this house?"

Fan Laibao's face turned bright red, and he opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

Fan Degui glanced at him again, his face darkening.

"Your mother's eyes are like that, have you ever cared about them? All you do is ask for money all day long. You take the money and go out to spend it, and then come back to ask for more when you've spent it all."

"Your sister, heavily pregnant, had someone bring these things back from the capital, and you immediately ask for half of them? Where's your conscience?!"

The old lady couldn't sit still any longer and reached out to tug at Fan Degui's sleeve.

"Alright, alright, the child is still young, he'll get used to it... He doesn't have a job yet, but once he gets one, he'll know how to manage a household."

Fan Degui ignored her and stared at Fan Laibao: "Is this about not having a job? Don't you care about your parents?"

Fan Laibao's face flushed red and then turned pale. He wanted to talk back but didn't dare. His lips trembled several times before he finally lowered his head and muttered something.

"I didn't say I'd take it all, I just wanted to distribute it a little more..."

The old lady spoke again, this time addressing Chang Kun.

"Xiao Kun, don't take offense. Lai Bao isn't a bad person; he's just young and immature. He'll mature gradually after he gets married and has children."

Chang Kun glanced at the old lady.

Her eyes were red and swollen, narrowed to slits, and as she spoke, the corners of her mouth curved upwards, forcing a smile.

The smile contained a complex mix of emotions: protectiveness, guilt, helplessness, and a chilling feeling that she herself might not even be aware of.

But she's probably been saying "it'll get better slowly" for many years.

She talked about her son getting married, about her son being almost thirty, and about how her eyesight was failing.

Upon hearing his wife's words, Fan Degui's expression darkened further, and he turned to look at Fan Laibao.

"All you ever do with your wife is eat. You never bring anything home or any money. And you still have the nerve to share your food?"

"You can't touch a single penny of the money and food your sister brought back this time. Apart from the money needed for arranging jobs, you have to figure out the rest yourself."

Fan Laibao's face fell immediately.

As the group was talking, a young woman walked in through the door.

She was 24 or 25 years old, of medium height, wearing a floral blouse, and her hair was tied into a braid that draped over her shoulder.

Upon entering, he glanced at the people in the room, his gaze lingering on Chang Kun for a moment before shifting away.

Fan Laibao quickly stood up, a smile plastered on his face: "Taohong is back? Come here, this is Chang Kun, from the capital, my sister's nephew."

Then Chong Changkun said, "This is my wife, Taohong."

Tao Hong nodded to Chang Kun, a slight smile playing on her lips, as a greeting.

Fan Laibao picked up the oil paper package on the table and handed it to her solicitously: "Taohong, these are buns from Jiumeizhai, still warm. Try them."

Tao Hong didn't take it, flung her hand away, and her face fell: "Eat, eat, eat. I'm not in the mood for steamed buns."

Everyone in the room was stunned for a moment.

Tao Hong plopped down on the stool and looked at Fan Degui: "Dad, what did you mean by what you just said?"