Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Extremely agitated, Xu Dashan stubbed out the cigarette, which was now just a stub, on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

"What's the point of saying those things now! That brat didn't hold back when he hit me, and it still hurts! If it's really bad, I should pack up and go to the hospital."

The old lady and Xu Dahong exchanged a glance, and then said in unison:

"Going to the hospital costs money, and that jinx has taken all your money. Do you have any left?"

"That's right, Second Brother, I saw it myself, they didn't leave anything behind!"

"If you don't have one, I'll just borrow one!" Xu Dashan angrily kicked the wooden tobacco box next to the kang (a heated brick bed) to the ground. "Mother, why can't you all just shut up for a second! If it weren't for you, would my perfectly good family be in this mess? Do you have to make me a complete wrecked person before you're satisfied?"

The old lady got excited and sat up from the end of the kang without Xu Dahong's help. "Second son, what kind of talk is that? We're not all dead yet. How can you be all alone? When will your eldest brother's family, Dahong, and I be your family too?"

Besides, you have government-allocated housing and a factory job, earning a decent income each month. If you want to find a wife, you can pick and choose freely! You could find someone better than that jinx even with your eyes closed!

"Stop calling me a jinx, and stop talking about finding another wife. When will you ever find someone as good as your first wife without any ulterior motives? We still have three children, they're all so grown up..."

Just then, the sound of someone entering the courtyard could be heard.

Upon closer inspection, it was Xu Bei who had returned with Xu Li.

The three of them had different expressions.

Xu Dashan, in particular, hurriedly put on his shoes and got out of bed.

Xu Bei had just propped up his bicycle when he saw Xu Dashan, who looked much more haggard and disheveled than when they left, run out.

The father and son had just fought, and now when they met again, they were extremely hostile towards each other.

Xu Li was indeed furious when she came back with her brother, but she didn't want the father and son to fight again.

She quickly stepped in front of Xu Bei, blocking his path, and said coldly to Xu Dashan, "We're here to get our luggage and belongings!"

Xu Dashan thought that Xu Bei and the others had gone to stay at his eldest daughter's in-laws' house, and he immediately felt ashamed in front of his in-laws, and regretted it to the core.

"Your in-laws know too? Xiaoli, Dad didn't..."

Xu Li felt she had long seen through what kind of person her father was, and too lazy to listen to his nonsense, she interrupted him directly, "Do they know whether they know or not? Anyway, good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast. Soon everyone, whether they know you or not, will know what you've done! The shameful days are yet to come!"

If you ask me, at your age, if you still can't tell right from wrong, no matter how good my mother is to you, it's useless; she's not worth a single finger of someone from your hometown. This marriage should have ended a long time ago!

Xu Dashan's eyes stung, his mouth tasted bitter, and he felt a surge of anger.

However, he couldn't possibly fight with Xu Bei or Xu Li again, as that would only make the children hate him more. So, he angrily kicked the laundry tub and chamber pot standing against the wall to vent his anger, making a loud noise.

Xu Bei instinctively shielded Xu Li and said, "Sister, let's hurry up and pack, it'll be dark soon."

Xu Li wiped her eyes forcefully. "Yes, Mom and the others are still waiting."

The siblings ignored Xu Dashan, who was running around in the yard kicking things, and went inside.

Xu Dahong had already gotten out of bed and put on her shoes, while the old lady sat cross-legged at the end of the kang (a heated brick bed).

Xu Bei didn't even give them a glance, and went straight into the west room to get the bag he had packed earlier and the bedding and pillows that had been moved over last night.

Xu Li went to the dish rack and began picking out pots, pans and utensils that she could use.

The siblings' disregard deeply offended the old lady and Xu Dahong.

Finally, one of them couldn't sit still on the kang (a heated brick bed), and the other rushed to the kitchen, which was the outer room.

"Xu Li, why are you taking everything like the Japanese invaders?! If you take everything, what are we going to use?"

Xu Li had been planning to make another big splash before she arrived, but she was too busy packing to pay attention to it for the time being.

Now that Xu Dahong has come to our door, I just slapped him hard across the face!

It made a particularly loud "snap" sound.

The slap not only made Xu Dahong stagger, but also left him completely dazed.

Hearing the commotion, Xu Bei and the old lady came out of the east and west rooms.

"Ah!" Xu Dahong, her face half red, charged forward, brandishing her claws. "How dare you, a junior, slap me! I'll fight you to the death!"

"They've all really gone too far!"

The old woman with bound feet also picked up a piece of firewood next to the stove, wanting to avenge her youngest daughter.

But Xu Bei couldn't allow his sister to be beaten, so he quickly caught her.

The old woman was unable to move and could only yell at people and call out to Xu Dashan.

Xu Li was a skilled fighter, and with her younger brother's help in controlling the old lady, before Xu Dashan even entered the house, she grabbed Xu Dahong by the collar and gave him another chest-pounding thud.

The beating caused Xu Dahong to scream in pain and cry out for his parents.

Xu Li said angrily, "Xu Dahong, my mother has treated you well all these years, and you still use the most vicious words to hurt her. You are such an ungrateful wretch!"

Do you know why you haven't been able to conceive? It's karma for your malicious heart and sharp tongue!

At this moment, Xu Dashan, who had heard the commotion, also ran back into the house.

Seeing her eldest daughter fighting with her younger sister again, and her son restraining the old lady, she nearly fainted from anger. "Are you two ever going to stop?! Let go of her!"

Xu Dahong cried and sobbed, complaining, "Second Brother, look what your eldest daughter did to me! You have to stand up for me!"

Although Xu Dashan only saw the handprint on his sister's face and her torn clothes, he was certain that his niece hitting her aunt was an outrageous act. "Xu Li! She's still your aunt!"

Although Xu Bei released the old lady, he moved in front of Xu Li, ready to take action at any moment.

Xu Li pushed her younger brother, who was protecting her, aside. "So what if she's my aunt? Who told her to do such a terrible thing! If my mom hadn't been keeping me in check, I would have hit her already!"

Faced with such a tense situation, Xu Bei calmly said, "Sis, if you had known it would turn out like this, I shouldn't have slapped you across the face when you two were arguing since I wasn't there the day you got off the bus!"

Xu Li immediately retorted indignantly, "Absolutely! We were too late, otherwise our family wouldn't have fallen apart!"

Xu Dashan had clearly raised his arm, but lowered it again because of their conversation.

The old lady and Xu Dahong glared at Xu Li and Xu Bei with extreme resentment.

But the mother and son knew they couldn't win by fighting or arguing, so they could only turn their anger towards Xu Dashan.

"Second son, with children like these, why don't you teach them a lesson? What are you thinking? Do you want to see them beat me and your sister to death before you're happy?"

"Second brother, I've been beaten so many times today, and you, as my older brother, aren't even standing up for me. What kind of brother are we... If this is how it is, I think we should just pack up and go back, so we don't get in your way!"

Xu Dashan suddenly roared, "Enough! Stay or leave, it's up to you!"

After he stopped babbling, he yelled at the siblings, "And you two little brats, get your things and get out of here!"

Xu Bei and Xu Li, of course, didn't linger any longer. They quickly packed their luggage and bags and left with a full load of goodies.

As for how the old lady and Xu Dahong would cause trouble for Xu Dashan, they couldn't be bothered to pay attention for the time being...