Chapter 544: Trouble at Second Uncle’s House

The kids have never disappointed Xu Mumu. They achieved quite remarkable results in the semi-finals. Although not as outstanding as in the English speech competition, it was already quite impressive.

However, Li Caixia and the others were quite concerned about the kids’ competition. Even though they watched the store every day, Xu Mumu clearly felt her mother became much more anxious, as she had already learned from her sister-in-law that her mother was worried her brother might not do well, especially since they had already boasted about it.

While chatting with others outside, she was very confident and firmly believed that her son could achieve good results.

Xu Mumu let out a helpless smile, hoping her mother would be more measured and not boast recklessly outside or press her brother to achieve certain scores.

Xu Mumu spent her days at home reading books but heard a lot about the old hometown, as Yin Yang often ran over there.

In the third household, Xu Mumu’s third aunt, Lin Juan, was pregnant again, and life was going okay. They started setting up a small stall like others and made some money.

However, as more people began setting up stalls, their earnings were no longer as much as before. But it was better than nothing, and at least life became a bit better at home.

The shoe factory laid off quite a few people again, and Xu Mumu’s third uncle narrowly escaped being laid off.

Xu Mumu didn’t mind this incident. The shoe factory was still state-owned, but its efficiency was deteriorating, given the increasing number of businesses and people capable of producing shoes, often at prices lower than the factory’s.

Some of these things were learned from Yin Yang, and others from Du Yu.

During the summer vacation, Du Yu called her twice and told her about some situations at the factory.

There had already been several layoffs, leaving only about a hundred workers. The factory’s efficiency was not high, and there was nothing they could do about it.

In Xu Mumu’s opinion, instead of sticking to the factory, it would be better to venture out and do some small business, which could earn more than the meager fixed salary. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

However, at least in the eyes of people in those times, having a factory job meant having a secure position, ensuring one wouldn’t starve.

Xu Mumu ate a piece of date cake, and then the phone rang.

She answered, and it was her second uncle.

"Mumu, is your grandma at home?" Xu Jiang sounded quite anxious.

"Grandma is here now; I’ll go get her." Feeling puzzled, Xu Mumu promptly went to call her.

Madam Chen came over quickly. The fast-food restaurant had gotten on track, and with Old Xu and Li Caixia overseeing things there, she now had plenty of time to stay home, and Xu Mumu, with her growing belly, needed taking care of.

"What’s up?" Madam Chen was curious. It was rare for the second son to call proactively, as it was usually the fourth son who called.

"Mom, Yingzi is in trouble, and we’re at the county hospital now." Xu Jiang’s voice was somewhat sullen.

"Hospitalized? What happened?" Madam Chen frowned. Everything seemed fine at home, and she didn’t want any incidents. Although she didn’t particularly like Qian Ying, being far apart now, she wasn’t as resentful.

"People from the Qian Family came over wanting Yingzi to arrange for her brother to work at our store, helping with the finances. We disagreed, and it ended in a fight." Xu Jiang’s teeth were on edge when it came to his mother-in-law’s family.

Over the years, after separating from the family, life gradually improved, yet the Qian Family began cozying up to them.

If only it had been genuine, but every visit was to scrounge off them, taking away lots of things, always wanting Qian Ying to help her brothers somehow, implying that the Xu Family were outsiders, while the Qian Family were her real kin.

It was better when Xu Xue was at home. She didn’t bother talking and would chase them away with a stick, so they avoided coming when she was there.

Now, with the small shop at home, her mother-in-law’s family caused a ruckus that scared away customers every time. Xu Jiang felt extremely oppressed.

This time, they came to make trouble again. The brother-in-law even wanted to hit Kangkang. Qian Ying got furious and wanted to fight back, but unfortunately, she wasn’t strong enough. Her brother pushed her to the edge of the ditch, where she hit a large stone, and her leg snapped.

Busy taking care of their son, Xu Jiang sent his wife to the county hospital. The Qian Family had already snuck away by then.

Hearing her foolish son’s words, Madam Chen fell silent.

Useless waste of space!!! Letting those worthless people of the Qian Family push them around, she refused to believe this was her son; it was pathetic.

Xu Mumu, with her good hearing, also overheard her second uncle’s words and was speechless.

Her second uncle was still over a hundred pounds, yet where did this cowardice come from, unable even to protect his wife and son?

"Pathetic fool, why don’t you fight back when bullied? Why are you calling me? Do you want me to go fight Lin Dani?" Madam Chen took a deep breath and roared, referring to Xu Jiang’s mother-in-law.

"Mom, I didn’t mean it that way." Xu Jiang stammered, lowering his head as if his mother was standing before him.

"How are things now?" Hearing Xu Jiang’s voice on the other end, she could already guess his expression. She was thoroughly disillusioned with her son’s foolishness.

"She’s at the hospital now with a cast. The bone is set, and Xue is there guarding her." Xu Jiang explained Qian Ying’s status.

"We’ll come by tomorrow. As for the Qian Family’s issues, deal with them yourself. I can’t be bothered with your mess." Madam Chen gritted her teeth. Even the most irresponsible third son was better than the second; how useless he was, letting the Qian Family push him around.

If she had known he’d be such a nuisance, she should have drowned him at birth to avoid all these problems later on.

"Okay, Mom." Xu Jiang mumbled and still obediently responded, used to listening to his mother’s words.

Hanging up angrily, Madam Chen once again started to complain about her son.

"Mumu, why do you think your second uncle is such a pushover? If he had just a bit of backbone, could the Qian Family have taken advantage?" Madam Chen’s fury continued to rise.

"I don’t know either. We’ll visit Second Aunt at the county hospital tomorrow. But Grandma, don’t be angry; with Xu Xue there in the second household, the Qian Family won’t get any advantage." Xu Mumu smiled as she comforted Madam Chen. To be honest, she felt helpless too, wanting very much to vent about her second uncle to her grandmother.