The 70s Novel: The Supporting Character Just Wants to Lie Down-Chapter 82: Standing Up for Others Is Interesting

On the Wang Family’s side, as soon as everyone arrived home, they saw that the food was already on the table, a table full of delicious dishes that made those who had worked all day and were starving swallow nervously.

"Uncle Wang, Auntie, Brother-in-law, you’re back, you’ve worked hard..." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Through the main hall and past a door was the kitchen, and behind the kitchen was the backyard where Wang Baoxing and the others went to wash their hands with water from the well.

Cheng Xue was in the kitchen, greeting everyone sweetly.

Jiang Yan was at the back and saw her with a face like a little cat; he had no idea how she managed that.

Frowning with displeasure, he said, "Were you up to mischief again?"

"Uncle, how can you accuse me like that? I’ve been good today." Cheng Xue protested, calling out, "Sister Miaomiao, listen to this, Uncle is always accusing me, you have to stand up for me."

"I heard," Wang Miaomiao was taking bowls and chopsticks from the cabinet, and when she turned and saw Jiang Yan’s stern face, she also put on a stern face and said seriously, "Comrade Jiang Yan, how can you wrong our little Xue without any basis? She’s been so good today, helped me and second sister with a lot of chores, tending fire, washing vegetables, pulling onions, she’s been so diligent... even the meal you’re about to eat has been partly her doing, don’t you realize your mistake? Hurry up and apologize to her."

Jiang Yan raised his eyebrows, looking somewhat surprised at the little girl in front of him. Her round face, stubby nose, and puffed cheeks with big eyes filled with blame, her little mouth spitting out sentences one after another, indeed gave the impression of a little one pretending to be an adult.

Is she standing up for her little sister?

His originally stern face softened a bit, and with a smile, he said, "You’re right, I was wrong. Little Xue, Uncle apologizes to you, sorry..."

Cheng Xue widened her eyes, her eyeballs swirling incredulously. Did a ghost possess her uncle? She had never heard him apologize to anyone since she was a child.

"Hmm, that’s more like it, knowing your mistakes and improving them is paramount. Remember, you should always figure out the reason before speaking, you’re a grown person now, and making conclusions without understanding the circumstances will offend people sooner or later..." Wang Miaomiao muttered as she walked past to set the tableware in the main hall.

Jiang Yan leaned against the doorframe with half his body, arms crossed, looking indifferent. His eyes were dark and unreadable as he watched her back, seemingly listening intently to her scolding and teachings.

Cheng Xue tilted her head and watched him for a while, her eyes swirling around, then looked at Wang Miaomiao, who was returning after setting the table, and realized with a sudden understanding, smiling with her mouth pursed.

Jiang Yan turned to look at her, and she wordlessly mouthed something to him. Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow and ignored her, turning towards the backyard. At that moment, Liu Yulan was calling him over to wash his hands from the back courtyard, and he casually responded, "Coming..."

Cheng Xue stomped her foot in frustration at his attitude, huh... does he look down on her or what?

Wang Miaomiao didn’t understand, "What’s wrong?"

Cheng Xue withdrew her fierce glare at Jiang Yan and said awkwardly, "Nothing, just a mosquito."

"In the countryside, mosquitoes are many. Auntie will get you some essential balm, apply more, and they won’t bite you." Liu Yulan returned from washing her hands just in time to hear this.

"Thank you, Auntie." Cheng Xue giggled, regaining her smile. As for her uncle, humph... he actually looked down on her, he’d regret it in the future.

Wang Pandi called back Wang Jia Bao and Liu Jianmin, who had been wildly playing by the creek, seeing them all covered in dirt as if they’d been rolling in the mud, naturally scolded them a bit. Wang Jia Bao, used to it, grinned cheekily, taking it lightly, but Liu Jianmin was embarrassed, lowering his head in shame. Wen Jing’s family was somewhat strict, and although Liu Jianmin also loved to play, he would not dare to be so reckless. He had a great time playing today, but feared that the adults would scold him when they got home.

Upon returning home, Liu Yulan looked at her son and nephew, naturally also becoming angry and nagging; she couldn’t scold her nephew, but Wang Jia Bao’s ears were twisted red.

Wang Miaomiao watched from the side, amused by their misfortune, seeing her mom, who couldn’t bring herself to be too harsh, said, "Mom, stop twisting, that won’t work."

"What ideas do you have then?" Liu Yulan loosened her grip, knowing her daughter was clever.

"Punish them by making them wash their clothes clean themselves." Wang Miaomiao smiled at the two brothers, "Tomorrow you’ll be studying at home with me, and I’ll give you some test papers to do, so you won’t go running wild outside. If you don’t do well, humph... you won’t be allowed to play on Sundays, and you’ll study with me."

She had planned to tutor Cheng Xue with her schoolwork tomorrow; having the three of them together was not bad. She had promised her second uncle to keep an eye on Liu Jianmin’s studies, and not being in the same school, it’s hard to check his progress otherwise. As for her little brother, it was time for him to shape up.

"Ah... Sister, Sister... forgive me." Wang Jia Bao howled, pleading, "I won’t dare again..." wasn’t it just getting the clothes a bit dirty, why so serious, he was just caught up in Liu Jianmin’s excitement, played a bit too wild...

"No use pleading, it’s decided." Liu Yulan slammed the decision and then advised Wang Jia Bao sincerely, "Jia Bao, you should start to settle down too. From now on, spend half a day every week helping your dad in the field. You’re a grown boy, can’t just play around; you’ve been spoiled."

Wang Jia Bao let out a heart-wrenching scream, "Mom... no..."

"Talk properly, if you keep yelling, no dinner for you tonight."

With that said, there was silence.

Wang Jia Bao knew he couldn’t win against them, and pleading wouldn’t help, so he gave up. He couldn’t miss tonight’s delicious meal.

He dragged Liu Jianmin to the backyard to change and wash their clothes quickly. Wang Baoxing and the others had already started eating, if they didn’t hurry, all the good food would be gone...

Liu Yulan looked at her disappointing son and said awkwardly, "Xiao Jiang, you’ve ended up seeing a joke, my son here has been spoiled by us."

"Auntie, what are you talking about, not at all." Jiang Yan comforted her, "Jia Bao got into the first high school, shows he’s smart, just a bit mischievous, a little discipline will set him straight. Maybe send him to the army for two years, I’m sure he’d come back as a responsible man."

Wang Miaomiao’s eyes lit up at these words; joining the army was good. It was 1972 now, and after two years of high school, by 1974, three years before the restoration of the college entrance examination, let her brother join the army for three years, and then off to college exams, what a great plan.

"Joining the army is good, but it’s not for everyone. Two years ago, three young men from the village applied, and none of them made it." Wang Baoxing said this with a somewhat sour tone, as if unenthusiastic about letting his son join the army. He only had one son, and although being a soldier was good, it came with unknown dangers.