Fang Pingying playfully slapped him, urged him to get off her, and whispered, "Get up, I’m going to help Hong Lan make breakfast." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Luo Zhiyong was unwilling, still wrapped his arms around her, preventing her from getting dressed, "Let’s sleep a bit longer, didn’t my mom say you don’t have to do it?"

"She just doesn’t want to tire out her grandson. If it turns out to be a granddaughter, later she’ll regret pampering me like this, and I refuse to give her any such ammunition," Fang Pingying said, glancing out the window. "You get up too, go ask dad what we’re still missing for the New Year; see if we should give some money, or get the New Year’s goods for the home."

"Let’s give money," Luo Zhiyong thought for a moment before saying, "All the New Year’s goods are organized by my mom. You’re pregnant now, how can you run around all day with my mom getting New Year’s goods? Besides, if we buy something, she might not even like it, and then she’ll have something to say about it."

Fang Pingying felt that made sense and nodded, "Alright, you decide how much to give."

Luo Zhiyong thought about it but still discussed it with Fang Pingying, "I was thinking of giving twenty. This time when we came back, we didn’t bring anything for the family, so giving more will allow my parents to buy it themselves."

"Give thirty," Fang Pingying said after a moment, instructing him, "But remember to give it in front of the whole family, and explain that we didn’t buy them anything for New Year, so later your mom won’t have a chance to complain about it."

That’s because this year Fang Xiu had given five yuan in front of the family, and Luo Honglan also brought them clothes and such when she returned. If they give the money in private, Zhou Yunmei might later deny it, and she’s capable of such behavior.

Luo Zhiyong actually understood what Fang Pingying was thinking, Fang Pingying had never been stingy with money, but ever since Luo Zhiming’s incident, Fang Pingying tightened her hold on finances because she resented Zhou Yunmei’s actions.

Plus, it was Zhou Yunmei who always enjoyed causing drama, which made Fang Pingying unwilling to give her money to spend. If Zhou Yunmei behaved, Fang Pingying would never be so petty about money.

And when it came to her parents and in-laws, she was profoundly dutiful at heart and never stingy with necessary expenses.

Once more, Luo Zhiyong was extremely thankful that he had injured his leg back then and married Fang Pingying. Had it been another woman, who knows what their family’s life would have turned into.

So, Luo Zhiyong nodded, saying they would give the money when Zhou Yunmei was back in the evening, in front of the entire family.

After the pair got up, they went to the courtyard.

Luo Honglan was chatting with Luo Dashan, and they were just talking about Luo Cuilan and the Zhang family’s matter.

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiyong joined in the conversation and asked Luo Dashan, "Dad, what are we going to do about Cuilan’s matter? Weren’t we supposed to have the wedding banquet during the New Year? Has a date been set?"

Luo Dashan sighed, his expression somewhat helpless, "Looking at the Zhang family now, they’re planning to save the money for the banquet. They say since Cuilan has been living at their place for over half a year, everyone already knows she’s a daughter-in-law of the Zhang family, there’s no need to make a big fuss and have a banquet."

Luo Zhiyong snorted, "This is all Luo Cuilan’s own doing. Let her sort it out herself. I can’t be bothered with her anymore."

In fact, as soon as he’d heard that Luo Cuilan had aborted the baby and had completely moved to the Zhang family’s home, Luo Zhiyong anticipated this situation would arise.

The Zhang family was never good to begin with. They had taken advantage of Luo Cuilan’s insistence on not marrying anyone but Zhang Jianguo, they naturally would save money whenever they could.

Luo Zhiyong was utterly disappointed in Luo Cuilan and truly had no intention of dealing with her.

But Luo Dashan, after all, was her father; he couldn’t just watch and do nothing, so he called out to Luo Zhiyong, "Zhiyong, even if we don’t want to get involved, we can’t just ignore it. Others will think the Luo family has no one to step up, letting the Zhang family bully us like this. Now there are a lot of people in the village gossiping."

Luo Zhiyong was nonchalant, and asked flatly, "Then what do you suggest we do now?"

Luo Dashan thought for a moment and said, "Let’s call the Zhang Family over tomorrow to discuss the banquet."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiyong frowned slightly and said, "Then you also need to call Luo Cuilan back to see what she thinks for herself. If it’s like before, our side of the family will try to stand up for her as much as possible. But if she keeps appeasing the Zhang family without any bottom line, we’ll be the ones losing face in the end."

"Alright," Luo Dashan instructed Luo Honglan, "Hong Lan, after you finish breakfast, go to Zhangjia Village and call your sister back here. Tell her your big brother is back home and ask her to come over."

"Okay."

For breakfast, Luo Honglan followed Zhou Yunmei’s instructions and simmered some shredded pork congee, but the quantity was not much—altogether it amounted to just two large bowls.

There were four people eating breakfast that morning, so Fang Pingying took out smaller bowls from the cupboard, intending to serve each person a bowl.

Luo Honglan, however, called out to her with a smile, "Sister-in-law, don’t bother dividing it. My mom instructed that this shredded pork congee is just for you. The rest of us have our breakfast warming elsewhere."

After speaking, she also lifted the lid of the big stove pot, pointing at the several sweet potatoes inside, and said, "Look, ours are here."

Fang Pingying frowned at the sight of the few sweet potatoes steaming in the big pot.

Zhou Yunmei never liked sweet potatoes; she often complained that she had eaten too many when she was young, and now the smell alone made her feel queasy.

Even when they did have sweet potatoes at home, they were always cooked with rice or made into sweet potato porridge. They had never had such breakfast before.

Could it be that in the latter half of the year, Zhou Yunmei had really drained all her savings just to pay back Luo Zhiming’s money?

Seeing the sweet potatoes in the pot, Luo Zhiyong naturally had the same thoughts as Fang Pingying, and he asked Luo Dashan, "Dad, is this what you have been eating every morning at home?"

"No, just occasionally. They’re dug up from our own land, so it’s a waste not to eat them," Luo Dashan quickly denied and then laughed, adding, "Besides, isn’t it quite good eating these sweet potatoes in the morning..."

Before Luo Dashan could finish, Luo Cuilan’s voice came from the courtyard, "Dad, you’re eating sweet potatoes again this morning?"

Upon hearing Luo Cuilan’s voice, Fang Pingying felt a bit displeased.

Luo Cuilan’s voice was sharp and subtly exaggerated; she probably had been standing in the courtyard for a while and heard their conversation. That call seemed deliberate, as if there was more to come.

As soon as Luo Dashan saw Luo Cuilan had returned, he immediately spoke to her, "Cuilan, you’re back just in time. I was just going to have your sister call you."

Hearing this, Luo Cuilan first lightly touched Luo Honglan’s face and then gave a faint smile to Fang Pingying and Luo Zhiyong who were on the side, "Oh, you’re all back. I heard yesterday and was thinking of coming to see."

Luo Cuilan didn’t even address her big brother and sister-in-law directly, her gaze towards Fang Pingying and the others holding a hint of dissatisfaction.

Seeing their reactions, Fang Pingying and her husband just nodded at her, not saying much.

Luo Honglan was notably more enthusiastic as she grabbed Luo Cuilan’s hand and said, "Sis, have you had breakfast? If not, let’s eat together."

Luo Cuilan looked at the sweet potatoes in the pot and turned her mouth down, "I’ve already eaten. I knew there would be sweet potatoes to eat here at mom and dad’s. Every time I come back, it’s what I eat, and I’m sick of it." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)