646 Broken Chopping Board

Qiao Mei felt vexed when she heard the children crying. She returned to the house and started cooking dinner. The chopping sounds she made were much louder than usual, as if she was venting her frustration.

She stewed a big pot full of potato and kidney beans with a lot of pork inside. The moment she opened the lid, the fragrance wafted out.

After she finished cooking, the chopping board had also completed its life mission. There were already many cracks on it. If it was picked up, it would definitely break into pieces.

Qiao Mei silently brought the dishes out, set the table and filled the bowls with rice, waiting for Qiao Qiang to enter the house to eat.

There were two identical pots of food on the small table. One of the pots had a lot more meat.

"Are you eating separately from grandfather?" Qiao Qiang said with a smile.

Qiao Mei buried her head in her food and whispered, "I've cooked too much. If grandfather doesn't want to eat, you can deal with it as you see fit. You can throw it out to feed the chickens and ducks."

Qiao Qiang knew that Qiao Mei was being stubborn but soft-hearted. He deliberately went to take the pot in front of Qiao Mei, which had less meat in it, to test her reaction.

"Take that one," Qiao Mei said as she held on to the pot in front of her.

"Say, why do you do that and then sulk by yourself!" After saying that, Qiao Qiang carried the pot with more meat in it and went to look for the children.

As soon as he entered the house, Zhang Qin could smell the fragrance of food. She hurriedly ran to the door and shouted, "Grandfather! Grandfather, you're here to save us! Elder brothers! We have food!"

Zhang Wei stood rooted to the spot uneasily. Even when Qiao Qiang placed the food on the table, he still stood at the side in a daze.

"What's wrong, Xiao Wei? Come and eat!" Qiao Qiang scooped rice for the children and prepared a bowl of warm rice for Zhang Miao so that he could feed her later.

"Grandfather… Is elder sister angry? Is it what my mother did that made elder sister unhappy? I think elder sister was especially angry when she went back… Will elder sister abandon us?" Zhang Wei asked nervously.

Qiao Qiang thought for a moment and said, "Come over and have dinner and I'll tell you."

Zhang Wei was still young and was easily coaxed into eating obediently. Qiao Qiang smiled as he watched the children wolf down their food, as if they had not eaten for a few days.

"Is it delicious?" Qiao Qiang asked with a smile.

The children nodded hurriedly. Their mouths were full of food and they had no time to talk to Qiao Qiang.

"Your elder sister made all these. Do you still think your elder sister is angry, Xiao Wei?" Qiao Qiang said.

Zhang Wei looked at the food in his hands in a daze. He knew that Qiao Mei would not abandon them, but there was nothing they could do to stop what Li Gui was doing, nor could they make it up to Qiao Mei.

"Why is elder sister so good to us? We've always been a burden to her and you, grandfather. We've caused so much trouble, so why are you still willing to help us?" Zhang Wei asked with a sob.

Qiao Qiang thought about it but could not come up with an exact answer. However, he knew that these children were good-natured and were good kids.

"Your mother is just muddle-headed for a moment. Everyone makes mistakes, including grandfather and elder sister. You children don't have to worry about adults' issues. As long as you grow up well and study hard, your elder sister and I will be at ease. Do you understand?" Qiao Qiang reached out and patted Zhang Wei's head.

Zhang Wei remembered Qiao Qiang's words well. When he grew up, he would definitely repay them both.

"Alright, grandfather won't stay here anymore. I still have to go back and look after your elder sister! Remember to take care of your youngest sister after you're done eating, understand?" Qiao Qiang instructed.

Zhang Wei nodded in understanding.

Li Gui and Zhao Hong hired the horse carriage for four dollars and rushed back to the Li family house without stopping. Old Madam Li was lying on the brick bed leisurely, listening to the radio and humming along!

"Mother! Mother, I'm back!" Li Gui started shouting as soon as she entered.

Old Madam Li was so shocked that she hurriedly turned off the radio and lay down on the brick bed. She kept moaning as if she was terminally ill.

"Aw ~ It hurts ~ It hurts ~" Old Madam Li muttered to herself.

When Li Gui entered the house and saw this scene, tears flowed down her face. She knelt by the brick bed and said, "Mother… I'm back. Let's go to the clinic now! Hang on! I'll get someone to come and treat you now!"

When Old Madam Li heard this, she immediately grabbed Li Gui's hand and said, "My illness… the clinic can't treat it… Don't go… Stay with me…"

Zhao Hong chimed in, "That's right. The clinic is closed now. Let's talk about it tomorrow."