EBE Chapter 21 Trying to get something for nothing?
Chapter 21 Trying to get something for nothing?
How much of what he said to his father did his older brother just hear?
Mr. Shen was stunned for a moment, but his expression immediately returned to normal.
“We’re all in the same courtyard, so whether or not she’s adopted or not doesn’t really matter. Besides, Xiao Tang is old enough to remember things, she won’t forget her biological parents, so why don’t you agree?”
Shen Qingchuan's face was cold and hard, but his anger was rising rapidly.
His father's words clearly favored the third son, and he even asked him why he didn't agree to the adoption, which was really funny.
“Since Father said that it doesn’t matter whether we adopt or not since we’re all in the same courtyard, then we won’t adopt. Xiaotang is an obedient and sensible girl, and she respects her third brother and sister-in-law very much. Why should we be so particular about family?”
Mr. Shen was stunned again.
His eldest son was usually taciturn and dull, but today he actually said these words to refuse, which really changed his opinion of him.
Moreover, the last sentence was clearly what he usually taught his sons and grandsons, and it was quite rare for him to hear it from his eldest son, leaving him speechless.
Seeing that his father wasn't taking sides, Shen Haichuan started to get anxious.
"Big brother, Xiangcao and I really love our daughter. Why don't you give Xiaotang to us for adoption? If you can't bear to part with her, just don't make Xiaotang change her address. That way, Xiaotang can have two sets of parents. Wouldn't it be better if we became even closer?"
The third brother and his wife have always been shrewd. He didn't know what they were up to. They all lived under the same roof, and he had already refused. Yet the third brother insisted on adopting Xiaotang. He had a feeling that the couple didn't have any good plans.
"Since you've put it that way, then I have to bring it up. Your sister-in-law and I have been married for six or seven years. You and your second brother both have sons, but your sister-in-law and I don't. How about we exchange Xiaoyu for Changfeng? We're all in the same courtyard anyway, so there's no need to change our address. That way, everyone can have both a son and a daughter. What do you say?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Haichuan's face turned ashen, as if he had swallowed a fly.
He and his wife wanted to adopt Xiaotang because Xiaotang was diligent and capable. What would they do with a four-year-old stutterer?
Xiaoyu can't cook, can't wash clothes, can't sweep the floor properly, and gets scolded by her mother for feeding chickens. She's incredibly stupid. I wonder how many more years it will take to raise her before she can do any work after we adopt her.
It's not worth it at all!
"no!"
Shen Haichuan immediately refused, but then regretted his harsh tone. His mind raced, and he quickly found another excuse, softening his tone slightly.
“Brother, I think Changfeng and Changsheng are still too young. Twins have a psychological connection, and they will definitely not be used to being separated all of a sudden. Besides, Xiaoyu is only four years old and will definitely not be able to leave her sister-in-law. How can we switch them like this? We can just adopt Xiaotang. That way, you and your sister-in-law can continue to have children. Maybe you can have a son next year.”
Shen Qingchuan understood the implication in the third brother's words. The third brother was reluctant to part with his son and coveted his daughter. He was unwilling to adopt Xiaoyu and wanted his Xiaotang instead.
Who doesn't know that Xiaotang is diligent and capable, and is already very sensible at only six years old?
Even though Xiaoyu is still young and has a slight stutter, both daughters are his flesh and blood, and he would never give either of them away!
The third brother had the idea of adopting Xiaotang, probably so that Xiaotang could go to their third branch of the family to do chores for them.
Since regaining his senses and no longer blindly obeying his parents, he feels that his mind has become much sharper.
“Third brother is right. Maybe you can get pregnant this year and give birth next year. So you and your wife should try harder. Maybe you can have a daughter next year.”
Say the same thing back to him!
Want to get rid of nothing?
dream!
The place where they were talking was relatively close to the house of the second son and his wife. The couple watched the commotion through the window and discussed it quietly inside the house.
Madam Song chuckled and guessed, "Heh, the idea of adopting Xiaotang is probably Zhao Xiangcao's. She's not jealous that we and the eldest son's family have daughters, she's just jealous that the girl can help with the housework. Otherwise, why would she bring up the adoption now that we've started taking turns cooking?"
Shen Jiangchuan nodded, agreeing with his wife's point.
"Maybe so, but it has nothing to do with us, so don't worry about it."
yard.
Hearing her elder brother repeatedly rejecting her husband from afar, Zhao couldn't hold back her anger any longer. She quickly ran over to join forces with her husband.
“Brother, you can’t say that. You know Changsheng was born weak. I have to weave cloth to earn money to buy medicine for him. Where would I have the energy to have another child? Don’t worry, as long as you are willing to adopt Xiaotang, we will treat her as our own, even more than our own son. We are all family and live in the same courtyard. You and sister-in-law can see how we treat her. If you think we are not good to her, you can just ask to take her back.”
Anyway, Xiao Tang did laundry, cooking, and housework every day. Even after being adopted into their household, she still did the same work, so it wasn't considered a mistreatment of her. The eldest son and his wife couldn't find anything wrong with them.
Once the adoption is successful, there will be absolutely no chance for them to back out!
Mr. Shen sighed. He could now see the intentions of his third son and his wife, but he had always looked down on his eldest son, so he remained silent.
As the two sides remained deadlocked, people slowly gathered around as they heard the sounds of debate.
"I do not agree to adoption!" Shen Qingchuan refused again.
He and his wife have worked hard for the family for many years without complaint, yet they haven't received any praise. Before he even mentioned dividing the family property, the third son and his wife have already set their sights on them.
Do you really think they're fools?
Madam Sun came over and immediately spoke up for her own son and daughter-in-law.
“Your third brother and sister-in-law like daughters and want to adopt Xiaotang, so why don’t you adopt her? We’re all family, connected by blood. Even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected. Would the third brother and sister-in-law mistreat Xiaotang? The third brother’s wife knows how to weave cloth, so Xiaotang can have new clothes to wear every year if she follows her. Even if you two are silly, don’t stop Xiaotang from enjoying a good life.”
Holding her two daughters' hands, Liu heard that the youngest son and his wife wanted to adopt her eldest daughter, and her mother-in-law also helped to persuade her husband. Immediately, tears welled up in her eyes and fell like beans.
That afternoon, the family was sitting on the edge of the field sharing cut cakes and candied hawthorns. The harmonious scene still seems to be right before my eyes. How did it turn out like this in the evening?
“Mother, Xiaotang is my daughter. I don’t want to adopt her. Whoever wants a daughter can have her own. Her father and I don’t have a son, and we never thought about adopting anyone else.”
Feeling humiliated by her eldest daughter-in-law's rebuttal, Mrs. Sun immediately showed her displeasure.
"You really are naive. Giving your daughter to the third son isn't like you're selling her. People who have many daughters send them to wealthy families in town to be maids. Do you really think they're selling their daughters? They're sending them to enjoy a life of luxury. What's wrong with Xiaotang being with the third son? All three of them are good at studying. No matter who passes the exam and becomes an official in the future, Xiaotang can enjoy a life of luxury with them. Besides, our whole family will still be together. What are you afraid of?"