Su Xiaoxiao leaned forward, a little curious: "Mom, who is she?"
Liu Cuilan snorted from her nose: "Who else? Your snobbish cousin who looks down on us country folk after marrying up."
With that, Su Xiaoxiao imdiately rembered hearing the family gossip that her cousin had married a city man and moved her residency to the city.
Fearing that poor relatives might co asking for favors, they hadn’t been in contact for years.
"Cousin, are you ho?"
Liu Cuifen continued to shout at the door, making it clear she wouldn’t leave until she got a response.
"I just have to see what she’s up to."
Liu Cuilan opened the door with a scowl, seeing Liu Cuifen standing there, she let out a sarcastic laugh: "Weren’t you the one who insisted we should never interact again, and refused to deal with us ’mud-stained’ folks? What brings you here?"
"Cousin, oh, how could you say that? We’re all real relatives, closer than sisters, how can we truly stop associating?"
Liu Cuifen smiled enthusiastically.
Liu Cuilan wasn’t buying it, with a dark expression she spoke: "If you have sothing to say, make it quick. I’m busy."
Just as Liu Cuifen was about to speak, the sll of at wafted in from the yard, nearly making her drool.
Although she married a city man, it was just for show; her mother-in-law was quite stingy—the family rarely had at, maybe once a fortnight.
"Cousin, I ca from afar. Can we go inside and chat?"
She made sure to lift the basket in her hand: "Look, I even brought you so eggs."
Liu Cuilan glanced at it; at best, there were only seven or eight eggs, which was already quite a surprise from such a miser.
In her mory, this cousin never brought anything when she visited.
Always despising the shabby countryside, but also thick-skinned enough to ask for hogrown vegetables, claiming they taste better than store-bought ones.
In short, taking advantage as much as possible.
After marrying into the city, she only looked down on her country relatives even more.
The fact she at least brought sothing upon her visit made Liu Cuilan hesitate to throw her out imdiately.
Expressionless, she moved aside: "Co in."
Liu Cuifen walked in familiarly and, seeing Su Xiaoxiao inside, smiled even more enthusiastically.
"Oh my, is this Xiao Xiao girl? She gets more and more beautiful; I always knew she’d amount to sothing."
Liu Cuifen eagerly grabbed Su Xiaoxiao’s hand: "Xiaoxiao, I heard you’re now a manager at the city departnt store, bringing honor to your Li Family, how impressive!"
"I’ve always thought among the kids in your family, you were the most likable and vibrant."
Hearing this, Liu Cuilan rely raised an eyebrow, not bothering to expose her.
Didn’t she often call her youngest a waste of money? Now she’s shalessly sucking up.
Su Xiaoxiao felt slightly embarrassed by the praise, furiously signaling to her mom.
The overenthusiastic cousin was too much for her to handle.
"Alright, less of the flattery, just say what you ca for."
With an awkward laugh, Liu Cuifen placed the basket on the table: "Well, I actually wanted to trouble Xiaoxiao with a small favor."
No wonder she was so enthusiastic, she was up to no good.
Liu Cuilan crossed her arms and looked at Liu Cuifen: "Oh my, Aunt, aren’t you a city person now? What help can my country daughter possibly offer you?"
Weren’t they often mocked for being country folk? Why isn’t she keeping up her pretenses now?
This jab had a hidden bite, leaving Liu Cuifen a little embarrassed, but she forced a smile: "Cousin, how can you say I’ve ever despised you for being country folk?"
This woman could really lie with a straight face; Liu Cuilan was too uninterested in engaging and delaying their al—the pot still had braised pork stewing.
She sneered, which served as a response to the question.
The implication being, do you even believe your own words?
Liu Cuifen pretended not to understand, shalessly edging closer to Su Xiaoxiao: "Xiaoxiao, your cousin just graduated from high school, could you try to find her a spot at the departnt store? She’s never really worked, could you find her an easy and well-paying position?"
Su Xiaoxiao: Do they think she’s a genie granting wishes? An easy, high-paying job? If there were such a thing, she’d already have it herself, right?
"Aunt, you might be mistaken, I’m just an acting manager, I don’t have actual authority, I can’t help you there."
She repeated the sa thing she told those freeloading relatives earlier.
"What? Just an acting manager? Why didn’t you say so earlier?"
Didn’t she just waste her own effort?
Su Xiaoxiao felt a bit awkward: "Well, you didn’t ask, right?"
Liu Cuifen: "..."
Had she known it was just an acting position, why did she even bother coming over?
Su Xiaoxiao looked at the eggs in her basket: "Aunt, are these eggs especially for us to eat?"
Liu Cuifen hurriedly lifted the basket: "What eggs, these are just for a neighbor."
If she couldn’t get help, did they really think they could eat her eggs? Clearly not.
With basket in hand, she prepared to leave, but the enticing sll of at in the air made her hesitate.
"Cousin, look, I ca all this way, and it’s almost alti. Can I just grab a bite here?"
Pfft, her skin was as thick as ever.
Trying to eat at her place without offering anything in return? Dream on.
"City folks like you are too fine for our simple als, let’s not waste your ti."
Liu Cuilan outright told her to leave, having no fondness for her opportunistic cousin.
"Fourth and Fifth, go see your aunt out."
She called into the house, and Fourth and Fifth imdiately responded.
Seeing Liu Cuifen, they were taken aback.
"Mom, which obscure relative is this again?"
Ever since their third sister took an official post, relatives hoping for handouts frequently showed up.
The two brats, how do they speak like that?
"Cousin, you must teach these two how to speak properly to adults."
"My kids are just fine, there’s no need for you to worry, Fourth and Fifth, show her out."
Liu Cuifen wanted to linger for a al, but the two rascals quickly dragged her out by the arms.
"Uneducated brats! Pfft!"
Liu Cuifen looked as the courtyard gate banged shut in front of her, grumbling as she left.
With the botherso guest gone, the two brothers jumped three feet high: "Mom, can we eat at now? We’re starving here!"
"Eat, eat, eat, today you can eat to your heart’s content."
Liu Cuilan said as she lifted the pot lid, the rich aroma hitting them in the face, the two little rascals almost drooled to the floor.
Half a pot of braised pork with potatoes, perfectly soft and flavorful, the rich gravy made Su Xiaoxiao drool as she watched.
Just then, soone knocked on the courtyard gate again, and the three simultaneously turned their heads in resentnt. Who was it this ti? Would this never end?
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