Xiao Tong was slightly stunned, and paused for a moment while holding the noodles with his chopsticks.
"My mother and aunt...are just like that, neither good nor bad...just like that."
Xue Ling quickly found a word, raised an eyebrow and asked: "Is it salty or bland?"
"right."
Xiao Tong nodded: "Although my mother didn't tell us anything, her relationship with her aunt is far from what it used to be.
Auntie, you all used to live in Rongcheng. When my cousin and cousin Ahu lived in the provincial capital, they would go back to Rongcheng from time to time.
I was still young at that time, but I remember that everyone was very happy when we got together.
Cousin Ahu is very enthusiastic and generous, everyone talks and laughs, and there is no resentment at all."
Wang Qing nodded in agreement: "Yes, Cuiliu got along well with everyone in the years after she got married.
Not to mention your mother, when our family came together to open a supermarket, your mother was the main force there.
She is very good with Ahu and Lingling!"
Xiao Tong smiled bitterly: "It didn't work anymore.
When I was a teenager, my mother and aunt had several fights, and my mother even cried.
I was curious and asked what was going on, but my mother refused to tell me and scolded me that children are ignorant and should not ask too many questions.
Later, when I overheard my father coaxing my mother, I guessed that she had had a quarrel with my aunt."
"Financial dispute?"
Xue Ling asked.
Xiao Tong shook his head: "It's more than that.
I remember one time when my aunt and grandpa had a quarrel. My mother was very angry and said that my aunt was not doing things properly and she made the old man angry.
It seems that my aunt's brother came to Rongcheng and said that there was no TV at home, so he asked his aunt to bring back the old TV set at home.
My aunt turned around and loaded the TV onto the donkey cart.
My grandfather used to watch the TV every day, but my aunt made her own arrangements without even saying hello.
Grandpa said how could she not tell her, her aunt said it was just an old TV and not worth much.
Grandpa got angry and scolded my aunt for not respecting him, and then they started to quarrel."
Wang Qing couldn't help but frown: "Your mother didn't persuade me?
Instead, you got into a quarrel with your aunt?"
"Grandpa is angry."
Xiao Tong explained: "My mother heard that my grandpa was sick and hurried back to visit him.
Later, I had a big quarrel with my aunt and broke up unhappy.
My mother simply spent money to buy my grandpa a new TV, and things calmed down."
Xue Ling asked again: "When was the share split?
Where is the big supermarket?"
Xiao Tong thought for a while and replied: "It was many years ago when I first entered college.
My mother invested 10% of the capital, which was not much money.
Later, she said that she reluctantly distributed tens of thousands of yuan back, and only got her capital back, making almost no money.
I heard that my aunt's parents were very shameful. They would go to the supermarket every three days to move groceries, and my aunt remembered the accounts in a mess.
Later, my uncle rechecked the account book and paid my mother more than 30,000 yuan.
Since then, the two families' businesses have completely separated."
Wang Qing sighed: "The business is separated, and the relationship is also rusty."
"Um."
Xiao Tong buried his head and whispered: "My mother scolded my uncle... saying that he was too coward, couldn't control his own business, and let my aunt's family of vampires do whatever they wanted in the supermarket.
My aunt heard this and had another quarrel with my mother.
Since then, unless I went to visit my uncle during the Chinese New Year, I had almost no contact with him at other times."
Xue Ling is no exception at all, explaining: "No matter how good the relationship between brothers and sisters is, if the other half has a quarrel and gets into trouble, it will also affect the relationship between the brothers and sisters.
Even if the family ties are still there, we will naturally become unfamiliar if we don’t move around much.”
"That's natural."
Wang Qing agreed.
Xiao Tong couldn't help but defend his old mother: "My mother still cares about my uncle and several nieces and nephews.
Occasionally she would secretly invite her uncle to my house for dinner, and secretly buy some stationery or clothes for Xiaohao and the others.
My mother said that her maternal family only has her uncle and her family, so how could she give up."
From a family and emotional point of view, she stands on her mother's side.
Xue Ling chuckled: "We all know.
Your mother is honest and honest, almost like your uncle.
In fact, your aunt is not a heinous evil person, but she is unable to handle the trouble brought by her mother's family. In addition, she is not a person with strong ideas and is easily deceived. She has no independent opinions and is easily led by others. "
"yes!"
Xiao Tong muttered: "My uncle is actually quite miserable. He is wrapped in a bunch of dog-skin plasters and can't move his hands and feet. No matter how rich he is, he can't bear such losses.
My mother feels very sorry for my uncle, but she is always angry with him. When she is angry, her words will inevitably not sound good."
Xue Ling nodded and asked: "This time about Xiaohao...how did your mother know about it?"
"She found out about it."
Xiao Tong explained: "My uncle didn't say that, let alone my aunt.
She hasn’t spoken to my mother in years.”
Xue Ling advised in a low voice: "You are a junior, don't get involved in adults' disputes.
You, pretend you don't know anything, you should respect your elders.
Unless the two families have a huge hatred, you must not get along with your elders with resentment."
"I know."
Xiao Tong lowered his voice: "My dad said the same.
My aunt was not in a good mood, so I tried my best to persuade her and didn't dare to say anything nonsense.
Auntie, I will definitely help take care of Xiaohao and aunt these days."
Xue Ling gently stroked her long, silky hair and said warmly: "That's right.
Eat quickly and take a rest after eating."
Xiao Tong answered obediently.
After Xue Ling finished busy at home, she drove to Ronghua Mall.
Xiao Liao explained that everything has been arranged, and the heating and gas pipelines are being repaired quickly, so that other residents can return to normal before tonight.
As for the compensation for the fire, we are currently making a claim with the insurance company, and the rest is being handed over to the police station.
"Don't worry, I can handle everything here well."
Xue Ling gave him a thumbs up: "Well done! You are my most capable right-hand man.
If you hadn't helped me take care of my property over the years, I would have been in a hurry."
"You're welcome."
Xiao Liao chuckled: "Fortunately you appreciate me so much, otherwise I would have no room to display my abilities no matter how good they are."
Xue Ling shook his head: "Gold will always shine, and no matter where it goes, it will always shine brightly one day.
By the way, Xiao Liao, how are your parents' health these days?
Are they all good?"
Xiao Liao paused, then smiled bitterly.
"My mother...has not been in good health lately.
After the weather cooled down, she went to the hospital several times.
My dad and the caregiver helped take care of her, and my brother and I took turns going to watch the night."
Xue Ling asked in surprise: "What's going on?
I met Sister Cai at the beginning of the year. She was energetic, but a little thin, but she looked pretty good!"
Since Xiao Jiaxue retired and went abroad with her foreigner husband, there are not many old friends left around her.
The couple, Liao Zongnan and Cai Yunyan, have kept in touch with her for many years. From time to time, they meet to have dinner and chat and drink together.
Xiao Liao shook his head helplessly: "My mother is old and sick.
She had been seriously ill before... You knew it at the time, and you helped save my mother.
The doctor said that it is not easy for my mother to live to this age smoothly."