country bumpkin

Chapter 212 An Apple

Kong Xiangguang watched them politely deferring to each other, and suddenly felt ashamed. He, as a son, was not as filial to his mother as a nephew.

He hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to continue eating or stop. After a minute's pause, he placed the other uneaten apple on the table.

When Mu Shuyun saw this, she thought he was saving it for his grandson. Mu Shuyun said, "Xiangguang, have one if you like. Don't worry, there are some left for Jianjun and Jianguo. I give them these snacks every day when they come down to play."

Kong Xiangguang was even more embarrassed. He had never been filial to his parents, yet his mother had even thought of her two sons.

He felt he was a terrible person for listening to his wife's slander and making his mother angry and wronged.

Kong Xiangguang wanted to kneel down and apologize to express his feelings. However, he couldn't bring himself to do it, and he still had a little bit of pride.

Mu Shuyun noticed his embarrassment and quickly said, "It's alright, don't think too much here with your mother. We're mother and son, family. There's no need for so many complicated things. Just talk it out. Your mother won't hold a grudge against her own child."

Kong Xiangguang could only nod and remain silent. And that was the end of it.

As they were leaving, Mu Shuyun gave them the second apple they hadn't eaten earlier.

Kong Xiangguang went back to the carpenter's shop, and Kong Xiangwei went back to his own home.

When he got home, his mother saw her son happily humming a song as he returned and asked, "Xiangwei, where have you been? Why are you only coming back now?"

Kong Xiangwei said with a smile, "Mom, I went to my third aunt's house. She even gave me two big apples. They're so sweet. You should try them."

As she spoke, she held the apple she had brought back to Xie Wenli's lips. Looking at the big, red apple in front of her, Xie Wenli's intuition told her that it must taste delicious.

But she didn't eat it, saying, "You keep it for yourself! Your third aunt treats you well, like her own son. When she gets old, you must be filial to her, understand?"

Kong Xiangwei agreed, saying, "Yes, I know, Mother. Don't worry, I'll always remember."

Xie Wenli didn't take the apple, so Kong Xiangwei put it in the kitchen. He planned to cut the apple into small pieces and eat it as a dish at lunchtime.

That way, Mom won't be reluctant to eat it, since it will spoil if it's not eaten properly after being cut open.

Xie Wenli went to the kitchen and saw that his son had placed the apple on a plate on the counter. He didn't mention the apple again.

Instead, he said, "I heard that your second brother-in-law got drunk and beat your sister again. At noon, you and your eldest and second brothers should go to their house to see what happened."

Kong Xiangwei got angry and said, "Mother, I'm going to find my second brother-in-law right now."

Xie Wenli said, "Don't rush, it's just a rumor, I don't know if it's true or not. Besides, I'm not comfortable with you going by yourself. Let's go together when your older brothers come back."

Kong Xiangwei could only go back to his room and wait. In the meantime, he went out to help Xie Wenli feed the pigs and sheep.

Everyone who went out to work at noon came back for lunch. Kong Tongyuan and his second son, Kong Xiangjian, came back for lunch. The eldest son, Kong Xiangzhuang, had separated from the family and went home for lunch.

During dinner, the second son looked at the apple slices on his plate with great curiosity and asked, "Hey, where did you get these apples in the middle of winter?"

Kong Xiangwei said proudly, "My third aunt gave it to me. I brought it back so you can all have a taste."

At the dinner table, Ge Chunyan, the second son's wife, picked up a piece of apple and chewed it happily.

Then he exclaimed, "Mmm, so sweet, so delicious!"

Kong Xiangwei said with a smile, "Of course, anything given by Third Aunt must taste delicious!"

While eating, Ge Chunyan was thinking to herself: Does the deliciousness of an apple have anything to do with who gave it to her?

She didn't ask the question aloud, but simply echoed, "Yes, it's really good, little brother. Your third aunt really dotes on you!"

Kong Xiangwei started to boast again: "That's right, I grew up drinking her milk, she will definitely treat me like her own son."

All Ge Chunyan wanted to say was: Your third aunt loves you so much, why don't you go and live with her, be her son? Let her spend money to get you a wife.

But she didn't dare say it; she could only mutter to herself. She had only married into the family last October, and she had no say in anything at home.

The second son's family hasn't separated yet, but once the third son gets married, they'll probably move out and live separately.

The more money they save now, the more they can get when the family divides the property. She's known since she was little that in the village, sons who have been married for a long time don't usually divide the property.

Now she's going to start planning her own little home.

After the whole family had finished eating, Xie Wenli finally told them about his second daughter.

The second daughter, Kong Xiuting, was prettier than the rest of the family, with fair and delicate skin. She had large, double-lidded eyes, a round, rosy face, and thin, bright red lips; she was stunning even without makeup.

However, this second brother-in-law, Du Yuwen, is a gigolo. He's lazy, good-for-nothing, and an alcoholic.

The two met at the market. Unfortunately, they hit it off immediately and soon began dating.

Later, Kong Xiuting learned from a friend that Du Yuwen was lazy and didn't want to be with him anymore.

He threatened Kong Xiuting that if she didn't stay with him, he would kill her entire family and take her with him in death, even if it meant being buried together.

Kong Xiuting was intimidated and obediently married him. The two enjoyed a period of happiness after their marriage.

Dating and married life are different. Over time, the daily necessities like food, cooking oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea all cost money. With more household chores, the couple often argues.

Whenever they argue, Du Yuwen drinks, and when he's drunk, he beats people. He used to beat his mother and sister. Now it's Kong Xiuting who's suffering.

When the old man Kong Tongyuan heard that his second son-in-law had hit his daughter, he was angry but said he didn't want to get involved.

He said, "Hmph! I told you from the beginning that Du Yuwen was no good. He's just a pretty boy and you can't trust him at all, but Xiuting wouldn't listen. She secretly moved into his house, and later she didn't want to be with him anymore, but he wouldn't agree. Now she's getting beaten up, it's her own fault, I don't care about any of that."

Kong Tongyuan waved his hand, indicating he really didn't care anymore, and went to his bedroom for a nap.

The second son, Kong Xiangjian, looked at his wife and muttered, "Wife, you see, it wouldn't look good if I, as the older brother, didn't go."

Ge Chunyan could only glare at him and whisper, "Fine, you can go, but whatever you do, don't do anything. That guy surnamed Du is no pushover. Just go and make your presence felt, understand?"

Kong Xiangjian nodded, "Don't worry, with your older brother here, I'll just follow along and not stand out." Only then did Ge Chunyan feel at ease letting him go with her.

Kong Xiangwei and Kong Xiangjian went to their eldest brother's house together. The eldest brother's house wasn't far away; it was only a 10-minute walk.

The two brothers entered and called out to their eldest brother. Hearing the call, their sister-in-law, Liang Yanhong, knew it was her second and third sons.

Her mother-in-law came over in the morning and told her about it; she had already told her husband during breakfast.