The atmosphere at the dinner table was as cold as an icebox.

"Grandma, why would we hide food?"

Su Xiangyang's face was as pale as paper. He stood up abruptly, making the table shake, and his lips trembled as he stammered:

“We have always worked diligently, as you have seen, how can you say such a thing…”

"We, we really didn't do that, I swear to God!"

As he spoke, he kept pounding his chest, his voice growing hoarse, and his eyes gradually welling up with tears.

However, this explanation was so weak that Old Mrs. Su remained unmoved.

Furthermore, since she was originally determined to teach these people a lesson, her words became increasingly inappropriate:

"I haven't even said anything yet, and you've already jumped out and started yelling. Are you trying to scare this old woman to death? I think you're just feeling guilty. Do you think I would wrong you? Old man, look at the way the fourth son's children have been led astray. They're a disgrace to the Su family!"

In an instant, Su Xiangyang seemed to have all his strength drained away. His shoulders slumped, and he stared blankly at the silent old man beside him.

"Sir, we haven't hidden any grain..."

Grandpa Su frowned, waved his hand gently, and sighed, "Alright, stop arguing and sit down to eat."

Su Xiangyang's last glimmer of hope was shattered. His throat felt like it was choked by something, and he could no longer make a sound. He could only slowly sit down.

Mrs. Hu's face was full of bitterness. She looked at her son with heartache, her eyes brimming with tears. Finally, she mustered her courage and said, "Father, Mother, Xiangyang and the others aren't bad kids, they absolutely aren't..."

"Cough!" Old Mrs. Su shot a sharp look at her, and Hu's voice stopped abruptly. She could only helplessly clutch the hem of her clothes and remained silent.

"All you do is eat! From now on, anyone who doesn't work properly can forget about eating! The Su family doesn't support idlers!"

Grandma Su haughtily raised her chin and glanced around, then uttered those words with a sinister air, like a victorious general returning home.

Just as she was basking in the glory of victory, Su Li took a deep breath, met the mocking or smug gazes of the crowd, slowly raised her eyes, and met the gaze of Old Madam Su without fear, calmly speaking:

“Grandma, you’re right. The younger generation is naturally not as good at work as the older generation. In the past, the corn harvesting job was always left to my dad, but he felt sorry for us children and always took on most of the work himself. So, that’s why we didn’t learn how to harvest corn.”

“Since you’ve put it that way, why don’t you let your uncles do the rest of the work in the fields? They can set a good example for us and we can learn from them.”

"Ahem! Ahem—"

Uncle Su pounded his chest, nearly choking to death. He glared at Su Li, annoyed, "Li girl, I think you're clearly trying to shirk your responsibilities. Your grandmother is an elder, can't she say a few words to you? Your temper is getting worse..."

Grandma Su raised an eyebrow, about to unleash a tirade, but Su Li calmly replied:

"Grandma, didn't you suspect that we were hoarding grain? Why don't we have Uncle and Second Uncle harvest the remaining half acre of land? That way we'll know whether it's a crop failure or someone deliberately hoarding grain?"

Perfect, she didn't want to do this thankless and arduous task anyway.

Let's nitpick, everyone come and nitpick, whoever nitpicks gets to do the work.

Su Li glanced indifferently at the taciturn Old Master Su in the crowd, a hint of mockery flickering at the corner of her lips before she quietly concealed it:

“Grandpa, the Su family’s reputation can’t be allowed to deteriorate like this. What if my eldest cousin passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar? What will the villagers say about it? Since we are family, it’s better to understand some things.”

"What do you mean by 'family'? You've done such shameful things, and now you suddenly remember we're family? You even dare to talk back to Grandma?"

Su Zhen frowned slightly, her face displaying just the right amount of worry and concern, her voice soft yet sharp.

"Second cousin, our elders have always taught us to be polite. How could you be so disrespectful to Grandpa and Grandma? What you're saying is really hurting everyone's feelings."

She had already figured it out: even if Su Li knew the secret of the calming soup, so what?

Whether it contains tree leaves, grass roots, ginseng, or lingzhi, as long as Grandma feels comfortable after drinking it, it's a good thing.

She wouldn't be intimidated by Su Li's few words.

Grandma Su gave Su Zhen an approving look, feeling even more satisfied with her.

"Really? Does that mean I don't have the surname Su, and my father doesn't have the surname Su?" Su Li asked very sincerely. "Or is it that you, cousin, don't have the surname Su?"

Su Li laughed. She hadn't forgotten to deal with Su Zhen yet. Perfect, neither of them would escape.

“I know you’re always quick and efficient at work, and you’re also very smart. You’re not as busy as my older cousin who’s embroidering her wedding dress, so why don’t you come along to harvest the corn? Anyway, my mom has washed all the clothes for the next ten days, and there’s not much to do at home these days, so why not do more work in the fields? That will make the autumn harvest easier.”

"Enough! Ordering this and that around, this house isn't your place to be a little girl! It's getting more and more outrageous, sir! If you don't say something soon, I think this girl is going to be climbing on the roof and tearing the tiles off!"

Grandma Su slammed her hand on the table, her face darkening. Every word this girl uttered was like a dagger to her back.

What's wrong with her, as a mother-in-law, instructing her daughter-in-law on how to do things? Is there anything wrong with that?

Hearing Old Madam Su scold Su Li, Su Zhen finally felt a little better, so much so that she didn't notice the murderous look in Su Yao's eyes across from her.

Su Yao's nails almost dug into her flesh. What's wrong with embroidering a wedding dress? Why did she have to make such a fuss and let the whole family know? That country girl really is gossipy and ill-mannered!

One or two of them!

"Alright," Grandpa Su frowned slightly, glanced at his wife beside him, and gently scolded, "We are a family, we should be harmonious and happy. Why do you always scold the children? Don't we, as elders, ever make mistakes?"

"Hmph, you just spoil them." Old Mrs. Su muttered discontentedly.

Grandpa Su's gaze swept among the children of the fourth branch of the family, finally settling on Su Xiangyang, and he sighed deeply:

“Xiangyang, Grandpa knows you’re straightforward, but our family is like the ten fingers of a person. Although they are all different lengths, we still have to take care of each other and be tolerant of each other. Grandpa believes that you didn’t hide any food. It’s just that your grandma is old and doesn’t speak tactfully. Please don’t take it to heart.”

"Grandpa, I don't resent Grandma." These words from Grandpa Su warmed his heart, and his tone softened.

Grandpa Su smiled and nodded: "In previous years, you and your father harvested the corn. This task really can't be left to you. Grandpa knows it's not easy, but you have the strength and the responsibility, right?"

Su Xiangyang scratched his head, smiling憨厚ly, but a sense of guilt welled up in his heart.

He shouldn't have talked back to his grandmother...

Just then, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his waist. Su Xiangyang winced in pain, his body trembled, and his eyes instantly cleared.

When he turned around, he saw Mrs. He staring straight at him.

His heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his head guiltily, remaining silent.

Grandpa Su's smile froze on his face.

As things progressed to this point, he finally realized that the people in the fourth branch of the family had truly changed.

He coughed lightly, barely managing to maintain his smile:

"In that case, we'll all work together to harvest the corn tomorrow. Yao'er, Li'er, and Zhen'er, you three sisters stay home and cook..."

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