Seeing Wang Hunv come over, Tan Yue called out, "Grandma."
Wang Hunv answered, then sidled up to Tan You. "Tan You, what can I do?"
Tan You said, "Why don’t you take the bowls and chopsticks over? We can eat soon."
As long as she could help Tan You, Wang Hunv was in a good mood, so she happily carried the bowls and chopsticks to the living room. Watching her, Tan Desheng whispered to Tan Deming, "I’ve never seen her so happy before."
Tan Deming took a gleeful sip of his ginseng tea. "Back when she lived with Tan Lin, she never had it this good. When it comes to being cared for in old age, a girl’s touch is just more thoughtful."
Tan Desheng glanced at the slices of ginseng in his older brother’s cup, then picked up his own tea. "Tan You is really generous with you two. To just give you such high-quality ginseng."
Although Tan You didn’t care for him, as long as he was staying there, she wouldn’t mistreat him. When she prepared ginseng tea for Tan Deming, she would also make a cup for Tan Desheng.
In her heart, Tan You wished Tan Desheng had a bit more integrity and would refuse to drink what she prepared. But some people just can’t stand to lose out. And so, for the past few days, Tan Desheng had been shamelessly enjoying the ginseng tea.
Tan Deming chuckled. "It’s mainly to help us build up our strength. You know my health has always been poor. The old lady used to do so much farm work, and surprisingly, she’s the healthiest in the family."
Tan Desheng looked at the thin, wiry Wang Hunv and thought about how she used to farm so much land all by herself. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. ’How could anyone endure such hardship without a strong body?’
Wang Hunv paid no mind to what the two brothers were saying. She just bustled around after Tan You, and soon, five dishes and a soup appeared on the table.
She placed a chicken leg in Tan Deming’s bowl, then looked at Tan Desheng and placed a chicken leg in his bowl as well. Only then did she say softly, "I’m going back to school after lunch. I won’t be back again until the end of the month. You all take good care of yourselves at home."
"We know. Grandma and I will come see you on the weekend to save you the trip." Tan Deming put a piece of fish in Tan You’s bowl. "It’s not convenient for you to ride your bike back and forth."
Tan Lin cried foul. "Doesn’t she ride my bike every time she comes back? How is that tiring?"
"How is it not tiring?" Tan Deming’s bias was a mile thick. "Isn’t studying tiring? Isn’t coming home to cook tiring? Not like you, who just stays home all day cooking and taking care of the kid."
"You can’t say that," Tan You corrected Tan Deming. "Taking good care of the home isn’t easy either. The day-to-day household chores might seem trivial, but they’re actually very mentally taxing."
"He takes good care of his home and comes to see you in his free time. He’s already doing a good job." This was Tan You’s current attitude toward Tan Lin. Everything was settled between them, though of course, the present harmony couldn’t erase her past grievances.
Tan Lin looked a bit smug. "See? My eldest daughter is on my side. I’m not just sitting around at home, you know. I do the laundry, cook, clean, and pick up the kid from school every day. I have a lot to do, too."
"Tell me, how much would a normal family have to pay for a nanny each month?"
Tan You said, "You’re one half of the family partnership. Comparing yourself to a nanny is demeaning yourself. Everything you’re doing now is for your own little family."
"Someone has to lead the charge, and someone has to hold down the fort. Aren’t you doing a good job of that right now?"
Tan Deming placed a chicken wing in Tan Lin’s bowl. "Alright, alright, my mistake. I misspoke."
’Why does this chicken wing taste so good today?’ Tan Lin wondered as he ate the piece his father had given him.
Wang Hunv was reluctant to see Tan You go back to school, but she knew her studies were important. So, she channeled her sorrow into her appetite and simply dug into her meal.
Tan Desheng watched as Tan You defused the conflict with just a few words and even had Tan Lin wrapped around her finger. Although he had witnessed it many times over the past few days, he was still amazed every time.
He only had this one direct nephew, so how could he not know his personality? Tan Lin was a classic hothead with a terrible temper. The slightest thing would set him off.
When his temper flared, he’d throw pots and smash bowls. But here, he was as docile as could be. One look from Tan You, and he’d immediately quiet down, meek as a lamb.
To be able to bring such a troublemaker to heel... ’Tan You is truly something else,’ Tan Desheng thought.
After observing her for the past few days, he had gotten a rough idea of Tan You’s current temperament. She truly looked down on him, but she never deliberately mistreated him. As long as he behaved himself, she wouldn’t say a word to him.
Even when he deliberately gave money to the other relatives’ children, pointedly skipping her and Tan Yue, she showed no reaction, not a hint of jealousy or unfairness. It was because she didn’t care. She could make her own money, so she had no interest in anyone else’s.
Honestly, for Tan Desheng, who was used to people fawning over him and asking for money, facing Tan You was a novel experience. To have someone look at you like you were mud on their shoe... it actually made him feel that Tan You was different from everyone else.
It just goes to show, some people are gluttons for punishment; they need someone to look down on them.
"Tan You, I’m planning to stay here for a while longer," Tan Desheng said suddenly, following his train of thought.
Tan You’s hand, which was ladling soup, paused. "How long?"
Tan Desheng watched Tan You’s expression and asked tentatively, "Two months?"
Tan You’s expression didn’t change. "As I recall, in previous years when you came back, you’d spend more than half the month at Tan Deji’s house. My grandparents are getting old, and my grandpa’s health isn’t good. He needs my grandma to look after him at night."
The unspoken message was clear: ’You’ve stayed here long enough, and now you want to stay longer? Pack your bags and get lost!’
"AHEM, AHEM," Tan Lin choked, then grabbed a nearby cup and took two big gulps.
Tan Yue was displeased. "Dad, that’s my Sprite!"
Tan Lin wiped his mouth. "I was wondering why it was so fizzy. Wait, I’ll go get you some more."
Though that’s what he said, he couldn’t hide the grin on his face. He used the excuse of getting another drink to make his escape, determined not to get involved in the bloodbath at the dinner table.
Wang Hunv didn’t say a word. She had wanted Tan Desheng to leave for a long time. He looked down on her, and since he’d been back, he was always finding fault with things. To be honest, Wang Hunv was really sick of her brother-in-law.
If it weren’t for having to rely on whatever small handouts he gave in the past, Wang Hunv would have wanted nothing to do with Tan Desheng long ago.
Tan Desheng was stunned for a moment, apparently not expecting Tan You to say that. How was that any different from kicking him out to his face? But the more she said it, the more he perversely wanted to stay. Who could blame him, when he was so curious about her now?
"Where at Deji’s house is it as peaceful as this?" Tan Desheng said with a smile. "Besides, Shanyun and the others aren’t actually nice to me. Isn’t it all just for the money?"
Tan You gave him a look. ’So he knows,’ she thought. ’And he still came back and threw so much money around?’
"The most I’ll let you stay is until the end of this month," Tan You said, not bothering to negotiate. "You have your own son and daughter. You’ve been away for so long, don’t they miss you?"