Chapter 410

ZhiXia's face changed, and she hurried over, "Third brother, come out with me first."

An ZhiXian was also taken aback, but still followed his sister's footsteps, only asking her after getting to the door, "Little sister, I've already taken the money last night, so you looking for me now..."

Obviously it wasn't something that could be said in front of others.

"Su Ying and I ran into Pei Shuangshuang at the hair salon today." ZhiXia said.

An ZhiXian was visibly impatient, "I haven't seen her for a long time, so why mention this?"

For a while Pei Shuangshuang had pestered him relentlessly, coming to their house every day trying to curry favor with his mother, but it was useless. First of all, there was absolutely no possibility between the two of them, and he didn't have that kind of feeling for her either.

Previously he could still treat her like a younger sister, but considering what she had done after growing up, he was now even reluctant to treat her as a sister.

What was she trying to do?

Did she want others to see her deep affection?

Sorry, there was none, only annoyance.

ZhiXia nodded after making sure An ZhiXian only felt impatience towards Pei Shuangshuang, and truthfully said: "She was getting her hair done at the salon, and had just finished when we went. At the time, a man was standing next to her. That man...looked a lot like you."

ZhiXia also hesitated before speaking, to give him some mental preparation. In case they ran into him later without knowing, it would be awkward.

An ZhiXian had an expectedly disgusted expression, "Let her do whatever she wants, it's irrelevant to us. Don't mention that person to me again in the future."

If Pei Shuangshuang had been normal, he wouldn't have said such heartless words. But when he thought of her previous pestering and her now finding a man who looked like him, he felt disgusted.

What was she trying to do?

Did she want others to see her affection?

Sorry, there was none, only annoyance.

ZhiXia nodded, and Liu Ling happened to come back with the kids at that time, calling out to her happily from afar, "ZhiXia, you permed your hair? It's quite trendy recently, I was thinking about doing it yesterday too, but you know about my mom's perm, so I didn't dare."

An ZhiXian helplessly laughed, "With my little sister leading the way, sister-in-law doesn't have to worry about dad being angry now."

"You're right, but you should've called me too since you went. We could've helped give suggestions on what would suit me. Let's go in quickly, it's too hot outside, and you two don't find it hot either?" Liu Ling said, then went in to tell her daughter to take a nap, following along herself.

After they had all gone in and settled down, Liu Ling came out from the room. She greeted An JingZhi and Zhou Nan before sitting down.

Dinner was relatively peaceful, with An JingZhi and An ZhiXian just chatting about work.

After the meal, An JingZhi went back to his room for an afternoon nap, while the rest sat in the living room. ZhiXia spoke up, "Sister-in-law, when you plan to get your hair done you can call me along. This new perm needs a follow up trip for conditioning, or it'll easily frizz. It'd be perfect if we can go together."

"Let's not, I thought about it and as a teacher myself, perming my hair really wouldn't give a good impression to the students. It's better to be more low-key. And we don't live close either, going together would be inconvenient." Liu Ling said, then went to scold her daughter to nap, following along herself.

ZhiXia frowned, and An ZhiXian patted her arm to signal her to stay calm.

Zhou Nan said to them: "Next time you two are doing something, also call along your sister-in-law. She's not really ill-intentioned, probably just feels left out by you two going in and out together."

"I understand." ZhiXia raised her wrist to check her watch, "Grandma, mom, third brother, it's getting late so I'll head back first and come visit you all again next time."

"I'll go with you." Su Ying quickly said. After they left, Zhou Nan urged them to go slowly. She then complained to the old lady, "Just what sin did I commit to deserve this? Having many children, what's the use? Busy with this and that every day, still getting complaints when I fall short somewhere."

"Broaden your mindset, I've told you before, either don't manage, or manage fully. You're upset yourself, who can you blame?" old lady said, every family has their own difficulties, who else would know a family's affairs.

These children don't have any malice, and Zhou Nan has done a lot too. But with mouths and teeth, collisions are inevitable sometimes.

However, Liu Ling did get petty over this matter today.

ZhiXia and Su Ying live close, so they can run into each other easily. Of course it's much more convenient than travelling far. And ZhiXia even took initiative to ask to go together next time, yet she outright rejected her.

Of course, she couldn't find any actual fault, since there were no complaints or grievances. But her facial expression from the start of the meal to the end was obvious to all.

Zhou Nan sighed, but didn't refute.

When the eldest son wasn't home, and the rest unmarried, they inevitably doted more on Liu Ling after she gave birth to the first grandchild. But as each child married and had their own family, it became inappropriate to keep asking Liu Ling to live at home.

Initially it was fine, the second son didn't live at home after marrying. ZhiXia being a girl also didn't interfere much. It was when the fourth son married Su Ying and they lived at the old lady's that this issue took root.

Now the old lady moved here, with Su Ying living there alone with her child. Fortunately ZhiXia was nearby so they could take care of each other, and Pei Yong lived behind them, so safety wasn't a concern.

It was just that Liu Ling felt they favored the fourth son too much, while she as the eldest daughter-in-law still hadn't established her own household, having to squeeze together with her in-laws and young uncle.

But while she dwelled on this, she overlooked how over the years, living in this house with the kids gave her so many benefits. Su Ying had more freedom living alone, but had to bring up her own kids, pay for childcare herself, and didn't trouble her in-laws over every little thing.

These words could only stay in Zhou Nan's mind, actually arguing over it would still lead to trouble.

After all, this house belonged to both her and her husband. There was no reason to make the daughter-in-law move out.

Besides, if Liu Ling really wanted to be independent, after teaching for so many years, plus the eldest son's position, they could easily apply for their own house like the second son did initially.

The house at the old lady's was just temporary for Su Ying and family. They never said it was given to them.

What was meant to be divided had been divided already. The couple just had some personal assets and these two houses left, and they weren't senile yet. They certainly wouldn't leave a house solely to any one child.

When the time came, they'd either sell them, or split evenly. If someone wanted to be greedy in a family with many siblings, they shouldn't have married into such a family.