A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1252 Not a single good person in this family! (Please subscribe!)
Suzhou.

Tongdeli, Su family!

Hua Shier woke up in a rocking chair. Looking up at the sky, he saw a courtyard with a central courtyard. Turning his head, he saw a two-story brick and wood building with white walls and black tiles, an architectural style that was somewhat of a blend of Chinese and Western elements.

Looking at this small building, exactly the same as the Su family's old house in the story, Hua Shier's lips curled into a helpless smile:

"So, I'm Su Daqiang now?"

At this moment, the memories of the person being replaced were implanted into his mind. Sure enough, Hua Shier replaced Su Daqiang.

The time now is 1999.

At this time, Su Mingzhe, the eldest son of the Su family, was studying at a university in Beijing, specifically the Wudaokou Vocational and Technical College.

Su Mingcheng, the second son of the Su family, is currently a high school sophomore. His academic performance is average, he is always active and playful, and he is good at bullying his younger sister.

Su Mingyu, the third child of the Su family, is currently facing the high school entrance examination and is studying hard. Her wish is to get into Wudaokou High School, just like her eldest brother, Su Mingzhe.

In Su Daqiang's memory, the person who was in charge of the Su family was clearly not him, but his wife Zhao Meilan.

Zhao Meilan is a head nurse at the hospital and hasn't finished her shift yet. Su Daqiang works as a librarian at a school library. The library gets quite empty in the afternoon, so he can leave an hour or two early.

He had just arrived home and was taking a short rest on a recliner in the courtyard, planning to relax for about ten minutes before getting up to cook.

Hua Twelve sighed:
"What a coward! He only dares to close his eyes for ten minutes at most for a short rest. That's not a proper rest at all; it's more like taking a break!"

He rocked back and forth in the rocking chair, closed his eyes, and basked in the sun, feeling incredibly comfortable.

As for cooking?

That's definitely for Zhao Meilan!

He wanted to rest, but someone wouldn't let him. Then he heard a woman scream from the second floor behind him.

Hua Shier knew what was going on with just a glance: the second and third brothers upstairs, who had just come home from school, were fighting again!
He calmly got up, intending to see what was going on, and as soon as he entered the room, he heard hurried footsteps coming from the stairs.

Immediately afterwards, a young girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a school uniform, ran down from the second floor. It was his third child, Su Mingyu.

Behind Su Mingyu was a slightly older boy with an angry expression; he was Su Mingcheng, the second son of the Su family.

The girl covered her forehead, blood seeping from between her fingers, and cried when she saw Hua Twelve:

"Dad, Su Mingcheng hit me?"

As she spoke, she hid behind Hua Shier, looking at the boy who was chasing after her, her face full of fear and grievance.

The boy who caught up also looked angry:
"Dad, get out of the way! I have to teach her a lesson today. Look what Su Mingyu scratched on my face!"

Hua Shier thought to herself that when she watched the TV series, she felt that the brother and sister were incompatible by nature and would cause chaos whenever they got together. Now that she was experiencing it in person, it was indeed even more chaotic than watching TV.

He immediately shouted:
"Shut up, all of you! No one is allowed to lay a hand on me!"

Su Mingcheng pointed at Su Mingyu:
"You just wait, this isn't over between us today!"

Su Mingyu cried and complained behind Hua Twelve's back:

"Dad, look at Su Mingcheng! Aren't you going to do anything about him?"

Hua Twelve's face darkened:

"Shut up, all of you. Your mom's about to get off work. Let's talk about it all together when she gets back, so we don't have to go through all this trouble over and over again!"

Su Mingyu burst into tears: "I knew you couldn't control anything!"

Hua Shier rolled his eyes. Was that what he meant? I wanted to hold a family meeting to establish my authority, but it turns out my daughter underestimated me!

Just then, the gate to the Su family's courtyard was pushed open, and Zhao Meilan, a middle-aged woman, came in pushing her cart home from get off work.

Su Mingyu ran to complain:
"Mom, look what Su Mingcheng did to me!"

She let go, revealing a bloody gash on her forehead.

Su Mingcheng also filed a complaint:

"Mom, look, Su Mingyu has scratched my face!"

Su Mingyu held Zhao Meilan's arm:

"Mom, he hit me, so I scratched him!"

Zhao Meilan glanced at Su Mingyu indifferently:
"Alright, it's wrong of your second brother to hit you, but you scratched him too. Let's just let it go. I've had a long day, and all I get when I get home is you two fighting. Isn't that annoying?"

After saying that, he pushed his bicycle to a corner of the yard.

Hua Shier frowned slightly, about to reprimand Zhao Meilan for not being a good mother, when Su Mingyu, already in despair, burst into tears and ran out of the courtyard towards Tongde Lane.

Zhao Meilan said to Hua Twelve with some dissatisfaction:

"Look at your daughter, she's so grown up, but she's becoming more and more disobedient!"

Hua Shier glanced at her and walked out. It was almost dark, and the young girl had been wronged. If she impulsively ran out, she might get into trouble.

Zhao Meilan called out from behind, "Su Daqiang, why didn't you cook?"

Hua Shier snorted, leaving only one sentence:
"Don't you have hands? Can't you do it yourself?"

He quickened his pace as he spoke and disappeared at the courtyard gate.

Zhao Meilan and Su Mingcheng were both stunned.

In their memories, Su Daqiang had never been so tough on Zhao Meilan.

Zhao Meilan, who had been in charge of the household since getting married, couldn't tolerate this and shouted from behind:
"Su Daqiang, you've really grown up, huh? If you're so capable, then don't come back!"

She fumed for a while before starting to cook, and she only made enough for herself and Su Mingcheng.

As for Su Daqiang?
Zhao Meilan sneered inwardly. So you've become more capable, huh? Then go hungry.

Just as Su Mingyu ran out of the alleyway in Tongde Lane, Hua Twelve grabbed her wrist:
"Come on, Dad will take you to the hospital. If we don't get this wound treated, it'll easily leave a scar!"

Feeling her father's concern, Su Mingyu burst into tears.

Hua Shier took Su Mingyu to the hospital for a simple treatment. The doctor said the wound wasn't deep, and after disinfection and some medication, it wouldn't leave a scar.

As Hua Shier walked out of the hospital, he suddenly heard Su Mingyu's stomach rumbling beside him. The latter said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Dad, I'm hungry!"

Hua Shier didn't want to go back to eat with Zhao Meilan's sour face, so he immediately waved his hand:

"Come on, Dad will take you to get something delicious!"

Hua Shier took Su Mingyu directly to Songhelou Restaurant, and under the incredulous gaze of his daughter, began to order food:
"Stir-fried eel in hot oil, stir-fried shrimp, cherry pork, braised duck in soy sauce, and oh yes, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, little girls love this, and then two bowls of rice!"

While the waiter went to take the order, Su Mingyu whispered urgently:

"Dad, you're not going to live like this? Where did you get the money?"

Hua Twelve smiled and said:
"This is nothing! Dad brought you here to eat, so eat as much as you want!"

"Your head's injured, let's treat you to a good meal to help it up!"

Su Mingyu felt a warmth in her heart: "Dad, how wonderful it would be if you were always this good to me!"

Hua Shier poured himself a cup of tea and chuckled.
"What are you saying? You're my own daughter, haven't I treated you well?"

Su Mingyu said with disapproval:
"What's the use of being nice behind my back? Every time you're in front of Mom, you become a pushover. I was beaten bloody by Su Mingcheng, and now I need you to stand up for me. Can't you be a little tougher? Dad, can't you act like a man in front of Mom?!"

Hua Shier felt the gaze from the next table and said irritably:

"Keep your voice down. What's wrong with your dad not being a man?"

Su Mingyu pouted:

"Last time you hid your bonus, my mom slapped you and made you kneel down. What's even more ridiculous is that, from childhood to adulthood, whenever my mom hit me, you would run to the toilet, and whenever she scolded me, you would read the newspaper."

Hua Shier was speechless. This was all Su Daqiang's fault, and he wasn't going to take the blame. He immediately threatened:

"If you keep saying that, then you'll have to pay for it yourself after you finish eating!"

Upon hearing that she was to pay, Su Mingyu pouted and turned her head away angrily.

Soon, the dishes Hua ordered at 12 o'clock were served one after another. Su Mingyu's eyes lit up when she smelled the aroma of the dishes, but she was a little worried.
"Dad, this is too much! We can't eat this much!"

Hua Shier picked up the chopsticks and handed them to Su Mingyu:
"Why do you care so much? Aren't you hungry? Hurry up and eat!"

Su Mingyu nodded, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating.

But after a few bites, tears started falling. This time it wasn't because she felt wronged, but because from childhood to adulthood, her two older brothers always got the best food, and she, as a girl, never got anything. This was the first time she had ever been to such a fancy restaurant and eaten such delicious food.

Hua Shier didn't comfort her; he picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

After Su Mingyu finished wolfing down her food, she said, "Dad, why didn't you ask me why Su Mingcheng and I got into a fight?"

Hua Shier picked up a piece of eel paste with his chopsticks and placed it on top of his rice. He chewed slowly and carefully, and only after finishing the meal did he say calmly:
"What you said is only one side of the story. Why am I asking you? When we get back, I'll have you and Su Mingcheng tell the story together, and I'll judge for you both. Whoever is in the wrong, I'll deal with them!"

Su Mingyu was somewhat skeptical: "You're just talking big. With my mother protecting Su Mingcheng, what can you do to him?"

Hua Shier snorted: "Then you just wait and see!"

After paying the bill, Su Mingyu pouted and questioned, "Dad, you have money, so why didn't you give me money to buy workbooks yesterday?"

Hua Shier said calmly, "I didn't have any money yesterday, but I received my bonus today!"

Su Mingyu's eyes darted around, and she suggested:
"Could you give me twenty yuan to buy a workbook?"

"can!"

Hua Shier looked at Su Mingyu: "As long as the money is spent in the right way, it's fine. But let's talk about it after I finish dealing with your matter with Su Mingcheng when we get back!"

When they got home, Zhao Meilan and Su Mingcheng were watching TV on the first floor. When they saw the father and son return, the former didn't say anything, while Su Mingcheng said something in a lazy tone.
"Su Mingyu, didn't you run away? I thought you were so brave. If you're so capable, then don't come back!"

Su Mingyu glared at him: "Su Mingcheng, what business is it of yours whether I come back or not? This is my home too!"

"okay!"

Zhao Meilan glared at Su Mingyu; "How dare you talk to your brother like that? You have no manners!"

Hua Shier walked to the table and sat down, pointing at Su Mingcheng:
"Go, you and Mingyu go stand against the wall. I want to ask about what happened today!"

Su Mingcheng said reluctantly, "Dad, I'm watching TV!"

"past!"

Hua Shier's face darkened, his imposing presence radiating authority. His gaze sent a shiver down Su Mingcheng's spine, causing him to instinctively stand up and obediently move on.

Zhao Meilan wanted to say something, but she also felt that Su Daqiang was acting a bit strange today. In addition, she had been sulking and hadn't asked her precious son what was going on, so she simply didn't scold Su Daqiang and wanted to hear what was happening.

The brother and sister, who had stood at attention for twelve days, asked:

"Tell me, what caused you two siblings to fight?"

Both Su Mingyu and Su Mingcheng believed they were in the right, and they each took turns telling their own version of the story.

The two had their own reasons, and their arguments were all jumbled up, but Hua Shier still managed to understand the gist of it.

The story begins this morning. Before going to school, Su Mingyu asked Zhao Meilan for twenty yuan to buy a workbook, saying that the high school entrance exam was coming up soon and she wanted to improve her grades.

As a result, Zhao Meilan said that Su Mingyu was not cut out for studying, and buying her workbooks would be a waste, so she didn't give her the money.

But after Su Mingyu left, Su Mingcheng also asked Zhao Meilan for twenty yuan, saying that he was going out with his classmates on the weekend and would buy some food then.

Zhao Meilan secretly gave the money to Su Mingcheng.

As a result, after school today, Su Mingcheng showed off the money to Su Mingyu, saying, "You asked for money but Mom didn't give it to you. Look, I can always get money from you."

Su Mingyu was furious and snatched the twenty yuan, tearing it to shreds.

This angered Su Mingcheng, who then punched and kicked Su Mingyu severely. Su Mingyu hurriedly ran downstairs, just like the scene Hua Shier had witnessed earlier.

After Hua Shier understood what had happened, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
"This family, not a single one of them is any good!"

He said to Su Mingcheng and Su Mingyu, "Both of you kneel down!"

Su Mingcheng said, his neck stiff:
"Why should I hit her if she doesn't tear up my money?"

Su Mingyu also said, "Dad, I did nothing wrong, why are you making me kneel!"

Hua Twelve's expression was serious:
"No? Fine, today I'll show you where you're wrong!"

"Let's start with Su Mingcheng!"

Hua Shier pointed at Su Mingcheng:
"You're acting innocent after getting the benefit. You're a beneficiary of your mother's preference for sons over daughters. You took advantage of her and then went to upset your sister. If she tore up your money in a fit of anger, does that give you the right to hit her?"

"In your eyes, is your own sister not even worth twenty yuan?"

Seeing Su Mingcheng stiffening his neck as if to speak, Hua Shier pointed at him:
"If you dare say yes, you're a beast!"

Su Mingcheng pursed his lips and ultimately remained silent, but he still seemed unconvinced; he simply didn't want to be treated like an animal.

Hua Twelve also spoke of Su Mingyu:

"And you, can't you use your brain? Why is Su Mingcheng always able to get money from your mother? It's true that your mother favors boys over girls, but Su Mingcheng is good at sweet-talking people!"

"When has he ever failed to make your mother happy with his sweet talk?"

"If your mom gives Su Mingcheng money, consider it a bit of fun, then she'll be happy!"

Hua Twelve spoke with a hint of anger at their lack of ambition:

"And look at you, who are you trying to impress with that bitter, world-weary face all day long?"

"It's one thing if it's normal, but you always do this when we take family photos, deliberately making an angry face. It annoys me, let alone your mother!"

Hua Shier looked disgusted:
"Su Mingyu, even if you don't know how to please your parents, can't you at least follow Su Mingcheng's example?"

"But you're stubborn as a mule, always putting on that sour face and asking your parents for money. If they don't give it to you, you throw a tantrum. Do they think your parents owe you something? Why should they give you money just because they see your attitude?"

Su Mingyu had a world-weary look on her face at that moment, as if she was unhappy.

Hua Shier pointed at her and continued:
"Your own stupidity is not a reason for me to make you kneel. Do you know why I made you kneel too?"

"Twenty yuan! You think you can just tear it like that?"

"Leaving aside the fact that tearing up money is illegal, your father's monthly salary is only five hundred yuan. Have you ever considered how difficult it is for parents to raise three children like you?"

Su Mingyu's face turned pale: "I..."

She was too busy being angry with Su Mingcheng at the time, thinking that if he didn't give it to me, then nobody else should spend the money, and she didn't think about all these other things.

Hua Shier gave a cold laugh:
"Also, don't think I don't know anything. This isn't the first time you've done this, Su Mingyu. When you were little, I bought you a new desk lamp. You and Su Mingyu both liked it and fought over who would put it in their room, but you lost to him. Do you remember what you did?"

"The next day, you added half a bottle of pepper to the milk I ordered for you three to grow up, and tricked Su Mingcheng into drinking it. As a result, he vomited all over the place!"

"Back then, my salary was only a little over two hundred yuan. I had to support three children. The money for subscribing to milk was saved from my meager savings. You think you can just waste it like that? Have you ever considered my feelings?"

"Back then you were young, so I could explain it away by saying you didn't understand. But now? Did you waste your education? You don't understand any reason at all!"

After Hua Shier finished speaking, he questioned, "Tell me, should you kneel down or not?"

Having regained his memories of Su Daqiang, he became increasingly agitated as he spoke, and stood up to pull the feather duster out of the vase:
"I'll say it one more time, both of you kneel down!"

Su Mingcheng asked Zhao Meilan for help:
"Mom, look at Dad! Has he gone crazy?!"

Zhao Meilan said with a stern face:
"Su Daqiang, that's enough!"

Hua Twelve turned to look at her:
"Shut up! I'm disciplining the kids, you have no right to speak!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Meilan, Su Mingcheng, and Su Mingyu were all shocked, unable to believe that Su Daqiang could be so assertive in front of Zhao Meilan!

Zhao Meilan had been holding in her anger over the cooking incident and had planned to deal with him after the children went to sleep, but she couldn't take it anymore. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up.

"Mingcheng, you don't need to kneel. Su Daqiang, you go kneel over there right now!"

Hua Shier was amused by this, and then swung a big scoop at him:

"Who are you talking to? Can't you tell the difference between the king and the queen?"

With a loud slap, Zhao Meilan staggered.

Hua Shier pointed at her and said:
"The root of today's problem lies with you. You favor boys over girls. What kind of person are you? You don't give your daughter money to buy workbooks, but you give your son money to go out and play. You, as the older brother, beat your younger sister, and you don't say anything about it. You even tell me not to interfere. Is your head full of shit?"

Zhao Meilan was stunned. She never expected that the good-for-nothing she had controlled for most of her life would dare to hit her!
"Su Daqiang, I'll fight you to the death!"

Zhao Meilan went straight to the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and turned to chop Hua Shier.

Hua Shier kicked Zhao Meilan directly in the stomach, sending the woman flying from the house into the yard, where she lay on the ground for a long time, unable to get up.

"You dare hit my mother?"

Su Mingcheng had the best relationship with his mother. When he saw his mother being beaten, his eyes turned red, and he clenched his fists and raised them. However, he was still somewhat rational and knew that the person in front of him was his father, so he just raised his fists without bringing them down.

But Hua Shier couldn't stand it either. How dare he raise his fist at his father? He had to be taught a lesson.

"You dare hit your mother? I dare hit you too!"

Hua Shier, holding a feather duster, practiced a set of Gale Sword Techniques on Su Mingcheng without exerting any force.

Su Mingcheng was whipped until he screamed in pain, and finally, unable to bear it any longer, he knelt down, crying and begging:
"Dad, please stop hitting me! I know I was wrong!"

Seeing that he admitted his mistake, Hua Shier stopped and said jokingly:

"Admit your mistake sooner rather than later, look how badly you've been whipped, you look like a zebra!"

Su Mingyu, who was watching the drama unfold, burst out laughing when she heard what he said was funny.

Hua Shier looked over, and Su Mingyu bent her knees and knelt down!

"Keep kneeling. No one is allowed to get up unless I tell them to!"

Zhao Meilan had already gotten up from the ground. Her face contorted with rage, she rushed in and stood protectively in front of Su Mingcheng.

"Su Daqiang, I want a divorce! I can't live like this anymore!"

With Zhao Meilan protecting him, Su Mingcheng grew bolder and cried out:
"Mom, I'll go with you!"

Hua Shier's face lit up with surprise:
"It's a deal! Double happiness is coming! You two better get out of here. We're at the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow to complete the formalities. Whoever doesn't show up will suffer a terrible fate!"

Thanks to 08a, Little Tiger of the Demon Realm, and Brother Li Meng of the God of Death for their donations, and thanks to the brothers who voted for monthly tickets and recommendations. Thank you very much.