"Hmph, man's greed knows no bounds," Ouyang Meihua snorted dismissively. "Back then, under her mother-in-law, she relied on her husband and children to maintain her position. Later, she was rescued by your guilt."
"She thinks her little schemes and tricks can fool more people into working for her. She really thinks too highly of herself."
"A woman like that, with such a big heart, will eventually bring trouble to those around her. It's better if she leaves sooner rather than later."
After criticizing Zhao Xiaofang, Ouyang Meihua turned her attention to Damai and Xiaomai.
"You two don't need to carry any burden for her. Mother is mother, children are children. They can't be mixed up."
"You also have half your bloodline from your father. Your father's honest nature will surely overshadow her shamelessness..."
Listening to Ouyang Meihua's endless chatter, Tian Jing thought that she might have found the reason why Ouyang Meihua was unmarried. Of course, her combat prowess also played a part.
"Cousin, how do you stir-fry these sweet potato leaves?"
Damai's question interrupted Ouyang Meihua's nagging and Tian Jing's wandering thoughts.
"Oh, sauté garlic in oil, add salt, then the sweet potato leaves."
"Got it."
For dinner, Li Zhengguo took out a bottle of baijiu, brought in by Ouyang Lei, of course.
Besides ingredients, Ouyang Lei had also brought a case of baijiu, two cartons of cigarettes, and five catties of fruit candies.
With alcohol, the pent-up Li Rongguo let loose. Here, possibly among his mother and brother's family, everyone except Ouyang Lei and his sister were considered family. He didn't want to suppress himself anymore.
Li Zhengguo didn't urge anyone to drink, only to eat. "Eat more. Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for your stomach."
Li Rongguo accepted everything offered. He ate whatever dishes were given to him.
Seeing her father gobbling down food, Damai quickly took away the fish. Her father wasn't suited for fish tonight.
Ouyang Lei's eyes darted around. "Li Zhengguo doesn't drink, so let's accompany our eldest cousin."
Ouyang Lei poured himself and his elder sister a small bowl of wine. "Elder sister, let's accompany our eldest cousin. Drinking alone is so boring, isn't it?"
"Good." Ouyang Meihua readily picked up her bowl. "Drinking needs company. Come, drink."
After a few gulps of wine, Li Rongguo completely let go, pouring out the grievances he had suppressed for thirty years.
He didn't talk much about his recent grievances, only saying that he was incompetent, which led his wife to develop other intentions.
Li Zhengguo, while serving Tian Tian, watched Ouyang Lei transform from a drinker into someone pouring drinks.
The one truly drinking with their eldest cousin was Ouyang Meihua, who was even more boisterous than Ouyang Lei.
Soon, Ouyang Meihua and Li Rongguo were addressing each other as brothers.
After finishing the bottle, Ouyang Meihua loudly demanded another one.
Ouyang Lei gestured for Li Zhengguo to bring out another bottle.
Li Zhengguo looked at Tian Tian.
Tian Jing nodded. "Go ahead. Elder sister's alcohol tolerance seems quite good."
Halfway through the second bottle, Ouyang Meihua's brotherly camaraderie turned into slurred, rambling complaints and nagging.
She criticized Li Rongguo for being too weak and too good to women, so good that an ignorant woman became overconfident in her desires.
Li Rongguo seemed to have found a kindred spirit.
He recounted, one by one, how he had always taken care of his wife.
Ouyang Meihua, with an arm around his shoulder, slurred, "Some women can't be spoiled. Because they, have no self-awareness. A woman like your wife, she's only fit to, live under a wicked mother-in-law."
"Do you know what you call such a person? She's a stubborn mule. Your wife, not only is she a stubborn mule, but also a villain. Once she gets a taste of power, she'll betray anyone."
Li Rongguo pushed away the arm on his shoulder. "You're wrong. She's not, my wife anymore. I'm, divorced now. I don't have a wife. Don't talk nonsense. I don't want, a wife anymore. Women, are too troublesome, too hard to understand."
Ouyang Meihua's arm returned to his shoulder. "Not all women, are difficult to understand. You just found one, with too many schemes. Like me, I'm clearly, simpler than most men, yet no man, wants to date me."
"Because they, find me too wordy, like a nagging old woman. Pfft! What do they know? If I don't, nag about one thing, am I supposed to just, stare at them blankly?"
"Actually, I know, being wordy isn't the main point. The main point is, they're afraid of me. They're afraid they, can't beat me in a fight."
"Heh heh heh, men hitting women? Do you know why I, learned martial arts? Because my father used to hit my mother."
"A man with martial arts skills, actually hit his, defenseless wife. So, I learned martial arts, to prevent myself from being hit in the future."
"Now, it's great. My martial prowess, directly scares men, away from marrying me."
"Among our family's four siblings, one is still unmarried, and one can't find a spouse. It's all because of martial arts."
"My second sister didn't learn martial arts and got married early. I often, check on her. If her husband dares to hit her, I'll beat him up severely. My second sister even, blames me for meddling."
"My youngest brother didn't learn martial arts and got married early, then moved out. He said his wife was afraid of us. Hahaha, sometimes, family affection, is truly laughable."
Ouyang Meihua laughed until tears streamed down her face. She raised her bowl and gestured to Li Rongguo, "Come, cheers! To the fact that life's misfortunes, are ten out of nine times. Cheers!"
Li Rongguo raised his bowl and clinked it with hers. "Cheers! When we're drunk, all pain is gone."
Drunk, the two alcoholics slumped over the table.
Tian Jing looked at Ouyang Lei. "What are your plans?"
Ouyang Lei, however, looked at Damai. "Are you willing to have this drunkard as your mother?"
"Ah?" Damai was surprised. "Shouldn't you ask my father about this?"
"Ask your father? Didn't you hear your father say he's not looking for a wife anymore? If he doesn't find a wife, can you and your father stop Zhao Xiaofang?"
"Yesterday, she was standing at the entrance of your new courtyard with two sons from your second uncle's family, wanting to knock. "
"If I hadn't scared her away with my martial arts, would you have been able to deal with her trouble?"
"Your maternal grandmother doesn't seem like an easy person either. Can you resist them?"
Damai understood Ouyang Lei's coaxing. "You mean, if I had an aunt like Meihua, we wouldn't have to worry or be afraid when my real mother and grandmother come to visit."
"Exactly! Damai is so smart."
Damai wasn't swayed by his praise. "My sister and I have no objections. It doesn't matter who the stepmother is, as long as she's good to my father."
Damai's answer surprised Ouyang Lei. "Not good to you guys?"
"It doesn't matter if she's good or not," Damai shook her head. "My sister and I are grown up, we can take care of ourselves. We won't be home for many more years. As long as she's not so bad that she'd trade us for money, we have no objections. Aunt Meihua probably isn't that kind of person, right?"
Ouyang Lei smiled. "Damai is truly wise. I guarantee, if she dares to sell you, I will surely avenge you..."
"Get away from me."
Tian Jing retorted at him with annoyance. "If she sells you, and you come for revenge, it'll be too late. No one has the right to decide Damai and Xiaomai's marriage. Their paternal uncle, Li Zhengguo, has the final say."
Damai immediately pulled her sister and thanked her cousin. "Thank you, cousin, for protecting us."
"You're welcome. No matter what your father's future holds, you'll always have us as your support."
"Yes." Damai smiled tearfully.