Jiang Qingqing's heart, which had been tense, instantly melted into sweetness upon hearing her husband speak like that.
Had he just praised her, saying she was even better than the factory director? She, she wasn't as good as he said!
Zhang Wenxue, however, didn't notice her. Instead, he took in his youngest son's incredulous expression.
His youngest son looked even more astonished than he did. He probably hadn't teased Fang Yan, so was this another of the second son's family's fabrications?
Couldn't she just calm down? Why was she stirring up trouble?
However, the second son had said that no matter what, if the third son truly had the recipe, they still had to help him obtain it, considering it a favor repaid to Fang Yan.
But he also knew that these words were rather shameless, but who else could they rely on but their second son, who was their pride!
"I heard you have a卤料 (lu liao - seasoning mixture) recipe?" As soon as Zhang Wenxue asked this, Zhang Liunian immediately understood why they had come.
It was for their pride, for their second son.
His heart ached slightly, but he showed no outward sign. Zhang Liunian's voice grew faint, "Did you come home this time just for this?"
"Do you have it?" Zhang Wenxue really hoped his youngest son would say no, so he could tell the second son that he didn't.
But Zhang Liunian didn't receive his unspoken thoughts and readily admitted, "Yes, I do."
"..." Zhang Wenxue fell silent.
Yu Xiaohua interjected urgently, "How could you possibly have a 卤料 recipe? Our Zhang family doesn't have such a thing!"
"I researched it myself." Zhang Liunian's words were half-truth, half-lie.
"If you have it, give the recipe to your second brother. He wants to use it to repay a favor," Yu Xiaohua didn't hide anything from her youngest son, revealing the full purpose of their visit.
Zhang Liunian chuckled at his mother's words, "Mom, we've already divided the family and are living our own lives, without interfering with each other.
So why should I give the thing I painstakingly researched to my second brother to repay a favor?"
"Your second brother isn't an outsider. He's the sole golden phoenix of our ten-mile, eight-village area, the one who brings glory to our family.
As his own brother, isn't it natural to agree immediately if you have the ability to help him?
Besides, haven't you been able to live peacefully in the village because everyone gave you face, seeing as you have a successful second brother?"
What did she mean that he, Zhang Liunian, could live in the village only because of his second brother's reputation.
Zhang Liunian did not accept this statement. "Mom, according to you, if I didn't have my second brother, I wouldn't even be able to survive in the village?"
"It's not that you wouldn't survive, just that life wouldn't be so comfortable. Sigh! Don't argue with me about this, just give us the recipe." In Yu Xiaohua's eyes, the three sons were clearly divided into different ranks, with the second son undoubtedly standing at the very top.
Because this son brought them honor and pride.
Therefore, whatever their second son needed, they would strive to fulfill it, especially since their second son had gotten into university through self-study!
Faced with such a genius, they naturally doted on him more.
"Heh, so in Mom's eyes, without my second brother, I can't even live easily. I wonder what the peers in the whole village who don't have university students will say."
"Why are you arguing with Mom? Your second brother isn't an outsider. Isn't it natural to help him?"
"How is it natural? Your second brother has been doing very well in Nancheng these past few years and even built his own house, yet he has never offered to help me or Big Brother, and hasn't visited me, his younger brother, in years.
Now that I finally have a recipe and want to rely on it to start a business and support my family, you shamelessly ask me to give it away.
I'm telling you, absolutely not."
Zhang Liunian and his mother's words had been at odds with his second brother since their previous lives.
His second brother looked down on him, and he didn't want to interact with him. Wouldn't it be better to just live their separate lives?
"You're really misunderstanding your second brother. Think about it, how long has your second brother been graduated? It's a time when he needs money for connections, how could he have the time to help you?"
"That doesn't mean he shouldn't see his younger brother for several years."
"Isn't he just too busy? Can't you be more magnanimous and not always argue or compare yourself with your second brother."
"How am I arguing with my second brother?"
"Back then, your second brother studied on his own and got into university, and you wanted to emulate him, but you haven't been able to pass the exams in all these years. Mom has to advise you, not everyone can be like your second brother, as if born with literary talent." Yu Xiaohua was also angered by her youngest son's words, and in a moment of hastiness, she uttered such hurtful words.
Zhang Wenxue heard this and tugged at her, gesturing for her to stop talking about it.
Yu Xiaohua knew she had said the wrong thing. She opened her mouth, but words, once spoken, are like spilled water; she couldn't take them back.
Zhang Liunian's eyes turned red, his breathing uneven. "Yes, I don't have that ability. So why are you looking for me, your incapable son, now?
Your second son is so capable, why does he need my recipe to repay a favor?
Isn't he your glory, your hope? Why doesn't he solve it himself?"
Sensing that her husband had been hurt by his mother's words, Jiang Qingqing reached out and held his large hand, softly calling out, "Liunian."
Hearing his wife's words, Zhang Liunian's agitated emotions seemed to find a direction. He tightly grasped her small hand, and his mood slowly calmed.
"Third son, you've really improved. You've learned to talk back to your parents. You've gotten so capable!" Yu Xiaohua's eyebrows were raised in anger as she listened to her youngest son's aggressive words.
Zhang Wenxue couldn't listen anymore and stopped her, "Old woman, say a few less words."
Their request for the recipe from their youngest son was already unreasonable, and it was understandable that their youngest son didn't want to give it.
However, this recipe was what the second son wanted to use to repay Fang Yan's favor, and they had already promised. Therefore, it would be best if their youngest son could give them the recipe.
But not in a way that would cause a rift between mother and son! This old woman was just too hasty.
"Liunian, Dad knows it's not easy to ask you to hand over the recipe. How about I have the second son compensate you a bit later? What do you think?" Zhang Wenxue believed his words were considerate of Zhang Liunian.
But this was before he knew the value of these recipes. If he knew that Zhang Liunian could earn hundreds of millions with this recipe, he certainly wouldn't have said such a thing.
"Dad, you are the most sensible person in the family. You know exactly how the second brother has treated us over the years.
Therefore, you don't need to speak to me on his behalf. I will not agree." As soon as Zhang Liunian said this, Zhang Wenxue's heart sank to the bottom.
This youngest son had truly changed. He had never spoken so forcefully before, nor had he ever spoken of the second son like this.
Yes, he admitted that after the second son became an official, besides taking care of his own family, he hadn't brought any benefits to the family.
But hadn't he just become an official?
He believed that as long as the second son gained more capability, he would be able to help everyone.
Why did the youngest son have to cling to this point and not let go?