Chapter 30 Utterly Lacking in Decorum

“Third Uncle, this absolutely cannot be revealed. That expert is immensely powerful, and he’ll know immediately if I say anything. Not only will I be unable to raise crayfish, but I’ll also have to pay him a hefty penalty for breach of contract,” Liu Yifeng said smoothly.

Knowing it was no use, Liu Chasheng sighed resignedly, “Alas, then forget it. But Yifeng, you just offered to let me help manage the farm. You’re not going back on that, are you?” He planned to observe how Liu Yifeng raised the crayfish and, once he knew the secret, he could raise them himself. Liu Chasheng harbored these secret intentions.

“Once I expand the scale, I’ll ask Third Uncle for help,” Liu Yifeng nodded and agreed.

“Then… I wonder how much salary you plan to give me?” Liu Chasheng rubbed his palms, looking expectant.

Liu Yifeng thought for a moment and said, “I’ll give you a thousand a month, Uncle, and a bonus at the end of the year. How does that sound?” To be honest, a thousand yuan a month wasn't high for those times, but it certainly wasn't low either, especially with the year-end bonus.

Liu Chasheng immediately agreed with a beaming smile, “That’s settled then. Remember to find me.” With that, he took his car keys and left. Since Liu Yifeng refused to teach him the breeding techniques, there was no need for him to beg further.

Seeing his third brother leave, Liu Chunsheng looked displeased. “Why are you letting him work for us? If he doesn’t do a good job, you can’t scold him. He’s your own son. If you do, there will be all sorts of unpleasant rumors.”

“Third Uncle came all the way here, what else could I do? If I can’t say anything, then Father, as his second brother, can still say something, right?” Liu Yifeng said with a smile.

Liu Chunsheng thought about it and realized it made sense, so he didn’t say anything further.

“Oh, Dad, I’m going to send some crayfish to Big Aunt later. Can you look after Tongtong?” Liu Yifeng suddenly remembered. His elder sister had always doted on him, and it was only right to give her some of the crayfish they had raised.

Liu Chunsheng nodded, “If you’re sending, send plenty. Her family is large. Your Big Aunt is usually frugal and probably only eats crayfish once a year.”

“I know. I’ll pack a big bucket and take it over. After this batch of crayfish is sold, I’ll buy another one to raise.” The gatekeeper had called him earlier that day, saying that the farm had a lot of crayfish nearing death that were being prepared for disposal. However, his current batch hadn't sold yet, and it would be easy to get the two batches mixed up if they were kept together. It seemed he would have to find another plot of land to raise crayfish. He had already found a suitable location next to his current field, also wasteland, not ideal for cultivation. He planned to approach the landowner tomorrow to discuss renting the land. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time. So many crayfish that couldn't be raised were essentially money lost!

Arriving at the field, Liu Yifeng caught a bucketful of crayfish, weighing at least twenty to thirty jin. He then drove Qiangzi’s van to his Big Aunt’s house. As he parked the car in the yard, he heard a commotion. It turned out his Big Aunt’s grandson had had a fever for several days without getting better. His Big Aunt’s daughter-in-law was blaming her mother-in-law for not taking good care of the child. Big Aunt was a mild-mannered woman who didn’t retort no matter how much her daughter-in-law scolded her.

Liu Yifeng couldn’t stand it. Children getting fevers was common; how could it be blamed on his aunt? Besides, she was the child’s mother. If she couldn’t take care of her own child, she had no right to blame others. He immediately walked into the living room and saw his cousin’s wife pointing at his aunt and scolding her. He slapped her hand away, “Cousin’s wife, do you understand respect for elders and love for the young? Putting aside whether it’s Big Aunt’s fault that the child is sick, she is your mother-in-law. As a daughter-in-law, you shouldn’t speak to her like this. You have no upbringing.”

Li Qiuping looked at Liu Yifeng, who was defending her mother-in-law, and instead of feeling ashamed, became more indignant. “I entrusted my son to her care, and now my son has had a fever for days. I’m just scolding her out of good nature. If it were anyone else, they’d probably fight her.”

Liu Yifeng frowned, “Your own son, you don’t take care of him yourself, yet you have the nerve to blame others here. How come you, as the mother, don’t know how to take good care of your child? Big Aunt raised my cousin. She has no obligation to look after your child for you. She kindly helps you, and if you don’t appreciate her efforts, you even scold her. Where is your conscience?”

Liu Mei, on the side, was wiping away tears. Her child was sick, and she was more worried than anyone, but no one understood her hardship.

“Liu Yifeng, how dare you say that to me? You have a son outside and you don’t even know about him. He found you himself. Is that how you be a good father?” Li Qiuping said, looking up disdainfully.

“Qiuping, don’t speak to Yifeng like that. He’s doing his best to be a good father now,” Liu Mei said softly. She could tolerate her daughter-in-law scolding her, but she didn’t want Liu Yifeng to be unjustly criticized by Qiuping because of her.

“Did I say something wrong? They aren’t even married, and the son is over three years old. You’ve wasted a girl’s youth, and she’s a university student too. I think she went to university for nothing,” Li Qiuping became increasingly out of line.

Seeing Liu Yifeng’s expression turn unpleasant, Liu Mei quickly comforted him, “Yifeng, don’t take it to heart. Your sister-in-law means no harm.”

Liu Yifeng smiled nonchalantly, “It’s fine!” He couldn't be bothered to argue with this woman, and he didn't care what Li Qiuping thought of him. He was just speaking up for his aunt.

“Big Aunt, it’s normal for children to get sick. You don’t need to blame yourself too much. If the fever doesn’t get better with medication, take him to the hospital.”

“Go to the hospital? Does it not cost money?” Li Qiuping retorted impatiently. Seeing Li Qiuping’s attitude, Liu Yifeng seriously doubted if she was the child’s biological mother. He didn’t see any concern for her child’s illness, only a relentless stream of accusations. This child was truly unlucky to have such a mother.

Liu Yifeng ignored her and looked at his aunt. “Big Aunt, where is the child? Let me see him.” The reason he cared so much was that he couldn’t bear to see his aunt distressed and blaming herself.

“He’s sleeping in the room. Alas, I don’t know what’s happening. He used to get minor illnesses, and it would be fine after two days of medication. But now he’s been sick for a week, and it’s dragging on,” Liu Mei said with a worried expression.

Entering the room, Liu Yifeng saw the child lying on the mat, his lips dry and cracked, his face flushed with fever. He reached out and touched the child’s forehead. It was frighteningly hot. This child was seriously ill!

“Big Aunt, his fever is too high. You must take him to the hospital. Don’t let it develop into anything serious.”

“Going to the hospital will cost a lot of money. Big Aunt doesn’t have much money,” Liu Mei said, lowering her head awkwardly. Her money was all spent on household expenses. Food, drink, and daily necessities were all covered by her.

Li Qiuping glanced at Liu Mei disdainfully. “I married into your family, and I’ve had such bad luck.” These words left Liu Mei speechless. Her family’s circumstances were not as good as others’. Her sons were also useless, afraid of their wives running away and not being able to find a new one, so they were completely obedient to their wives. As a mother, she couldn’t say anything. If she said a few words to her daughters-in-law, she would be scolded by her son. So, she simply stopped saying anything.

Liu Yifeng was indifferent to this ungrateful woman. He ignored Li Qiuping and directly picked up the child, walking towards his van. “Big Aunt, don’t worry about the medical expenses. I’m here!”

Upon hearing that Liu Yifeng was going to pay for the medical expenses, Liu Mei quickly said, “You don’t have much money either. You have to raise a son now, so how can you spend money? I’ll ask your cousin for some later. Combined with what I have, it should be enough.”

“Mom, has your brain rusted? Yifeng just said he has money. Why are you still calling Da Bing? He doesn’t have any money on him!” Li Qiuping said.

Liu Mei ignored her and got into the car.