NOVPUB
Chapter 252: Chapter 252: He Seems to Bear a Grudge Against My Mother-in-law
Wen Yun had been waiting anxiously at home and finally heaved a sigh of relief when she saw the two of them return. "Why did you two take so long? I was worried sick and was about to go out looking for you."
Tong Yao squinted her eyes, grinning as she pushed Wen Yun to the kitchen, "Mom, don’t worry. Dad and I were watching a play at Uncle’s place, that’s why we came back late. Let’s talk while we cook. I’m starving."
Now that this matter was settled, Tong Yaohui was also in somewhat good spirits. At least he could celebrate the Spring Festival with peace of mind.
Seeing that the father and daughter were in good spirits, Wen Yun guessed that the issue must have been resolved and laughed as she inquired, "What would you like to eat? I’ll cook it for you."
Tong Yao playfully responded, "Dad brought home some pork ribs. Let’s have pork rib and yam soup, and stir-fried meat with chili! And fry a couple of greens."
Tong Yaohui brought the groceries into the kitchen, "You two cook, I’m going to read the newspaper. I’ve been so busy today that I hadn’t had the chance to read the news yet."
Wen Yun chided, "You always have your nose in national affairs. What’s the use of reading so many newspapers for a common man like you?"
Although she said this, she didn’t stop her husband. He had no particular hobbies apart from playing chess in the park and reading the paper at home.
"This is typical thinking of a woman," Tong Yaohui retorted, as he turned to leave the kitchen, settling down on the living room sofa with the newspaper.
The way her parents communicated always amused Tong Yao. Despite their bickering, they genuinely missed each other when one was not around.
As she went to wash the meat, Wen Yun pointed out, "Meat has a strong smell, you wash the vegetables. I’ll handle this."
Tong Yao did not argue and deliberately placed the vegetables into a bowl. While cleaning them, she talked about the happenings at her uncle’s place. When she was in high spirits, Tong Yao turned into quite the speaker, painting a vivid picture of the entire episode, her narration so captivating that Wen Yun momentarily forgot about work.
"...At first, I thought Tong Sikui was having a seizure. It scared me out of my wits. But when he called out ’the second child’, I had a hunch that he was up to something. If he hadn’t confessed what he was up to soon enough, I might have stuffed his mouth for a taste of his own medicine."
Anyone who tried to trick her in plain sight would suffer the consequences!
Wen Yun laughed helplessly, "You always have so many mischievous ideas. If Sikui had eaten that, he’d have lost some weight. It’s a good thing you were with your dad, I might’ve really believed it was your grandfather’s spirit if I had seen it myself."
While Wen Yun wasn’t superstitious, she did possess a sense of respect and awe for the supernatural. This was the mindset for most people. Her grown-up daughter was now capable enough to stand up for her parents. Had she not gone with them today, the matter wouldn’t have been so easily resolved.
Forget about everything else, those twenty thousand yuan would have been impossible to retrieve.
"Even if there are ghosts and goblins in the world, they don’t appear in broad daylight. Tong Sikui must’ve mistaken us for naive children. I won’t fall for his trickery." As Tong Yao spoke about Tong Sikui, she burst into laughter thinking about Tong Xiangqiao. "My aunt seemed to believe his performance wholeheartedly, bawling her eyes out, snot and tears everywhere. There was hardly anything left for my grandfather to take my father away."
Tong Xiangqiao’s show of filial piety was all fake. When she heard that her father might take another obedient child away, she was frightened into paleness.
"Your grandparents were really fond of your aunt when they were alive. That’s why they let her stay with them. But your aunt wasn’t grateful at all. When your grandfather was dying, he was somewhat disoriented and delusional. Your aunt was afraid that he might die in the house in the middle of the night and scared people, so she insisted on sending him to your uncle’s place. The two families even fought about it for a while," Wen Yun reminisced about the past, feeling bittersweet.
When her in-laws were alive, her mother-in-law was particularly biased, especially after she gave birth to Tong Yao. The partiality became even more evident. She often made snide comments. Fortunately, Yaohui was competent and became a factory manager at a young age. He was also given a house by his company. The couple moved in and gradually improved their lives. Wen Yun and Tong Yao then moved on to discuss Si Boyi’s wedding. Since it was at the end of the year, Wen Yun had previously discussed it with Tong Yaohui, that the couple wouldn’t attend the wedding and that Tong Yao would bring the gift money.
Tong Yao understood her parents’ decision, "It’s crowded during the Spring Festival and the conditions on the train are poor. It’s good that you guys won’t be going. Anyways, Ahchen only has a few days off, so we’ll be coming back for the Spring Festival."
The hospital’s New Year’s schedule had been made. Si Chen was supposed to be working during those days, so he would take his annual leave before the New Year. Tong Yao wasn’t too surprised about the hospital’s holiday schedule, everyone wanted to rest during the Spring Festival, spend time with their family, and visit relatives. Si Chen, being from a remote rural area, naturally couldn’t get a break during the Spring Festival.
Upon hearing that her daughter and son-in-law would stay in Kyoto for the New Year, Wen Yun was overjoyed and her face lit up with a smile. "Since you won’t be celebrating New Year’s at home, don’t forget to send New Year’s goods to your mother-in-law. She raised three kids on her own, it wasn’t easy. Boyi only got married this year so he probably doesn’t have money. You are not just a daughter-in-law but also a sister-in-law, you’ll have to bear some extra responsibility."
Seeing the kind and gentle demeanor of her mother, Tong Yao couldn’t hold it in, "Mom, you’re so nice; you must’ve been bullied quite a lot when you were young."
Neither Yao Rong nor Tong Xiangqiao were good people, Tong Yao knew her mother’s gentle nature wouldn’t be any match for those two. Remembering the past, Wen Yun’s face was full of happiness- "It was okay. Your father protected me then, just like how Si Chen protects you now."
Tong Yao blinked, seizing the perfect moment to ask the question that had been bothering her. "Mom, do you know a lot about Ahchen’s family situation? I feel like Ahchen is quite cold towards my mother-in-law. He doesn’t seem willing to go home to see her. Unless there’s something important, he seldom calls home. I feel like he harbors some sort of grudge against my mother-in-law."
The Si family seemed pretty straightforward, but Tong Yao could sense that there were secrets hidden within. "You didn’t interact much with Si Chen before you got married, did you? Your dad used to visit him often. Si Chen has always been a quiet child and rarely talks about his family matters. You’re being paranoid; he’s just not expressive enough." Wen Yun didn’t pay much heed to it, dismissing her daughter’s suspicions.
Having observed Lin Fengying and Si Chen’s relationship, Wen Yun noted that while Si Chen was indifferent, he was good with his mother -- a sensible and filial child. Seeing that Wen Yun really didn’t know much, Tong Yao stopped her line of questioning. However, the curiosity in her heart didn’t decrease but actually grew more intense. She thought, perhaps she’d find an opportunity to ask Tong Yaohui, he’d probably know more about it.
Si Chen never initiated conversations about these things. She guessed he didn’t want to talk about it. Tong Yao didn’t want to hurt him by prying, so she decided to do a discrete investigation to satisfy her relentless curiosity.
