NOVPUB
Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Mother-Son Estrangement
Since getting married, Lin Fengying hadn’t shown a smile. Even the blunt Si Boyi started to notice something was wrong.
Not knowing if it was because of last night, Si Boyi wanted to apologize but just couldn’t articulate it. He could only venture to ask, "Mom, are you not in a good mood?"
"What could possibly make me upset?" Lin Fengying kept a stern face, her tone sounding distant. "Go and see if Lijuan’s stomachache has improved. Leave this to me. After all, I am used to taking care of you all on my own from when you were young. When I get old and immobile, you can take over my work."
Si Boyi felt that something was off about what Lin Fengying was saying, "Mom, you never used to talk like this."
Such vague and gloomy words made people uncomfortable. Si Boyi felt that they were all family, so whatever needed to be said could be spoken directly. There was no need for such ambiguity.
"Alright, don’t keep on talking. Hurry up and go! Is there any future for a grown man who hangs around in the kitchen all day?" Lin Fengying, shaking the water off her hands, was urging her younger son to leave.
Zhang Lijuan came back just in time to see this. She assumed that Lin Fengying was feeling sorry for Si Boyi, not wanting him to work. Back in the room, she grimaced, "Mom is just fond of you. Whenever you work in the kitchen, she pushes you out. When I work, she stays silent."
It really seemed a mother’s heart always leaned towards her own child.
"Don’t read too much into it. Mom isn’t in a good mood."
Si Boyi was worried. He really couldn’t understand what was going on with Lin Fengying. His brother and sister-in-law were only back for a few days, but why was mom always wearing a long face?
The family should discuss things openly. Why does it need to be so awkward?
Hearing Si Boyi’s words, Zhang Lijuan became unhappy all of a sudden, "What does mom mean! She’s usually happy all year round. Why does she become upset and gloomy as soon as I enter the family?"
It’s not surprising that Zhang Lijuan over-thought the situation. They had all been neighbors for a long time and knew Lin Fengying since childhood. They had never seen her quarrel or get angry with anyone. Lin Fengying was always meek and easily bullied, always gentle and weak in front of others.
On the second day of their marriage, Lin Fengying began to put on a long face. Who wouldn’t over-think in such a scenario?
Feeling guilty, Si Boyi said, "It’s not because of you, don’t overthink. Mom might have encountered something. I’ll find an opportunity to have a heart-to-heart chat with her."
Maybe mom was angry because of what happened last night. He was afraid to say it out loud for fear of making Zhang Lijuan feel bad. Nor did he have the courage to mention it.
...
For lunch, Si Chen cooked Braised Pork, stoked the fire with Si Boyi. Seeing the two men in the kitchen, Zhang Lijuan decided to play the virtuous wife and squeezed into the kitchen to help. She didn’t do much, but she kept calling out ’brother’. Si Chen remained expressionless all the while, and Si Boyi was becoming a bit unhappy.
Although he knew nothing could happen between them, thinking about Lijuan previously having feelings for his older brother always caused discomfort, like a thorn stuck deep in his heart. He stayed silent all throughout, his face grim. Zhang Lijuan didn’t notice, her attention completely devoted to Si Chen, constantly asking if he needed help, revolving around him throughout.
In the past, Zhang Lijuan was in love with Si Chen, but Si Chen never paid her any attention. This was the closest she had been to Si Chen. Though she was now in love with Si Boyi, her heart skipped a beat every time she saw Si Chen.
Especially when she saw Tong Yao standing at the kitchen door, she wanted to attract attention even more and tried her best to play the role of a virtuous wife and good mother.
Even Si Boyi noticed such an obvious act, let alone Tong Yao. However, she didn’t get angry. Whoever wanted to put on a show could just do it. Anyway, her reputation in the village was already known, and she had no intention of pretending to compassion.
After preparing a single dish of Braised Pork, Si Chen washed his hands, took Tong Yao away from the kitchen, and left Zhang Lijuan and her husband to make dinner. Zhang Lijuan was furious but had no say in it.
Everyone in the family spent the day with their own thoughts. By evening, Tong Yao started packing away, preparing to take the train back to Kyoto the next morning. Si Boyi took out some pickles made by Lin Fengying, asking them to take it to Kyoto, but Zhang Lijuan interrupted at his side.
"You really make a fuss about nothing. Brother and sister-in-law have everything they need in Kyoto! They wouldn’t like these rural things."
Si Boyi didn’t take the hint in her words and seriously replied, "Brother likes to eat them."
Tong Yao did not refuse Si Boyi’s kindness. However, from beginning to end, Lin Fengying did not voice a single word of concern for Si Chen and didn’t even want to talk to the newlywed couple. Since she didn’t speak, Tong Yao didn’t make an effort either.
When it was time to sleep, Zhang Lijuan came back from the outside. There were guests at Xiaochun’s house and she had no place to sleep, so she had to return home.
Thinking about the incident last night, Lin Fengying discreetly pulled Si Boyi aside to whisper a few words, "You and Lijuan should go to bed early tonight. Xiaohui is sleeping in the room. She is still an unmarried woman. It wouldn’t be nice if any noise made her uncomfortable. After your brother and sister-in-law leave tomorrow, we will move into their room."
Si Boyi was embarrassed, his face flushed as he nodded, "I got it, Mom."
Back in the room, Zhang Lijuan kept asking about the reason, and Si Boyi was too embarrassed to explain. He kept silent, which made Zhang Lijuan suspicious that Lin Fengying had said something bad about her. She threw a tantrum, seeing that it was not effective, she tried to act gently. However, Si Boyi didn’t take the bait, and instead hid her under the quilt, urging her to sleep early.
The second day of their marriage was spent like this, which upset Zhang Lijuan a lot. She accused Si Boyi of despising her because her background wasn’t as good as Tong Yao’s. In response, she slept facing away from Si Boyi the whole night.
After Tong Yao and Si Chen finished their nightly routine, Si Chen dumped the foot-washing water, and sat in the living room to chat with Lin Fengying. Even though it was supposed to be a chat, only a few words were exchanged. He left a hundred yuan for Lin Fengying for the New Year, but Lin Fengying, maintaining a stern face, refused. However, Si Xiaohui happily agreed to take it on her behalf.
Laughing gleefully, she said, "Brother, I will keep it for Mom. Don’t worry! As soon as you guys leave tomorrow, I will give the money to Mom."
Just as she finished speaking, Lin Fengying frowned and scolded, "Give the money back to your brother. I’m still young, able to walk and work. I won’t starve. I don’t need anyone’s money to support me."
Si Xiaohui was startled, battling embarrassment as she asked, "Mom, what’s going on?"
In the past, although mom would initially refuse the money that big brother gave, she would eventually accept it. During those times, she would even say thoughtful things as if concerned that the big brother didn’t have enough money to spend. But now, why was she acting so weirdly? It felt as if she was treating her own son as an enemy.
Isn’t it good news that big brother is giving away money for New Year’s?
Lin Fengying said, "I’m not doing anything, I just don’t want to use your money." 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝖕𝖚𝖇.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Suddenly, the money in Si Xiaohui’s hand felt like a hot potato. She didn’t know what to do. She felt that mom was overreacting. Her son giving her money should have been a good thing, but somehow, it felt like a burden to her.
"I don’t want it, you keep it for yourself." Si Chen, still expressionless, left these words before turning and entering the room.
