NOVPUB
Chapter 282: Chapter 282: How is your Mother’s Health?
Si Weimin was reading a newspaper in the house when his wife suddenly brought in two visitors, taking him by surprise. However, the moment he saw Si Xiaohui, he felt a sense of inexplicable familiarity. Before his wife could introduce them, he had already guessed who she must be.
After a separation of more than a decade, the little girl from the past had grown into a graceful young lady. Si Weimin didn’t know exactly how to feel about this. After some simple greetings, knowing that they had not eaten yet, he hastily asked his wife to prepare another breakfast.
He treated the two guests warmly, but maintained an over-polite demeanor at everything as if they were guests, not family members.
Si Xiaohui had maintained a stern expression ever since she arrived, and was in a bad mood. Si Weimin thought she held a grudge against him for not returning home all these years. Filled with guilt, he didn’t know what else to say.
Upon knowing that the two had just arrived in Kyoto and had no place to stay, he immediately asked his wife to tidy up their son’s room to accommodate Si Xiaohui and Song Yu.
Si Xiaohui didn’t dare to admit that she and Song Yu had eloped. She only mentioned that they were married, and Si Weimin didn’t doubt it.
After a long silence, he couldn’t suppress the question he most desired to ask any longer.
"How is your mother’s health?"
"She’s fine," Si Xiaohui responded curtly.
Song Yu sensed Si Xiaohui’s rudeness and subtly tugged at her sleeve, but Si Xiaohui ignored his hints.
Naturally, Si Weimin noticed Si Xiaohui’s mood and sighed, "All these years must have been hard on you."
In a sarcastic tone, Si Xiaohui replied, "Of course, my mom, a lone woman raising three kids, couldn’t possibly have it as good as you." She had thought their uncle had died, which was why he didn’t return to see them. She never expected that he had started a new family in another city, with a beautiful wife and a child.
Just like their uncle, their little uncle also viewed them as a burden. After all these years of remembering her little uncle, it turned out he was living carefree in the big city.
Si Weimin: "...."
"The porridge is ready. I boiled two eggs and made some pancakes. You guys can make do with these for now, and we’ll go to a restaurant for lunch later," Yuan Caizhen said, coming out of the kitchen with the food, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
"Thank you, Auntie," Song Yu responded, quickly standing up to help her, adding "Auntie" with every sentence as if he had honey in his mouth.
Si Xiaohui was indeed hungry. She picked up an egg, cracked it open at the corner of the table, and started eating. Yuan Caizhen wanted to remind her to wash her hands before eating, but afraid of being misinterpreted, she decided to hold back.
Inwardly she thought, Xiaohui has a habit just like her husband had when he was young, eating without washing hands first. But she was able to fix her husband’s habit.
Indeed, the two of them had good appetites. They finished a large plate of pancakes, two eggs, and half a pot of porridge. After being full, Si Xiaohui’s complexion improved somewhat.
To ease the tension between her husband and niece, Yuan Caizhen smiled and said, "Xiaohui, you and Song Yu plan to find jobs here, right? You’ve just arrived, so don’t rush. You can stay here first, and take your time finding work and a place of your own."
Yuan Caizhen meant well. She wanted to reassure Si Xiaohui that it was okay to stay for a while, but Si Xiaohui understood it differently. Xiaohui, whose face had started to lighten, immediately grew solemn again. Without acknowledging Yuan Caizhen, she turned to Si Weimin and said defiantly,
"Little Uncle, do you consider us a burden? If you want, Song Yu and I can leave right now. We’ve already endured so much hardship for so many years, we won’t rely on you now."
Upon hearing these words, Yuan Caizhen immediately realized that Si Xiaohui had misunderstood her intention. She quickly tried to clarify, "Xiaohui, don’t get me wrong. I didn’t mean to kick you out. I just wanted to reassure you in case you’re worried about staying here."
Si Xiaohui was already married. It would be normal for the couple to move out after finding work, and not live with them permanently. Yuan Caizhen just wanted to express that they wouldn’t mind Si Xiaohui staying temporarily, she didn’t mean to ask her to leave.
She was very happy to see her husband’s niece.
With a disgruntled air, Si Xiaohui retorted, "This is my little uncle’s house. Why would I be uneasy staying here?"
"Xiaohui." Song Yu gently rebuked Si Xiaohui as her words became more and more unacceptable.
This wasn’t their home after all. They were living under someone else’s roof. How could Si Xiaohui be so oblivious?
Yuan Caizhen didn’t expect Si Xiaohui to still harbor such an attitude towards her despite her clear explanation. She felt slightly offended. Considering Si Xiaohui was a first-time visitor, she decided not to argue with her, though her facial expression became less enthusiastic.
Si Weimin knew Si Xiaohui was blaming him. Out of guilt, and because Xiaohui was new here, he indulged her impolite behavior, saying gently, "You can consider this your home, stay as long as you wish."
Upon hearing this, Si Xiaohui’s mood improved significantly. She even threw a smug look at Yuan Caizhen.
Facing Si Xiaohui’s attitude, Yuan Caizhen chose to bear with her, expecting them to leave after a few days. But Si Xiaohui ended up staying for half a month, completely treating the place as her own home, and not bothering to look for a job.
It wasn’t just their overstaying, but their lack of self-awareness that upset Yuan Caizhen. She didn’t mind serving them meals every day, but Si Xiaohui complained about the dishes she made, treated her disrespectfully, and even purposely competed for food with her son at the table.
Si Weimin was out from dawn till dusk taking care of business. When he came home in the evening, someone would greet him as "uncle," which made him happy. In contrast Yuan Caizhen felt increasingly aggrieved.
She had thought that Si Weimin’s relatives would be as courteous and respectful as Tong Yao and Si Chen. That’s why she had gone out of her way to help Si Weimin reconnect with his family. She never expected to invite such a formidable presence into her house.
After putting up with it for a while, Yuan Caizhen couldn’t help but vent, subtly complaining one night after their child was asleep, "Xiaohui and Song Yu have been here for more than half a month. They have adapted to the local environment now. I see them not looking for jobs. This can’t go on. Why don’t you ask them what kind of job they would like to do? Maybe you could help them."
Si Weimin didn’t see the problem, and deferred, "Let’s talk about it tomorrow!"
Seeing his attitude, Yuan Caizhen felt a little angry, "Their child is so old. He really can’t keep sleeping with us, can he?"
Si Weimin looked at the sleeping child and frowned, "If I help them look for work, Xiaohui would think we want them to leave. Xiaohui has suffered for so many years. Isn’t it okay for me, as an uncle, to support them for a while?"
Upon hearing his words, a feeling of suffocation welled up in Yuan Caizhen’s chest making her feel extremely uncomfortable. "Yes, supporting them for a while is okay, and I’m not being stingy with meals either. But I cook for a big family every day, serving them like a nanny, I have to tolerate their criticisms about the food not suiting their taste. Why should my son have to put up with this in his own house?"
"You’re out all day, oblivious to everything. When you come back, someone will call you ’uncle,’ and you’re comfortable with that. But have you ever considered us, your wife and son?"
If only Si Xiaohui could help her wash some dishes and be a bit nicer in her attitude. Then Yuan Caizhen wouldn’t be so upset.
