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Chapter 291: Chapter 291: They Have a Shared Secret
Si Weimin was drawn by her words. Approaching, he discovered that the incoming call had Li City’s area code. He was stunned for a moment, his face quickly became peculiar.
Yuan Caizhen greeted again and seeing no one answered, was preparing to hang up. However, Si Weimin took the phone from her. No one answered yet, so he tentatively called out, "Sister-in-law, is that you?"
"Sister-in-law?" Yuan Caizhen exclaimed in surprise.
Si Weimin motioned for his wife to be quiet, and then directed his question at the phone again: "Sister-in-law, is it you? This is Weimin."
Just after he spoke, a disoriented voice came from the other end, carrying a slight tremor. "Weimin, it’s really you! I... I heard a woman’s voice just now and thought I dialed the wrong number. Look, after so many years, I can’t recognize your voice anymore."
Confirming it was Lin Fengying, Si Weimin could not express the mix of emotions inside. He feigned nonchalance on his face, "That was Caizhen who picked up the phone just now. She is my wife."
"Oh! You are married? Look, such a big thing, Xiaochen and Boyi didn’t even mention it to me. It’s good you’re married. It’s good you’re married." Whether she was relieved that her brother-in-law was married, or for some other reason, Lin Fengying’s smile was awkward. It was as if she didn’t know what to say.
Upon hearing that it really was his sister-in-law, Yuan Caizhen hurriedly took the phone back from Si Weimin and politely said, "Hello sister-in-law, I am Caizhen. I didn’t know it was you just now. I was a bit impolite. I hope you don’t mind."
Although she had never met Lin Fengying, however, hearing that Lin Fengying had been raising three children on her own since her husband’s death, Fengying totally won her admiration. Being a woman herself, she could understand how hard it must have been for Lin Fengying. 𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Lin Fengying laughed awkwardly, "It’s not your fault. I didn’t explain it well. I’m used to living in the countryside, I’m somewhat uncouth and not good at expressing myself."
But Yuan Caizhen gracefully replied, "Sister-in-law, don’t say that. You are just being modest. Weimin and I were planning to visit you at some point. He has been abroad for so many years and has not taken care of you. He feels guilty about it, and those years must have been hard for you."
"What’s there to feel guilty about! They are my children and it’s my responsibility to take care of them. You both also have your own family, it’s not easy." Lin Fengying’s words seemed to insinuate something else. Without waiting for Yuan Caizhen to respond, she quickly changed the subject, "I heard that Xiaohui and Song Yu were living with you. That’s why I called to ask if they have caused you any trouble recently."
Yuan Caizhen, not noticing the shift in Lin Fengying’s mood, enthusiastically replied, "No trouble at all, we are overjoyed to have Xiaohui staying with us. Weimin has found them a place where they can learn a craft. After a while, we will open a breakfast shop for them."
"Open a shop?" Lin Fengying became worried, "That would require a significant investment, wouldn’t it?"
Yuan Caizhen replied, "Not much. We will help them financially when the time comes. We will lend them the money and they can repay it when they start to earn."
Lin Fengying’s lips twitched slightly, "I’m afraid this would be a bother to you."
"Sister-in-law, please don’t be so polite. In Weimin’s eyes, Xiaohui is like his own daughter." Yuan Caizhen was trying to convey to Lin Fengying that Si Weimin really cared for Si Xiaohui and that she had nothing to worry about. But her unintentional remark caused the expressions of both Si Weimin and Lin Fengying to change.
"You go tidy up the dishes, let me chat with my sister-in-law."
"Sister-in-law, Weimin wants to speak with you. I will give him the phone now!" Yuan Caizhen informed Lin Fengying before passing the phone back to Si Weimin.
"Oh, okay."
Lin Fengying held the phone tightly, she couldn’t describe her feelings at that moment. Her heart felt as if it was tearing apart.
After taking the phone, and following a moment of silence, Si Weimin spoke carefully, "Sister-in-law, you have had a hard time over these years."
"What hard times?" Lin Fengying’s tone suddenly turned cold, her voice strangely mocking. "Now the children are grown up, and they are all doing quite well. The only worry I had was Xiaohui, but now she has found a partner and they are staying with you. My worries are relieved. She is better off with you than with me. You can support her opening a shop. Being her mother, I am useless. I can’t help her at all."
With a bitter smile, she continued, "Over these years, I thought you were dead. I didn’t expect you to be alive and even married. You seem to be doing quite well. As long as I live, I can hear news about you. Knowing you are married and settled brings me satisfaction. When I meet your brother, I can at least inform him about it."
Her words sounded like a sister-in-law’s advice to her brother-in-law and seemed harmless. However, they only made Si Weimin even more guilty. Especially when she mentioned ’brother’, regret directly etched on his face.
What a pity things can’t be redone. Some things, once happened, become irrevocable. Although he has deliberately avoided returning to Li City over the years, his heart never found peace.
From the moment he encountered Si Chen, he had compromised with himself. He knew that evasion was not an option and he must confront reality.
However, now, truly facing the people and events of his past, Si Weimin felt like he wasn’t even a human being back then but an animal. Youth was no excuse for his errors.
Si Weimin took a deep breath to control his emotions and said, "Sister-in-law, you can rest assured about Xiaohui. I will take good care of her. Once she and Song Yu have mastered their craft, I will open a breakfast shop for them. Not to say that they can earn a lot, but at least they will not have to worry about their meals."
He paused, then added, "I heard Boyi is back home helping Tong Yao with her shop and is about to become a father. I plan to return for a visit after their baby is born. As for Xiaochen, he seems to have a grudge against me and doesn’t want to see me."
Lin Fengying, not feeling quite right, wanted to make a few more sarcastic remarks. However, having heard what came next, her expression turned white. Afraid that Yuan Caizhen might be nearby, Lin Fengying dared not to speak outright.
She worriedly said, "Ever since your brother’s death, Xiaochen has changed, even towards me he’s cold. I thought he couldn’t accept your brother’s passing and hence acted this way. But, during Boyi’s marriage, he said some inexplicable things to me. I feel Xiaochen might be hiding something."
As to the ’hiding something,’ both Si Boyi and Lin Fengying knew it very well. Neither said a word, yet each could perceive the other’s discomfort and panic over the phone.
Seeing that Si Weimin didn’t speak for a long time, Lin Fengying suddenly felt a sense of relief. She felt like they were grasshoppers on the same string. Subconsciously, she thought they had drawn closer to each other. After all, they shared a common secret.
