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Chapter 386: Chapter 386: Lin Man told you, didn’t she?
Tong Yao did not miss the hatred that welled up in Lin Fengying’s eyes. She was somewhat baffled. Why did her father-in-law commit suicide? Her mother-in-law knew better than anyone, but she now pushed the blame onto others. How did her mother-in-law deal with her conscience?
She even had the audacity to bring up past events.
Out of respect for Si Chen, Tong Yao didn’t expose the truth about the past. But she was no pushover. She responded coldly, "My father-in-law saved my father years ago. Our entire family remembers this kindness. Otherwise, my father wouldn’t have helped the Si family so much, let alone marry me into it. If you have any unresolved grievances about the past, just lay them out. Let’s sit down and have a good talk. I’m quite curious about how exactly my father-in-law died. My father once said that his injuries were not severe enough to take his life."
So, Lin Fengying wanted to make a scene?
Let’s have that scene then. Tong Yao was curious to see how Lin Fengying would explain the past events.
Younger people refrained from discussing it to save face for the elderly. But what good did that do them if the old woman used the past against them?
Honestly, Tong Yao was surprised that Lin Fengying had the audacity to even mention her father-in-law’s past.
"..."
Unprepared for Tong Yao’s quick-witted rebuttal, Lin Fengying could only silently move her mouth, unable to formulate a response.
She mopped her tears for a while before saying sulkily, "He’s already dead, there’s no point talking about the past."
After speaking, she headed to the living room and sat alone, quietly wiping her tears. She looked as if she had been grossly wronged, pitiful beyond words. But Tong Yao didn’t buy her act and didn’t even spare her a glance.
Quite simply, Lin Fengying wasn’t Tong Yao’s real mother. They hadn’t lived together long enough to develop a bond. Without Si Chen, Lin Fengying would be a stranger to her.
And a stranger with a warped worldview at that.
If Lin Fengying could live without causing trouble, Tong Yao would be more than happy to play the obedient daughter-in-law and let her live a peaceful life. But if Lin Fengying kept stirring trouble whenever things were calm, Tong Yao wouldn’t feel guilty about confronting her.
Upon returning from work, Si Chen saw Lin Fengying’s swollen, tear-stained eyes. Upon seeing him, she hastened to wipe her tears, forcing a smile that looked more painful than crying.
"Xiaochen, you’re back?"
Frowning slightly, Si Chen closed the door and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I just arrived this afternoon." Lin Fengying got up and walked towards the kitchen, "Haven’t you had dinner yet? I can cook something for you. I haven’t eaten for a whole day, I’m starving."
Expressionless, Si Chen said, "Cook for yourself. I’m not hungry." He then retreated to his room.
Seeing her son’s cold demeanor, Lin Fengying felt a sharp pang of sorrow. She had travelled all day without eating, starving till now. Yet Tong Yao didn’t ask about her meal and acted as if she didn’t care at all. To her dismay, even her son showed no concern for her.
It’s said that a son turns his heart to his wife and forgets about his mother after marriage. She had always thought that her son was not that kind of person, only to find him even more callous.
Feeling upset, Lin Fengying suddenly lost her appetite. She collapsed back onto the chair, holding back sobs. This time, however, she let out a small whimper.
Tong Yao was tidying up the room. Aware that Si Chen had returned, she pouted out of minor annoyance and pretended not to see him. She busied herself folding clothes. Si Chen’s gaze initially landed on Tong Yao, but upon noticing the child on the bed out of the corner of his eye, he immediately turned his attention.
Noticing this, Tong Yao snorted disdainfully and sarcastically remarked, "This is your nephew. For some strange reason, our mother heard that being around children can bring good luck, so she sneaked Yuanyuan here. Lijuan and Boyi are going crazy. They should be here in Kyoto by tomorrow morning. You might as well take a good look at him before they take him away. Who knows, you might even get lucky and have a son next year. For your sake, Yuanyuan has suffered quite a bit. He’s been hungry all day and had to endure a journey in wet clothes. You mustn’t let our mother’s good intentions go to waste."
Even though Tong Yao had crossed dimensions, she didn’t believe in such superstitious mumbo jumbo. As for children, she could accept not having them in this life. If Si Chen despised her for it, he could find someone else to bear him a child after divorce.
She wouldn’t feel less worthy just because she couldn’t have a child with Si Chen. She wouldn’t allow herself to be molded by someone else’s whims and demands. Lin Fengying’s attempt to exert her mother-in-law manifesto over her was bound to fail.
"Yaoyao, I do all this for your sake and it would be understandable if Lijuan and Boyi don’t get that. But you must not utter such ungrateful things! Everything I do, isn’t it all for the well-being of you and Xiaochen? If you two had a child right after marriage like Lijuan, I wouldn’t have to go to such lengths. Am I doing all this for my own sake? Isn’t everything I do for your good?"
Lin Fengying had somehow ended up by the door. Upon hearing Tong Yao’s words, she burst into tears, beating her chest and accusing Tong Yao of being ungrateful.
Although her eldest son was married into the wealthy Tong Family, he has also made a name for himself and was not inferior in his own right. The hospital in Kyoto was not a place where just any doctor with a license could work. Moreover, her son had also managed to get into graduate school. Despite their family’s less affluent circumstances as compared to the Tongs, her son was more accomplished than Tong Yao.
Tong Yao had been married for two years without bearing a child. How could she still hold her head up high?
Failing to even show basic respect for her mother-in-law and elders, she would’ve been divorced by her husband’s family in ancient times.
Tong Yao sneered, "Don’t keep saying you’re doing everything for our sake. I can’t bear it. If you think your son can take care of a child, then leave the child here for your son. I’ll just go back to my parents’ home. Go ahead and do whatever you like."
Tong Yao had the audacity because her parents’ home was near. Moreover, she was certain that her parents would support her if they knew about Lin Fengying’s antics.
As she wiped her tears, Lin Fengying reasoned, "Even if your parents were here, wouldn’t they understand a parent’s concern, wouldn’t they know that I am doing all this for you ..."
Before she could finish, Si Chen interrupted in a stern voice, "I already told you before, the problem with having children lies with me, not Tong Yao. I do not want to have children just yet. Stop meddling in our lives."
Seeing her son defending Tong Yao, Lin Fengying was infuriated and retorted, "If the problem with children really lies with you, then why did she visit the hospital? You both think you can hide it from me, but I know everything. I know the problem lies with Tong Yao. She even went to the First Hospital with Wen Yun for a check-up."
At these words, Si Chen frowned and glanced at Tong Yao.
Tong Yao felt somewhat guilty under Si Chen’s gaze, but in front of Lin Fengying, she maintained a calm facade.
"Was it Lin Man who told you?" Tong Yao reasoned, choosing not to hide any longer, "Did she also tell you that I was only going for a check-up, and that my health is in perfect condition with no issues whatsoever?"
