NOVPUB
Chapter 259: 249
Uncle Shen’s face turned from pale to flush in the room. Just as his daughter and son-in-law had come uninvited, causing his old face to be flustered enough, they were then driven out. After hearing his daughter’s yelling outside the door, his face grew even more livid.
He slammed his glass onto the table and stood up shakily, "I’m feeling a bit unwell, I’m heading back first. You guys take your time eating."
The other two at the table could tell that Uncle Shen was angry, but it was hard to say at whom his anger was directed; they guessed it was probably at both sides.
Uncle Shen was indeed angry at both sides; his daughter had embarrassed him, which naturally angered him. But Li Hongjun’s actions had also been too disrespectful; he wasn’t pleased at all with people trampling over his dignity. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
"Hey, Captain Uncle, please don’t leave, we’ve hardly started eating..." Dashuan tried to keep Uncle Shen from leaving, but his clumsy way with words left him at a loss for what to say, so he could only look to Li Hongjun, hoping he’d say a few words.
Li Hongjun held his glass of alcohol, thought for a moment, then stood up to face Uncle Shen.
"Uncle, I won’t stop you if you want to leave, but there are some things I think I need to make clear to you. When Yunfang was in trouble, uncle, you were willing to lend a hand, especially that last time when you went to so much trouble to call me, informing me in time that something had happened to Yunfang. Yunfang and I are both extremely grateful for what you have done for us, and we will remember your kindness for a lifetime, truly. But how Shen Yunxiu harmed my wife and almost caused her to give birth prematurely, and how she usually oppressed my wife, I also remember clear as day." As he spoke, Li Hongjun’s eyes gleamed sharply, like that of a predator eyeing its prey.
Uncle Shen pursed his lips tightly and, in the end, spoke up for his daughter, "Hongjun, you might not like what I have to say, but as an elder, I still have to say it. It was indeed wrong of Yunxiu to cause Yunfang to fall, and I scolded her at home. That child has a bad temper but doesn’t have any ill intentions. She has realized her mistake and has also assured me that she won’t behave like that anymore." It was only because Shen Yunxiu had cried and begged, kneeling in front of him to admit her fault, that he changed his intention to let Shen Yunxiu and her family of three continue living at home. "Yunxiu and Yunfang are sisters who grew up together; they’re still kids, and it’s normal for kids to roughhouse. What child hasn’t grown up like that? If Yunfang still feels upset about it, I’ll have Yunxiu personally come over to apologize and let Yunfang let off steam, so afterward they can still be sisters just like before." Uncle Shen spoke with great earnestness.
When the incident had first occurred, Uncle Shen had been extremely angry and desperately wanted to punish his daughter harshly. He even swore to drive them out so that after experiencing the hardship of life, Yunxiu probably wouldn’t have the energy to stir up trouble again. However, these thoughts were extinguished by Aunt Shen before they could even be enacted, and under her incessant brainwashing, Uncle Shen’s inner balance slowly tipped back to normal.
Indeed, in Aunt Shen’s and Yunxiu’s minds, Uncle Shen’s heart had shifted too far. What kind of parents wouldn’t side with their own child and choose instead to help someone else’s? Even if Yunfang was their niece, compared to Yunxiu, she was still someone else’s child.
Uncle Shen slowly started to think that maybe the situation wasn’t as serious as he had thought, that his reaction had been too extreme. They’re all kids, after all; who doesn’t make mistakes? When children make errors, the parents aren’t entirely blameless, and they can’t just write off their child with one strike. The incident was already in the past, and Yunfang really hadn’t suffered any harm; now she even had a healthy baby boy. Having Yunxiu apologize would make it possible for the two sisters to become close again, just like before.
Li Hongjun indeed didn’t like hearing what Uncle Shen said. What did he mean by bad temper but no ill intentions? Was he implying that his wife deserved to fall? What did he mean by Yunfang feeling uncomfortable? After such an incident, who else but Shen Yunxiu could feel at ease? It was rude to say, but it’s only because Yunfang was lucky and strong; she fell during the eighth month of pregnancy and wasn’t seriously harmed. If it had been someone else, it might have been a completely different and tragic outcome. Was it only if such severe consequences occurred that Uncle Shen would acknowledge the problem wasn’t merely kids fighting?
"Uncle, I understand how you feel, but I don’t have any issues except for being a bit stubborn. I remember my whole life those who treat me well, and the same goes for those who do not. Shen Yunxiu and Yunfang might be cousins, and she might remember the good and forget these matters, but I can’t." As for how he couldn’t, Li Hongjun didn’t continue. He felt that no amount of talking was as useful as action. Since Shen Yunxiu had treated his wife this way, she needed to be prepared for his retaliation. Besides, judging by today’s events, he couldn’t see a trace of remorse in Shen Yunxiu, probably thinking her father could smooth things over for her.
"You, you..." Uncle Shen was startled. What was he planning to do?
He knew very well that Li Hongjun had connections in the province, and if he really set his mind on dealing with Shen Yunxiu, his position as the head of the family would be useless even if he was the captain.
Li Hongjun softened his stern tone and changed the subject, saying, "Yunfang and I have discussed it. It really isn’t safe for her to live alone in the old home, so after the baby is a month old, I plan to have them mother and child follow me and join the military life."
At this moment, Uncle Shen’s heart relaxed again, it might be for the best for them to leave, "As long as you two have agreed upon it, I have nothing else to say. Whatever paperwork you need, I’ll help you with it."
That was exactly what Li Hongjun wanted to hear, "Then thank you in advance, Uncle."
Uncle Shen waved his hand dismissively, "You all continue eating. I’m full and will go back to rest." This time, he didn’t say he felt unwell, but rather that he was full. In truth, he was quite disappointed. Li Hongjun used to hold him in great respect, rarely ever contradicting him. He had not anticipated that today’s reunion would turn out like this because of the situation. He realized that their families were likely to become distant from now on. Sigh!
Li Hongjun didn’t try to keep him, and after seeing that Uncle Shen hadn’t drunk much, escorted him to the door and then returned.
"Hongjun, is this really okay? After all, he’s Yunfang’s own uncle," Dashuan, although also disapproving of Uncle Shen’s handling of the situation, still felt that a sudden falling out wasn’t right, given that they were family.
Li Hongjun didn’t respond but just picked up his cup and took a big gulp of the drink.
Dashuan also felt he had spoken out of turn. It was the Shen Family’s business, and as an outsider, he shouldn’t have butted in.
"Brother Dashuan, let’s not talk about whether it’s right or wrong now. I’ve come back this time to have Yunfang join me in military life. I don’t feel at ease leaving her here alone," Li Hongjun said.
Dashuan stayed quiet. He and his wife could only help Yunfang with chores and lend a hand from time to time. But in the face of major issues, like when Yunfang was taken away the last time, they truly didn’t know what to do.
Though one person had left, the meal still had to be eaten. Li Hongjun found a new topic and resumed the banter with Dashuan, clinking cups and drinking together. Aside from a small hiccup in the middle, being able to come back and spend the New Year with his wife and child and then take them with him afterwards was indeed something to be happy about.
Inside the house, Xiaojuan and Xiaohu saw that the outsiders had left and came out to look for something tasty to eat. The atmosphere warmed up. During the meal, Li Hongjun expressed his gratitude to Dashuan and his wife multiple times for their help with Yunfang, whether it was helping to find Xing Zhonghua or accompanying Yunfang to the hospital this time, Li Hongjun was thankful to them.
