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Chapter 326: Chapter 316 Just Help This Time, and We’ll Be Even
Shen Yunfang glanced at Great Aunt Shen and, after some thought, decided to tell the truth, "Great Aunt, we really can’t lend a hand in this matter. Li Hongjun isn’t that capable; he has no comrades-in-arms in the Capital. Even when he saved me that time, it was by taking a roundabout way to ask others for help, owing them a big favor. If it’s not necessary, we can’t possibly ask them again."
Great Aunt Shen’s eyes reddened upon hearing her words, "So now you’re saying you refuse to help?"
Shen Yunfang shook her head, aware that if she continued, the relationship with her uncle’s family would be over, but she still said, "Great Aunt, I’ve told you, Li Hongjun isn’t that capable." As for the grievances between her and Shen Yunxiu, it wasn’t time to remind Great Aunt Shen and pour fuel on the fire.
"What do you mean he isn’t capable? If you suffered this badly today, I refuse to believe that Li Hongjun wouldn’t find a way," Great Aunt Shen’s smiling face disappeared, replaced by a stern expression as she began to scold, "You’re just saying this because you don’t want to help your cousin, aren’t you."
Shen Yunfang truly nodded, looking at Great Aunt Shen and saying, "Great Aunt, what you said is half right. I’ve always said, as far as I’m concerned, there’s only enmity between Shen Yunxiu and me, no sisterly affection left. I’m already cutting her some slack for my uncle’s sake, but expecting me to let bygones be bygones and help her out is out of the question."
"You, you, you, Shen Yunfang you’re something else, aren’t you? Have you forgotten who’s been helping you and your mother, two lone women, all these years? Without our family’s help over the years, you and your mother would’ve starved to death god knows how many times. Now that you’ve grown up and become independent, you turn your back on us, is that it?" Great Aunt Shen stood up in anger, hands on her hips, one finger pointed accusingly at Shen Yunfang. "You ungrateful wretch, have you forgotten who fed you after your mother died, who didn’t let you starve? Who arranged your marriage so you’d have a splendid wedding? Who ensured that even after you got married, you lived as comfortably in your parental home as if you were still unwed? All these favors you forgot, huh? All this was my brother helping you. You heartless creature, now that you’re living well, you can’t even help your uncle with this small thing. Just wait, I’m going to have a word with your in-laws, spread the word about you. I want to see if they can still regard you kindly with such character."
Shen Yunfang watched Great Aunt Shen and listened to her accusations without interruption, and then she stood up and looked at Great Uncle Shen.
Great Uncle Shen didn’t say a word, just sat there sipping his drink in silence.
Shen Yunfang pursed her lips, turned her head to Great Aunt Shen and said, "Great Aunt, you’re right. From childhood, you and my uncle have helped my mother and me a lot, especially after my mother passed away. I owe it to my uncle for not leaving me at the mercy of my maternal relatives. I hold all the goodness you and my uncle showed me in my heart..."
"I don’t need you to remember it. My daughter is in trouble now, and I need you to help find someone to back Yunxiu up. If you do that, we’ll be even," Great Aunt Shen said with an expressionless face and a taut countenance.
"Even before I married Li Hongjun, I said that since my father was gone, my uncle was just like my own father. When you two elders grow old and need someone to care for you, just like Zhijie and Brother Zhiwen, I, too, will contribute to your care. But Great Aunt, we have to keep things separate; I owe you and my uncle, but I owe Shen Yunxiu nothing. If, because of this, you want to cut ties with me, then there’s nothing I can do," Shen Yunfang continued, then turned back to speak with Great Uncle Shen, "Uncle, I’ll take my leave for today. When there’s a chance in the future, I’ll come to visit you and Great Aunt."
Shen Yunfang said her piece and headed for the door.
"You heartless wretch, after you leave today, don’t even think about stepping foot in my house again. I want to see just what good end you can have with such character," Great Aunt Shen cursed from behind.
When Shen Yunfang had really gone out of sight, Old Lady Shen turned to sit down and continue crying, but saw Old Man Shen still sitting there, taking one gulp after another. In a rage, she snatched the wine cup from Old Man Shen’s hand and the bottle on the table and smashed them all on the floor.
"I told you to drink, I told you to drink! Look at the time, and you’re still drinking. You useless wretch, we’re being humiliated right at our doorstep, and all you do is drink," the Old Lady Shen burst into sobs after speaking.
Old Man Shen didn’t get angry either. Without a wine cup in his hand, he put down his arm and looked up at his wife.
"What else can I do if I don’t drink? Nag Yunfang to help Yunxiu just like you?"
"What now, she’s your own flesh and blood!" Old Lady Shen stopped crying when she heard this and glared at him with eyes that seemed ready to devour him.
Old Man Shen sighed, "It’s exactly because she is my flesh and blood that I worry. If she wasn’t, I’d have sidestepped like everyone else and laughed at the joke." And it was a joke indeed. Ever since Yunxiu got together with Fang Chengjian, outsiders had enjoyed watching the spectacle of their family, and he had to keep pasting layers of paper over his face to save face. But this kind of thing wasn’t something you could hide whenever you wanted; it was bound to come out eventually. And now, wasn’t it the case? He’d tried everything to stop Fang Chengjian from returning to the Capital, foreseeing such a scenario. But what about his daughter and daughter-in-law? They’d been pushing for a return to the Capital every day. He was tired of their nagging, and with his wife fanning the flames beside him, he had lost his hold and ended up in this situation.
"Who do you blame for Yunxiu’s situation now?" Old Man Shen asked.
"Blame who? Blame that worthless Fang Chengjian, blame the Fang Family for taking advantage of us," Old Lady Shen replied nonsensically. What was this old man thinking?
"Wrong, no one to blame but us," Old Man Shen took a deep breath. "We were the ones who brought them up. We didn’t educate her properly from a young age, let her grow up without understanding right from wrong, eager to rush to the city, disregarding integrity and character to cling to Fang Chengjian. If we had been firm from the start and not let Yunxiu be with Fang Chengjian, none of this would have happened. So, we have no one to blame but ourselves." 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝘤𝑜𝘮
"Don’t bring up Yunfang. She’s not our child. Why does she have to help just because we say so? Your own daughter doesn’t listen to you, and yet you expect others to obey? Besides, stop making a big deal out of those few meals. When times were tough, your younger brother helped our family a lot. Otherwise, how could all our three children have grown up?" Old Man Shen spoke his mind. "Old woman, let’s stop making a fuss. After the autumn harvest, let’s go see Yunxiu. If she truly can’t make it in the city, we’ll bring her back. I’m willing to endure the shame and let others laugh at me if it means our child won’t suffer in someone else’s home. If Yunxiu can’t find a good home in the future, as long as we’re alive, we’ll take care of her."
"But Yunxiu doesn’t want us to go," Old Lady Shen had considered this approach, but public opinion is a fearsome thing. If they brought their daughter back, what would become of her future?
"You listen to her? Don’t you see the consequence of listening to her? Alright, it’s decided. We won’t trouble anyone else. We’ll do what we can. Don’t talk to Yunxiu about this; once the autumn harvest is over, we’ll just go," Old Man Shen concluded decisively.
