Chapter 100: Chapter 100
Ye Ling went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a pair of nurse shoes, spending five yuan. Although she felt the pinch, she thought of her own miserable life; why should she let herself be wronged? Moreover, when she truly starts high school, why shouldn’t the family pay for tuition? If they really don’t, she would sever the parent-child relationship and rely on herself. She simply wouldn’t believe she couldn’t earn money.
Besides, given her father’s job, such a severance wouldn’t be allowed to happen. So Ye Ling wasn’t worried, taking her new shoes and buying a steamed bun. Ye Ling barefootedly found a guesthouse, where it was one yuan for a single room per night, and fifty cents for a shared bed. Ye Ling eventually stayed in the single room, washed her shoes in the washing area of the guesthouse, flicked most of the water off her feet, and wore her new shoes back to the room. As soon as she entered, she locked the door and fell directly onto the bed.
Chewing the bun, it totally lacked flavor. Forcing it down her throat, tears unknowingly trickled down her cheeks as well. Ye Ling raised a hand to wipe them away, but inadvertently touched the bruises on her face, causing her to take a cold gasp of pain, drying her eyes.
Not sad, such people aren’t worth feeling sad over.
Ye Ling consoled herself for a while, and her heart slowly calmed down.
Over in the courtyard, there were differing views on the Ye Family’s incident. Mrs. Zhao, who somewhat understood Ye Ling, couldn’t help but sigh when she saw her grandson buried in eating, "Who knows where that child went all alone; after all, they’re all your children, how can you be so partial? It must make the child’s heart so cold. That mother, how could she act ?"
Zhao Guodong did not raise his head, "She has money, so don’t worry."
Speaking of money, Zhao Guodong felt his chest suffocating. Even Ye Ling had money, yet he had none. Zhao Guodong, who previously had no concept of money, was truly hit hard this day.
Mrs. Zhao gave her grandson a glare, "Eat slower, as if someone wants to snatch from you. Sixteen years old already, without a shred of demeanor; how can you avoid being laughed at outside in the future."
"Ye Ling is sensible, yet she is laughed at. Now everyone in the courtyard says Ye Ling’s wrong." Zhao Guodong wasn’t stupid; he witnessed the incident firsthand. Even without asking, he knew how courtyard dwellers perceived this matter.
Mrs. Zhao, however, disagreed with her grandson’s thoughts, "The people in the courtyard are honest, they know clearly who’s right and who’s wrong. But from the perspective of filial duty, after all, she’s Ye Ling’s mother. This aspect alone doesn’t make her actions applaudable. But even a rabbit bites when cornered; her mother has gone too far."
Not just far, way too far.
Zhao Guodong once envied others having a mother, but now felt it’s also quite fine without. If really faced with a mother like Ye Ling’s, he didn’t know whether he would end up hitting her.
"How’s Ye Qian? I heard she’s covered in bruises?"
"She’s fine, just caught a cold." Zhao Guodong was unwilling to discuss Ye Qian further.
Previously, like other boys in the courtyard, Zhao Guodong liked Ye Qian. However, as he slowly interacted with Ye Ling, witnessed the Ye Family matters and Ye Qian’s mother’s partiality, Zhao Guodong knew the matter shouldn’t involve Ye Qian, yet he couldn’t grow fond of her.
After speaking, he again buried his head and wolfed down food. Mrs. Zhao saw her grandson remain , could only shake her head and no longer spoke further.
On the Liu Family side, Wu Mengyi returned home after sitting at the Ye’s. Liu Rui, who heard about the happenings at the Ye Family, approached her mother as soon as she returned, "Mom, what’s happening at the Ye Family?"
"Your Aunt Bai has acted too excessively. Regardless of right or wrong, look how she beat someone and even chased into the courtyard, lacking manners." Wu Mengyi, who generally spoke highly of Bai Xue, voiced complaints now, "Today’s incident has been handled badly. Xiao Rui, remember this, no matter what happens at home, don’t spread family matters outside."
Liu Rui nodded, her face full of curiosity, "Did Ye Ling really not return home?"
When this was brought up, Wu Mengyi’s expression turned displeased. She nodded while elegantly leaning into the sofa, "Such a temper isn’t favorable; she won’t handle relations well at work in the future."
That’s the impression Ye Ling left on Wu Mengyi.
Liu Rui stuck her tongue out, "Right, if she were like Ye Qian, Aunt Bai wouldn’t be biased."
"Ye Qian..." Thinking of the smart child Ye Qian, encountering such a mother and family is indeed pitiful.
Wu Mengyi didn’t say more but instead started to scold her daughter, "Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve done just because I’m not home. Did you get Ye Qian to go with you and bring food to your brother?"
Liu Rui bowed her head guiltily, silently wondering if Ye Qian had mentioned it.
"It was the guards who reported the matter upwards. Your father called and told me, it’s nothing to do with Ye Qian, probably Ye Qian doesn’t know yet that your Uncle Ye is aware of this matter." Wu Mengyi explained, then continued, "Anyone can do this, except you mustn’t. Remember your identity; girls should be quiet and thoughtful. Mischievous things are for boys or wild girls."
Seeing her mother wasn’t actually angry, Liu Rui breathed a sigh of relief and obediently admitted her mistake, "I’ll remember."
Wu Mengyi nodded satisfactorily, stood up to see her son, and seeing him studying diligently, nodded in contentment. Her husband held a high position, her son was good in academics and outstanding, and her daughter was also good; Wu Mengyi felt this was what made a woman proud.
Everyone was discussing the Ye Family matter, and although only Bai Xue and her youngest daughter were at home, they were both restless, pacing the house. Ye Qian was feeling annoyed internally and didn’t, as usual, try to comfort her mother. She indeed didn’t expect Ye Ling to act , regretting her own excitement at the spectacle earlier, which let it escalate to this extent. No doubt, her father would return in the next few days, and she didn’t know what sort of scene would unfold then.
This was exactly what Bai Xue had been worried about. She wasn’t concerned about the elder daughter outside, rather about her angry husband. Last time’s incident was vivid in her memory, and this time the matter was big, not something easily resolved with a few words.
After the midday commotion, no meal had been made at home. As evening fell, Ye Ling’s stomach growled, but seeing her mother dazing on the bed without any intention of cooking, the words at Ye Qian’s lips were swallowed back, simply enduring the hunger.
Originally having a cold, after today’s turmoil she surprisingly wasn’t feverish anymore. Ye Qian sighed inwardly; this cold was untimely. Moreover, the bruises on her were from sneaking fish at Song Mei’s house. Knowing she wouldn’t pass, the thought of attending the exam only to fail was unbearable. Ye Qian couldn’t put down her pride and resorted to the tactic of skipping the exam entirely. (To be continued. If you work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)