Chapter 105: Chapter 105
The Ye Family was feeling happy at home when they heard a knock on the door. Opening it, they saw Zhao Liangguo and some others, invited them in, and welcomed them to sit down.
"Why did you bring things over?" Ye He Ping looked at the wine and meat they placed on the table, feeling a bit puzzled.
Wang Lijun laughed and said, "You’re asking the right question. Didn’t Wang Ping and the others get into high school? Thanks to your Ye Ling for tutoring them. Our company’s people don’t fuss over such things, so the three of us discussed it and decided to bring some things over to your house, and we’ll have a drink together."
This time, along with Zhao Liangguo and Wang Lijun, Zhang Linong’s father Zhang Youguo came as well. Like Ye He Ping, they were all in logistics, and got along well in the company on a daily basis. Wang Lijun was the deputy director of the division’s political department, Zhang Youguo was the head of the division’s equipment department, and Zhao Liangguo was the chief of staff reserve section in the administrative department of division. Comparatively, Zhao Liangguo held the lowest position in the room.
But since they all worked at the company and had known each other for years, they got along well, and had gathered during the New Year’s in the past. It was rare to be able to gather in the summer this time.
Ye He Ping was pleased to hear this and said, "Alright, let’s have a good drink."
He brought the things into the kitchen and called out to the West Room, "Bai Xue, we’re having a gathering, come and make a few dishes for us."
Hearing the response from his younger daughter in the West Room, Ye He Ping sat down and chatted with his guests.
"He Ping, it’s great, your Ye Ling got the city’s top score. Those results are really impressive! I heard they’re noteworthy even on the provincial level. We spend little time at home, so we really hope our children excel. You don’t know how many people envy you now." Zhao Liangguo thought of his son also having done well, and he couldn’t hold back a wide smile. "Initially, I didn’t believe it when Ye was tutoring Dongzi, but seeing how well he’s done now, it makes me happy. It’s all thanks to your Ye Ling. This kid studies well; you should nurture her properly and not delay her."
Zhao Liangguo had heard from his son about the Ye Family’s reluctance to let Ye Ling continue school, but as an outsider, he couldn’t say too much, so he subtly suggested it.
"Don’t worry, the kid’s always been in the countryside, didn’t know how her studies were, just knew the results were good. She scored so well this time, since she excels in her studies, we can’t delay her." Ye He Ping recalled the time he thought of letting his daughter drop out, now silently feeling relieved that he hadn’t held her back.
In the living room, the men were talking about the children, while in the West Room, Ye Qian was persuading her mother, "Mom, come on, get up. We have so many guests at home. If you don’t get up, how will Dad save face? It will be a joke in the courtyard, and Dad will be even more upset. Mom, if you really don’t want to stay with Dad, I won’t persuade you, but since you and Dad do want to stay together, damaging hearts will put a barrier between you in future. Wouldn’t you agree?"
Ye Qian spoke softly, watching as her mother finally sat up, she let out a sigh of relief. "Mom, use this chance to reconcile with Dad, Dad must feel he’s wronged you."
"Silly kid, they’re celebrating that ungrateful girl’s good scores. Mom will go out and cook for them, won’t you feel uneasy inside? Ever since knowing that ungrateful girl scored well, look at how happy your dad is. Did he even consider your feelings of missing out on the exam, using it to jab at your heart." Bai Xue’s anger slowly dissipated, but upon the result of the ungrateful girl being the top scored, Bai Xue’s anger rose again.
Ye Qian lowered her head, "Mom, I’m happy for my sister’s good scores. I didn’t attend the entry exam because I’m not well, can’t blame others. Besides, even if I did take the entry exam, I wouldn’t score as well as my sister."
Listening to her daughter’s words, Bai Xue understood her sadness, yet her daughter kept persuading herself, "I’m not making food for them; these days, without me cooking, haven’t they been eating well enough?"
Seeing the meals brought in daily by her daughter, Bai Xue felt a pang of heartache. Usually living at home, she wouldn’t eat . Eating for a month would spend a whole salary just eating, how could she save money to buy her younger daughter tasty food.
Being caught up in anger with her husband, Bai Xue endured the heartache eating meals every day, unable to say anything.
"Mama, don’t do this anymore, please, for my sake. If not for me, things at home wouldn’t be this way. Dad would eventually blame it on me." Ye Qian saw her mother’s temper rise, felt anxious and worried.
"Alright, for you, Mom will go out." Bai Xue couldn’t bear to see her younger daughter crying, so she agreed.
They brought meat, fish, and various vegetables. Bai Xue made six dishes. The men ate at the table in the living room, while Ye He Ping served Bai Xue with something in a small dish and took the two daughters to eat in the East Room, which had a study desk.
Even though Ye He Ping didn’t say anything soft, that’s how it is between spouses, nobody brought up this matter again. They let it pass, but deep down everyone knew things can’t be as if nothing ever happened, as a chill lingered.
This was the first time the three of them, mother and daughters, sat together to eat after the incident, nobody spoke, but Bai Xue subtly jabbed during her conversation with her younger daughter, "Eat more, get healthier, and do well in the exam next year. Even without someone tutoring you, we’ll manage it ourselves and succeed. I noticed you got thinner these days, you worry about others and they don’t appreciate it, now that they’ve scored well, they’re even more arrogant."
Without naming names, Ye Ling knew she was the subject.
Ye Qian was anxious hearing this, "Mom, you eat more too. You’ve been through so much lately."
Worryingly glancing at Ye Ling, and constantly hinting at her mother with her eyes, begging her not to say more. Bai Xue initially wanted to say more but didn’t want to worry her younger daughter, so she bit back her words.
The men drank until the afternoon, leaving in a drunken haze. Ye Qian also sent her father to sleep in the West Room and returned to the East Room herself.
Ye He Ping didn’t argue back, a kind of soft gesture towards his wife, and Bai Xue’s countenance softened since before. In the evening, Zhao Guodong invited Ye Ling to go out, thinking of how Zhao Guodong had walked away angrily last time, not having seen each other in days, so she went out.
With a smile, Zhao Guodong exclaimed as soon as Ye Ling approached, "Did you hear? My dad just came home and said that we’ll be going to the company for an internship."
No wonder he wanted to chat at dusk.
Ye Ling saw his childlike demeanor, chose not to discourage him, and feigned surprise accordingly, "Really? That’s great, we’ll have each other at that time." (To be continued. If you work, you’re welcome to qidian.com to vote for recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)