Chapter 259: Chapter 259
The picnic was said to be an opportunity for the children to bond, but in the end, the kids gathered together after eating and didn’t get much closer. Still, there was no longer the same antagonism as before, whereas the adults got quite tipsy. On the way back by car, only a few could be heard chatting enthusiastically about things in the military, leaving the women unable to get a word in edgewise. Sitting in the back, Ye Qian had lost the interest she had when coming. She whispered to Liu Rui and didn’t provoke Ye Ling. Meanwhile, Ye Ling, sitting at the back, dozed off until they got off the car, when each family parted ways with laughter, and Ye Ling finally walked to her father’s side.
"Dad, I’ll go home and pack up some things. I’ll move back tomorrow," Ye Ling said calmly, noticing her mother’s face stiffening at these words, forcing a smile.
Bai Xue felt a flame in her heart, even though she couldn’t figure out what was happening, she put on the appearance of a kind mother. "You should have moved back a long time ago. Living outside alone isn’t convenient. When you move back tomorrow, I’ll take you to the Zhang Family. After all, we’ve troubled them enough recently."
Although her daughter treated her coldly, He Ping felt somewhat comforted hearing his wife speak this way. He said to his daughter, "Then listen to your mom. You go back to the flat first, and I’ll come tomorrow to help you move things. We’ll buy some things to visit your Uncle Zhang."
Ye Ling smiled faintly as her way of agreeing and walked alone back to the flat. Near dusk, the street was bustling with people, mostly commuters. Ye Ling looked up to see three figures emerging from behind a big roadside tree, which made her curve her lips into a smile.
Living life again, despite many disappointments, these few before her truly became part of her life.
"Weren’t you going home?"
"We figured it’d be boring for you to go home alone, so we came out here to see you off." Zhao Guodong had a blade of grass in his mouth.
Wang Ping was straightforward, "Everyone is going home, and you’re alone, definitely lonely."
Once he finished speaking, Zhao Guodong kicked him, but Wang Ping grinned, "I wasn’t wrong."
"Why do you say such things," Zhao Guodong feared that Ye Ling would get upset.
Wang Ping was still dissatisfied, but Zhang Linong had already arrived in front of Ye Ling, "Let’s go, you know what they’re like."
Ye Ling’s heart felt warm, "This is nice, lively."
Others were going home with their parents, only she was walking alone outside, yet unable to live according to her wishes. Thinking about her small interactions with her father, even though he had done so much for her, his actions now hurt Ye Ling. She decided that this was her repayment to him. She would compromise this one time, and afterward, she wouldn’t feel indebted to him anymore and would truly live according to her desires. It was as if she really had no relatives anymore.
As she let go of the last string in her heart, watching Zhao Guodong and Wang Ping bicker along the way, her mind gradually settled.
When she reached the flat, the sky was already dark outside. Zhang Linong and the others didn’t enter, promising to help Ye Ling move things the next day before heading back. Although not much was done that day, Ye Ling still felt exhausted. After locking the front door, she went inside, lay down, and slept till dawn without dreaming.
Meanwhile, He Ping had drunk alcohol and went home to sleep. Waking up in the middle of the night, he lay alone in the East Room, smoking, thinking of his eldest daughter and feeling that something had slipped away, something he hadn’t grasped. When dawn broke and his wife got up to cook, He Ping took the opportunity to talk to her.
"Ye Ling agreed to move back because Liu Wujiang persuaded her, arguing that her living outside wasn’t good for my reputation. Ye Ling agreed because she didn’t want to affect me. When she moves back, don’t say anything unpleasant. Just bear with it; the child will leave for school in a few days. If any incident arises again, our family wouldn’t have the face to stay here." He Ping warned his wife.
Bai Xue’s face turned sour, annoyed by the fact he went to sleep in the East Room upon coming home last night, and she grudgingly entered the kitchen, "Why do you say I speak unpleasantly? Why don’t you consider what that girl is like? Last night, Ye Qian came back with a fever; she took some medicine at midnight. I asked her, and she said she accidentally fell into the water and got cold. How did she end up in the water? Wasn’t it that girl who did it? The Liu Family siblings were there at the time, and you say she dared do such a thing. She’s so fierce, I didn’t dare provoke her."
He Ping furrowed his brows, not thinking his eldest daughter would do such a thing, "There must be some misunderstanding. As you said, the Liu Family siblings were there; how could Lingzi push Ye Qian?"
Bai Xue slammed down the items in her hands with a loud bang, "You’re right. Whatever she does has no mistakes; if there are, they’re misunderstandings." Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
"The child says she’ll come back today, and here you are making a scene. Are you trying to make us the laughingstock for everyone?" He Ping walked to the kitchen door, tightly pinching his brows as he stared at his wife.
Bai Xue threw the cloth down, turned, and glared at her husband, "I’m making noise? Look at Ye Qian, she’s sick, and you’re still protecting that girl? She’s not even back, and you’re already warning me to tolerate her. Is she an ancestor or something? If you’re biased towards her, just say it, and our mother-daughter duo will manage on our own here, saving ourselves from carrying negative reputations and scolding, with nothing to gain."
Seeing his wife start to make a scene again, He Ping appeared impatient, "Stop saying those things now. Wasn’t it Lingzi who helped to cover for you when you borrowed money from the Gao Family? I’m just worried that when the child comes back, you’ll start with your words and quarreling. If you were so great, why would I warn you in advance to behave better? You feel completely wronged, but don’t the children feel wronged too? Think about it, since Lingzi enrolled for boarding school, have you visited once? Have you cared a bit? It’s too early, so I won’t argue with you now; consider it yourself. If you’re truly not afraid of embarrassment, then make noise."
He Ping flung his arms and left.
Watching her husband go out, Bai Xue shed tears of anger, feeling indignant yet knowing she had to endure. She wiped her tears and turned back to cooking. He Ping felt uneasy at heart, and after leaving the compound, he bought soy milk and fried dough sticks and brought them towards the flat.
When he arrived, he found the flat’s door open, with laughter floating from inside. Standing at the entrance, he saw Zhao Guodong and the others along with his daughter sitting on the kang, with a table on it. The four were eating and weren’t they eating fried dough sticks?
Seeing such a scene made He Ping feel as if the fried dough sticks in his hand weighed a thousand pounds, preventing him from stepping into the courtyard. However, Zhang Linong noticed him first, so retreating was too late. He could only step inside. (To be continued. If you work, you’re welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)