"Dad wants us to go back to the Xu family." Xu Qinghe turned towards Ji Ying, whose eyes were too tired to open, and he felt wide awake.
Lately, Xu Qinghe had thought over and over about this matter.
Ji Ying responded casually, and the next moment, she opened her eyes, the sleepiness in her eyes completely vanished.
"What did you just say?" Ji Ying turned to face Xu Qinghe, and the moonlight coming through the window made it possible to see each other’s faces clearly.
"I, Dad wants us to go back to the Xu family, what do you, what do you think?" Xu Qinghe said in a lowered voice.
"I don’t want to go back," Ji Ying replied without hesitation, "Even though we live in an old house that’s draughty and the roof leaks, our family of five is together, and we are free."
Freedom, yes, no in-laws above us, no scheming sisters-in-law either.
Although it’s not as comfortable as a new house, it’s heartwarming to live here.
"Qinghe, do you, do you want to go back to the Xu family?" Ji Ying looked at Xu Qinghe worriedly, she really didn’t want to go back to the Xu family at all.
Xu Qinghe was silent.
Ji Ying said, "Even if we don’t go back to the Xu family, if we start making money, we can still honor Dad. Except for not living in the Xu family home, if Dad gets ill, as his daughter-in-law, I will surely contribute money and effort when needed."
"Ji Ying." Xu Qinghe took her hand, sensing her anxiety, he sighed and said, "You have suffered over these years."
"Then you..." you still want to make me suffer?
Ji Ying’s personality was not a dominating one; of the sort that prefers to keep grievances inside.
"I won’t make you suffer anymore."
Xu Qinghe said with conviction, "Just as you said, we do not need to go back to the Xu family to show our respect to Dad and Mom."
"Really?" Ji Ying looked at Xu Qinghe with a smile that lit up her eyes, "You won’t be swayed again and go back, right?"
Xu Qinghe, feeling somewhat embarrassed by his wife’s words, hesitated for a while before saying, "No."
A few days ago, Xu Zhong had talked to him about going back, and these days, he had been considering it and subtly inquiring about what their three children thought. Therefore, Xu Qinghe felt that since they had split from the family, they should not go back.
Moreover, Nian’an and Nianhua were still selling Mung Bean Jelly. If they went back, how could they continue their business?
Although he was not very smart, he was aware that if their stepmother knew about the jelly selling, it wouldn’t include any share for the siblings.
Also, the eldest, Nianji, had already been delayed a year because of Zhihao’s wedding. It couldn’t be put off any longer.
"That’s great. I was really worried Dad would be swayed and go back to the Xu family," Nianhua sighed with relief when he knew Xu Qinghe had decided not to return.
It’s good to be filial, but blind filial piety is not.
Moreover, if step-grandma Liu Sanmei and Zhao Juxiang knew about them making money from selling Mung Bean Jelly, how much of that money would end up in their hands?
In the future, as they earn more and more money, not splitting from the family would definitely be problematic.
"I’m worried too." Nian’an also didn’t want to return to the Xu family. Now their family of four, no, their family of five, even if their house was a bit shabby, it was still comfortable.
"Elder brother, after we finish selling the Mung Bean Jelly today, shall we go see our older brother? I miss him, and I want to make him some meatballs."