Yu Changhe’s current mood is extremely complex; he cannot scold or hit his parents, nor can he be overly affectionate with them. He occasionally glances over at Mrs. Sun, worried that his mother’s reckless words might upset her again.
Old Yu and the old lady Yu began to reminisce with Yu Changhe, playing the emotional card, and even Yu Changyu jumped in with a deep brotherly affection.
"Second brother, when the family had trouble, I wasn’t home. If I had been here, I wouldn’t have let the villagers drive your family out no matter what. I’d have fought those Luo bastards to the death."
Since Yu Xiaolian arrived, it was the first time she saw Yu Changyu. She only knew he was a scholar, somewhat lazy and gluttonous.
But now, witnessing him, there was not a shred of scholarly demeanor, rather he possessed a roguish charm.
He looked just like a slick-talking delinquent.
Though it was the villagers who instigated, the decision was clearly made by Old Yu and the old lady Yu. Yet Yu Changyu now shifted the blame onto the villagers, quite adept at twisting facts.
Mrs. Sun snorted, "Old Three, after you found out, did you go to the Luo Family to vent for your second brother?"
Yu Changyu looked embarrassed but having spent years in town, quickly steadied himself and said, "I wanted to settle accounts with the Luo Family, but I was stopped by my parents."
Yu Changyu secretly winked at the old lady Yu, who immediately chimed in, "Indeed, Old Three intended to go, but we stopped him."
The old lady Yu shot an annoyed glance at Mrs. Sun, then turned to Yu Changhe, "Son, right after you left the village, the Luo Family faced retribution. Their house caught fire, it was colossal, the house was burnt down, and even the neighbors’ haystack got burnt. Because of this, the neighbors demanded compensation from the Luo Family, and the two families ended up fighting!"
As she spoke, the old lady Yu gesticulated, spittle flying, the neighbors demanded either money or a haystack if no money was given.
Yet the Luo Family, notorious for being unreasonable, not only refused to compensate but even accused the neighbors of setting the fire when they were away, demanding money from them instead.
The feud escalated from verbal to physical, eventually with the Luo Family losing two members, the other family relying on their numbers, not only winning the brawl but also taking a pile of wood from the Luo Family’s backyard that hadn’t burned, moving it to their own home.
With their house destroyed by fire, the Luo Family could only temporarily stay at Ma Dashan’s home, waiting until they had money from selling grain after the autumn.
Who would have thought last autumn’s grain production declined, leaving nothing after fulfilling their taxes, so they continued to freeload at the Ma Family.
Even though Ma Dashan was the village head, in reality, he neither held much power nor had access to profits, only was a tad wealthier than others in the village. Hosting his sister’s family for a short while was fine, but with her unable to build a house, trying to settle permanently in his home was unacceptable.
Yet, while bringing a deity is easy, sending one away is hard; Ma Dashan wishes to drive the Luo Family out, but they adamantly refuse to leave.
Thus, until now, the Luo Family is still staying at Ma Dashan’s place.
The old lady Yu wanted to express that the Luo Family bullied her son and is now facing retribution.
Little Tiger moved small stools for himself and Yu Xiaolian, sitting in the shade, both resting their chins listening to the old lady Yu telling stories.
While the old lady Yu spoke, her hands waved constantly; she narrated vividly, not only did Yu Xiaolian and Little Tiger listen attentively, even Village Chief Wang found the tales engaging.
The old lady Yu wanted to continue, about Luo Da’s wife becoming a common wife for Luo San and Luo Si, but Old Yu shot her a glare, pulling her behind.
What did we come here for? What did we come here for? Storytelling?
Not a word of business!
Old Yu eagerly asked Yu Changhe, where did you go after leaving home? What are you doing now? How did you get wealthy? Why didn’t you come home after getting rich?
By the end, Old Yu’s questioning turned accusatory.
Yu Changhe had endlessly fantasized about meeting his parents, imagining scenarios where they sobbed in repentance or embraced him with tears, reconciling. Yet none of what he imagined came to pass.
His father now righteously questioned why he didn’t come home after getting rich but went to the Sun Family?
Yu Changhe felt a stab in his heart, and his tone grew heavier, "I’m the son-in-law of the Sun Family; is there anything wrong with me being here?"
"Son, you were born from your mother’s womb for ten months; how can you spend money only for your mother-in-law and leave your parents for dead?" The old lady Yu tugged at Yu Changhe.
Yu Changhe stared directly at the old lady Yu, "Wasn’t it you who said I should just consider myself dead and not need to support you?"
Old Lady Yu was at a loss for words, she indeed had said that, but times have changed; her son is now wealthy, so he is still her son.
Old Yu widened his eyes, shouting angrily, "You mean to say you’re not planning to recognize me and your mother?"
Before Yu Changhe could respond, the old lady Yu, like a drama queen, sat on the ground, slapped her thighs, and began crying, "Oh heavens, a son raised for over thirty years won’t acknowledge his parents after getting rich!"
Yu Changyu glared at Yu Changhe, "Second brother, filial piety towards parents is a son’s duty, how can you forget your roots?"
Yu Changhe’s brows furrowed tightly, his lips moved a few times, yet no sound came out.
In the heart of a man who places filial piety above the heavens, even if his parents are severely wrong, he can forgive, but certainly not through coercion.
Yu Xiaolian couldn’t bear seeing her father being bullied, "Then I’d like to ask Third Uncle what filial piety is? How do you usually show filial piety to my grandparents? Do you rise early to make soup for them or chase mosquitoes away for them at night? Or do you give them Silver every month?"
"This..." He hadn’t done any of these, Yu Changyu glared fiercely at Yu Xiaolian, "Adults are talking; children should move aside!"
Mrs. Sun patted Yu Xiaolian’s shoulder, signaling her to step back.
"The act of deep fatherly and brotherly affection has almost played out, so tell me, what have you come for? If you’ve come for money, sorry, you’ll be disappointed; there’s not a dime!"
Old Lady Yu sprang up from the ground, pointing at Mrs. Sun and cursing, "It’s my son’s earnings, it’s not your place to decide. For over ten years, you didn’t conceive; as soon as you left, your belly showed; who knows if the child inside is even from our Changhe."
Old Lady Yu’s questioning of the legitimacy of the child in Mrs. Sun’s belly pushed Yu Changhe past his limit; he stepped forward saying, "Money wasn’t earned by me. How can a cripple earn money? All our money came from Chunfang’s earnings from making snacks. Your son has been worthless; ever since you drove him out, he has always lived off his wife."
Old Lady Yu and Old Yu were stunned, they indeed wondered how a cripple like Yu Changhe could earn money?
But even if it was Mrs. Sun who earned the money, men want face, no one would admit to living off their wives. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
Yet, Yu Changhe said it openly, and said it loudly.