Bai Xue knew that her husband blad her for his mother’s death, but she had no other solution. She thought that as ti passed, her husband’s resentnt would fade. Deep down, she felt wronged and regretted urging him to return earlier. If they had missed this period, he wouldn’t have blad her for anything that happened to his mother.
Hiding her feelings, Bai Xue followed him into the house. The place looked a bit ssy. Seeing her husband’s displeasure, Bai Xue quickly explained, "Aren’t we going back to the city tomorrow? I thought of bringing everything we can, and I’m also helping Lingzi pack so stuff."
Ye Ling looked at her mother with a hint of amusent in her eyes. Was this guilt? Why else would she rush to explain? Saying she’s packing, it looked more like she was searching for sothing.
But Ye Ling couldn’t be bothered to say anything. Anyway, the money grandma ntioned, Ye Ling had already found it when she returned from the town that day and had it on her. She had anticipated that her mother would be eyeing that money upon returning, especially because grandma had ntioned keeping so money for her schooling while they were in the city. Mother wouldn’t let it go.
Starting from yesterday, Ye Qian had been very quiet. When Ye He Ping entered, she only greeted him with a "Dad," without saying anything else. Although Ye He Ping felt sorry for his daughter’s illness, he couldn’t bring himself to be as warm towards her as before, thinking about his mother’s death. He just nodded at her without speaking.
Once inside, he sat on the bed and, after listening to his wife, said, "Mom lived a poor life. Now the family only has the private plot and this house. The private plot can only be harvested in the fall. No one has tended it this year, so who knows what it will be like. I think we should give it to the Wang Family. With mom gone, they’ve been helping out a lot. It’s just for a year, and with no one here, they should have it back tomorrow. It’s the least we can do."
Ye He Ping paused and continued, "As for this house, let’s keep it. We can have the neighbors look after it. Fallen leaves return to their roots; when we retire and grow old, we’ll eventually co back."
Hearing that they might co back one day, Bai Xue’s calm face showed so movent but quickly returned to tranquility. She nodded in agreent, "You’re right. Let’s do that. When the ti cos, you can talk to the Wang Family. We’ve troubled them enough these days, and we can return the favor to the villagers later."
Without delay, Ye He Ping went to the Wang Family. With him gone, Bai Xue felt sowhat relieved. She glanced at her eldest daughter with slight displeasure but held it in. She sent her younger daughter out to see if anything in the yard needed arranging, leaving only her and the elder daughter in the room.
"Lingzi, where’s the money your grandma left? I’m telling you, it was ant for your school fees. Give it to mom, and I’ll keep it for you." Bai Xue guessed her daughter had it since she couldn’t find it all morning.
Ye Ling looked up innocently, "Mom, ever since grandma ca back from the city, she’s been sick. The money went to buying dicine. As for what’s left, I don’t know. Grandma didn’t tell ."
"How can there be no money? The village even telegraphed your dad, saying you and your grandma were selling things at the station. How much could have been spent?" Bai Xue could see her daughter was dodging the issue and felt a burst of anger.
Thinking about how the annoying eldest daughter would have to live with them day in and day out, Bai Xue felt suffocated with irritation but could do nothing about it and had to endure it.
"Mom, don’t get mad at . I really don’t know about the money. When we were in the town hospital, grandma asked to step out and talked to dad alone. Maybe she gave it to him. You can ask him when he returns."
"Do you want to anger your dad? Your grandma just passed, and I ask about money? You want to see your dad unhappy with , right? Ye Ling, I’m telling you, I’m your real mom. How could I wrong you? You’re so young; if you have the money, you’ll just spend it all. You keep thinking about studying, but what will you do if there’s no money then? Look at the materials I bought you at the bookstore during the new year. Were they not a waste of money?" Thinking about all of this made Bai Xue furious.
It wasn’t favoritism; it was this daughter who was so unlikable, always doing things that frustrated people.
Ye Ling shrugged, then cooled her expression, "Mom, I finished reading those books. As long as they’ve been read, it’s not a waste, right? Since you say you’re looking after the money for , there’s no need to worry. When Dad cos back, I’ll ask him. I’ll just say I need it. Is that okay?"
Seeing Ye Qian co in from outside, Ye Ling lay down on the bed and said no more.
Bai Xue panicked at the thought of her eldest daughter asking the husband for money, "When your dad cos back, don’t ntion the money. Or else, you’ll see how I deal with you."
Even knowing this threat was useless on her eldest daughter, Bai Xue felt sowhat comforted saying it. She didn’t want to talk more either, fearing her daughter would blow up the issue.
Besides, since her younger daughter ca in, Bai Xue pulled her to sit on the bed, "Your grandma had so money, and I thought of keeping it for your sister to prevent her from spending it carelessly. Now I can’t find it."
She then let out a heavy sigh.
"Mom, let her manage the money herself. If she really needs anything, she can buy it herself," Ye Qian advised, dismissing her mother’s claim that "the money wasn’t found." "She’s not young anymore, and given our family’s situation, she won’t waste money."
Bai Xue was distressed about the missing money, and it seed her eldest daughter clearly intended not to give it up. She couldn’t ask her husband if he had taken it either, so she had to suppress her frustration. Hearing her younger daughter’s words seed enlightening.
Since the eldest daughter refused to hand over the money, she wouldn’t give her anything in the future. She’d let the eldest daughter buy what she needed, which would eventually spend the money. This way, the eldest daughter couldn’t stash the money away, unless she wanted nothing at all.
Bai Xue looked kindly at her younger daughter, her eyes innocent and naive, smiling as she patted her head, "Having you, dear, is enough for in this life."
"Mom, what’s going on?" Ye Qian saw her mother understood but pretended not to know why she was so pleased.
"Nothing, nothing. Once we’re ho, I’ll make you sothing nice to eat."
Ye Qian shyly nodded, smiling.
She certainly couldn’t let Ye Ling hide that money. She had overheard Ye Ling’s words outside, but seeing her mother’s clueless deanor, she took the chance to suggest this idea, ensuring that unless Ye Ling wanted nothing, she’d have to spend her own money.
As for her own image in her mother’s eyes, it wouldn’t change. She remained the sweet and innocent Ye Qian, while her casual remark made Ye Ling uncomfortable. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.)
Reviews
All reviews (0)