Xie Juan’s face was stern, she didn’t want to speak. Her displeasure was evident; she didn’t welcome them and showed no signs of missing or filial piety towards her mother.
“Let’s go. I said it was no use coming, but you insisted on coming to provoke trouble. Are you satisfied now?”
Xie Sui didn’t want to talk to her. This visit was only to put his parents’ minds at ease. Now, it seemed better not to have come at all.
Xie’s father sighed, “Take care of yourself. We’ll just consider ourselves as having raised you in vain. We’re leaving.”
Xie Sui said, “Third Sister, I hope you won’t regret this in the future.”
Xie Juan replied, “I will never regret the path I’ve chosen.”
Xie Sui retorted, “Very well. If this is the path you’ve chosen, you’ll walk it even if you have to crawl. No matter how difficult it gets, don’t come to the Xie family for help, even if you have to beg. Can you promise that?”
Xie Juan glared at him in anger, “I promise, I won’t even inform you when I die. Are you satisfied?”
Xie’s mother became angry, “Very well, if you want to sever ties with this family, I will grant it. You don’t need to attend our funerals even if your parents die, and don’t come crying at our graves. Don’t disturb our peace in the afterlife.”
With that, she left. Xie Sui helped her up. Xie Lan wanted to say something, but seeing how resistant Xie Juan was, she could only follow them.
Xie’s mother wiped her tears, but after all, she was still her daughter. She said to Xie Sui, “Don’t bully your third sister either. She was very stubborn since she was young and had her own strong will. When she wanted to go to high school, your father and I didn’t let her. We failed her, so it’s understandable that she holds resentment.
Let it be. As long as she’s doing well, that’s enough. I shouldn’t have ignored your advice.”
Xie Sui, who had been preparing a series of plans to make Xie Juan regret her decision and beg for forgiveness, lost his momentum upon hearing his mother’s words. “Alright, I’ll listen to you, Mother. I won’t do anything. You also promise me that you won’t be sad or upset because of her.”
“Mmm, Mother won’t be sad. As long as all of you are well, Mother will be fine with anything.”
Xie’s father also sighed, an unresolvable muddle.
Xie Sui found a restaurant so the family could have a warm meal and rest for a bit. They returned home the way they came, arriving after dark. Lin Wanwan saw their grim expressions and realized the matter hadn’t gone smoothly since they returned so quickly.
They ate something simple and went to bed early.
Xie Sui slipped a red envelope to the driver, but the man refused. It was the first time Xie Sui had encountered such an indifferent person, as if he were not alive.
He didn’t dwell on it; the driver wasn’t family.
After hearing the story, Lin Wanwan couldn’t help but stare at Xie Sui, which inexplicably made him ask, “What are you looking at me for?”
“Did you bully Third Sister?”
Xie Sui felt wronged, “I really didn’t bully her. She resents her parents because the family didn’t support her education; it has nothing to do with me. Didn’t I not go to school either?”
Lin Wanwan was speechless, “That’s because you weren’t good at studying and didn’t want to. How can that be the same? Forget it. As long as she’s doing well, don’t cause any more trouble. Let it go.”
Xie Sui asked, “Am I that petty?”
Lin Wanwan retorted, “Aren’t you?”
Xie Sui was at a loss for words. He supposed he was rather petty, holding grudges for ten years against anyone who displeased him. But he also remembered kindness, so why didn’t she consider his good points?
Xie’s mother fell ill due to the shock, but thankfully, it wasn’t serious. After a few days of rest, she recovered. However, her heart was still wounded, and she appeared older. Losing interest in staying in the county town, she returned to the village early.
The older generation still felt more at ease when they were close to the land.
Xie’s grandmother was reluctant to part with her great-grandchild and stayed in the county town. The old lady was happy to be doted on by her grandson. With two nannies accompanying her, she wasn’t bored. She spent her days leisurely, buying groceries and going for walks.
Xie Sui was also happy. An elder at home is a treasure. The children also adored their grandmother. The small courtyard was lively and warm, a life Xie Sui could only have dreamed of in his previous existence.
There was no extravagance, no debauchery, no deception, and no endless calculations in social interactions. Such a simple yet lively life made Xie Sui feel his life was well-lived.
However, life is never entirely smooth sailing. When one’s career flourishes, unpleasant matters tend to arise.
There was a youth palace in the county town. Xie Sui invested in building a swimming pool, primarily for his own children to play in the water. All five children had a blast; no child disliked playing in the water during summer.
They returned in the evening. Having secretly eaten some flatbread stuffed with braised pig head meat outside to stave off hunger, they weren’t very hungry upon returning home and just played outside for a while.
Xie Sui went home to get some mosquito repellent spray. There were many mosquitoes, and spraying it on would prevent him from being covered in bites.
Upon entering, he found Lin Wanwan looking pale and dazed. There was a man in the yard, whom Xie Sui vaguely recognized. “Who is this?”
The man wore black-rimmed glasses and, despite the summer heat, a shirt, giving off a scholarly but potentially villainous aura. Seeing Xie Sui return, he smiled strangely and said, “Xie Sui, you’ve become a big boss, and you don’t recognize me? I’m Cheng Yiming. I was sent down to the countryside with Wanwan to your village.”
Xie Sui’s brow furrowed involuntarily. Was it appropriate for him to call Wanwan by her name?
Furthermore, the letters written by Wanwan’s family were received by him, but they were never given to Wanwan. This man’s character was questionable. Xie Sui’s expression turned cold, “Young Intellectual Cheng, I don’t remember people I’m not familiar with. I didn’t recognize you. Is there something you need?”
Cheng Yiming replied, “I’m studying at Jingda University. I came back to see Wanwan and encourage her to continue improving. Wanwan is so intelligent, and she’s still young. Being confined to family life, raising children, is a waste…”
“Stop right there!”
Xie Sui heard the underlying malice. This guy had no good intentions and was trying to disrupt his family.
“Who are you to Wanwan? Whether she wastes her life or not, what business is it of yours? Is it as if the country will collapse if she doesn’t improve?
Is getting into university that impressive? In the future, universities should add a compulsory course on morality. Those with character flaws should not be admitted. Scholarship doesn’t equate to character. You have a character problem.
Don’t come to my house and spout nonsense. Get out, or I’ll beat you if you push me!”
“You, how can you be so barbaric? Wanwan, such a wonderful woman, has been ruined by you…”
Xie Sui raised his hand as if to strike, but Lin Wanwan stopped him, her face cold. “You should leave. Considering our past relationship from the countryside, I invited you in. But after hearing what you said, don’t ever come back. Our paths differ, and there’s nothing to discuss.”
Cheng Yiming sneered, “Don’t be like this. You have different paths from me, but can you really live a life with this thug?”
“Hey, are you looking for death, you bastard!”
“Alright, the children are coming back. Fights and quarrels will scare them,” Lin Wanwan grabbed his hand and urged Cheng Yiming to leave quickly.
Cheng Yiming pushed his bicycle and left. Xie Sui was still fuming, “What kind of person is that? My temper has improved, hasn’t it? This scoundrel dares to come to my house and talk such nonsense.
Wanwan, why did he come to see you?”
“It’s nothing, just catching up. He was also showing off. I find him annoying too. That person has always been arrogant and vain. I didn’t have much to do with him before.”