Chapter 244: Provoked

Yu Pengfei had been uneasy all day, but upon returning home and facing his mother and sisters' eager gazes, he had no choice but to steel himself and say:

"Mom, regarding the job matter, I told Zhao Di, but the factory isn't solely hers, and there are factory rules; she can't just arbitrarily arrange for people to enter……"

Yu Pengfei had thought all day and came up with this most tactful excuse, but his mother and sisters obviously weren't buying it.

After returning home yesterday, the second sister boasted to her husband that she would get him a position as an accountant at the clothing factory; she was so pleased that she even agreed to find work for her sister-in-law.

In the second sister's mind, arranging a worker's job at such a large clothing factory was far from trivial.

Therefore, yesterday at her in-laws' house, the second sister received treatment she had never before experienced.

Now she has already boasted about it, but her younger brother tells her it's impossible—how can she tolerate that? If this matter fails, when she returns to her in-laws' home, she doesn't know what ridicule she'll face.

So, the second sister immediately slammed the table and angrily stood up, saying: "Don't feed me those high‑sounding principles; I've never heard of a factory manager who can't even arrange a job."

That Zhao Di dares to do this simply means she looks down on our family, thinking we cannot do without her.

She hasn't even entered the family yet and already behaves this way, not treating us as family at all; if she truly marries in, who knows what she'll become—she might even end up riding on our necks and defecating!

The mother's and the eldest and third sisters' faces were also not looking good; evidently they shared the second sister's view, feeling that Zhao Di's refusal to arrange work for them was a sign of looking down on them.

Seeing this, Yu Pengfei hurried to explain on Zhao Di's behalf: "Second sister, it's not what you think; Zhao Di's getting to where she is today wasn't easy either, and we should understand her difficulties."

The second sister immediately scoffed: "She's not having it easy—do you mean raising you with blood, sweat, and tears was easy for us and Mother?"

People say that after marrying a wife one forgets one's mother; I didn't believe it before, but today I've truly seen it.

Even before bringing the wife into the family, the younger brother's elbows are already turning outward—who knows what he'll be like after a real marriage!

Yu Pengfei immediately said: "I won't; no matter when, you and Mother are the most important to me."

The second sister pursed her lips, clearly not believing him.

The third sister also said: "I don't care; I've already told my classmates that I'm going to work at the clothing factory. If I can't go, who knows how they'll laugh at me—I might as well die."

The third sister voiced what the eldest and second sisters felt: everyone around them knows about their job matter, and if this fails, they'll truly have no face to show in public.

Seeing his sisters filled with righteous indignation, Yu Pengfei suddenly felt overwhelmed, having no choice but to look to his mother for help.

The mother said: "Otherwise, try persuading Zhao Di again; after all, we're all one family, and letting relations sour too much isn't good. Your sisters just want a job—it's not an excessive request."

Her factory is so big that looking after someone or another makes no difference; if others can do it, why can't your sister and brother‑in‑law? Our family isn't trying to take advantage of her.

Yu Pengfei originally didn't want to say this, but now he can't hide it any longer, so he helplessly said:

"'Zhao Di said she keeps public and private separate; it's absolutely impossible to ask her to arrange people in the factory, and if I insist on this demand, she'll break up with me.'"

The third sister ran straight into the room and burst into tears, feeling that if this job matter fails again, she will surely be laughed at to death.

The second sister then burst out cursing: "Fine, let her leave—she actually thinks our family can't get along without her, a woman who's always showing off, mingling with men to talk business, who knows if she's clean or not; our Yu family would be lucky to have her, yet she acts as if she's some rare delicacy."

Hearing the second sister's words, Yu Pengfei's face darkened at once: "Second sister, Zhao Di isn't like that; you can't say such things about her."

The second sister flew into an even greater rage: "You're still speaking up for her, and you don't even see whether she regards you as nothing; if Zhao Di truly liked you, how could she possibly refuse such a small request?"

The eldest sister also said: "Little brother, your second sister is right; Zhao Di clearly looks down on you and our family. If you break up with her, I'll find you someone better later."

Yu Pengfei: "Eldest sister, how can you say that too? I've said Zhao Di isn't like that, and we truly love each other—I will absolutely not break up with Zhao Di."

The second sister sneered: "You may be sincere toward her, but you don't know if she's sincere toward you; nowadays sincerity is worth only a few coins—only what you hold in your hand is truly yours, and who can't sweet‑talk?"

The three siblings instantly fell into a shouting match; seeing the scene descend into chaos, only when the mother spoke did everyone quiet down.

"Alright, since Zhao Di disagrees on the job matter, let's leave it at that. In the past we didn't rely on anyone and still lived well; there's no reason we now must depend on someone just to get by."

"Your younger brother's romance with Zhao Di is his own affair; none of you may go around publicizing this from now on."

"How our family lived before is how we will live from now on."

"I raised you sisters and brothers by myself; now that you have hands and feet, could it really be impossible to survive without relying on others?"

"'Mom!' the second sister called, eyes red, looking at her mother."

The mother, however, put on a stern face and said: "What I say goes; calling me Mom won't help. If you don't listen to me and keep pressuring your brother to get Zhao Di to give you a job, then don't ever come back!"

Knowing her mother had said all that could be said, the second sister realized further words were useless and ran into the room to burst into tears.

The eldest sister, who always obeys her mother most, now that the mother has spoken, naturally dares not say a word; she hurriedly hid in the room to go comfort the two younger sisters.

Yu Pengfei looked at his mother with a face full of gratitude, thinking that if it weren't for her, he truly wouldn't know what to do.

The mother, her face full of affection, stroked Yu Pengfei's cheek and said: "From now on, just focus on getting along well with Zhao Di; as for your sisters, you needn't worry—I'm here! I only wish you happiness."

Upon hearing his mother's words, Yu Pengfei immediately felt moved, tears welling up; he said with red eyes: "Mom, rest assured—I will certainly let you live a good life."

The mother looked at Yu Pengfei with a face full of kindness, but no one knew she was the one in this household most skilled at pretense.

Moreover, no one understands better than the mother the principle that a long line catches big fish; she would absolutely not sacrifice the wealth already in hand for petty short‑term gain.