Chapter 98: 90: Quan Shui Family Chapter 98: Coaxing Mom to Be Happy, Still Has to Rely on Me

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

Aunt Da was not one to let things go; in a fit of anger, she locked Da Yifu outside.

Coincidentally, Cousin had been very busy lately, working overtime at his unit, and no one was there to open the door for him.

It had rained the night before last; Da Yifu had nowhere to go, and while he stood in the rain sulking alone, a female colleague appeared before him holding an umbrella.

On one side was a shrew who wouldn't listen to reason; on the other was a considerate beauty who understood him.

Da Yifu's scales tilted.

He stayed at the female colleague's home for two days; although nothing substantial had happened between them, they were clearly much more intimate than before.

When Uncle found Da Yifu, Da Yifu happened to be holding an umbrella as he came out of the hallway; upon seeing Uncle, his expression changed, and he instinctively distanced himself from the female colleague who was seeing him out.

"Brother-in-law, Mom sent me to find you."

Uncle had a dark face and glared at that woman with dissatisfaction: "Mom knows everything about your quarrel with Eldest Sister. She says it was Eldest Sister's fault; she shouldn't have locked you outside without asking right from wrong. Mom has already scolded her. You should calm down and come home with me; Leilei is waiting for you at home."

"Cough, cough."

Hearing Uncle's words, Da Yifu's old face turned red, and he coughed embarrassedly twice.

"You go."

The female colleague was considerate: "Don't quarrel with your family because of me. Watching you two give each other the cold shoulder these past two days hasn't made me feel good either. Since someone has come to your home, listen to advice this time and go home."

"If you leave, how will I take care of Xiao Shan alone?"

Da Yifu was uneasy: "She can't be left alone; you running back and forth between the hospital and your unit alone—can you manage?"

"It's fine, I can do it."

The female colleague pretended to be strong; as she spoke, her eyes turned red: "For so many years, I've managed on my own. I could do it before, and I can do it now."

"You're just too strong-willed."

Da Yifu's heart softened, his eyes showing conflict: "Actually, there's no need to tough it out. If you need anything, just say so, and I'll help you..."

"Brother-in-law."

Uncle, thinking quickly in a hurry, interrupted him: "Don't forget the Quan Shui Family documentary isn't finished yet. The program group will come to film at your home later. You've been on TV and appeared on the screen as a public figure now. At a critical moment, you absolutely must not act foolishly. If Director Du and them find out, everyone will lose face."

"Hiss."

Da Yifu was awakened by Uncle and took a sharp breath of cold air.

He had been foolish.

After mixing in the performing arts troupe for decades, he had finally made a name for himself; he couldn't cause trouble for himself, ruin his own livelihood for an unrelated person.

"You go."

The female colleague saw the change in his expression; the color on her face disappeared bit by bit: "Don't come here anymore. I can take care of myself and Xiao Shan well; I don't need anyone's help."

"Sigh."

Da Yifu felt reluctant, weighed the pros and cons for a long time, finally made a choice, and turned away dejectedly.

—

Donghua Street No. 9.

"Mom, please, don't get a divorce."

Female Cousin hugged Aunt Da, crying until her voice was hoarse: "I will definitely earn a lot of money in the future; I will be filial to you..."

"Eldest Sister, didn't you say Liu Jian's captain introduced a match for him, saying the other side has a big background, and the woman's father is a big leader at the Power Bureau?"

Auntie couldn't bear to watch and also helped persuade: "At this time, if you and your brother-in-law make a scene about divorce, what will the other side think? Put yourself in their shoes; you wouldn't want a daughter-in-law from a single-parent family, would you?"

"Parents divorcing will definitely affect the children."

Grandma spoke earnestly: "Look how filial Leilei is. For the sake of the child, you can't divorce easily, break up a perfectly good family, and give the happiness that should belong to you to another woman."

"He doesn't have me in his heart; what's the point of guarding him?"

Aunt Da was disheartened: "After so many years, haven't I contributed enough to this family? When he performs out of town, I manage everything inside and outside the home."

"Working myself to death for so many years, I've developed a whole body of illnesses. He can change his heart so easily; does he take my contributions seriously?"

"In his heart, I am not his wife, not the mother of two children, but a free nanny. Do I deserve to be wronged? Do I deserve to be angry? Can't I have a little temper? Can't I vent to make myself feel better?"

—

"No one is making you feel wronged..."

Grandma spoke with weight and sincerity: "Have you ever thought about whether your temper is too much? Let Leilei tell you: between you and her father at home, who actually suffers more?"

"His father's nature is to smile three parts when meeting people and not easily offend others. Such a temper and personality is already considered very good among men. You two have been married so many years without ever turning red in the face; what else are you dissatisfied with?"

"You think marital harmony is all your own credit, that it's your own contribution and forbearance? Have you never thought about why other women can so easily drive a wedge between your feelings? Don't you have any intention of reflecting on yourself?"

"Don't think you're wronged, thinking Mom is biased and not on your side. Mom is doing this for your own good, which is why she speaks earnestly to persuade you. If you weren't Mom's biological daughter, Mom wouldn't bother wasting her breath to persuade you in a thankless effort."

—

"Is it me who made him feel wronged?"

Aunt Da was unwilling to give in and wanted to argue again.

"I don't agree to the divorce!"

Cousin suddenly lifted the curtain and rushed in from outside: "Whoever dares to drive a wedge between Dad and Mom's feelings, a white blade goes in, a red blade comes out—I'll kill her."

Aunt Da: "......."

A mouthful of resentment was stuck in her throat, forcibly swallowed back down.

"Brother, you're something else."

Cousin wiped her tears and quietly gave Cousin a thumbs-up: "I've cried until my voice is hoarse, and Mom didn't take it seriously, but one sentence from you shut her up."

"I'm not lying. Whoever dares to drive a wedge between Mom and Dad's feelings, I'll kill them..."

Cousin had pulled several all-nighters working overtime at his unit, his eyes bloodshot, and he did look rather fierce.

"Killing is a crime; you can't be so impulsive."

Aunt Da was so frightened she nearly had a heart attack, speaking to Cousin in a trembling voice, not daring to speak loudly, afraid of stimulating him: "Mom is fine now. Saying it out loud makes me feel much better. Divorce was just words spoken in anger. Mom doesn't really want a divorce. Don't mind it. Just treat it as nonsense spoken early in the morning, and don't take it to heart."

"As long as Mom doesn't divorce..."

Cousin said righteously: "I treat her like a fart—once it's out, it's forgotten."

"Hahaha."

Cousin couldn't help it and let out a goose-like laugh.

"Mom isn't divorcing."

Aunt Da glared at her daughter displeasedly, patting her chest to promise: "I absolutely won't divorce. Even if your dad wants to, I won't leave him. I'll stick with him for the rest of my life. No one can break us apart."

"Dad, did you hear that?"

Cousin was satisfied and looked toward the doorway: "Mom said she isn't divorcing, so this matter is over. You two shouldn't mind it anymore. Our family will be just like before, happy together. I'll work hard and strive for an early promotion. In the future, I'll be filial to you and let you live good days with your son."

"Cough, cough."

A light cough came from outside the curtain.

"Is your dad outside?"

Aunt Da was startled and blurted out: "Standing outside in the rain doing what? Aren't you afraid of catching a chill?"

"You only know to care about him now?"

Grandma laughed in anger: "Last Thursday night you were so cruel, locking someone outside in the rain."

"I didn't..."

Aunt Da opened her mouth, about to explain, but Cousin's glare shut her up.

"Forget it, forget it..."

She feared her son would be stimulated again and really go fight someone: "It's all my fault. I was wrong, okay?"

"It was originally your fault."

Grandma sighed in relief and smiled: "Leilei, hurry and let your dad in. Don't let him stand in the rain anymore."

"Okay."

Cousin was happy and ran to the doorway with quick, cheerful steps, lifting the curtain for Da Yifu.

"Brother-in-law, come in."

Uncle helped out, using some strength to pull Brother-in-law inside: "Mom favors you the most. No one is as close to her as her eldest son-in-law. The eldest son-in-law is closer to her than her own son."

"Mom."

Da Yifu's face turned red from what Uncle said, and he smiled awkwardly: "We were wrong. Early in the morning, disturbing your rest."

"I'm used to it."

Grandma spoke with hidden meaning: "As long as you don't cause trouble anymore, I can rest easy with these old bones of mine."

"It won't happen again."

Da Yifu instantly understood Grandma's meaning and lowered his head in shame.

"Xiu Lian has a bad temper. I know. You've suffered these years."

Grandma changed the subject: "She is my daughter. Willful and unruly—that's my failure to educate her. Considering how much effort I've put in for you all these years, please be more tolerant. If you have any grievances, tell me, and I'll discipline her."

"Mom is joking."

Da Yifu felt embarrassed: "I'm a grown man. Letting my wife have her way is only natural. There's no talk of suffering grievances."

"I'm just saying, you're a smooth operator, good at handling things, and know what's important..."

Grandma comforted her eldest daughter: "Not like my silly daughter in this family, who cares too much about face and suffers for it, stubborn as a mule."

"Xiu Lian is quite good..."

Da Yifu was smooth and worldly, speaking especially well: "She is very straightforward, has no ill will. The fact that our two children are raised so well is also her credit. Without her support, I couldn't devote myself fully to work. I sincerely thank her for her contributions to this family, and I sincerely thank you for giving birth to such an excellent daughter."

"Hahaha."

Grandma was happy to hear this and laughed heartily: "You say that, and you're really flattering this old woman."

"Flatterer."

Aunt Da felt a lump in her throat. Ultimately unwilling to accept it, she muttered softly and jabbed him with a sentence.

"Wife, don't be angry. It's all my fault."

Da Yifu apologized with a sincere attitude: "I promise I won't associate with any other woman again, nor have any improper behavior. You and the two children are my lifeline. Even if I have to give up everything, I don't want to give up on you."

"Mom..."

Cousin shook Aunt Da's arm, acting coquettish: "Dad has said all this. Just forgive him."

"Good daughter."

Da Yifu grinned.

"Hmph, you just know to side with your dad to anger me..."

Aunt Da shook off Cousin's arm and gave father and daughter each a look of dislike.

"No..."

Cousin made a bitter face and complained: "How dare I anger you? You're my own mother."

"You still dare to talk back."

Aunt Da was speechless: "Not doing your job properly, insisting on selling clothes. If it's not you angering me, who is?"

"Ah..."

Female Cousin laughed and cried at the same time: "Why am I being dragged into this again?"

"If not you, then who?"

Cousin deliberately teased her to cheer up Mother: "It's you stirring the pot all day that made Mother's nerves frail and her temper so bad."

"I really made money selling clothes."

Female Cousin refused to back down: "Don't believe us? Ask Lin Xiyu. It's only been half a month, isn't it more than double what we'd make working?"

"Mm-hmm."

Lin Xiyu had stayed silent all along, silently playing the invisible person, until now her eyes lit up and she nodded seriously.

"These days, relying on a dead-end salary just doesn't cut it."

Female Cousin grew even more smug: "You have to be clever, dare to venture and dare to strive, to make big money."

"Go on, show off then."

Aunt Da poked her forehead unhappily: "Make a little money and your tail's up to the sky, so impetuous—sooner or later you'll have your day of tears......."

"Mom, other mothers all hope their children do well......."

Female Cousin was unhappy, pouting her cheeks to protest: "Why do you have to discourage me like this? You've shattered my small heart into pieces."

"If I don't keep you in check, won't you just get carried away?"

Aunt Da laughed and scolded: "My own daughter, don't I know her? Just like your father—half a bottle of water, good for nothing but flapping his gums."

"Dad......"

Female Cousin quickly shifted the blame: "Mom dislikes you, and by extension dislikes me too."

"Who's dragging whom down, exactly?"

Da Yifu was utterly speechless, pointing a finger at her forehead but not bringing himself to flick her.

"Heh heh."

Aunt Da found it funny and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Mom laughed."

Female Cousin was overjoyed: "Mom finally laughed. This family can't do without me. Cheering Mom up still falls to me."

"You've got some talent, I'll give you that."

Cousin laughed along, giving her an admiring look.

"Great, the rain has passed and the sky has cleared."

Female Cousin glanced out the window, speaking with double meaning: "Another beautiful day begins. I must keep striving, hoping to get rich quick and become a billionairess everyone envies."

"Stop daydreaming in broad daylight......."

Cousin poured a basin of cold water on her: "Hurry up and go to work, or you'll be late."

"Sigh."

Female Cousin's small face fell at the mention of work, and she instantly lost all spirit.

"Don't want to work, don't want to work, don't want to work......"

She shrugged her shoulders and muttered, her listless little expression amusing everyone.

Aunt Da was worn down by her and had no temper left, wiping away tears with her hand before lifting the curtain and going to the kitchen.

"Sister-in-law, let me help you cook."

Da Yifu, being tactful, followed her out.

"Don't meddle."

Aunt Da's disdainful voice came from outside the door: "What can you cook? You'll just make things worse......."

"I can learn if I don't know."

Da Yifu smiled good-naturedly and stubbornly squeezed into the kitchen with her.

Before long, in the cramped space, the sound of bowls and chopsticks falling and shattering on the floor rang out.

"Liu Jianlin, are you doing this on purpose to anger me?"

In a moment, unsurprisingly, Aunt Da's River East Lion's Roar rang out again.

Da Yifu was driven out, face covered in dust and soot.

"Pfft."

Female Cousin and Cousin exchanged a glance, couldn't help it, and both burst out laughing.