Chapter 1765: Clarification

This time it was Ye Chenghe who was stunned.

"The one you're holding is my son?"

"Who else? Apart from you, who among them has a son, and whose son is only a few months old?"

"My son…" Ye Chenghe wore a blank, foolish look. "So the one you're holding really is my son?"

"Where else would I have given birth to such a tiny son?"

Lin Lin Dongxue's originally sour face instantly broke into a smile. "Oh my, I was wondering where my little uncle-in-law got such a small son from. I kept thinking it must be some rumor started by someone at the factory, and sure enough, it really was. These people really are something—believing everything they hear. Just one look, not even asking, and they spread it blindly, making the whole factory misunderstand."

The others in the finance office hurriedly laughed along and chimed in agreement.

Ye Yaodong rapped on the table. "That's not what you were saying just now!"

Then he pointed at Ye Ye Chengjiang and Ye Chenghe. "And you two, suddenly running over here spouting a bunch of nonsensical talk. You don't even know your own son, and you're asking where I gave birth to a son. If I had given birth to a son, would I even let you know?"

Ye Chenghe asked blankly, "So Third Uncle, you really were hiding a son?"

"Laozi will slap you to death—you didn't catch a single key point."

"Heh heh… isn't that the key point?"

Ye Yaodong nearly coughed up blood from anger. "Get out of my sight, go bring your son over here."

"Why?"

"When I tell you to bring him over, just bring him over. Do you think I'd hit him?"

"Oh."

Ye Ye Chengjiang, worried about getting scolded, quickly followed Ye Chenghe out, and as they walked he turned the tables and started cursing Ye Chenghe.

"You damn fool, you don't even know your own son, and you said Third Uncle had a bastard son. What a huge mess you've made."

"Don't you play the thief crying 'stop thief'—wasn't it you who pulled me aside all mysteriously to talk? I've never even seen Third Uncle hold my son."

"Did I say it?"

"The dog said it!"

Ye Ye Chengjiang thought about it. Earlier it seemed he had bumped into Ye Chenghe, pulled him to a corner to talk, and then they went to find Third Uncle together.

Ye Chenghe continued, "Every day after work I head straight to the family compound. What would I know? I came over early this afternoon, and you were the one who pulled me aside all sneaky-like to talk."

"Fine then, it was me."

"It was the dog."

"Don't push it too far!"

"Why do you think Third Uncle told me to bring my son over?"

"Maybe to clarify that it's not his bastard son?"

"Probably. Tell me, does Third Uncle have a bastard son or not?"

Ye Ye Chengjiang was curious too. "Didn't we just say? Even if he did, he wouldn't let us know. Just assume he doesn't."

"What do you mean by that? You mean he does, but we should pretend he doesn't?"

"You idiot, I'm saying he doesn't." Ye Ye Chengjiang quickened his pace back to the dormitory, refusing to talk to him anymore.

Ye Chenghe stared at the back of his head, feeling like he hadn't misunderstood either.

"Later, take a look at why Third Uncle told me to bring my son over, will you?"

"When you've brought him over, give me a shout."

"Okay."

Ye Chenghe jogged back. At this time the child had just woken up and was eating rice paste. He waited until the child was full, changed his diaper, and only then carried him over to Ye Yaodong.

"Third Uncle, my son is here."

Ye Yaodong reached out to take him, but at that moment the child refused to cooperate. He turned his head away, ignoring him completely, and clung tightly to Ye Chenghe's neck.

"Huh? You little brat, you were cooperating just fine the day before yesterday."

"Heh heh, my son is still closer to me."

"If your son isn't close to you, would he be close to me?"

Ye Yaodong felt his pockets, finding nothing suitable to give the child to play with. He only had cigarettes and money in there.

He rummaged around on the table for a while, then simply tore off a small piece of paper and gave it to him, and taking advantage of the child's inattention, he pulled him over into his arms.

Ye Ye Chengjiang watched as the child was tricked into his hands like that and laughed out loud. "So easy to fool, he's just staring at you blankly."

"You're fooling my son with a scrap of paper like that."

"I don't have food here, nothing to play with, and money's too dirty."

Ye Chenghe's son listened to them talking, let out a couple of "ah ah" sounds, then lowered his head to play with the paper. Drool dripped from his mouth in a long line, and then he put the paper in his mouth to lick.

Smack, smack—he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it.

"You can't eat that, why are you so greedy." Ye Chenghe quickly fished the paper out of his mouth.

"Third Uncle, why did you tell me to bring my son over?"

"To take a walk outside."

"So you want me to carry him out for everyone to see, then say it's my son, to clear things up?"

"Finally got it?"

Ye Ye Chengjiang jumped in to answer. "I was the one who told him, otherwise how would he have figured it out?"

"Who says I couldn't figure it out? I was thinking the same thing."

"Heh…"

Three grown men wandered all over the factory carrying a child. Every person Ye Yaodong saw, he had to stop and chat for a bit. Seeing everyone's eyes on the child, he casually explained that it was Ye Chenghe's son.

That afternoon, the news spread through the factory, but the effect wasn't great—people were still more willing to believe it was Ye Yaodong's son…

This is what's called: starting a rumor takes one mouth, refuting it takes running legs off.

The key is that the rumor-dispelling wasn't very effective—people would rather believe what they already think.

Ye Yaodong could still hear people the next day gossiping about how many illegitimate children he had out there…

He's been utterly ruined by Ye Chenghe—his reputation is destroyed!

Worried that Lin Lin Xiuqing might have heard the rumors secondhand—and a heavily embellished version at that—he simply took the chance during a phone call to tell her about the whole farce.

"I'm more wronged than Dou E. I didn't do anything, just helped him carry his son, and now people are saying I have several illegitimate children out there. Damn it…"

"I even deliberately walked around the factory holding his son, but not a single person would believe what they should believe. Even after I explained, they still didn't believe it. Yet the stuff they shouldn't believe, they take as gospel…"

"People are so bored their balls ache. Ye Chenghe's damn mother doesn't even know her own grandson, and she and Ajiang, those two idiots, came running to me spouting nonsense…"

He cursed them both out.

Lin Lin Xiuqing laughed and said, "It's fine. Let people say what they want. As long as I believe you, that's enough."

"Really? Having a wife by your side is the best."

"If you had someone out there, you wouldn't come straight home and stick by my side, and that fast."

Ye Yaodong: "…"

Never in a million years did he expect this to become proof of his innocence…

"Keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear."

"Hahaha… no, the phone's in my office, I'm talking very quietly."

"Laughing that loud, I'll deal with you next time."

Lin Lin Xiuqing laughed even louder.

"The three kids aren't out of school yet?"

"Not yet. This semester I have the oldest two eating lunch at school directly, so at noon I only need to pick up your daughter."

"That's easier then."

"Mm, these past two days I noticed your son seems to have started writing love letters."

"Who? Ye Chenghu?"

"Yes."

"What did he write? Is he really planning to reserve a college girlfriend ahead of time? Placing an early bet?"

"I don't know. I just happened to see a pile of torn-up paper in the trash when I was throwing out the garbage. A few small scraps had fallen on the ground, I picked them up and saw them. I just pretended I didn't notice."

"Right, just pretend you don't know, let it take its course. Just occasionally give him a few reminders, tell him not to let it affect his studies."

"I know that."

He didn't expect Ye Chenghu to actually take the two little ones' words to heart—though he didn't know if the boy had figured things out yet.

Thinking of how Ye Chenghu didn't seem all that bright, he grew a little worried about Ye Ye Xiaoxi.

A boy doesn't matter—it's not like he'll be the one at a disadvantage. If he wants to find a partner, let him. Puppy love is puppy love. His grades were average to begin with, and his chances of getting into college aren't great anyway. If he can snag a partner and bring her home, that's his own good fortune.

But a girl is different!

Absolutely no puppy love allowed!

Still, looking at how Ye Ye Xiaoxi seemed pretty sharp, not lacking for love, a little rich girl who's seen the world—she definitely wouldn't be so easy to be sweet-talked away.

Having a daughter isn't easy either; the worrying starts early.

He heard that elementary schoolers get into puppy love too, always talking about liking and loving this and that…

Thinking of this, Ye Yaodong quickly urged Lin Lin Xiuqing, "You need to drop off and pick up your daughter morning and evening. Don't let her linger at school or out and about."

"I know, you nag. You've been nagging me about this the whole time. She's only in elementary school and you're already like this. If she's a little older, won't you have to mount a tight defense, arrange ten bodyguards around her? When she grows up she won't need to get married either, just stay home and retire."

"Hehe…"

"I'm hanging up, I'm going to work. Save whatever you have to say for after work tonight, then you can pass it along to your daughter."

"Fine. By the way, let me tell you—the trade fair got approved. It still starts around the 5th, lasts three days, same old place as always."

Lin Lin Xiuqing was delighted. "That's wonderful! They're letting us participate again this year. That means we can earn a lot more money—orders this year can double."

"Mm, we're already working overtime to stock up."

"Then you go do your thing. Wait until National Day and then come over."

"Mm."

PS: I had a late-night snack and got delayed. As usual, I'll make up another chapter tomorrow. There's no way I can take leave anyway, because I've run out of leave slips… All for my perfect attendance!