Chapter 4: Grandmother’s Love

Hearing his father’s question, Ye Yaodong cast him a sidelong glance and, shaking one leg lazily, replied, “Just because you don’t know something doesn’t mean I don’t! I’m not out there doing nothing all day, you know!”

Father Ye, who was genuinely trying to have a conversation, immediately flared up at this response. “Out all day with no purpose, and you think you can be smug about it? You’re a married man, yet you’re always away, lazy, and idle—waiting for someone else to feed you, huh? I’ll beat the sense into you, you disgraceful brat…”

As he spoke, his frustration grew. Kicking off his shoe, Father Ye grabbed it and made a move toward him.

Already frustrated over the undersold yellow croaker, Father Ye seized the opportunity to vent.

“Hey, hey! What happened to calm talk?” Ye Yaodong cried out, leaping up in alarm. “What did I say wrong, Dad? We can talk, can’t we…”

The stifling summer air mixed with the pungent odor from the shoe hit him, and his expression changed drastically. His feet might stink, but that didn’t mean he could tolerate someone else’s foot smell!

Panicking, he quickly got up and tried to dodge. “Dad, what are you doing? At least use a stick or something—what’s with the shoe?”

“If you have the guts, don’t dodge! You only know how to cause trouble day in, day out. Even your nephew behaves better than you! You’ve got a comfortable life, yet you spend it lazing around with a bunch of lowlifes. How’d I end up with a son like you?”

With Father Ye in pursuit and Ye Yaodong evading him, the small, crowded living room became even more chaotic. Eventually, he darted behind his mother for cover.

“Mom, look, Dad’s going off first thing in the morning. What did I even say? Don’t let him have any more wine today…”

To his dismay, his mother turned and slapped him a few times. “Your father’s right! You’re barely home, have no idea what’s happening in the family, and just idle around all day. How do you plan to support your wife and kids?”

With both parents scolding him, Ye Yaodong found it hard to defend himself. He grabbed a nearby wooden stool to shield himself. “Stop, stop! Who hits their kid first thing in the morning? Can’t we talk it out? And there are so many people here…”

Couldn’t they at least spare his dignity?

After all, he had his pride!

Fortunately, he’d already sent the younger kids outside; otherwise, this would have been even more embarrassing!

Everyone else was used to the sight of Ye Yaodong getting scolded or hit—it was practically routine. But having just returned from forty years in the future, Ye Yaodong felt out of place, no longer accustomed to the usual scolding from his parents.

Holding up the stool for defense in the small room, he suddenly noticed his mother reaching for a bamboo broom. He promptly abandoned the stool and dashed outside.

If he didn’t leave now, when would he? Better to hide out until his parents cooled down.

Just as he made his escape, he accidentally ran into a few of his nieces and nephews. The children, unprepared, were knocked to the ground, and even his grandmother stumbled and fell.

At this, he panicked a little, rushing to help her up. “Grandma, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

He may have been a troublemaker, but he wasn’t heartless. His grandmother had always doted on him, so seeing her fall put him on high alert.

Father and Mother Ye, who had chased him outside, saw this as well and showed no mercy. Shoe sole and broomstick alike came down on his backside and legs as they cursed him.

“You brat! Can’t even watch where you’re going! I’ll break your legs if you run off again!” Father Ye, still unsatisfied, snatched the broomstick from Mother Ye and gave his son a few solid hits.

Unlike Mother Ye, Father Ye didn’t hold back—he was genuinely furious. A single hit from him sent a jolt of pain through Ye Yaodong’s leg, causing him to stifle a grunt.

His grandmother couldn’t bear to see her precious grandson getting beaten, so she quickly stood in front of him. “What are you doing? You trying to hit me now, is that it? How outrageous! Starting the day off like you ate gunpowder, hmm?”

Father Ye, exasperated, looked at her with a headache. “Mom, I wouldn’t dare hit you. I’m after this useless rascal here. All he does is get into trouble, and now he’s even bumped into you…”

“Dongzi didn’t mean it, and I’m not upset. Who gave you the right to hit him? Now put that broom away and get back inside; aren’t you ashamed?”

Though nearly 80 years old, his grandmother was sturdy, clear-eyed, and sharp. When she scolded, her voice was full of authority!

Father Ye, a filial son, realized that with his mother around, hitting his son was out of the question today. He threw a fierce glare at Ye Yaodong, tossed the broom into the corner, and went inside.

“Don’t worry, Granny’s here. Did they hurt you? Let me see.”

As she moved to check his leg, he gently held her arm, smiling wryly, “I’m fine. Did you hurt yourself when you fell? Are you sure you’re okay?”

“No, no, I’m just fine…”

“Mom,” Mother Ye sighed, “Dongzi is 25, no longer a child. He’s a father of two already! You can’t keep indulging him like this. All day, he just wastes his time and does no work—how’s he supposed to become a proper man…”

“What’s so bad about him? He’s still very filial, isn’t he? How successful do you expect him to be? We’re just country folk; as long as the kids stay healthy, that’s good enough. Besides, Dongzi’s never done anything like stealing or causing trouble—how could he shame you?”

Ye Yaodong felt a twinge of embarrassment. To his grandmother, even not stealing counted as a virtue! She really had low expectations for him…

After hearing the same thing for years, Mother Ye was also tired of arguing. To his grandmother, her third son could do no wrong!

The older two were diligent and hardworking; how infuriating! Casting her third son a hard look, Mother Ye decided to drop it. After all these years, her words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, the children picked up the scattered corn and green cucumbers and put them back in the bamboo basket. Seeing that the grandmother hadn’t injured herself and was even defending him, Mother Ye took the corn out of the basket to peel while putting the cucumbers back.

“Take it inside, tell your mom to wash it, and cut it up for you all to share.”

“And save one for your third uncle—don’t eat them all!” his grandmother shouted, as if worried her great-grandchildren would finish all the sweet melons and leave none for her precious grandson.

His grandmother’s love filled his heart to the brim, leaving him overwhelmed. He hadn’t felt this in decades; it was wonderful.

Everyone else saw only his flaws, even his own parents who found him irritating daily. Only his grandmother cherished him above all, always saving a bite of food for him. His heart swelled with complicated emotions.

“Let me help you inside. At your age, you should be careful working in the fields. What if you fall?”

His grandmother’s face crinkled with a smile. “Oh, it’s not so easy to trip me up. I’m still strong and can work just fine. And even if I can’t, I can always get your father to dig and water for me.”

Ye Yaodong laughed.