Chapter 82: Bell

Their room and theold man’s study were both in the front yard, just a short walk away.

Opening the door, they found the old man sitting behind his desk with a stern face while Ye Minshu stood in the middle of the room with her head lowered.

Since the elderly couple hadn’t called for Ye Minshu, this was the first time Ji Duo had seen her since his return. Lin Qiao had only seen Ye Minshu a few times as she was very busy. After Ji Jun left, the elderly couple’s attitude towards their eldest daughter-in-law had been very cold.

Without her husband to rely on, Ye Minshu was like a flower without water, lacking confidence in her speech. Moreover, the blow from the Song family had been too harsh. She was both angry and regretful, and within half a year, she developed a tumor in her uterus. The tumor was benign and was later removed, but she quickly became thin and aged, no longer as composed and dignified as when Lin Qiao first met her. She now looked at people with a sense of superiority.

Seeing Lin Qiao, the old man was surprised but didn’t react much. He only softened his expression and nodded at her, “Qiao Qiao is here too.”

Ye Minshu, however, turned her head sharply. Her pale, thin face first showed shock and then quickly turned red.

Lin Qiao noticed her red-rimmed eyes, indicating she had been crying. Being seen like this by her sister-in-law, who was once engaged to her son, was indeed embarrassing.

Lin Qiao greeted the old man, “Dad.” Ji Duo had already led her to a chair by the wall.

Now, only Ye Minshu was left standing, with Xu Li about to leave at the door. The old man looked at his son and then at his daughter-in-law beside him and suddenly said to his wife, “You stay and listen, too.”

Xu Li was taken aback. She had always avoided matters involving the eldest son’s family, and the old man had never said anything. But this time, he insisted she stay. Seeing there was no place to sit, she said, “I’ll get a chair.”

“Mom, sit here,” Ji Duo said, getting up and bringing a stool next to Lin Qiao.

Now, only Ye Minshu was left standing, facing the whole family, looking not just like an outsider but like a defendant awaiting judgment. This made her expression even stiffer. After a long pause, the old man said, “Didn’t you have something to discuss with the second son? He’s here now, so speak.”

She forced a smile, “It’s nothing much. I heard the second son was back and was happy. I even called Ji Jun before coming. Unfortunately, he’s in the southern province and can’t come back for the Mid-Autumn Festival to reunite with the family.”

Her eyes reddened again, “He’s almost fifty, and he’s been gone for over two years, personally overseeing the harvest. It breaks my heart to think about it.”

Oh, this was about her husband not being around, her son not listening to her, and having no support. She was trying to bring her husband back.

When Ye Minshu returned, the old man called for Ji Duo. Lin Qiao had guessed this when she arrived. She didn’t expect Ye Minshu to still be using the same old tricks.

Ji Ze had been out of the military for over two years, and Ye Minshu had long given up. His factory had been thriving, and it wasn’t shameful to talk about it. But Ji Ze was different from Ji Jun. He would give money, things, and face, but he wouldn’t let her control his affairs.

In two years, Ji Ze hadn’t told her anything about the factory. Whenever she brought it up, he just listened with a smile, never responding, let alone supporting her at home. Many times, she was so angry that she cried, saying it was better to raise a white-eyed wolf than a son who didn’t side with his mother. She lamented her bitter fate.

For the past two years, with Ji Duo away, the elderly couple worried about their son, and she didn’t dare bring it up. Now that he was finally back, she couldn’t hold back. But despite her words and tears, no one in the room reacted.

Ye Minshu looked at the old man, who doted on Ji Jun the most, “Dad, you know Ji Jun had frostbite as a child. Without soaking his feet every day, they feel like ice. It’s been over two years, and he has no one to take care of him. How can I be at ease? Please bring him back.”

Ji Jun had frostbite as a child, apart from the time the Ji family’s uncle threw him out. When else did he have frostbite?

This hit the old man’s soft spot and Xu Li’s heart. Because Ji Jun almost died at that time, she had always protected him fiercely, even after losing her own child. What did she get in the end?

Xu Li lowered her eyes and remained silent, then felt a warm, soft hand grasp hers. Turning her head, she saw Lin Qiao looking at her with comforting eyes, and beside her, her own son was also watching. Her heart felt less burdened, and she tightly held Lin Qiao’s hand, gently patting it with the other.

The old man saw this and, instead of feeling pity as Ye Minshu had hoped, his gaze toward his eldest daughter-in-law grew colder, “Do you know why the oldest son was transferred?”

Ye Minshu was at a loss for words. To say she didn’t know at all was impossible; otherwise, she wouldn’t have panicked when she heard Ji Jun was being transferred.

Though seemingly hot-tempered, the old man had always been somewhat lenient in family matters, which she knew. Otherwise, when she spread rumors about the second son and Lin Qiao, the old man wouldn’t have just given her the cold shoulder.

But today, he asked so directly, in front of the second son and Lin Qiao…

She couldn’t answer, so the old man answered for her, “It’s because you wrote a report accusing Qiao Qiao of private business dealings while in office. It’s because you instigated the oldest son to come back and ask me to have Qiao Qiao sell the formula to your elder brother. Have you ever apologized to Qiao Qiao for all you’ve done?”

The old man raised his voice, “You spread rumors about the second son and Qiao Qiao, pushed the marriage onto the second son, and have you ever apologized to him and Qiao Qiao?”

With Ji Duo away for the past two years, the old man had kept a calm exterior, but his heart was always anxious.

Sometimes, unable to sleep at night, he would think, “What if something happened?” He would never forgive himself for how he treated his youngest son. He had forced his grandson’s marriage onto his youngest son without ever apologizing, and then there was Qiao Qiao…

He had promised Old Lin to take care of her for life, but since she entered the family, she had been suffering. How well had he really taken care of her?

The old man looked at his shocked daughter-in-law with a cold smile, “You’ve done so much without a single apology, and you want me to bring the oldest son back?”

He tore away the facade in front of Ji Duo and Lin Qiao.

This time, Ye Minshu’s face didn’t just turn red; it turned the color of liver. She valued her dignity the most, especially in front of Lin Qiao, her current sister-in-law and former future daughter-in-law. The old man’s words were like tearing off her face and trampling on it. But with Ji Jun not around, no one would speak for her. If Ji Jun didn’t come back, no one would speak for her now or in the future.

Ye Minshu gritted her teeth, her expression twisted, and finally turned, “Second son, Qiao Qiao, I’m sorry.”

The words seemed to be squeezed out through gritted teeth. She thought that, for the sake of appearances in front of the old man, they would say it was okay, that they were all family, and there were no overnight grudges. But Lin Qiao just looked at her and said, “I heard your apology, but I don’t accept it.”

Lin Qiao could get along with the old man and Xu Li because, although they had kept things from her, they had always treated her well and helped her when she needed it most.

She could reconcile with Ji Duo because he treated her sincerely and was willing to make changes for their relationship. She had no major issues with Ji Ze, as he genuinely regretted what had happened and actively helped her when she needed it.

But what did Ye Minshu have to offer? She had tried to harm her multiple times and never treated her with respect.

Lin Qiao stood up, “Dad, Mom, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving.”

She gave Ye Minshu no face at all, making her face turn red and white. Instinctively, she looked at Ji Duo. Unexpectedly, Ji Duo didn’t even frown at Lin Qiao’s cold attitude. He also stood up, ready to leave with her.

Was this still the famously unapproachable Ji family’s second son, who never looked at any introduced matches?

Even the usually good-natured Xu Li stood up, “I have a light sleep and can’t stay up late. I’ll be leaving too.”

In an instant, three people were about to leave, and the old man didn’t stop them, “Then you all go back.”

Ye Minshu finally panicked, “Second son, Ji Jun is your elder brother. He carried you on his back when you were young. Can you bear to let him suffer in the southern province without anyone to look after him?”

“What’s wrong with the southern province?” Lin Qiao suddenly turned back, “He suffers on the front line, always in danger, but has he had someone to look after him?”

This was clearly defending Ji Duo.

“When you spread rumors about me and him and pushed the marriage onto him, did you think he was still your brother?”

Another sharp retort, leaving no room for mercy.

Ji Duo, unaffected, felt a warmth rise in his heart seeing her like this. He had always been smarter and more mature than his peers, leading his father to have stricter expectations of him. After Shaoping’s incident, he even restrained his domineering nature, appearing invincible and unbreakable to outsiders. But Qiao Qiao still stood in front of him, countering his sister-in-law’s words entirely.

Ji Duo grasped the hand beside him, “If you’re worried about Big Brother, then go take care of him. I’ll arrange it.”

Without waiting for Ye Minshu’s reaction, he opened the door and left.

After a while, Ye Minshu turned to the old man, “Dad!” Her tone was full of grievance.

But the old man wasn’t Ji Jun and wouldn’t feel sorry for her being countered by the couple, “Second son is right. If you’re worried, go with him. Your mother and I will take care of Xiao Ling. She’ll graduate from high school in less than a year, so you don’t need to be with her all the time.”

Not only did he agree with Ji Duo’s words, but he also had plans for Xiao Ling.

Ye Minshu felt faint. Outside, Lin Qiao saw the bright moon in the sky. Though not fully round, a soft, pale white moon still cast a gentle glow over the courtyard.

“Shall we take a walk?”

“A walk?”

The couple almost simultaneously looked at each other and suggested the same thing.

Ji Duo tightened his grip on her hand, and Lin Qiao felt it, responding by holding his hand back. It was a rare, never-before-experienced interlocking of fingers.

Yet it felt natural as they were always meant to be this way.

“Did you tell your Sister-in-law about Song Jing and Yu Jin’s engagement?” Lin Qiao recalled an old matter.

This man didn’t like meddling in others’ affairs. If he hadn’t told her, how could he be so sure that this caused Ye Minshu’s illness?

Ji Duo didn’t deny it, “I also told her you got into Qing University for graduate studies.”

That was truly ruthless, almost like a stab to the heart. This man appeared calm, but deep down, he held grudges. Even if he had told Ji Jun, Ji Jun would have been happy for them. The only one who would be truly upset was Ye Minshu.

“I won’t let them come back until they reach retirement age,” Ji Duo said as they walked through the moon gate connecting the front and back yards.

Lin Qiao turned her head and saw the man looking at the bell hanging from the courtyard’s eaves. The autumn air was crisp, and there was no wind. The large bell hung quietly, making no sound.

“Do you want to hear it?” Ji Duo asked, turning to her.

Before Lin Qiao could respond, the man had already taken a few steps back, ran, kicked off the wall, and precisely struck the bell.

Almost instantly, the quiet courtyard was filled with the clear sound of the bell.

Ji Duo dusted off his hands, his expression serious, his breathing steady, as if he hadn’t just done something so childish.

They both looked at the eaves, “Isn’t ‘Duo’ a big bell? When I was sick as a child, our parents were busy with work and couldn’t take care of me. It was Big Brother who carried me and used a long pole to ring the bell for me.”

Ji Jun, more than ten years older than him, had truly loved him when he was a child, before he got married. But life often goes this way. People drift apart, especially after the elders pass away. Everyone has their own family and life to live.

Ji Duo took Lin Qiao’s hand again, “If you like the sound, I’ll ring it for you in the future.”

Since Big Brother couldn’t control Sister-in-law, they shouldn’t come back. Being far away, they could do whatever they wanted. He had his own family and someone he cared about to protect.

“If I like listening to ‘Childhood,’ will you sing it for me too?” Lin Qiao asked with a smile.

Ji Duo didn’t respond, his brows furrowing.

Lin Qiao couldn’t help but laugh, pressing his brow, “Frown less in the future, or you’ll get worry lines.”

Ji Duo paused, letting her touch his brow, and instinctively supported her waist as she leaned in.

Lin Qiao felt it and whispered, “I think even if Sister-in-law goes over, she won’t be able to manipulate Big Brother like before.”

Ji Duo raised his eyebrows, clearly skeptical.

“Big Brother listens to Sister-in-law not just because he’s soft-hearted, but because she’s the only one who fully relies on him.”

Ji Duo, who had been excellent since childhood, probably couldn’t understand Ji Jun’s feelings of inferiority and pride.

As the eldest son, he couldn’t even compare to his younger brother, who was more than ten years younger. The father he had admired since childhood had no expectations of him, making him feel insignificant. Only Ye Minshu fully relied on him. Everything she had came from him, making her weaker and in need of his support and protection. He realized his greatest self-worth in Ye Minshu, satisfying his protective instincts, which is why he repeatedly stood up for her. In the past two years Ji Jun had been transferred away from Yandu, fewer people compared him to others. He, like other officials of his rank, went to the grassroots level and mingled with the common people, finding the self-worth that was missing with Ye Minshu in other places. During his recent return home for the New Year, he didn’t even stay until the end of the holiday and hurried back to the southern province. If it weren’t for this, Ye Minshu wouldn’t be so eager to have him return.

Under the moonlight, the couple snuggled closely, whispering softly.

Inside the main house, Xu Li lowered the curtain she had lifted, “I think this time it’s really resolved.”

“Weren’t you the one who told me not to meddle in the young couple’s affairs?” the old man beside her grumbled.

“I didn’t mean to meddle, but hearing the bell in the back courtyard, I was worried something might be wrong,” Xu Li said as she lifted the quilt.

The old man remained silent until she lay down, then suddenly asked with a stern face, “Are they really reconciled?”

“Didn’t you tell me not to look, and now you’re asking?” Xu Li laughed at him.

After laughing, she quickly added before he could get anxious, “They’re reconciled. When the second son brought her over today, I saw Qiao Qiao was a bit more relaxed. Later, when the eldest daughter-in-law spoke, didn’t she still defend the second son?”

This made the old man silent for a long time, “Well, it’s good. Untie the knot where it was tied.”

The next day, at the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lin Qiao woke up late. Ji Duo had already gotten up and washed alone, his expression still serious as usual but inexplicably refreshed.

Xu Li looked at him with a half-smile, “Should I save Qiao Qiao’s breakfast for her, or will you take it back to the room?”

“I’ll take it back and eat with her,” Ji Duo said while washing his face, his expression unchanged.

This kid was no longer the same as when he asked her what to do at the exhibition.

Xu Li wanted to glare at her son, but to her surprise, after washing his face and wiping it with a towel, Ji Duo stood in front of the mirror, carefully examining himself. This was unlike her son, who used to wash haphazardly and leave, considering anything over half a minute a waste of time.

Xu Li was puzzled when Ji Duo suddenly asked, “Do I have worry lines?”

She was stunned, wondering if she had heard wrong.

Seeing her not respond, Ji Duo instinctively furrowed his brow, then quickly relaxed, repeating in a low voice, “Do I have worry lines?”

This time, Xu Li heard clearly and was amused, “The person who isn’t afraid of scars on his face is worried about worry lines?”

While the young couple’s relationship was improving, Ye Minshu’s situation was bleak.

Ji Duo acted quickly, and soon her transfer order came through. She couldn’t even find an opportunity to plead her case. She asked Ji Ling to talk to the family, but Ji Ling refused, “I’m in my second year of high school and can live on campus. If you’re really worried, I’ll transfer schools and go with you.”

“Transfer schools? Are there good schools there?” Ye Minshu was almost infuriated by her daughter.

Ji Ling said nothing, lowering her head to do her homework. At sixteen, almost eighteen in traditional age, she could see through many things even if she didn’t know all the details. Her grandparents’ attitude towards her mother, her uncle and aunt’s, and her brother’s…

With her father gone and her brother not listening to her mother, her mother often complained to her, and she was tired of hearing it.

In the end, Ye Minshu didn’t take Ji Ling with her and boarded the train to the southern province alone, thinking she could persuade Ji Jun to talk to the old man, who might then agree to let them return.

Ji Ling moved her things back to the old house and asked Lin Qiao, “Do you think I’ve grown up now?”

The sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl looked like a young woman, finally growing taller. Looking up at her, she said, “Auntie, I still want to be an actress, to play different people and appear on screen in different roles. It’s not only impressive but also very interesting.” Her eyes, no longer naive, still shone brightly, with a newfound determination beyond her initial longing.

The day after Ye Minshu left, all the stores cooperating with Muzi Chemical Factory launched new products—Muzi dishwashing liquid and shampoo.

Many of these stores were initially designated sales points for liquid soap, and after years of operation, their scale had expanded several times. For example, Li Dajie’s store in Mao’er Hutong had been renovated, becoming larger and brighter. It now has a dedicated shelf for Muzi Chemical Factory’s products. A small blackboard at the entrance lists the new arrivals, with dishwashing liquid and shampoo prominently displayed.

But what caught people’s attention were the plastic bottles Lin Qiao had proposed. Although plastic had been increasingly used for plastic sheets and bags over the past two years, this was the first time plastic bottles appeared on the shelves. New things attract attention, and once people notice, they ask about them. Seeing the familiar manufacturer, many who used liquid soap chose to buy it. Soon, the dishwashing liquid, with its superior grease-cutting ability, replaced soda as the main dishwashing agent. With its targeted ingredients and better cleaning and care effects, shampoo gradually replaced liquid soap and became popular among women.

By the time Lin Qiao returned to school to assist Zhang Changning with writing the thesis and preparing the report, the factory’s delivery trucks were already heading to surrounding provinces and cities.

Guo Yan and her team were waiting in the provincial capital, ready to load the goods onto prepared tricycles as soon as they arrived. Knowing that Yandu had this product, she approached the factory herself without going through Lin Qiao and secured the first and only wholesale agency in their city. For this, many in the city said she was bold, and it was no wonder she could make money.

She was directing the unloading when she saw a familiar figure.

“Yan Zi, I’m back.” The person grinned at her like the sunny boy from years ago.

Guo Yan said nothing, went inside, grabbed a bucket of water, and poured it at his feet, “Who are you? Calling me Yan Zi?”

T/N: Childhood 童年 is a famous Chinese song. Here’s the link.