Chapter 10: Ye Fan’s Disdain

Yu Wentao instinctively backed away.

Ye Fan helplessly placed her hands on her hips, staring at her. What exactly is she trying to do?

Yu Wentao wasn’t trying to do anything.

Yu Wentao kept a respectful distance from Geng Zhiye’s older brother, while she considered the second brother, Geng Zhiye, to be simple and dull. The second brother’s family also lived with her and Geng’s father, and Yu Wentao believed she could rely on the second brother to take care of her in the future. So, she treated Geng Zhiye’s son and daughter like her own grandchildren.

Geng Zhiye had limitless potential, and he married someone as capable as Ye Fan, which greatly satisfied Yu Wentao’s vanity. Ye Fan took good care of her daughter, Geng Zhiqin, right under her nose, and Yu Wentao became more sincere towards Geng Zhiye and Ye Fan.

Out of love for the house, Yu Wentao came to like Dabao and Erbao.

Recently, Dabao and Erbao had not caused any trouble at Geng’s house. Yu Wentao had boasted to the neighbors more than once, saying that her little grandchildren were the most well-behaved and clever. The neighbors praised her good fortune, saying that with Ye Fan as a sister-in-law, no matter which family Geng Zhiqin married into in the future, the in-laws would never dare to bully her. Yu Wentao’s affection for Dabao and Erbao grew even more.

Yu Wentao really wanted to take Erbao home for the night, but seeing that Ye Fan misunderstood her, she couldn’t help but feel wronged. However, the anger in Ye Fan’s eyes was almost palpable, and Yu Wentao didn’t dare challenge her limits. After hesitating for a moment, she handed Erbao over, awkwardly turning to Tao Chunlan: “Well, Sister Tao, you’re busy, and it’s getting late. I should be heading back now.”

The first time Tao Chunlan saw Ye Fan show disdain for Yu Wentao was the day Dabao was born. Geng’s father was in poor health, so Tao Chunlan didn’t dare disturb him. She called Yu Wentao’s workplace to ask her to leave work and come home to inform her son-in-law and daughter-in-law that Ye Fan was about to give birth.

Yu Wentao directly took time off from work, told her husband, and went to the supply and marketing cooperative to find Geng Zhiqin. The mother and daughter then rode their bikes to the hospital. When they saw Tao Chunlan, they immediately asked if Ye Fan had given birth, anxiously pacing back and forth like ants on a hot pan. Geng Zhiqin nearly bumped into a pregnant woman, and Yu Wentao collided directly with a doctor. The doctor angrily shouted, “Which family member is this?”

When Ye Fan came out, she told Yu Wentao to go home first. Only then did Yu Wentao remember that after giving birth, one needs to eat. There wasn’t enough time to cook at home, so she grabbed a lunchbox and went to the state-owned restaurant to buy a serving of chicken soup, along with fish and noodles.

Ye Fan didn’t take leave from work until her due date. Probably because she was so active, her delivery was very smooth, and she didn’t suffer much. Otherwise, Ye Fan wouldn’t have dared to have a second child.

Tao Chunlan noticed that Yu Wentao had even bought her share and thought that this mother-in-law wasn’t too bad.

That year, Geng Zhiqin had just turned sixteen, and Ye Fan took her to the supply and marketing cooperative. Her salary was the same as a temporary worker’s, but her benefits were the same as those with permanent positions. She often brought home leftover vegetables or pastries that had been knocked over by mischievous children, and so on. Yu Wentao didn’t allow her to take advantage of public resources—eating in such a manner would make her look unrefined and people would look down on her. Geng Zhiqin said that everyone had some. Every evening, they would sell items at discounted prices.

Many people went to buy. If there were any left unsold by the end of the workday, the employees would divide them equally.

Ye Fan didn’t lack anything and was living at her parents’ house. Yu Wentao didn’t know how to thank her, so she insisted on feeding Ye Fan soup and noodles.

Yu Wentao wasn’t good at serving people. She hadn’t taken care of her own children much. Before Geng Zhiqin turned five, it was her grandmother who took care of her. After that, she was with her elder sister-in-law, and when she was ten, she was with her second sister-in-law. But Yu Wentao thought serving people wasn’t difficult. The first sip of chicken soup, Ye Fan drank half of it, and the other half dripped down the corner of her mouth onto her clothes. Yu Wentao hurriedly used her handkerchief to help her wipe it off, but in the flurry, she accidentally knocked over the noodles. The nurse didn’t see it but almost slipped on them.

If Ye Fan hadn’t known that she didn’t have any ill intentions, she would have slapped her hard. Geng Zhiqin was almost scared to tears. Seeing it from the perspective of her younger sister-in-law, Ye Fan only complained a little. Tao Chunlan felt that Ye Fan’s tone sounded like she was scolding a child, so she said, “Don’t speak like that in the future. Even if she’s not your mother-in-law, she’s still a senior, over twenty years older than you.”

Tao Chunlan felt a bit sorry for Yu Wentao and sighed lightly, then scolded her daughter, “Fan Fan, your mother-in-law just can’t bear to part with the second child, why are you being so harsh?!”

The second child instinctively grabbed her mother’s clothes, and Yu Wentao felt heartbroken seeing this. “Mother-in-law, please lower your voice, you’re scaring our second child.”

Tao Chunlan’s vision darkened. She shouldn’t have said anything.

Ye Fan wanted to laugh. “Second child, come down and play with your brother. I’ll send Grandma home.”

Yu Wentao shook her head. “No need, I can see just fine.”

“I’ll send you back!” Ye Fan repeated.

Yu Wentao immediately stopped arguing with her and muttered softly, “What’s the point of sending me, it’s just a few miles. With Big Bao and Second Bao not here, why go back so early?”

While speaking, she walked outside, clearly not intending to wait for Ye Fan.

Ye Fan hurriedly put her daughter down, saying, “Mom, look after Big Bao and Second Bao. I’ll go inside and get the flashlight, then ask Geng Zhiye to push the cart.”

Tao Chunlan held one child in each hand. “Xiaohui, don’t take it to heart. She says things and forgets them. It’s not worth it to argue with her.”

“It’s fine.” Chen Xiaohui smiled indifferently, her gaze involuntarily following Yu Wentao.

Chen Xiaohui had never met Yu Wentao in her previous life, but she had heard of her reputation—sharp-tongued and picky, a real troublemaker. It was said that when Geng Zhiye was in his early twenties, Yu Wentao began picking out brides for him. She searched through half the capital but couldn’t find one she was satisfied with. When Geng Zhiqin was a teenager, she became anxious to marry her off, searching through half the capital and finally finding a well-behaved educated youth. The educated youth was also from the capital, had a good appearance and temperament, and was one of the first batch of university students after the resumption of the college entrance exam.

Unfortunately, less than three months after marrying Geng Zhiqin, the educated youth’s wife and children from the countryside came looking for him. By then, Geng Zhiqin was already pregnant, but Yu Wentao, disregarding her daughter’s objections, forced her to have an abortion. Chen Xiaohui wasn’t sure whether the operation failed or if Geng Zhiqin miscarried later.

She recovered well but was told she couldn’t have more children. The last time Chen Xiaohui heard about her, it was said that she had married a widower with children.

It wasn’t clear why, but on the day Geng Zhiqin got married, Yu Wentao ended up fighting with the groom’s mother.

If it hadn’t been such a public spectacle, it wouldn’t have reached Chen Xiaohui’s ears.

Chen Xiaohui thought, perhaps it was someone with the same name. Otherwise, she couldn’t explain it—how could a person who had the guts to search through the entire capital, force her daughter to have an abortion, and even fight with her in-laws, possibly be someone who couldn’t express their anger?

Ye Fan was impressive, yet she was still the daughter-in-law. Yu Wentao, no matter how much of a stepmother she was, was still a legitimate member of the Geng family, and Ye Fan was a proper mother-in-law.

“Xiaohui, what are you looking at?” Tao Chunlan asked.

Big Bao, curious, asked, “Auntie, are you looking at my grandma?”

Chen Xiaohui instinctively shook her head. “No, just didn’t expect Ye Fan’s mother-in-law to be… hard to describe.”

Tao Chunlan said, “Still so childish and talkative. If she were truly bad, she wouldn’t have done anything terrible.”

Chen Xiaohui thought to herself, “It’s not the time yet, but when it is, you’ll understand. A life, after all.”

“Will Ye Fan come back for dinner?”

Tao Chunlan replied, “She’ll be back soon.”

Ye Fan caught up with her mother-in-law just as the sky had turned dark. Ye Fan held a flashlight, lighting the way ahead. Yu Wentao saw that the light was as bright as when she had come, and her heart felt open. She immediately forgot about Ye Fan shouting at her in front of Chen Xiaohui earlier. She slowed down, and when Geng Zhiye caught up beside her, she turned to him and said, “I don’t like that Chen Xiaohui.”

Ye Fan was speechless. “Who told you to like her?”

“She’s considered your sister now.”

“She’ll definitely be someone you have to interact with in the future.”

Ye Fan responded, “Just focus on riding.”

“This road is familiar to me. I could reach home with my eyes closed.” Yu Wentao glanced ahead, saw no oncoming traffic, then turned back to talk to Ye Fan. “But—”

Ye Fan interrupted, “How many times have I been to your older sister’s or younger sister’s house?”

Yu Wentao wanted to ask why that was important but instead said, “Oh, I understand. You mean, just treat her like a cousin. If she gets married and Tao Chunlan sends me an invitation, I’ll go. If she doesn’t send me one, I’ll just pretend I don’t know?”

Geng Zhiye: “Didn’t Xiaoqin say she treats her as a distant relative?”

“No. Did you tell her that? This damn kid! Just reminded me to buy some food for you guys and bring it over, and I can also check whether Chen Xiaohui is good or bad.”

Ye Fan thought to herself, Now I know who encouraged you. But why would Geng Zhiqin do that? She’s always annoyed by her mother, who’s constantly jumping around and showing up everywhere.

On the way back, Ye Fan voiced her doubts and asked Geng Zhiye to help her analyze the situation.

When Geng Zhiye saw his stepmother enter and immediately focus on Chen Xiaohui, he guessed that it has something to do with his sister. Normally, even if she wanted to mock Chen Xiaohui, she would first check on Dabao and hold Erbao. “Chen Xiaohui must have heard from someone that Xiaoqin is desperate to get married. I suspect it was a young intellectual she met on the train. She spoke in a tone that seemed to be for Xiaoqin’s good, advising her not to rush into marriage.”

Ye Fan was speechless, confused, and asked, “Has she known Xiaoqin before?”

“She’s never been to the capital. Xiaoqin has never left the capital in her whole life, so where would she have met her?”

Ye Fan: “Then doesn’t she know not to overstep?”

“You asked Xiaoqin to send her, and she thinks Xiaoqin is quite nice. Is that why she thought she should kindly remind her?” Geng Zhiqin didn’t say that Chen Xiaohui was intentionally undermining her. It really seemed like advice for her own good, but Geng Zhiye could only guess.

Ye Fan shook her head. “Who knows what she’s thinking. If we don’t take the opportunity to cut ties with the Chen family now, we’ll never understand. It’s not like we’re missing this one chance.”

The next morning, before dawn, Tao Chunlan got up to boil eggs and make pancakes, preparing food for Ye Fan to take on the road.

By around six o’clock, the Ye family had already finished breakfast.

Chen Xiaohui was carrying a large bag on her bicycle, while Geng Zhiye held the big bag in one hand and food in the other. The bag contained small items and various documents, while Ye Fan carried the somewhat listless Dabao, and Tao Chunlan carried Erbao, waiting for the bus by the roadside.

Ye Fan got tired of holding Dabao and told him to get down. As soon as Dabao got down, he seemed more energetic and reached out to his dad. “Dad, I can carry it.”

Ye Fan found the small backpack that Yu Wentao had sewn for Dabao, stuffed the pancakes and eggs into it, and slung it over his shoulder. Dabao proudly patted the bulging backpack and showed it off to his grandmother. “Grandma, Grandma made this for me.”

Tao Chunlan said, “Your grandmother is the one who does all this.”

Dabao nodded. “Grandma is also making one for little sister. She’s making a shuttlecock and bean bags for her too, saying that mom can’t make them, and when we get to the island, we’ll just watch others play.”

Chen Xiaohui couldn’t help but glance at Ye Fan. Ye Fan rolled her eyes in response, clearly uninterested, but from the corner of her eye, she saw Chen Xiaohui, thinking she was still bothered by Yu Wentao’s words last night. “Dabao’s grandma likes to make a fuss over little things. Xiaoqin is the opposite of her mother, so don’t worry about Xiaoqin purposely making things difficult for you.”

Although Chen Xiaohui had given Geng Zhiqin a “lecture,” from Ye Fan’s understanding of her sister-in-law, she knew that for her sake, Geng Zhiqin wouldn’t let Chen Xiaohui cause trouble.

Chen Xiaohui wanted to say, “That’s not what I meant.”

Tao Chunlan couldn’t help but look towards the direction of the bus station. “Why haven’t they come yet?”

Ye Fan glanced at her watch. “They just left the station, it’ll be another ten minutes or so.”

“Only ten minutes left?” Chen Xiaohui opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “Ye Fan, could you come over here for a moment?” She set the car in place and walked to the side.

Geng Zhiye frowned. “Why can’t it be said here?”

Ye Fan lowered her voice. “It might be something related to work. She probably feels embarrassed for you to know that she doesn’t understand. After saying that, she followed her. “Is there some difficulty at work? You can ask the cashier, I understand, and she does too. You can also ask Xiaoqin, she’s not as talkative as my mother-in-law, but she’s just as willing to help.”

Geng Zhiye didn’t mention that Ye Fan was worried about her getting lost, and in Chen Xiaohui’s eyes, it looked like Geng Zhiye was taking the initiative to help her. Chen Xiaohui nodded. “I know, she’s really good. But that’s not what I want to talk about.”

“What else is there?” Ye Fan thought. “It must be something related to work or family. But there’s no need to keep family matters secret, right?” She didn’t understand. “Then tell me.”