Chapter 5: Caught in the Act

Geng Zhiyé nodded and couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “I’m not like you, falling in love at sixteen or seventeen, wanting to go to the countryside for some wild man. Luckily, my mother-in-law is amazing and stopped it.”

Ye Fan pinched his face, “Which army communications unit or hospital doesn’t have female comrades?”

Geng Zhiyé raised his hand to cover hers, “Which female soldier is more beautiful, kind, and caring than my wife?”

“Alright, that’s enough.”

A mocking voice floated in, and Geng Zhiyé straightened up in shock.

Ye Fan chuckled, opening the door, “Sister-in-law, is the food ready?”

The eldest sister-in-law of the Ye family rolled her eyes and replied, “It’s ruined!”

Geng Zhiyé awkwardly rubbed his nose as he stepped out, “Sister-in-law.”

The eldest sister-in-law of the Ye family turned and walked into the main room. Geng Zhiyé hurried to follow, looking like a little wife. Ye Fan couldn’t help but laugh, leaning on his arm. Geng Zhiyé slowed down, turned his head, and glared at her, “Enough already.”

“It’s not like I was caught red-handed.” Ye Fan looked up and saw Chen Kuanren and Zhao Ruping in the room, so she couldn’t help but hide her smile.

Geng Zhiyé followed her gaze, took her hand, and led her inside.

The Ye family’s main house had five rooms. The east and west rooms were the bedrooms of Ye father, Ye mother, and Ye Jin’s couple, while the middle three rooms served as the living area. The living room was spacious, with a small study on one side and a table used as a dining area on the other.

Although Ye father and Ye mother hadn’t gone to the hospital, they were concerned that Chen Xiaohui hadn’t eaten much at lunch. Ye Fan hadn’t even had a sip of water.

Ye elder brother asked his wife to make more, as there weren’t enough eggs for everyone to have one. The eldest sister-in-law cracked the eggs, scrambled them, and poured them into the pan so everyone could have a bowl.

Ye Fan was raised by the Ye family, and even if she were just a little dog, they would still care for her. However, at this moment, the eldest sister-in-law didn’t dare to show favoritism. Ye Fan’s bowl only had egg flowers, while Chen Xiaohui, Zhao Ruping, and Chen Kuanren had whole eggs in their bowls. Whether eating from the bottom or the top, each bite had a piece of egg. The eggs soothed the heart of Chen Kuanren, who had been pricked with holes by Ye Fan. Zhao Ruping couldn’t help but feel glad that she had brought Chen Xiaohui to meet her relatives. Normally, a bowl of noodles wouldn’t have so many eggs, so how many good things would there be during the holidays?

Zhao Ruping seemed to see herself with braised pork in her left hand and eight-treasure duck in her right, with a table full of hairy crabs in front of her.

Geng Zhiyé ate quickly, and before Ye Fan had even taken a few bites, his bowl was already empty. Ye elder brother noticed and said, “I forgot to buy the noodles, but there’s some soup left in the pot.”

In the days when mice dared to eat the cat’s food, Ye Fan didn’t dare to buy too much rice or noodles to keep at home. She worked at the supply and marketing cooperative, so buying things was convenient. These past few days, she hadn’t gone to the cooperative, so there was only a handful of noodles left at home.

Ye Fan said, “Wait a minute, I’ll go to the cooperative, let the director know in advance, and buy some things for Xiaohui to eat on the way.”

Chen Xiaohui looked up, saw Ye Fan pouring noodles into Geng Zhiyé’s bowl, wanted to say something, but then thought it wasn’t her business, so she continued eating.

Ye Fan stood up, “I’ll go get some soup.”

Ye Jin furrowed his brows, “Aren’t you full after just a few bites?”

“I’m thirsty.” Ye Fan felt no appetite when she saw Chen Kuanren and Zhao Ruping.

Ye Fan drank half a bowl of soup and then went out to wait by the car.

Zhao Ruping wanted to build a good relationship with the Ye family. As for Ye Fan’s statement about not owing each other anything and not needing to interact in the future, Zhao Ruping thought she was just talking nonsense. When Zhao Ruping saw Ye Fan’s eldest sister-in-law cleaning the bowls and chopsticks, she immediately stood up to help, and didn’t forget to give Chen Xiaohui a meaningful look.

Because they were strangers, Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law couldn’t boss Chen Xiaohui around like she did with Ye Fan, telling her to sit down and rest. However, Zhao Ruping still pulled Chen Xiaohui up.

The mother and daughter stepped out the door, and Geng Zhiyé opened the passenger side door. When the two saw this, they stopped in their tracks, watching Ye Fan skillfully turn the car around. The green jeep shot out like a skyrocket, and the two couldn’t help but shiver a little.

Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law turned a corner and, by chance, noticed the expressions on the two of them—one with a look of disdain, clearly unable to accept a woman driving, and the other with tightly clenched hands, too afraid to look directly. She couldn’t help but wonder, since they knew where the Ye family lived, didn’t they ask around a bit more?

If they’d paid a little attention to Ye Fan, these three wouldn’t be so passive today.

As Zhao Ruping approached, she saw Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law wanting to say something but hesitating. Her mind immediately started working, “Xiaohui’s sister-in-law—”

This title sounded so awkward. Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law silently cursed inside, but on the outside, she maintained a calm, gentle smile, as if inviting her to say whatever she wanted.

Zhao Ruping immediately asked, “Ye Fan is difficult to manage, right?”

If she and her mother-in-law weren’t heading to Shencheng, Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law would’ve shot her a scornful look—”What business is that of yours?!”

“She’s already twenty-five.” Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law smiled as she spoke.

Chen Xiaohui could hear the sarcasm in her mother’s words, “Mom, what are you talking about?”

“What did I say?” Zhao Ruping dismissed it, “Isn’t it the truth? Look at her, acting like that. She just knows how to drive. Thinks she’s so amazing, like she could fly. Doesn’t even consider the risks.”

Chen Xiaohui nervously glanced at Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law.

Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law thought to herself, could it be that Ye Fan doesn’t like you, and because she’s angry, she doesn’t even want to stay in this house for a minute?

“Auntie doesn’t know Fan Fan well enough,” Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law said with a forced smile.

Zhao Ruping scoffed, “I don’t want to know her.”

“You’ll get to know her later. Fan Fan is easy to get along with,” Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law said as she walked into the kitchen.

Zhao Ruping, overly familiar, followed her inside, “What do you mean later?”

Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law froze for a moment, thinking, so she’s not finished, huh?

Seeing her mother’s sour expression, Chen Xiaohui hurriedly said, “Mom, why keep saying all this useless stuff?”

Zhao Ruping, displeased, responded, “Xiaohui—”

“Auntie—” Ye family’s eldest sister-in-law interrupted, “There’s no need for so many people for just a few pairs of bowls and chopsticks. Xiaohui, why don’t you and Auntie take a walk around here? That way, you won’t get lost when you come back in a few days.”

Zhao Ruping immediately forgot about taking the opportunity to reprimand, nodding repeatedly. “Right, right, Xiaohui, I’ll go with you to get familiar with the place.” She pulled Chen Xiaohui outside the door and gave her a reminder: “From now on, when you’re at the Ye family’s place, be a little more observant. Whether Tao Chunlan and Li Mingyue ask you to do housework or not, you can’t be like Ye Fan, eating well, and then just throwing the dishes in the kitchen and leaving. Be a bit more alert in general, and keep an eye on Ye’s family—don’t let them secretly give Ye Fan money. Don’t be shy. Whatever Ye Fan has, you should have too. If the Ye family dares to treat you unfairly, make sure to write to me. I’ll stand up for you.”

Chen Xiaohui, worried about angering her, nodded repeatedly, pretending to be obedient and agreeable, no matter what Zhao Ruping said, hoping she would handle the household registration issue.

Seeing this, Zhao Ruping couldn’t help but feel relieved that she had thrown Ye Fan out early. Otherwise, with Ye Fan’s troublesome health, she’d either be exhausted or, after all the trouble of raising her, be driven to death by her temper.

Geng Zhiyé noticed Ye Fan’s ears turning red visibly. “Oh, who’s thinking of you?”

“Stop with the feudal superstitions.” Ye Fan parked the car in front of the bathhouse. “Half an hour!”

Geng Zhiyé opened the car door and jumped out. “Either it’s your half-sister, or my cheap mother-in-law. Wait, I’ll finish it in ten minutes!”

“You dare?!” Ye Fan glared at him. “Ten minutes isn’t even enough for me to wash my hair.”

Geng Zhiyé replied, “Isn’t that because our Fan Fan has a head full of—”

“Still talking back?”

Geng Zhiyé shut up, smiled, turned around, and waved at her.

Twenty minutes later, Ye Fan had washed off the fatigue and dirt. Five minutes after that, they arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative. This time, it was Geng Zhiyé who stayed in the car, and Ye Fan went inside.

Nearly an hour passed before Ye Fan came out.

Geng Zhiyé leaned forward and opened the car door. “What were you talking about for so long?”

“You guess!”

Geng Zhiyé replied without thinking, “I can’t guess!”

“Was it interesting or not?” Ye Fan waved to her little sister-in-law, who was coming out of the building, before starting the car and driving away.

Geng Zhiyé leaned back, his whole body relaxing. “Then let me take a guess? Business is good, the bonus is high, and the business comes from you, the daring one who ran out. Usually, you’re the one who handles the tough stuff. Now that you’re gone, the person handling the problems is gone too. If the purchasing station causes trouble again and the director dares not continue selling like this, the money’s gone, and the glory fades. So, Director, you didn’t report it, but still refused to sign?”

Ye Fan couldn’t help but laugh when she remembered the director’s words.

“What else is there? Could it be that after all these years, he developed feelings for you and started treating you like family?” Geng Zhiyé snorted. “That old fox, no way!”

Ye Fan replied, “An old fox isn’t really a fox.”

“Come on!”

Ye Fan knew he wouldn’t believe it. “I laugh because he usually complains that I’m too capable, but it’s only because he’s tolerant and doesn’t mind that I steal the spotlight—”

“He still dares—” Geng Zhiyé straightened up, but when he saw Ye Fan give him a look that seemed to say, “Can you wait until I finish?” he abruptly stopped talking.

Ye Fan continued, “I heard that when I confirmed I was leaving and had already found a replacement, he spoke to me seriously, like my parents had just died, saying women should focus on their careers, that men can’t be relied on—”

“He’s full of crap! You can’t listen to him.” Geng Zhiyé cursed, still feeling unsatisfied. “As the saying goes, cutting off someone’s means of making a living is like killing their parents. It’s nothing like losing your parents.” He noticed a shop with its door tightly closed ahead. “They close so early?”

Ye Fan instinctively said, “No, it’s not that.”

“I mean that one.”

Ye Fan slowed down and looked over. “That one? Not many people go there. They’re usually only open for an hour a day.”

Geng Zhiyé couldn’t help but wonder what kind of business allows for such a relaxed schedule.

“Antique buying and selling shop. Who still dares to deal with that kind of thing these days?”

Geng Zhiyé turned to Ye Fan. Ye Fan smiled and nodded. “If it weren’t for the fact that buying those things at home causes trouble, I’d have bought a few pieces as soon as I got paid. I heard that items from the Daoguang and Xianfeng years are sold by the pound now.”

Geng Zhiyé thought to himself, I really didn’t hear wrong. “When did you become interested in antiques?”

“Gold in troubled times, antiques in prosperous ones, baby’s dad! With all these years of no war in the country, once the revolution is over, things will surely appreciate a little. We can’t afford a house on our salary, and putting money in the bank isn’t worthwhile either.”

Geng Zhiyé picked up on her tone. “You want to move out?”

Ye Fan shook her head. “I’m leaving in a few days, no need to move. But since we have our own house, if you don’t want to hear your stepmother nagging, we can always hide out there anytime.”

Geng Zhiyé wanted to say something but suddenly realized things were different now. He put his arm around Ye Fan’s shoulder. “Then I’ll ask Aunt Yu to keep an eye out for us, just say it’s for Dabao.”

“You’re good at coming up with excuses.” Ye Fan was still worried about how to move out without making her parents feel hurt.

Geng Zhiyé replied, “But it’ll take a few years. First, we don’t have that much money. Second, if we bring it up in the next couple of years, my in-laws will definitely feel like they wasted all this time raising you.”

“It’s been too busy these years. Erbao’s too young to be left alone.” Ye Fan suddenly stopped, and Geng Zhiyé jumped in surprise. “Are we here?” He looked outside. “Did we take the wrong turn?”

Ye Fan rolled her eyes at him. “Do you think I’d get lost after living at the base of the Imperial City for decades? Get out of the car, let’s go to the Friendship Store and I’ll buy you something to eat.”

Geng Zhiyé, eager for the good stuff at the Friendship Store, immediately followed her eagerly. “Buy some pastries, a bottle of whiskey, and a pack of Marlboros.”

The salesperson heard him ordering like a big spender and quickly got to work.

Ye Fan casually took out her money. “I don’t want any of those. Just give me a few bottles of cola.”