Chapter 186: You Should Have Wait for Me to Return

Chen Shiying looked past at Chen Feng, his eyes filled with tears, and softly said, “Sister…”

Chen Feng turned around and saw Mrs. Wang standing behind her. She stared at Chen Shiying in a daze, her eyes brimming with tears, her lips trembling uncontrollably.

Chen Feng also called out, “Mother.”

Mrs. Wang seemed to have just awakened and softly said, “Younger brother, you’re… you’re my younger brother… What brings you here? You should leave. It’s not good for you to come to my home.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng attempted to close the door, stating, “You heard her. My mother doesn’t want you to enter.”

Chen Shiying continued to hold the door and implored, “Sister, Little Feng, let me in. There are some matters that we need to resolve face to face.” Seeing Mrs. Wang wiping her tears, Chen Feng tried to close the door again and said, “Sister, I… I rushed here from the prefectural city early this morning, feeling cold and hungry, and I haven’t had anything to eat…”

Mrs. Wang, lifting her head, asked, “Is your stomach hurting again?”

“Yes, it’s hurting a bit.” Chen Shiying nodded lightly, his hand still on his stomach.

Mrs. Wang wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve and said, “Come in, have a meal, and then you must leave immediately.” Seeing Chen Feng blocking the door and unmoving, Mrs. Wang added, “A’Feng, let him in. Remember, you mustn’t be disrespectful to him. You mustn’t.”

Chen Feng had no choice but to open the door, turning to support Mrs. Wang and say, “Mother, it’s not good to let him in.”

Mrs. Wang patted Chen Feng’s hand and said, “I’m aware.”

Chen Shiying looked around the courtyard, then walked toward the main room, with Mrs. Wang and Chen Feng following closely behind.

Upon reaching the main room, Chen Shiying took a seat at the Eight Immortals table.

In the corner of the western room, there was a small stove used to heat the kang. On the stove was a copper kettle, boiling water.

Mrs. Wang poured a cup of tea, but her hand trembled so much that some of the water spilled out as she placed the cup in front of Chen Shiying.

Chen Shiying inquired, “Chen… Sister, is Brother-in-law not at home?”

Mrs. Wang replied, “He’s out drinking at someone else’s house.” She added, “Have some hot tea first, and I’ll go prepare a bowl of egg noodles for you.”

Chen Feng felt uncomfortable under Chen Shiying’s gentle gaze, and knowing that his presence was likely not solely for a bowl of noodles, she urged Mrs. Wang to quickly address whatever matter he had and for him to leave soon.

Given the previous turmoil caused by his mother, Chen Feng had no interest in further interactions with Chen Shiying. Their family life had been gradually improving, and their relationships were harmonious. She didn’t want his presence to disrupt their peaceful life.

She pulled Mrs. Wang aside and said, “Mother, I’ll go downstairs. If you have anything to say, please do so quickly, preferably before Father returns. I’ll ask Auntie Mu to come upstairs and will be back soon.” With that, she briskly headed to the kitchen.

Chen Shiying had a few sips of tea and noticed Mrs. Wang still standing there with her head bowed, hands trembling. He said, “Sister, please sit.”

Mrs. Wang then sat a few seats away from him, still with her head down.

Chen Shiying sighed and softly asked, “Sister, you’ve changed a lot. Is he treating you well?”

Mrs. Wang replied, “My husband treats me very well, and he’s also very good to A’Feng.”

Chen Shiying nodded and said, “Brother-in-law is a kind-hearted person.”

When Chen Feng returned to the main room and sat next to Mrs. Wang, Chen Shiying continued, “Some time ago, General Chu told me some things, and after inquiring, I couldn’t believe that my mother did those things in the countryside, causing harm to you and little Feng… I apologize for my oversight. I also apologize on my mother’s behalf. She was wrong to do such things. I will take strict measures to control her and ensure that such things never happen again.”

Chen Feng, not one to hold back like Mrs. Wang, spoke up coldly, “Is it just wrong that your mother did that? She already knew…” She paused, unable to say “granddaughter” and continued, “She already knew certain things but still spent money to force me into marrying someone. That’s malicious!”

Chen Shiying had heard that his daughter was quite formidable, but he hadn’t expected her to be so forceful. He resisted saying what he wanted to and decided he would have to guide her slowly in the future.

Chen Shiying further inquired, “Sister, why did you leave home? Even in difficult times, you should have waited for my return… You already had Little Feng, so why did you rush into marriage?”

His words carried a tone of reproach.

Mrs. Wang, already upset, became even more distressed upon hearing this, and tears streamed down her face. Choking back tears, she said, “Why I left home… Can’t you guess?”

Chen Shiying spoke softly, “I know. It must have been Mother, the Tang family, and Zhao’s coercion… I mean, no matter how difficult it was, even if you returned to your family or a relative’s home temporarily, you should have waited for my return…”

Mrs. Wang wiped her tears and turned to him, saying, “That year, you were still in Shizhou Prefecture and hadn’t returned. One afternoon, Zhao suddenly brought two guests, saying they were surnamed Tang and hailed from Shizhou Prefecture. After talking with your mother for a long time, she came to me and said you were living with the Tang family to take part in the township examination. One drunken incident led to an encounter with the Tang family’s daughter. Overwhelmed with shame, the girl attempted suicide by hanging herself, but was fortunately discovered in time. Outraged, the Tang family patriarch gave us an ultimatum: either you marry their daughter or they would lodge a complaint at the government office. Zhao insisted that if you were accused, not only would you miss the examination, but you would also lose your status as a scholar and be thrown into prison. Your mother begged me to give you a way out…” Mrs. Wang’s sobs grew louder as she continued, “I was terrified too, fearing the consequences if the Tang family accused you. I couldn’t bear to think how you would survive. Besides leaving your family to save you, what else could I do?”

“They smeared my name like that!” Chen Shiying slammed his fist on the table, causing the teacup to jump and spill some water.

Years ago, after he had passed the imperial examination, his mother had informed him that the Tang family’s daughter had developed feelings for him and wanted to marry him. When the Tang family found out about his marriage, they approached the Chen family to propose that their daughter become a concubine. However, Wang Juan, instead of accepting this proposal, caused a scene and returned to her family. In a fit of anger, her mother decided not to pursue the marriage and, with her second brother as a witness, arranged for an engagement with the Tang family and exchanged gifts…

Chen Shiying wasn’t naive. He knew the personalities of Wang Juan, his mother, and the second brother who was involved. When he was in Dingzhou Prefecture, Tang Shoude, the wealthy merchant of Shizhou Prefecture, had found him at the inn and offered him a thousand taels of silver, inviting him to the Tang family…