Chapter 17

Qiao Xinyi’s words made Qiao Yunbai’s eyes light up immediately.
“Can it really be like that?” Qiao Yunbai was eager to try.
“If that’s possible, Mom, you can keep everything you buy at Big Sister’s place from now on. Whenever we crave something, we’ll all come to Big Sister’s to eat — don’t bring anything back home.”

Qiao Yunbai started to complain,
“Whenever there’s something tasty at home, Grandma always secretly gives it to our cousins. Before, the things Mom’s workplace gave out, Grandma would hide a little bit every day.”
“Grandma always tells others that Big Sister and I are like starving ghosts come back to life — whatever food there is at home, we gobble it all up. But actually, Big Sister and I hardly eat any.”
“Big Sister and I wanted to tell Mom, but Grandma said if we want to cause trouble and mess up the family, we could tell. Neither Big Sister nor I wanted Mom to be unhappy because of us, so we never told her.”

Qiao Yunbai was only thirteen, at an age where he half-understood things. After holding onto these secrets for years, once he had the chance to speak, everything spilled out.

“One year at Mid-Autumn Festival, Mom’s workplace gave a box of chocolates. Mom came home and divided it all between Big Sister and me. I remember — Big Sister and I each got ten pieces.”
“But the next day, when we came home from school at noon, all the chocolates we’d hidden in the tin box were gone. That afternoon at school, I saw Qiao Jizu and the others eating them. Grandma had taken them to their house that morning.”

Qiao Yunbai felt very wronged, “Big Sister and I only ate one piece each. Mom, you didn’t even dare to try any, but Qiao Jizu and the others took them to school to show off to their classmates.”

Qiao Jizu was the youngest son of Qiao Yougen, the eldest of the Qiao family, and was three years older than Qiao Yunbai.

Chen Yubing was stunned. She had been trying her best to protect her children and thought she had done well. But she never expected the children had suffered so many grievances right under her nose without her knowing.

“Grandma often scolded Big Sister, and the words were really unpleasant. Big Sister would often cry secretly by herself.”

Qiao Yunbai glanced cautiously at Qiao Baihe, worried she might be upset by what he said.

Chen Yubing clenched her teeth in anger. She could easily guess what Chen Ju was saying about Qiao Baihe. It was definitely something like calling her a worthless, cheap girl. Whenever Chen Yubing had any quarrel with Chen Ju, Chen Ju would take her anger out on Qiao Baihe and Qiao Yunbai.

Since Qiao Yunbai was the grandson, Chen Ju held back a bit when scolding him. But when it came to Qiao Baihe, Chen Ju’s insults were as vicious as they could be — calling her a bitch, a mongrel, a little slut — all common words in Chen Ju’s vocabulary.

Qiao Xinyi finally understood how Big Sister’s soft temper had been formed. Mostly, it was the result of Chen Ju’s bullying.

“Mom, you should just get a divorce soon,” Qiao Xinyi said bluntly.
“Ten years ago, divorce was a huge taboo, but nowadays, divorce isn’t such a shameful thing.”

Many educated youth returning to the city came back only after divorcing. Nowadays, who on the street doesn’t know someone who’s divorced? Ten years ago, divorce was an outlier — not accepted by the public, easy to be isolated, and if you weren’t strong enough, easy to be bullied. Just like that friend Chen Yubing had mentioned who was divorced and raising a child alone.

These days, people see divorces more often, so acceptance has grown. After Qiao Xinyi said this, Qiao Baihe and Qiao Yunbai immediately looked toward Chen Yubing, both watching her reaction. Qiao Yunbai waited a few seconds for Chen Yubing’s response but grew a bit anxious when none came.

“Mom, I’m grown up now; no one can bully me,” Qiao Yunbai said. “I don’t like that home, don’t like Grandma, and don’t really like Dad either.”

Chen Yubing sighed and reached out to stroke the heads of Qiao Baihe and Qiao Yunbai. When she was about to touch Qiao Xinyi, her gaze met Qiao Xinyi’s clear, bright forehead, and she felt heartache again.

“You were all little before, and your grandma never liked taking care of kids. Back then, I thought about divorce because I believed if I asked for a divorce and took you kids away, your grandma would persuade your dad to agree just so she wouldn’t have to take care of you,” Chen Yubing said.

The Qiao family had many grandchildren. Chen Ju had taken care of Qiao Yougen’s eldest son Qiao Jizong for a few years. When Qiao Jizu was born, Chen Ju helped Qian Chunhua with postpartum care and then stopped taking responsibility.

“But now that you’re all grown up, your grandma probably won’t agree to let me take you away,” Chen Yubing continued. “Besides, your grandma has already squandered your dad’s wages. Once your dad realizes he has no money left, he probably won’t agree to a divorce either.”

If Qiao Laiwang still didn’t know his wages from the past twenty years were gone, and Chen Yubing wanted a divorce, he might well agree. He might even think that, after divorce, with those twenty years of wages, he could marry a younger, more obedient woman.

After hearing Chen Yubing’s words, Qiao Yunbai’s shoulders visibly slumped.

“As long as Mom is willing to divorce, the rest we can discuss over time,” Qiao Xinyi thought to himself. He knew he needed to observe more within the Qiao family.

Chen Yubing truly understood Qiao Laiwang after being his wife for twenty years; she knew him and every member of the Qiao family well.

When the four returned home, Qiao Laiwang and Chen Ju were already there. Seeing them come in, Chen Ju, with her slanted eyes, looked extremely smug.

“I told you, Qiao Laiwang came from my womb, he’s my son, he’s loyal to me. I just spent a little money on him, and he wouldn’t agree? Some people think their little schemes are secrets, making a fuss over trivial matters for everyone to know. They actually think my son would side with her? That’s hilarious,” Chen Ju said proudly.

Qiao Yunbai, still young and unable to hide his emotions, grit his teeth and glared at Qiao Laiwang.

“Who are you giving that dirty look to, you little brat? You were raised by Chen Yubing, so you should side with her,” Chen Ju said to Qiao Laiwang. “I’m telling you, these two you raised are ungrateful. When you get old, you can’t count on them — you’ll have to rely on nephews like Jizong.”

“Qiao Laiwang is your biological son and loyal to you — that’s filial piety. Qiao Yunbai is my son, so naturally being loyal to my mom is also filial piety, no problem,” Qiao Xinyi said, stroking Qiao Yunbai’s head. “My little brother is such a filial kid; he really cares about Mom and Big Sister.”

Qiao Yunbai was still angry, but being so openly praised by Qiao Xinyi made his face flush red.

“Big Sister, I’m thirteen! Not three!” Qiao Yunbai pushed Qiao Xinyi’s hand away softly.

Qiao Laiwang sat quietly on the side, expression still not good. It was clear Chen Ju’s words didn’t please him.

Chen Yubing gave a sarcastic smile, already expecting this, but still asked, “Did you get that money from your wages back?”

Qiao Laiwang shook his head.

Chen Ju broke free from Qiao Laiwang halfway along the way and jumped into the river, scaring Qiao Laiwang badly.

After passersby pulled Chen Ju out of the river, she pointed at Qiao Laiwang’s nose, scolding him for being unfilial and saying he was driving his mother to death.