Chapter 1572 - 1561: Honest Fool

Chapter 1572: Chapter 1561: Honest Fool

Here’s the translated text:

Niu Xue Mei’s old hen simmered with fragrance from one side, while on the other side, Wang Po and Wang Hong’s food tasted bland. Although the dishes included meat and eggs, the pieces of meat were merely scattered bits, especially since Wang Po was stingy with oil. Compared to the aroma of chicken meat, it was lackluster.

The whole family, including Ye Dong who joined them for the meal, found the food tasteless. Ye Conghui and Ye Conghuang, although not causing a scene, picked at the food reluctantly, apparently unable to eat.

Wang Hong didn’t eat much either; she was waiting for Niu Xue Mei to bring a bowl over for Wang Po and Old Man Ye so she could snag some for herself. But even after her bowl of rice had gone cold, there was no sign from Niu Xue Mei.

"Never seen someone so unfilial; parents are right there, and she eats alone." She said bitterly as she chewed her meal.

Ye Dong’s eyes turned: "Elder sister-in-law, your family has so many chickens, why haven’t you slaughtered one to honor your parents?"

Wang Hong sneered: "You have chickens too, why not slaughter yours first?"

"That wouldn’t do, I have to raise them to make money for a bride. Brother and sister-in-law divided so much of the family assets, and since the parents are with you, naturally it should come from your household!" Ye Dong said matter-of-factly.

"You save money for a bride and eat our food? You’re sure thrifty." Wang Hong puckered her lips, clearly upset about the mother-in-law letting Ye Dong eat at their house before marriage.

Wang Po couldn’t pretend not to hear, her face darkened: "This house is divided, but it’s all yours and the eldest’s now? Without me, would you have divided so much? Ye Dong is still a child, how much can he eat? Are you asking him to cook for himself, a grown man?"

Wang Hong’s face turned awkward at the reprimand: "Mother, that’s not what I meant."

Though she apologized, her heart was squeezed tight. One moment it’s said he’s a child who doesn’t eat much, the next it’s said Ye Dong, a grown man, can’t cook. What kind of logic is this? Ye Dong is already twenty-one, yet he eats the most at home; isn’t it heartbreaking?

The aroma of chicken meat also detracted from Wang Po’s appetite, as she too waited for Niu Xue Mei to bring chicken over. After waiting forever with no sign, she put down her bowl and stood at the kitchen door cursing: "Raised a son for nothing, he only knows to eat alone, never honors his parents."

Inside, as Niu Xue Mei heard the yelling and prepared to serve some food, Ye Xia stopped her and walked out: "Mother, are you cursing brother and sister-in-law?"

"Why are you still eating at the third son’s family so late?" Seeing her daughter, Wang Po swallowed her words.

Ye Xia feigned ignorance: "Didn’t Xue Mei say she killed a chicken to supplement the third brother and two children and left me to eat here? Mother, brother and sister-in-law aren’t honoring you? How can that be? I’ll go find the village chief for justice."

"Enough, come back." Wang Po’s eyes glared, "Stop playing dumb, you know what I mean."

Ye Xia sighed and counseled gently: "Mother, the family is divided, the duty to honor you falls to brother and sister-in-law. If you truly crave it, you should ask brother to kill a chicken and stew it for you. Why trouble the third son and Xue Mei? Everyone talked privately about today’s division, wouldn’t they laugh secretly if not in front of you? The third son rarely eats well to nurture himself, are the scraps worth the trouble and insults?"

"I’m your mother, even you disdain me?" Wang Po felt her daughter grew up and married, only to look down on her, her heart blocked with discomfort.

"If I despised you, I wouldn’t have let Cong Hui often stay at my house in the past."

"Cong Hui is your nephew, isn’t it right to care for him? You’re married away, you’ll still rely on him in the future!"

"Enough." Ye Xia rolled her eyes, "Didn’t the money for Cong Hui’s studies come from the third son? And while the third son has been sick until now, has he checked in once? Would I rely on him? Do I not have sons myself?"

"You’ve grown so difficult to control now that you have money, is that courage?" Wang Po seethed, trembling with anger, fingers shaking.

Ye Xia’s gaze cooled; being in business values profit, and she’s long stopped being the Ye Er Ya who was bossed around without complaint. Her parents exchanged her for dowries she remembers vividly, so much suffering over the years is just as clear.

"Mother, when I married, you clearly told me I was no longer a Ye Family member — never to expect anything from Ye Family. Did you forget?"

Wang Po froze: "You’re holding grudges? I’m your mother who gave birth to you and raised you. However I treat you is only right."

"But now I’m married, I’m part of the Jia Family. Mother, I’m grateful you gave birth to me, thus each year I’ve visited you during festivals, and never refused caring for Cong Hui. But it doesn’t mean I comply with everything — the third son was always obedient, how did that end for him? If Zhijie lacked skills, would you check on me at all?" Ye Xia questioned, finally voicing what’s been pent-up for years.

"You resent me?" Wang Po jealously huffed, "Without me, could you live so well?"

Ye Xia felt immense disappointment: "I live well because Zhijie’s capable and because I gave Jia Family two children. You think I didn’t know you planned to marry me off to someone else without that extra ten taels from Yu Kun?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

"Wasn’t it all for your good? A bigger dowry means wealthier family and better life for you."

"Come on, mother. You truly want me well and didn’t provide a dowry? To marry me, Zhijie’s family nearly emptied their assets; was that for my benefit?" Ye Xia said sarcastically, determined to lay years of stored grievances bare.

"When Yu Kun was born, Jia Family hadn’t much money yet; you said you cared, but did you visit or see your grandson once? Mother, we’re blood, don’t I know you? I haven’t said I’d stop visiting or disallow Cong Hui access, why say false words?"

Today, Ye Xia spoke without holding back, leaving Wang Po furious, ashes showing on her face yet unable to rebut truths said, her heart suffocating.

Old Man Ye seemed unaffected by the wife and daughter’s argument, undistracted while drinking his liquor and eating his snacks.

Wang Hong exchanged glances with her husband then shrugged. When mother-in-law argues with sister-in-law, she as a daughter-in-law won’t interfere; besides, the tension was between the mother-in-law and the younger sister-in-law, not involving her. Didn’t Ye Xia mention not barring Cong Hui from coming into Jia Family later?