Chapter 155: Knowing No Restraint

Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Knowing No Restraint

"It was at school today..." At the question, Lin Jiayi remembered everything that had happened and started sobbing again. In the end, it was Lin Jia Bao who stepped forward and recounted the day’s events.

"That Teacher He of yours is going too far! I’m going to find her tomorrow..." After hearing the story, Tao Jianren couldn’t hold it in any longer and exploded.

"Oh, just be quiet, will you? Aren’t we enough of a laughingstock to the neighbors already? And think about it, Jia Bao got into a fight at school. Do you really think he was in the right? A teacher has to manage so many students. How could she have the spare time to coddle every single one of them?" Mrs. Tao saw her son frowning, clearly disapproving of his sister’s words, so she quickly scolded her daughter.

After scolding her daughter, she turned to Lin Jiayi. "And you, Jia Yi. Don’t be so fragile at school. A lot has happened in the family recently, and we adults are at our wits’ end. We can’t look after you every second. So someone played a prank and put an earthworm in your pencil case. What’s so scary about an earthworm? Was it worth making such a big fuss that your brother had to go and fight someone over it?"

"But Grandma, you know I’m scared of disgusting things like that," Lin Jiayi pouted, her eyes brimming with tears.

"That’s enough. You’re not some rich man’s daughter, but you’ve certainly been spoiled into acting as delicate as one. How are you going to get by in the future like this?" Mrs. Tao waved her hand dismissively, delivering her verdict. "What’s so scary about an earthworm? Every family around here raises a few chickens, and kids your age have to dig up worms to feed them. You’re just spoiled and fragile because you’ve never had to do any work. All right, we’ll start toughening you up today. From now on, you’re washing the dishes at night. A big girl like you needs to start learning housework instead of being a lazy glutton all day."

"But my final exams are soon, and I have to study. Especially tonight—besides my regular homework, I have to write the lines Teacher He assigned as punishment..." Lin Jiayi was stunned.

"How long can washing a few dishes possibly take? It won’t interfere with your studies. People who are good at studying will succeed. Those who aren’t could study until their hair turns white and it would be useless. You might as well quit school now and save us the money." Mrs. Tao said mercilessly. The threat in her words terrified Lin Jiayi. She instinctively looked toward her mother, only to find that she was being completely ignored, her mother just kept her head down and continued eating.

After all, Lin Jiayi’s Cultivation was still lacking, and she couldn’t stop a look of resentment from appearing on her face. Even Lin Jia Bao tightened his grip on his chopsticks. The siblings’ reactions did not escape Tao Junhao’s notice. He cleared his throat and said to Mrs. Tao, "Mom, the kids’ studies are important. Even if you have good intentions and want to train them, you don’t need to do it right when they’re about to have their final exams."

"...You always spoil the children. Fine. Since you’ve put it that way, we’ll forget about the dishwashing." Mrs. Tao paused, glanced at her son, and then relented.

Lin Jiayi and Lin Jia Bao couldn’t help but look at their uncle. Though still a little puzzled, looks of gratitude appeared on their faces. ’Huh? Could we have been wrong about Uncle all along? Was his coldness toward us these past few days just our imagination?’

That evening, after finishing the housework, Mrs. Tao went back to her room. A moment later, Tao Junhao came in. "Mom, what did you and Sis talk about in her room earlier?"

"What else? The same old things. Why?"

"Ahem. I saw those two bastards eavesdropping outside. I didn’t say anything at the time because I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation. Their faces didn’t look like they’d been crying so obviously back then, so I’m curious what you said to make them so heartbroken."

"They were eavesdropping?" Mrs. Tao asked, startled.

"I take it Sis didn’t have anything nice to say?" Tao Junhao asked with a sarcastic smile.

"It was far worse than ’not nice’." Mrs. Tao recounted Tao Jianren’s words from earlier to her son, then sighed. "I originally planned to advise her to get on the good side of the Gu Family after she marries in, so her life would at least be a little easier. But seeing her act like that, I completely lost the will to even try."

"No wonder. Those two bastards are quite patient and cunning, knowing to go outside to cry and then hide the fact when they came back." Tao Junhao simply gave a cold smirk and brushed the matter aside. Ever since his sister’s shameless actions had dragged him down with her, he had stopped thinking of her as family. ’What does it matter to me if her own kids turn against her?’ He was more concerned about whether his mother was getting soft. "Mom," he said anxiously, "you aren’t getting soft on Sis, are you? We can’t have that."

"Don’t worry. I know what’s important." Mrs. Tao shook her head. "Sigh. I don’t know who she gets that selfishness from. Right now, I just regret ever giving birth to such a shameless creature, only for her to end up dragging you down. By the way, why did you stop me earlier?"

"Mom, you know what they say: don’t burn your bridges. Think about it. We’re only putting up with those two bastards for a few more days. Why force them to do chores for that short time and make them hate you? What good comes from dropping all pretense? It’s much better to keep acting nice to them. You never know, we might be able to use them for something in the future."

"That’s true. You’re the educated one; you understand these things better." A look of understanding dawned on Mrs. Tao’s face. "All right, I’ll be nicer to them for the next few days."

"Exactly. I’ve been a bit cold to them these past couple of days, too. I’ll have to correct that. Mom, the most important thing right now is to keep a close eye on Sis. You must remember to stay near her tomorrow. Keep watch. She’s already thinking about running away, and I’m worried your threats weren’t enough to stop her. I’m going to ask Mr. Lin for a few days off tomorrow. I have to watch her like a hawk until she’s safely inside the Gu Family’s home," Tao Junhao continued to press his mother.

"I know, I know. You’ve said it a hundred times. If you’re so worried, why don’t you go ask Mr. Lin for time off right now? If you watch her yourself tomorrow, I’m sure nothing will go wrong," Mrs. Tao said offhandedly.

"...You’re right. Better sooner than later. Maybe I should go right now. It’s still early, after all. And her work already fired her, right? If it’s just you here tomorrow, I’m genuinely worried you won’t be able to keep her in line." After speaking, Tao Junhao didn’t waste any more words with his mother. He turned, grabbed his bicycle, and swiftly headed out the door.

Mrs. Tao followed him out, about to say something, but she saw her daughter and daughter-in-law in the courtyard. Tao Jianren was muttering about Tao Junhao, "Why is he going out so late? I called out to him, but he just ignored me. What’s with that? Is he rushing off to meet a mistress?"

Yuan Chunhua’s expression immediately soured.

"What mistress? Chunhua, don’t listen to her nonsense. It’s hardly late. Of course Jun Hao is out on proper business. You’ve known him for so many years; you know what kind of person he is, don’t you?" Seeing that her daughter’s words had clearly sent her daughter-in-law’s mind racing, Mrs. Tao’s anger toward Tao Jianren flared.

She shot Tao Jianren a glare. ’Just because you’re shameless, does that mean you think everyone else is too?’

The more Mrs. Tao thought about it, the more furious she became, and she shot her daughter another fierce glare. ’This troublemaker has only been back a few days, and she hasn’t been quiet for a single moment. All those years with the Lin family truly spoiled her rotten; she doesn’t even know her place anymore. It looks like the only way this house will get any peace is to ship her off to the Gu Family.’

"Mom, I was just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?" Tao Jianren said with a dismissive pout. "Of course Chunhua knows Jun Hao isn’t like that."

"Some things aren’t for joking about." Mrs. Tao wanted to say more, but she swallowed her words and gave her daughter a complicated look. ’We’re already at this point, and she still doesn’t know how to rein it in, even at her own parents’ home. Forget it. Everyone has their own destiny; I can’t control her anymore.’ With a spin, Mrs. Tao went back inside, following the principle of ’out of sight, out of mind.’

"Hmph. Mom is so biased toward you and Jun Hao now. I’m the one with no standing in this house; I can’t even make a simple joke," Tao Jianren said, shooting Yuan Chunhua a look filled with jealousy and hatred before flouncing back to her room to sulk.

’Pah! You call that a joke? You shameless bitch. It’s obvious you’re just divorced and can’t stand to see anyone else happy.’

As she watched her sister-in-law’s retreating figure, Yuan Chunhua finally understood. She recalled Tao Junhao telling her to just put up with his sister and her two kids for a little while longer. Her lips moved as she mouthed a silent curse.