Chapter 811: Chapter 548: Frustration
The second watch has arrived.
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"Mingtao, when did you get back, why aren’t you sleeping?"
Accompanied by the inquiry, the glaring light turned on. Yu Mingtao instinctively shielded his eyes with his hand and wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes. By the time he looked at his mother, his face was calm, "Mom, I’ll sleep in a bit."
"What’s wrong?" Mother Yu sized up her son, frowning, "Where’s Jiping? Why didn’t she come back with you? Didn’t you say you both would come back and stay until after the New Year?"
"Mm." A sound escaped his throat as the suppressed emotions surged, and Yu Mingtao couldn’t say another word.
"What exactly is going on?" Mother Yu slapped her son on the back, "If your dad sees you like this, he’ll be angry again. If there’s something up, just say it, don’t be such a closed book!"
"Why are you two making noise so early?" Father Yu emerged with a yawn, "I sleep lightly as it is, and now you’ve made such a racket, I can’t get back to sleep."
"Sleep, sleep, that’s all you know. The son didn’t sleep all night, and you don’t even ask why?" Mother Yu said, tenderly stroking her son’s slightly swollen eyes, "Look at what he’s like. Mingtao, just tell Mom if something’s up, don’t keep it to yourself."
"A grown man, acting like Lin Daiyu?" Father Yu sat opposite his son, full of dissatisfaction, "Look at you looking all pathetic. By the way, where’s the canopy grass your second uncle wanted? Did you bring it back?"
Yu Mingtao frowned, "Dad, why don’t you ask why Jiping didn’t come back?"
"Why didn’t she come back?" Father Yu glared at his son, "She’s the daughter-in-law, am I supposed to ask her the moment I see her? Do you think that’s normal? You’re old enough, why don’t you think before you speak?"
"Dad, why make excuses? In your heart, isn’t the canopy grass more important than Jiping?"
"You brat, is that how you talk to your father?" Father Yu kicked at his son, "Feeling your oats now, starting to boss your old man around, do you think what you’re doing is right?"
"What are you doing?" Mother Yu pushed Father Yu discontentedly, "The child hasn’t slept all night, his eyes are blue, and you’re still kicking him. Is he even your son?"
"If he were really my son, he wouldn’t be asking me all this nonsense..." Father Yu looked at Mother Yu angrily, "It’s all because you spoiled him, no respect for elders at all."
"Dad..." Yu Mingtao looked seriously at his father, "Say whatever you want about me, hit me if you like, I just hope you can honestly answer me this question: What exactly is Zhou Jiping to you?"
"What is she?" As Father Yu stared coldly at his son, "You tell me, what is she? I’d like to regard her as a daughter-in-law, but has she fulfilled her duties as a daughter-in-law?"
"What duties do you want from her? Ever since she married into this family, what has she done wrong?" Yu Mingtao’s voice suddenly rose, his face even, twisting slightly.
Never having seen their son like this, both Father and Mother Yu were stunned. After a long while, Father Yu recovered first, got up, and slapped him across the face, "You’re rebelling!"
"Old man!" Mother Yu quickly stood in front of Yu Mingtao, "Our son is already grown, no longer a two-year-old child. There’s definitely a reason for his sudden change. Couldn’t you just listen before getting mad?"
"Overindulgent mother, spoiling him, one day he’ll forget who we are, and you’ll be happy!" Father Yu, furious, looked at his wife, "Whatever his reason is, he shouldn’t cause such a commotion upon returning.
I don’t even have to ask to know the reason. Isn’t it just the wife whispering in his ear, swaying his mind, coming back to fight for rights for her? Such a barren hen, and he’s shameless enough to defend her!"
Originally full of indignation, Mother Yu’s expression quickly shifted to desolation upon hearing the last sentence. She sighed heavily and slumped down.
"Knock, knock, knock..." The door rattled with knocking. Yu Mingtao was momentarily stunned, then quickly ran over and pulled it open, seeing Zhou Mikang and Chuxia standing there, he immediately asked, "Has Jiping woken up and wants to see me?"
"Yes." Zhou Mikang nodded.
"Great!" Yu Mingtao turned excitedly to change his shoes. Zhou Mikang calmly watched his back, "Don’t get too happy. You now have two choices: if you want to be with Jiping, then you’ll have to spend New Year’s at the Zhou family. If you want to spend it with your family, then don’t go. After the New Year, you can discuss matters between you two."
Yu Mingtao’s body suddenly froze. After a moment, he stood straight, "Alright, I’ll spend New Year’s at the Zhou family; from now on, I’ll do whatever Jiping says."
"You disgraceful son!" Father Yu threw a shoe at him, "What nonsense are you talking about? You married a wife into the family, not to become a son-in-law to the Zhou family!"
"Hey brother, you’re also a son. If your wife asked this of you, would you agree?" Mother Yu came to the door, looking coldly at Zhou Mikang, "I’m telling you too, if she doesn’t come home for the New Year, she doesn’t need to come ever again."
"Mom!" Yu Mingtao hurriedly looked at Mother Yu, "Could you please not complicate things?"
"Where has your heart strayed?" Mother Yu slumped to the ground, beating her chest and wailing, "Your father was right, by shielding you, I’ve turned you into an ungrateful wretch. We scrimped and saved to put you through school, to get you a wife, just for you to treat us like this one day. Do you even have a conscience? Are you not afraid of divine retribution?!"
"What’s going on? Mom, what’s wrong?" Yu Mingtao’s sister hurriedly ran out of the room, reaching to pull Mother Yu off the floor, and glared angrily at Yu Mingtao, "Brother, what are you doing on New Year’s Eve? You know mom’s health isn’t good, why can’t you speak calmly? You’re causing a scene so early, aren’t you afraid of outsiders laughing at us?"
"Can you refrain from getting involved?" Yu Mingtao turned seriously towards his parents, "You are all blaming me for not being filial, for siding with Jiping, but truthfully, I was always siding with you all before, which caused her to suffer so much.
This entire time, I’ve been asking you what you truly see her as, and now it seems, my questions were completely redundant. Dad, you always say she’s a hen that won’t lay eggs, but have you ever thought, all these years we’ve been living apart. Every time I come back, either you or grandpa calls me for a talk. To have a baby, we also need the chance, don’t we?
This time, she finally got pregnant, but because of one word from you, Dad, she went to the mountain in the freezing weather to gather herbage, and as a result..." Thinking of his wife’s pale complexion, Yu Mingtao choked and couldn’t continue.
"What are you saying?" Mother Yu grabbed her son’s sleeve, "You’re saying Zhou Jiping is pregnant?"
"Yes!"
"Since she knew she was pregnant, why wasn’t she more careful? Is that how a woman acts? Does she even want to leave a legacy for the Yu family?"
"Hey, how can you speak like that?" Chuxia took a step forward, glaring at her with anger, "If Second Sister knew she was pregnant, would she go picking herbage? You blame Second Sister without even clarifying the situation. Is this how elders should act?"
Yu Mingtao’s sister rolled her eyes, "Who are you to have the right to speak here?"
"I am Zhou Jiping’s sister-in-law, her family. Do you think I don’t have the right to speak?" Chuxia also rolled her eyes, "You’re a girl too. Aren’t you afraid you’ll end up with a husband’s family like this when you marry?"
"Marrying my brother was her own decision. My parents treated her well. It’s her fault for not getting pregnant. Who can she blame?" Yu Mingxia glanced at her brother, "You complain about not having time. Brother Wang next door only comes home once a year. Sister-in-law Wang still managed to have three kids in two years. Brother, you come back ten or eight times a year. Don’t push the blame onto Dad and Grandpa, okay?"
"Quiet, all of you!" Father Yu stepped forward, earnestly looking at Zhou Mikang, "The fact that you came over means you represent the entire Zhou family, so I apologize.
However, I accept my faults, but doesn’t your sister also have hers? I asked Mingtao to gather herbage for his second uncle, so why did she go instead?
A proper woman should stay quietly at home, not flaunt herself outside. When something goes wrong, she can’t blame others. That’s not how a proper woman’s lifestyle should be.
You’ve made your demands, and I’ll make mine. My old lady and I both feel that if she comes home now and celebrates New Year, I’ll pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, such a daughter-in-law is too lofty for us, and we might as well not pursue it."
While saying these words, Father Yu didn’t spare even a glance at Chuxia.
Seeing the quality of this family, Chuxia found it impossible to imagine Jiping’s life here. She didn’t hide her feelings, looking directly at Zhou Mikang, "Are their family members always like this?"
"Yes."
"And you, as her brother, just let her live like this?!" Chuxia snorted coldly, giving Zhou Mikang a push, "Let’s go. There’s no point talking to these people..." She said, turning to Yu Mingtao, "We’ve delivered the message. You decide for yourself."
Yu Mingtao stood there in a daze, not reacting.
"I’ll answer for my brother, no way!" Yu Mingxia waved her hand at Chuxia, "Just leave, stop nagging here. Isn’t it obvious your big sister-in-law can’t let go of my brother and came looking for an excuse? Stop pretending to be something you’re not. If you dare, never come back again!"
Zhou Mikang gave Yu Mingtao a faint look, then turned and nudged Chuxia with his arm to leave.
Back at the hospital, Zhou Jiping had already eaten. You could see from her eyes that she was hoping Yu Mingtao would come over.
Chuxia was boiling with anger. She never imagined a Zhou family daughter-in-law would end up like this. The attitude of the Yu family towards her and Zhou Mikang was one thing, but one could only imagine how they treated Zhou Jiping regularly. She couldn’t understand how Jiping endured it. If it were her own sister, she’d probably hit her over the head to knock some sense into her.
When Zhou Jiping didn’t see Yu Mingtao, her gaze dimmed, and she turned her head away, closing her eyes.