Chapter 347: Chapter 347: Bullying
Zhang Minghua still shook her head and patted her hand, “An old person always enjoys lively surroundings, but your dad surely won’t agree.”
Yang Peimin didn’t try to persuade further because the customs here were such that unless the house couldn’t accommodate everyone, or one of the parents had died, the family wouldn’t easily split up.
And Zhang Minghua was just making casual remarks. In the end, she still hoped to live with her children. Yang Peimin, thinking about her own feelings as an expecting mother, could very well understand.
The days had been growing dark quickly, and by a little after three in the afternoon, Zhang Minghua had already asked her daughter-in-law to start preparing dinner by slaughtering a chicken.
Bai Hehua normally tended to be lazy, but today, after picking up Yang Peimin’s clothes, she had become especially proactive. However, she was holding her son in her arms and couldn’t free her hands. She wanted to ask Yang Peiying to help hold him for a bit. This child was her precious baby and also the only grandson of the Yang Family, so she definitely wouldn’t want to leave him crawling on the “kang” (traditional heated bed), “Yingzi, Yingzi, where have you gone?” she called out loudly in the courtyard.
“What do you need Yingzi for? She’s gone to deliver clothes to her grandma.”
“Oh, Mom, it’s nothing much, I just wanted Yingzi to help me hold Xiao Bao for a while.”
Zhang Minghua frowned and said, “Xiao Bao doesn’t need to be held all day long. Bring him here, I’ll watch him.”
“Oh Mom, this little guy doesn’t want to come down; he starts fussing as soon as I put him down,” Bai Hehua said dotingly.
Zhang Minghua spoke irritably, “The fussing is all because you spoil him. Put him down; how can a child be held all day? Do you not need to work then? You’re spoiling the child too much.”
Only then did Bai Hehua put Xiao Bao down, and Yang Peimin shifted to make space for Xiao Bao to crawl on the “kang.”
This little nephew had just turned one year old, and Yang Peimin still remembered the tiny form he had when he was born—he was skinny and wrinkled, looking like a little mouse. Now seeing him kind of resembled his dad; perhaps still thin because he was premature, but his eyes were big and spirited.
However, after being put down, Yang Peimin started feeling a headache coming on, as the little one began wailing immediately, clutching at his mother’s clothes, unwilling to let go.
Zhang Minghua soothed him, “Xiao Bao, be good. Play here with Grandma. Look, your Fourth Aunt is here too. Do you remember her? She bought you new clothes and treats!”
Xiao Bao didn’t recognize Yang Peimin, turned his head to glance at her, and cried even harder.
Yang Peimin: “…”
Bai Hehua then put a piece of candy in his mouth, and the child instantly stopped crying. Zhang Minghua looked up at her daughter-in-law, “That’s the sixth piece today, how can he eat so much?”
“Well, Mom, candy is the only thing that calms him. Don’t worry, just let him have it. We’re not running out at home. Other families’ children want candy and can’t get it; at least our Xiao Bao is lucky.”
Zhang Minghua waved her hand dismissively, “Alright, you go on with your work.”
“Alright then, Mom, you sit with Minmin for a while. Oh dear, it seems Yingzi has been at Third Aunt’s house for quite a long time; why hasn’t she come back yet?”
Zhang Minghua wiped her grandson’s nose with a handkerchief and casually mentioned, “She and Peidi probably have things to talk about.” She knew her daughter’s social circle well—it was small, and Peidi from their Third Uncle’s home was one of them.
“I guess so,” Bai Hehua responded as she lifted the door curtain, ready to step out.
As soon as her words ended, she saw Yang Peiying walking into the yard. Bai Hehua called out, “Hey Yingzi, you’re back! We were just talking about you. You’ve come back just in time to give me a hand with Xiao Bao.”
Yang Peiying appeared startled by her voice and responded in a low tone without looking up, continuing to keep her head down as she walked inside the house.
Yang Peimin pulled her onto the kang to sit and inquired, “Is it cold outside? How many layers did you wear today? Your hands are cold as ice.”
“It’s not cold,” Peiying replied softly.
Sensing something unusual, Yang Peimin asked, “What’s wrong, Yingzi? Why does your voice sound strange?” She leaned in closer to look at Peiying’s face.
Noticing her red eyes and nose, as if she had just been crying, Yang Peimin was startled and blurted out, “Why have you been crying?”
Her words drew the attention of Zhang Minghua nearby. Bai Hehua, who was about to leave, stopped in her tracks, turned around, and came back, exclaiming, “Oh my, Yingzi, why have you been crying? Did someone bully you?”
Peiying bowed her head and stayed silent.
Zhang Minghua angrily said, “What exactly is going on? You’re keeping quiet; did someone bully you or not?” Her daughter’s personality was a headache for her. Neither she nor her husband shared this trait. Who did this child take after? None of her siblings were like this. If someone had bullied her and she kept silent, Zhang would rather she had been more confrontational.
Peiying shook her head. “No one bullied me.”
Sitting beside her, Bai Hehua urged, “Oh, Yingzi, just tell us the truth. You just came from your uncle’s place, right? Was it someone from over there? Or was it Peidi? Don’t be afraid, just tell us and we’ll stand up for you.”
“Not Peidi…” Peiying hastily said.
“So, what did this Yang Peidi do to you? Did she steal something from you?” Bai Hehua looked anxious.
Yang Peimin glanced at Bai Hehua, impressed with her perceptiveness.
Peimin guessed, “Yingzi, did Peidi say something to you?”
Zhang Minghua, seeing her hesitant behavior, felt infuriated again, “Why aren’t you speaking?”
“It’s alright, Yingzi. We’re all family here. If there’s anything bothering you, you can share it with us and we’ll discuss it together. Maybe we can offer you some advice. How does that sound?” Yang Peimin held her hand.
Peiying nodded. “Peidi, Peidi asked me to give up my matchmaking prospect to her, otherwise, otherwise she can’t go on living… Third Aunt, Third Aunt found an old man for her…”
Before Peiying could finish, Bai Hehua jumped up infuriated, “That Yang Peidi, does she have no shame? How did Third Aunt raise her? Does she have no sense of decency? I am going to give her a piece of my mind,” she announced as she stood up to leave.
But as everyone looked at her without holding her back, Bai Hehua sat down again and continued, “What exactly happened? Third Aunt said this morning that Peidi had no suitor. Didn’t she ask your second aunt to introduce someone? How could she shamelessly snatch someone else’s partner just like that? She clearly lied to you… What did you say in return? Please tell me you didn’t agree? Don’t be so naive, it’s a lifelong decision, not something trivial like giving up a meal… If it were me, I’d spit right in her face. This level of shamelessness is new to me!”