The restaurant's main entrance was blocked by a curtain, making it impossible to see inside.
But the voice calling for the waiter upstairs was none other than his third brother, Jinlu.
So this restaurant is actually run by a woman.
Why.....
Why is it that even though Mother is so rich and has earned so much money, she still won't forgive herself?
Was he really adopted?
Jin Shou was completely dumbfounded, and he walked towards the city gate with lifeless eyes.
Moving one step at a time.
When he regained consciousness, he was already outside the Yan family's gate.
It was still dark at this time.
The Yan family's gate was open.
Jin Shou went in without even knocking.
He saw his mother intently playing with the chicks in the yard.
"Chirp chirp chirp—"
"Giggle giggle—"
"Knock knock knock—"
The sounds of chickens and chopping vegetables in the kitchen drowned out Jin Shou's footsteps.
"Mother~"
A call made Yan Xia stop in her tracks.
"Mother, why are you treating me like this? What did I do wrong? I know you resent me, that you blame me for not coming with you and staying with the Chen family instead. But I wasn't doing this for myself. I was doing it for you, for Father's pension. That's our money, isn't it? You were penniless back then, and you couldn't possibly support the five of us. I was trying to ease your burden, you..."
Yan Xia turned around and looked at Jin Shou, who was talking non-stop.
His expression grew increasingly impatient.
"Stop, stop talking. What's the point of saying all this now? Are you doing this for us? You're doing it for yourself. Do you really think I don't know what you're thinking? If I had no money and was still that penniless, pitiful mother, would you come back begging for mercy? You're selfish to the core. You didn't want to suffer with us, but you regretted it when you saw us enjoying the good life. You and the Chen family are cut from the same cloth, just like your wicked father."
Yan Xia scattered the last handful of rice husks into the chicken coop.
He clapped his hands.
"Get out. This is the Yan family. You, the grandson of the Chen family, are not worthy to enter. Also, your household registration is with the Chen family and has nothing to do with me. I'm telling you this: from now on, we are strangers. Just pretend I'm dead. If you see me, please pretend you don't know me."
After Yan Xia finished speaking, she pushed Jin Shou out the door and bolted it shut.
Why?
"Mother, am I really your biological child?!"
Why are you doing this to me?!
"Ahhhh—"
Jin Shou completely broke down.
He stood at Yan Xia's door and shouted.
This prompted Xiaohe to frequently look outside.
"Mother...he...."
Shi Xiaohe hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
"Do you think your mother is heartless? I gave birth to five children, one twin and one triplet. I suffered terribly giving birth to them, and it completely ruined my body, making me unable to conceive again. I used to be weak and pathetic. I would endure being beaten and scolded without uttering a sound, preferring to bear it rather than run away. Do you know why? Because I was afraid that if I left, they would have no mother, and they would be tormented to death by the Chen family. So I could only endure it, endure it until I couldn't bear it anymore. But how did Jin Shou treat me? He betrayed me, he betrayed his mother..."
Yan Xia talked for a long time, until the food got cold.
It's unclear whether it's the lingering emotions of the original owner at play, or something else entirely.
She told Xiaohe all her grievances.
The shouts outside the door grew fainter until they fell silent.
Xiaohe's eyes also reddened.
She hugged her mother-in-law tightly.
“Mother, I don’t think you’re heartless. I’m just afraid you’ll be sad. You still have us, Jinfu and Jinlu, Guihua and Lamei, and me. You also have the obedient Xiaoji. So what if you don’t acknowledge him? Such a selfish person should taste the bitter fruit he sowed. Mother, don’t be sad. From now on, we’ll pretend we don’t know him.”
Xiaohe's belly was already slightly protruding.
Yan Xia saw that she was being held too tightly and worriedly left her embrace.
"Xiao Ji, heat up the food, it's all cold."
"Yes, Master, I'll go right away."
Xiao Ji took the food away one by one and put it back in the pot.
After venting her emotions, Yan Xia ate three large bowls of rice.
They ate with great relish.
Xiao Ji's skills are getting better and better, and she has truly learned from her.
Jin Shou lay sprawled on the ground outside the door for an hour, until it was completely dark, before he finally left.
His eyes, however, revealed a sinister glint.
He was so cold that his whole body was numb, including his heart.
Since Mother treats him this way.
Then he will never be soft-hearted again.
After tonight, Jin Shou will be completely corrupted.
For three consecutive days, he went to town to complain to Lamei.
On the fourth day, Yan Xia went to town, so he didn't go.
On the fifth day, Kim Soo finally revealed his true colors.
"Sister, I'm telling you the truth because I consider you one of my own. Mother's restaurant and shops will eventually be given to our eldest and third brothers. They have nothing to do with you. At most, she'll give you some money and help you get married. I heard that Mother is already looking for suitable partners for you and your second sister. Do you really want to just watch such a large family business be handed over to others?"
Lamei had been getting impatient with him these past few days and was about to leave when she heard this and froze on the spot.
What are you trying to say?
She is a smart person, but she used to use all her intelligence on eating.
"I know you understand what I mean. Our mother, do you really think she loves you? She just uses you for fun. Look at you and your second sister, working yourselves to the bone. How are you any worse than your eldest and third brothers? But have you and your second sister taken over the two shops? Don't you have any self-awareness? Your mother never wanted to give you the shops!! Why is it that we all came from the same womb, yet your mother is so biased? Can you swallow this?"
Jin Shou's face darkened as he looked at La Mei.
He slightly raised the corners of his mouth and continued speaking.
"Sister, I have a plan. You steal Mother's secret recipe for her pastry shop, and I'll open a similar pastry shop in a neighboring town. We'll split the profits 50/50, effectively undermining Mother's shop and selling our pastries for less than half a tael each. We'll sell them for 300 coins a bag. How about that? Once we've made some money, we'll have everything we need. When you marry into the family, bring a dowry of tens or hundreds of taels of silver, and your future brother-in-law will definitely listen to you."
"Don't worry, this is something only you and I know. I know you're struggling with this. I'll be waiting for you here at the same time the day after tomorrow. If you're willing to cooperate with me, I'll leave by the end of noon and never bother you again. Fourth sister, we're siblings born of the same parents, and our bond is much stronger than that of our eldest brother and second sister. Third brother is married now, so naturally his focus is on his family. I would never harm you. We're the closest of friends. Fourth sister, it's getting late, I have to go now to avoid the Chen family finding out."
After finishing his sentence, Jin Shou left, turning back every few steps.
Wax Plum kept her head down and didn't say a word.
It took her a moment to come to her senses.
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