After watching Huo Yanping leave, Hua Chongzhi coughed for a while.
Hua Kai went over to soothe the old man and said, "Grandpa, don't be angry. You have to think about it. Fourth Uncle is a filial son. He has taken good care of you in so many ways. My dad has always said that he wants to be a good son to you. We will also visit Fourth Uncle more often in the future and help him share some of the burden. My dad and Fourth Uncle have such a good relationship now. Grandpa should be happy, right?"
As Hua Kai spoke, she glanced at Zheng Shuzhen beside her. She was angry with Zheng Shuzhen because Zheng Shuzhen hoped that all her children would be brothers, respectful and united, but she was preventing her from having her way.
Hearing Hua Kai say this, Hua Wanhai was also very happy and quickly expressed to Hua Wanjiang: "Big brother, I was wrong before. I will definitely respect you from now on. I hope you can accept me as your younger brother again."
Hua Wanjiang nodded: "Yes, let's visit each other more often in the future."
Hua Zhongzhi was also pleased: "Good, good! This is what brothers are all about. I can die in peace seeing you two make up."
Hua Kai said, "Grandpa, you mustn't say such unlucky things. Grandpa will live to be a hundred years old. After the New Year, I'll take you to the city to see my factory and the specialty store. Oh, and when I start receiving dividends, I'll buy a house in the city and leave a room for you, so you can go to the city more often."
Hua Zhongzhi was overjoyed: "Great! Great! I can live in the city from now on. Then I'll be the most respected old man in our village."
Everyone was happy when this was said, and the atmosphere became joyful, except for Zheng Shuzhen, who cried uncontrollably.
A while later, Hua Qingyi also arrived. Gu Lanyan was worried and asked him to come and check on her. Seeing that everything was alright, she was relieved.
After sitting for a while, Hua Kai and Hua Wanjiang went home.
When she got back, she told Gu Lanyan about it. Of course, Hua Kai also reminded her parents to be careful around her fourth uncle and his wife, and not to get involved in anything related to money or interests for the time being.
New Year's Eve was fast approaching. This year, because of the accident that happened to Hua Wanhe's family, and because even the elderly were bedridden, they spent the New Year at their own homes instead of gathering together.
Hua Kai got up early and started helping her father put up couplets. Gu Lanyan had already started preparing lunch. A bighead carp, brought by Ye Yifan, was available at this large fish market. Gu Lanyan cleaned the fish while praising Ye Yifan.
However, the atmosphere in the Ye family was always very oppressive during the New Year, because Ye Tingjun insisted on going back to her father's house to spend New Year's Eve. But Ye Jianxiao disliked Fang Lanlan very much and said that he would not allow Fang Lanlan to enter his house. Xiao He did not dare to bring Fang Lanlan with her, because she knew her father-in-law's personality and Ye Jianxiao would really kick Fang Lanlan out.
However, Xiao He felt sorry for Fang Lanlan, so Ye Tingjun and Xiao He would take their youngest son, Ye Yizhou, to the old man's house for New Year's Eve dinner, and then rush home to have another meal with Fang Lanlan afterward.
This made the New Year's Eve dinner less enjoyable each year, and Xiao He felt that she owed Fang Lanlan too much, and felt even more sorry for Fang Lanlan.
It was past noon today, and Ye Tingjun and Xiao He still hadn't arrived. The old man had been looking out the door several times.
Ye Tingjun's family lives not far from Ye Jianxiao's place, only a twenty-minute walk, but the old man won't let Ye Yifan go there to find them, lest he cause trouble.
Ye Yifan looked at his grandfather and didn't know what to say. His uncle had passed away early, and his grandmother had also passed away early. His grandfather didn't have many relatives to begin with, so it was understandable that he missed his son.
It was finally 3 p.m. when Ye Tingjun and Xiao He arrived with Ye Yizhou.
After greeting everyone upon entering the house, Ye Jianxiao started preparing dumplings. Aunt Chen had also gone home for the Chinese New Year, so they had to cook for themselves today.
Xiao He remained absent-minded, sitting on the sofa looking outside without saying a word.
Ye Yifan said to Ye Jianxiao, "Grandpa, I'm going to the kitchen to knead the dough."
Ye Jianxiao said, "Grandpa will pick the vegetables for you." After saying that, he said to Ye Yizhou, "Xiaozhou, go and help Grandpa and Big Brother cook."
At this moment, Ye Tingjun looked at Xiao He with some anger: "Xiao He, let's go cook. How can we let Dad cook for us with the two kids?"
Xiao He said sarcastically, "No matter who cooks, it's always a lively affair, unlike Lanlan, who's always all alone on family reunion days."
Hearing this, Ye Jianxiao also lost his temper: "I've said it many times, Fang Lanlan's surname is Fang, she can go back for the holidays and the New Year. This is the Ye family. If you feel so sorry for your enemy's child, then go back and stay with Fang Lanlan."
Xiao He was genuinely worried about Fang Lanlan. Hearing the old man get angry made her scared, but Fang Lanlan was sick when they went out today, so Xiao He was still upset.
At this moment, she explained with a wronged expression, "Lanlan wasn't feeling well today. When I left, she had a fever of 38 degrees Celsius. How could I not feel at ease?"
Ye Jianxiao looked at Xiao He and asked, "Then why can't Fang Lanlan go back to the Fang family?"
Xiao He said, "Lanlan grew up by my side since she was little. She has no affection for her biological mother. Moreover, her parents favor boys over girls. When she goes back, they always teach her to take care of her younger brother in the future. It is indeed not suitable for her to go back."
Ye Yizhou looked at Ye Tingjun and said, "Grandpa, my sister is really pitiful. Why don't we call her and ask her to come here for the New Year?"
Xiao He quickly followed her youngest son's words and said to Ye Jianxiao, "Dad, let Lanlan come."
Before Ye Jianxiao could speak, Ye Yifan addressed Xiao He: "You say the Fang family favors sons over daughters, and that Fang Lan will be taught by her biological parents to be unhappy for the sake of her younger brother when she goes back. Why can't you put yourself in my shoes? Fang Lanlan looks exactly like the Fang sisters. Every time I see Fang Lanlan, I think of Fang Nana and Fang Honghong, and then I think of the suffering and torment I endured in the Fang family. Why can't my mother think of me even once?"
These words stumped Xiao He, and the room fell silent instantly. Ye Yifan rarely spoke to Xiao He like this before, because he was too afraid when he was a child. He would only tell her that he didn't want to see Fang Lanlan. But Xiao He disappointed Ye Yifan time and time again. Later, Ye Yifan even stopped talking to her. It was no use talking. He might as well become stronger himself.
Hearing Ye Yifan's words, Ye Jianxiao said with tears streaming down his face, "Little Fan has such a hard life."
Ye Tingjun was always busy with work, so when Ye Yifan first came home, he basically didn't care about family matters. Therefore, he didn't know many things and only heard about them from Xiao He.
Now, hearing his son's complaints, Ye Tingjun felt a twisting pain in his heart. He went over and put his hand on Ye Yifan's shoulder: "Xiaofan, Dad is sorry. I used to think about working hard to give you a good life, but I never expected you to suffer so much. From now on, Dad will spend as much time as possible with you."
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