Ye Qiu took his wife and child back home, which extremely infuriated Granny Ye and Ye Laoer's family, especially when Ye Fang came back from the county and found out that her elder brother had become wealthy, yet he only brought a few kilograms of candies and cookies for his younger sister who was about to get married, she was completely furious.
"Mom, elder brother is really unprincipled. He used to listen to you before, it must be the elder sister-in-law speaking ill of you behind your back." Ye Fang was not willing to accept this, these days, her future mother-in-law was being picky about everything, nothing was to her liking, just because she looked down on her being from the countryside, right? If she had brought a significant dowry with her, what would that old woman have left to say?
"Listen? Listen to what, does your elder brother even care about me, his old mother?" Granny Ye has always been the decision-maker in the family, who wouldn't listen to her? But now there was a rebel, especially her previously obedient eldest son suddenly having his own ideas, how could she not feel upset?
She had thought her eldest son was still as filial as before, treating her grandson like his own son, but ever since the family split up, his attitude completely changed. Is she to blame for making things tough for his wife and daughter?
Where did she go wrong? A hen that can't lay a male chick and a daughter who is ultimately an outsider, what's there to treat nicely? In the countryside without a son, isn't it a laughing stock? When she dies, there won't even be someone to shatter bowls at her funeral. Isn't she just thinking about her eldest son?
Ungrateful, truly ungrateful!
While one family had a sleepless night, on the other hand, Chen Wen couldn't be happier.
All the grievances she had suffered under her mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and younger sister-in-law seemed to have disappeared all at once.
With her husband's protection, her daughter's closeness, and a decent career of her own, who dares to give her a hard time now?
Now thinking about it, what's there to be stressed about these people? They are just a bunch of unsophisticated country women!
Who says a daughter is not as good as a son? She wants to see what great success Granny Ye's favored grandchild can achieve!
This old lady dislikes her daughter, calling a daughter eventually an outsider, yet she had never seen her mistreat her younger sister. Indeed, people's hearts are biased; as long as they are not satisfied with you, no matter how good you do, it's wrong.
"Sleep, don't overthink; the old lady is confused, I am not confused. We will go back home in a couple of days." Ye Qiu comforted his daughter Manman to sleep, then hugged Chen Wen from behind, gently patted her and spoke tenderly.
Chen Wen turned around and also embraced her husband. She had long become accustomed to his constant tenderness and care, the nightmares of the past had long gone, and a happy future awaited her.
The next day was the day for the bride's family to host the banquet, and Ye Qiu took his wife and daughter there early in the morning.
However, after they arrived, there was nothing but accusations and demands; they didn't even ask if they had eaten.
Ye Qiu and Chen Wen had no expectations, and directly went to the village chief's house. It didn't matter if they skipped a meal, but their daughter couldn't go hungry.
The village chief's house was in the center of the village. On the way there, people greeted them, and by early morning, the villagers had already heard that Granny Ye and Ye Laoer didn't even provide breakfast for their eldest son, and yet they were hosting a banquet today, couldn't they prepare something simple? Their hearts were too biased!
At noon, the banquet was set up, and Ye Qiu then slowly walked over with the village chief's family.
Today, people from the groom's side were supposed to come as well, but at this point, only the groom Zhao Haiyang had arrived.
When Ye Qiu arrived, Granny Ye and Ye Fang's faces looked very displeased, their faces filled with anger, the groom was standing by with a forced smile. Seeing that there was no easing of their attitudes, his face also began to show impatience.
"Mom, don't be angry, my mother is not feeling well today, my father is taking care of her at home, she couldn't come over, please forgive her!" Zhao Haiyang, having a small leadership role in the cannery due to family connections, is usually flattered by everyone in the factory because of his parents, to apologize with a smile is already his limit.
"Your mom still looks down on me, not even married yet and she's already giving me such a cold shoulder." Ye Fang's face looked bad, she felt uncomfortable inside.
Zhao Haiyang was not easy to win over, he looked good, had a nice job, and his parents were government officials, who in the village didn't envy her for finding a good husband? Although her mother-in-law usually didn't like her, she didn't expect that even when she was pregnant with their grandson, they still wouldn't give her face at the wedding!
Zhao Haiyang was also feeling uncomfortable at this moment. He knew his mother blamed him for finding her a rural daughter-in-law who was uneducated and incapable. But what could he do? He initially just wanted to have some fun, but who expected that she would actually get pregnant?
As for having her abort the child, let alone the fact that Ye Fang was difficult to deal with, he also couldn't bear to do it. Seeing that Ye Fang was still pretty, he married her anyway.
But to have his mother lower herself to come to this countryside, his mother refused, and he wouldn't force her either. He thought that coming over so early was already giving enough respect, but he didn't expect Ye Fang and her mother to still make such a fuss.
"I've said it, my mother isn't feeling well today, what more do you want? Is it just because she couldn't come? Is my mom lacking your stuff?" Zhao Haiyang said impatiently. Ye Fang was usually obedient and gentle, but today, why was she being so unreasonable and annoying?
Hearing this, Granny Ye didn't have a leg to stand on either. It was about her daughter-in-law's mother's health, which she couldn't verify, and this son-in-law had indeed brought everything as needed.
Chicken, duck, fish, and meat were all accounted for; cookies and candies, although not comparable to what her eldest son brought back, were still fashionable in the county. Not to mention there was a gold ring and three hundred yuan, even the wedding dress was bought yesterday at the department store. This was unprecedented in the village.
"Alright, Fang girl, don't blame Haiyang anymore. You're pregnant, don't be irritable and cry all the time, it's not good for the baby," Granny Ye chided her daughter in a moderate tone.
Turning around, she spoke to her son-in-law: "Your wife is also worried because she's pregnant, nothing else, you are her man, just bear with her a bit more. Guests will be arriving soon; it won't look good."
Zhao Haiyang's face soured, having grown up, aside from his parents, who had ever lectured him? But thinking that the marriage certification was already obtained and the wedding was tomorrow, he didn't make a scene. However, he felt an increased dissatisfaction towards Ye Fang, thinking he wouldn't indulge her temper after the marriage.
When Ye Qiu and Chen Wen walked in, the atmosphere had already eased quite a bit.
Zhao Haiyang's eyes lit up immediately—the couple in front of him looked extraordinary. This man who thought he had seen the world was impressed by their urban bearing. And it wasn't just their demeanor, but also their coats and leather shoes, things that weren't sold in this county town. He hadn't expected such distinguished relatives from his rural mother-in-law!
"Hello, welcome, welcome!" Zhao Haiyang approached with a smile and offered a cigarette, "Are you Ye Fang's cousin?"
"I don't smoke, thank you!" Ye Qiu smiled lightly, declining.
This brother-in-law of his wasn't a pleasant character; speaking differently to different people depending on their status, looking down on those beneath him, and lavishly praising those better off than him.
The minute people no longer had any value to him, he would trample them into the mud—an archetypal villain.
"He is not a cousin, he is my elder brother." Ye Fang looked at Ye Qiu with complex emotions, resenting him for not providing her with more dowry yet eagerly bragging to her husband, "My elder brother earns big money in the provincial city, he even drove back in a new car yesterday!"
"Oh, what business does big brother do? Please forgive me, I can be a bit slow!" Zhao Haiyang's smile grew more genuine. This elder brother surely can't neglect his sister.
He thought he had married a village girl with nothing but a pretty face to offer, but it turned out her family had successful members. It seems he needed to reassess.
"Your elder sister-in-law just does some tailoring to scrape by," Ye Qiu spoke dismissively of this type of person.
This dismissive attitude only made Zhao Haiyang's tone more obsequious. A car—which village people might not know about, but did he not know? Without being a big boss, who can afford and maintain it?
The canning factory's performance was poor and the outlook bleak; he had long been contemplating another path.
This relationship was indeed worthwhile!