Ch 15: The Unfilial Children Trembles in Fear (QT)

The Dong family were all waiting for Yun Xi to soften and reunite with them. How could they possibly spend effort coaxing her?

They had even braced themselves inwardly, thinking they could not forgive her so easily. She had to compensate them fully before they would allow her to enjoy family harmony. How could they possibly buy things for her?

To the original owner, family reunion and the joy of children and grandchildren had indeed been very important. This was exactly what the Dong family relied on.

But Yun Xi did not care.

Seeing them tongue-tied, she suddenly understood.

“According to the old routine from previous years, I was always the one preparing New Year goods. You couldn’t all be waiting for me to buy them, could you?

The family has already been divided. You no longer fall under my care. What are you thinking?

Do you understand what it means to be your own master?

What, when you want freedom, you want to be your own master, but when it’s time to spend money, you remember your old mother?”

“Mom! Stop always making us sound so terrible. We were all raised by you. If we’re no good, does that make you look good?

So many people are watching. Say less!”

Dong Zhihong frowned, looking at Yun Xi as if condemning her for being unreasonable. He nearly let slip that phrase, “long hair, short insight.”

He had never seen a mother like this, speaking so viciously about her own children. Was she not afraid others would laugh?

Family shame should not be aired outside. What family would speak of its conflicts in public?

Wasn’t that hurting the enemy a thousand while harming oneself eight hundred?

Yun Xi truly was not afraid of this joke.

She straightened her back and said,

“As for me, I worked hard alone and raised four children. That is glorious.

I work hard, improve myself, and do my job seriously. That brings me honor.

I conduct myself openly and honestly, without schemes. There is nothing in my affairs that cannot be told to others. Why should I say less?

But if you didn’t come disturbing my life, I wouldn’t mention any of you at all. I find you embarrassing.

The greatest stain in my life is having descendants like you.

If you ask me, since you are so dissatisfied with me, why do you still come looking for me?

To torment each other?

Since you would rather be scolded and lose face than stay away, I can only assume you’re after my money.”

With her hands behind her back, Yun Xi said,

“I’ll make it clear. I have no money. Even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you.

Stop wasting time here. Just seeing you annoys me.”

“Mom, those words are too much!”

“What kind of mother cuts ties with her own children?”

“Why exactly are you treating us like this? You’re really going to torment us to death.”

The group wore mournful faces.

Since they knew arguing was useless, they simply pretended to be pitiful.

People always sympathized with the weak. This time, they had deliberately worn the most patched-up clothes they owned, just so everyone could see how heartless Yun Xi was toward them.

She herself was bright and polished while ignoring her children. If Yun Xi would not let them live well, then they would not let Yun Xi live well either!

At that moment, the eldest grandson got excited again. Seeing his parents being bullied by his evil grandmother, he immediately shouted,

“Old shrew, don’t be so smug! When you’re old, won’t you still have to rely on my family?

When the time comes, even if we chase you away, you won’t leave.

Be sensible and give my dad your job, then pass it to me later. Then hand your salary to my mom.

I might still consider giving you a room.

Otherwise, when you’re old, you’ll have to sleep on the street. Even when you die, we won’t let you enter the ancestral grave!”

Dong Zhihong and Wang Huijuan were shocked and hurriedly grabbed their son to stop him from saying more.

These were all complaints the two of them had made in anger inside their room. How had their son heard them?

Were these words something that could be said out loud?

Now things were ruined!

The second son’s daughter saw how impressive her cousin was and felt she could not fall behind either. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. She immediately followed by shouting,

“Old witch, give me back my house! Give my parents back their jobs! You ruined my family…”

Dong Zhijie quickly smacked his daughter on the back and scolded,

“Don’t talk nonsense. Hurry and apologize to your grandmother!”

Who knew the little girl had suffered bitter days recently and felt extremely wronged?

After being hit, she immediately burst into tears.

“I won’t! Everything I said is true!

My maternal grandmother said Grandma spends all day acting strange and even dressing herself up now. Who knows what improper things she did to become a city person?

Otherwise, who would give an old woman a job?

She’s just cheap… mmm, mmm, mmm…”

Dong Zhijie’s soul nearly flew out from fright. He hurriedly covered his daughter’s mouth and turned to run.

He no longer hoped to make Yun Xi lower her head and return to the village. Now, if Yun Xi did not curse him to death, he would already be lucky.

“Stop.”

Yun Xi’s voice was faint. She did not shout, but it carried an indescribable authority. Dong Zhijie subconsciously stopped in his tracks.

Yun Xi swept her gaze over the group.

“You’ve grown capable. You’ve learned to pretend to be pitiful. But the children have spoken your true thoughts out loud.

I don’t want to say anything more to you.

Everyone here today, whether leaders from my unit, coworkers close to me, or strangers who came to watch the excitement, please all bear witness for me.

From this day onward, I sever all ties with them!”

The Dong family stared at her in shock.

Before, no matter how badly they fought, she had never spoken in such absolute terms.

Now she had actually said this in front of everyone.

Did Yun Xi truly refuse to acknowledge them ever again?

Dong Zhiyong hurriedly took out fifty yuan and handed it to Yun Xi.

“Mom! This has nothing to do with me, Mom. I never bothered you. I only came this time because they insisted we all come together. I couldn’t refuse.

I originally wanted to find you alone and spend New Year with you.

This is my filial gift to you.

Mom, it’s enough if you don’t acknowledge them. Don’t stop acknowledging me.”

Everyone truly had not seen this third son before. Seeing him take out fifty yuan, they thought he was quite sensible.

But Yun Xi did not give him a chance to perform at all. She took the fifty yuan and tucked it into her pocket, saying coldly,

“This is money you should repay me.

In the past, when I asked you to help me keep accounts and count money, you relied on the fact that I was illiterate and worse than you at arithmetic, then tricked and stole quite a bit of money from me.

After I attended literacy classes and reorganized the old account books, I discovered that you owed me fifty-eight yuan and six jiao.

I’ll wipe off the change. Just return these fifty yuan.”

“What? So he stole money. Petty theft is the hardest habit to change. There was a thief before who got caught and sent to prison for several years.”

“Cheating and stealing money is too immoral. And that was his own mother. What an unfilial son!”

The people watching pushed Dong Zhiyong back.

“Hurry up and leave. Sister Li already said she won’t acknowledge you anymore. We all heard it.

My brother-in-law works at the police station. Later, I’ll tell him. In the future, if patrols see you wandering around here, they’ll definitely arrest you and question what you’re doing.

Do you really think our city government is somewhere you can casually peek into?”

“You’re all grown adults, but instead of living properly, you only covet Sister Li’s things. You even tell children those ridiculous words.

Sister Li’s job was obtained through saving lives, openly and honorably. Everyone knows that.”

“Exactly. Sister Li has truly been wronged. No wonder she refuses to acknowledge them. A pack of ingrates.

Sister Li is such a good person. How did she end up with children like this?”

Everyone pointed and criticized the Dong family.

The Dong family could not even raise their heads.

Only now did they learn for the first time that Yun Xi had saved the mayor’s family back then, and that this was how she had obtained her job.

It was also the first time they learned that Yun Xi had such good relationships in the city and that so many people were helping her.

But seeing the relationship cut off just like this, anger also surged in their hearts.

Dong Zhihong said viciously,

“Fine! If you don’t acknowledge us, then don’t! Whoever acknowledges the other is a damn grandson!

I want to see how many more days an old woman buried up to her neck in yellow earth can live.

When you’re old and paralyzed, who will support you and send you off in death?”

These words were too ugly!

They were as unlucky as a curse.

What elderly person could bear to hear such words?

Not to mention this was the New Year. For a son to say such a thing to his mother, who could stand it?

The hearts of the onlookers all jolted. They hurried forward to comfort Yun Xi. Some even wanted to go beat Dong Zhihong.

Xiao Zhang could not bear it anymore. He stepped forward and said,

“Sister Li is such a good person. She will definitely live to a hundred and outlive you. She doesn’t need you to worry.

Besides, other people would be desperate to have such a good elder.

If the day really comes when she needs care in old age, I’m willing to support Sister Li and see her off in death.”

Sister Qin said,

“Well said, Xiao Zhang!

Old Li is such a good person. In the future, she will definitely enjoy blessings for a long, long time.

Does she need ingrates like you to worry about her?

Look at Xiao Zhang, then look at yourselves. What kind of things are you?”

Once again, she said regretfully,

“I truly wish Xiao Zhang were Old Li’s son.”

The coworkers echoed her.

“Xiao Zhang and Sister Li really are fated. He’s perfectly suited to be Sister Li’s son.”

“Recognize him as a godson, then. We’ll all be witnesses. Sister Li, what do you think? Xiao Zhang, what about you? Is that all right?”

Everyone hated seeing such a good person bullied. They all hoped Yun Xi and Xiao Zhang would live better and better. With one sentence from this person and another from that person, the scene became lively.

Xiao Zhang looked at Yun Xi.

He had not thought of this before, but in the depths of night, he had subconsciously sighed before. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. Why couldn’t his parents be like Yun Xi?

He had also broken with his family.

If Yun Xi was willing to recognize him as her son, of course he was willing.

Seeing this, Yun Xi smiled.

“As long as Xiao Zhang is willing, of course I’m willing too.

Who wouldn’t like such an outstanding son?”

Xiao Zhang excitedly dropped to his knees and kowtowed.

“Mom!”

This “Mom” rang out especially loudly.

Yun Xi also answered loudly,

“Ai!”

Yun Xi took the fifty yuan she had just received, added another fifty-one yuan from her own money, and gave it all to Xiao Zhang.

“This is the greeting gift Mom gives you for changing how you address me.

It means ‘one picked out of a hundred.’

From now on, you are Mom’s only child. Mom only acknowledges you as her one son!”

Xiao Zhang stood up smiling and nodded.

“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll definitely be filial to you!”

The Dong family stared red-eyed at the one hundred and one yuan in his hands.

One hundred yuan!

How long would it take them to save one hundred yuan?

Yun Xi had actually given it to an outsider just like that. She truly was unwilling to give them even a single cent.

Dong Zhiyong was so angry that he laughed.

“Good! You’re the one who said this. If you suffer hardship in the future, don’t come looking for us brothers. When the time comes, we won’t acknowledge you either!

Let’s go! We’re going back!

Whoever wants to acknowledge a mother like this can acknowledge her. I’ll just consider myself an orphan!”

Dong Zhizhi looked at Yun Xi, then at Xiao Zhang, then at the one hundred yuan.

Her heart was full of jealousy and anger.

Unwillingly, she followed them and ran off.

After that, the eldest and second sons also left with ashen faces.

This farce came to an end.

In this era, something witnessed by unit leaders and coworkers together was considered settled. In everyone’s understanding, Yun Xi had severed ties with that pack of ingrates. From now on, she only had Xiao Zhang as her child.

Yun Xi invited everyone present to the cafeteria for a meal, considering it a celebration of recognizing a new son. It was extremely festive.

Meanwhile, the dejected Dong family returned to the village and also heard an enormous piece of good news.

“What? The land is going to be contracted to households? From now on, we won’t have to go to the fields to earn work points, and we’ll have our own land under our names?”

“Land is divided according to household registration? By headcount?

Then… Mom transferred her household registration to the city, so she won’t receive any?”

“Hahahaha! A pie fell from the sky, and she can’t even pick it up. Don’t you think her fortune is thin?”

Dong Zhihong laughed loudly, feeling as if all the pent-up anger in his heart had vanished.

Yun Xi should originally have had six mu of land.

But she had been so smug and transferred her household registration away. Now she must be dumbfounded, right?

She would not get even one mu!

Could that new son of hers give her land?

An old farmer still needed land to feel secure.

They were different.

Land was divided by headcount. His family of three would get eighteen mu. If they farmed properly, the harvest would all be earned by their own household. This was a lifelong asset.

Yun Xi was just an old woman.

One day, when her unit no longer needed her and she lost her job and salary, she would be dumbfounded.