Ch 7: The Unfilial Children Trembles in Fear (QT)

Dong Zhihong had already felt timid the moment he entered the city. Now, being called a useless coward in front of so many workers, being told he could not accomplish anything, made him wish he could crawl into a crack in the ground.

But unfortunately, he truly had accomplished nothing.

He did not even earn full work points.

There was not a single thing he could use to refute her.

He immediately felt so embarrassed and ashamed that he carried the child and left with his head lowered.

Sister Qin clapped her hands and shouted,

“Well cursed! Old Li, these children and grandchildren of yours really are disgraceful. You were right to curse them. That one who secretly cooks extra meals is your second son? And he’s a teacher? He isn’t even filial to his own mother. Is this how he sets an example for others? Won’t he teach his students badly too?”

The people around them joined in.

“Hurry up and leave. Stop embarrassing yourselves here.”

“Sister Li works here properly and legitimately. If you keep causing trouble, I’ll call the security team.”

“Don’t tell me you’re after Sister Li’s job and salary? You’re unfilial, and now you won’t even let Sister Li earn money for herself? You’re grown adults. Can’t you live on your own?”

“A teacher should have decent conditions, right? And you still want your mother’s coffin money?”

“Sister Li even gave away her house, and you still want to suck her blood. That’s far too heartless.”

With everyone chiming in one after another, Dong Zhijie and the others could not withstand it no matter how thick-skinned they were. They hurriedly ran away.

Everyone then crowded around Yun Xi, sympathizing with and comforting her.

Yun Xi waved her hand and smiled brightly.

“I’m fine. All of you are my brothers and sisters. I’m not lonely at all. On the contrary, I’m living very well.

From now on, the municipal government is my home, and all of you are my family!”

“That’s right! We’re all your family. Sister Li doesn’t need to fear anything!”

Everyone shouted enthusiastically, as though the distance between them and Yun Xi had instantly narrowed.

In contrast, the Dong family had not even had time to reveal their greed before they fled in disgrace like rats crossing the street.

When they returned to the village, many people asked curiously about what had happened.

Dong Zhiyong said angrily,

“My mom is impressive now. She’s a city government employee. She looks down on us now.”

Dong Zhizhi’s eyes were red.

“My mom has made it big and refuses to acknowledge us anymore. No wonder she divided the family and left. She went to the city to enjoy life on her own.”

The villagers were shocked and confused.

The Dong family only talked about how cold and heartless Yun Xi was, never mentioning how Yun Xi had scolded them for being unfilial.

The villagers were all muddled.

Getting a city household registration and working at the city government was an enormous good thing, wasn’t it?

From now on, her children would all surely flatter and support her.

She could simply take the offered way out, and the family could live harmoniously together.

So why was she refusing to acknowledge her children?

Someone quietly guessed,

“Could Li Yunxi have… found herself a new husband?”

“She definitely has. Otherwise, what old woman would dare refuse to acknowledge her children? Isn’t she afraid no one will support her when she’s old?”

“Aiyo, how does that work? She’s already in her forties. If she remarries and follows a new husband to live a good life, then she doesn’t want this family anymore?”

The brigade leader’s wife could not listen any longer.

With a stern face, she said,

“Go, go, go. What nonsense are you all spouting? After all these years, don’t you know what kind of person Sister Li is?

When she was a widow at her most bitter and difficult, she didn’t remarry. Why would she remarry now?

Even if she did remarry, what would there be to say?

Her youngest child is already grown, and the family has been divided. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. Everyone can live their own life.

What do you mean, she doesn’t want her family anymore?

Back when Sister Li was at home, I didn’t see her enjoying any blessings.”

The brigade leader’s wife swept a glance over the Dong family members.

Everyone then remembered that Yun Xi had left in the first place because her children were unfilial.

How was this Yun Xi abandoning them?

Clearly, they had forced Yun Xi away.

Wasn’t it a good thing that she had found a decent place to live?

Thinking about it this way, the Dong family really was no good.

They had gone to the city and failed to bring their mother back. Then they returned and spread nonsense about her.

The crowd immediately changed direction.

“You lot should calm down already. You’re all old enough. If you can make your mother so angry that she refuses to acknowledge you, shouldn’t you reflect on your own mistakes instead of having the nerve to blame her?”

“Exactly. Isn’t she just working in the city? How does that mean she’s made it big? How does that mean she’s enjoying life alone?

People say daughters are their mothers’ intimate little cotton-padded jackets. Dong Zhizhi, how can you speak about your mother like that?

Even if she wants to enjoy life, isn’t that only right?

Your mother nearly died giving birth to you. During confinement, she still had to work and take care of you. If we really count it, you owe her a life.

And you’re still unwilling to let your mother enjoy life?”

The Dong family had not expected it to be so difficult to repair their image.

All of them lowered their heads and slipped home to hide.

When Dong Zhijie organized the building of his house, no one was willing to help.

In the end, he had to pay wages before he could hire a few strong laborers to help him build.

Their trip to the city had not changed anything on the surface.

But in their hearts, it felt as if weeds had grown wildly.

Even in their dreams, they thought about Yun Xi’s job and salary, imagining what wonderful lives they could lead if they took over her position.

It could be said that during this meeting, Yun Xi had barely exerted any effort, yet they were already tormented with envy and frustration.

Yun Xi once again became famous in the city government.

Now everyone truly knew that she had fallen out with her children and was living alone.

But this time, no one said she was lonely or heartless toward her children and grandchildren.

After all, who would like a grandson who cursed his grandmother to her face?

Even if she had meat, it could rot or be thrown away, but she would never give it to that grandson!

The people gossiping behind her back suddenly became fewer.

Yun Xi noticed that the strange looks also lessened and immediately felt much more peaceful.

Everyone was also very warm toward her, telling her that if there was anything she did not understand, she could ask, and if she needed help, she should speak up.

Of course Yun Xi did not stand on ceremony.

Every day, whenever she found characters she did not recognize while reading the newspaper, she asked someone. Whoever she caught, she asked.

She even frequently asked the mayor’s secretary about Russian pronunciation.

Gradually, everyone grew used to it.

This Sister Li truly loved studying.

Her thirst for knowledge was stronger than anyone else’s.

At one general meeting, the leader even specifically praised Yun Xi’s spirit of learning.

People always respected someone like that.

Yun Xi’s relationships at the work unit became better and better.

Even the cafeteria auntie gave her a little extra food every time.

Xiao Zhang also became much closer to Yun Xi.

He was someone no one at home cared for. He had relied entirely on his own intelligence and boldness to carve out a path for himself.

Not only could his family not help him, they often dragged him down.

Because of this, he often sighed that Yun Xi was such a good elder, yet her children failed to cherish her properly.

They were truly foolish.

The days passed one by one like this.

Yun Xi lived comfortably and skillfully at the work unit, while also madly absorbing the knowledge of this world and rapidly enriching herself.

One day, heavy rain fell, accompanied by strong winds.

Close to midnight, someone from the warehouse suddenly came running in a panic and knocked on Yun Xi’s door.

“Sister Li, Xiao Zhang hurt his leg in a fall. It looks pretty serious, but he insists on going to deliver goods. No one can persuade him. Please come help talk him out of it.”

As soon as Yun Xi heard this, she immediately followed them to the warehouse.

She saw Xiao Zhang limping toward the driver’s seat while others tried to stop him.

She hurried over.

“Xiao Zhang! How’s your leg? Why do you have to deliver goods right now? Leg pain can be serious or minor. You need to go to the hospital first.”

Xiao Zhang said anxiously,

“I received an emergency notice. A bridge outside the city collapsed, and they told me to go over immediately to transport supplies.

It’s the middle of the night. I can’t reach drivers from other factories.

If this gets delayed, people might die.”

As he spoke, he took another step forward. Suddenly, he bent over from the pain and gripped his lower leg tightly.

Yun Xi frowned.

“You’re sweating from the pain. Could it be fractured? You can’t drive like this at all. Forcing yourself to drive could be dangerous.”

At that moment, someone ran over through the rain, looking anxious.

They said they had made several phone calls, but no one answered. They had already asked the security team to split up and look for other drivers.

But with wind and rain this heavy, finding someone would be difficult.

And they did not know whether the other person would dare accept the job.

After all, this was Xiao Zhang’s work. Whether others accepted or refused, they would not be punished. Not everyone would be willing to take the risk.

Xiao Zhang was sweating not only from the pain but also from anxiety.

He grabbed the vehicle door and tried to climb up.

Yun Xi pulled him back.

“I’ll deliver it! You hurry to the hospital.”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Xiao Zhang immediately objected.

“You’ve never driven before. How can you deliver it? No! Wouldn’t that be harming you?”

The others also began persuading her.

How had they failed to persuade one person, only for another to come make trouble?

Time was tight.

Yun Xi did not waste words with them.

She shoved Xiao Zhang toward the others. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. While they hurriedly caught him in confusion, she climbed into the vehicle.

Amid their anxious shouts, she drove the truck out, quickly circled around in front of them, and stopped steadily before them.

Yun Xi opened the door and smiled at Xiao Zhang.

“How’s that? Good enough, right?”

Xiao Zhang stared at her with his mouth open in shock.

“Sister Li, how… how do you know how to drive?”

Yun Xi patted the steering wheel.

“Of course it’s because you taught me well.

Everything’s loaded already, right?

I’ll cover your shift for one day. I guarantee I’ll deliver the goods.

Don’t worry about it. Hurry up and have your leg looked at.

You all watch him. I’m leaving.”

The others nodded subconsciously.

Seeing Yun Xi start the vehicle, Xiao Zhang quickly shouted,

“Sister Li, be careful! You have to be careful! You can’t get a single step wrong! Be careful!”

Inside the truck, Yun Xi waved her hand and drove away.

Although the wind and rain were fierce in the dark night and the road ahead was difficult to see, her five senses were stronger than ordinary people’s.

It was easy for her to avoid puddles and mud pits.

The truck drove fast and steadily, soon disappearing from their sight.

Xiao Zhang was supported on his way to the hospital, but he had yet to recover from his shock.

He knew exactly how much he had taught her.

He had always thought Yun Xi was only watching for fun.

He had never truly taught her carefully, nor had he ever let her try driving.

And yet Yun Xi had learned?

She had simply driven away?

And driven so steadily?

Could it be that Yun Xi had already known how to drive before?

But that was impossible.

At the very beginning, when he told Yun Xi about the truck’s structure and functions, she had clearly been completely confused and knew nothing.

The only explanation was that Yun Xi was extremely clever.

At the very least, far cleverer than he was.

That was why, under such limited conditions, she had learned so quickly and so well.

Thinking about it, wasn’t Yun Xi already clever?

She had nearly finished everything taught in the literacy class and could already read books and newspapers smoothly.

Her talent far exceeded that of many people.

Then Xiao Zhang thought about how Yun Xi had seen him get injured and had helped him cover his shift without hesitation.

The first time she drove, she had braved such heavy wind and rain to take the risk of delivering goods.

She was truly righteous.

Compared to his previous behavior of not teaching her sincerely, he felt very guilty.

Especially after the doctor examined his leg and said the fracture had almost become displaced, Yun Xi had essentially saved his leg.

Otherwise, he might have become lame, or even gotten into an accident while driving.

Xiao Zhang felt guilty and grateful.

He swore that when Yun Xi returned, he would teach her everything he knew, holding nothing back!

On Yun Xi’s side, she had finally gotten to drive a vehicle and was thoroughly enjoying the feeling of speeding through the wind.

She hummed a song while driving forward through the dark night.

After experiencing the joy of driving, the smile on her face grew wider and wider.

She had no idea how huge of a sensation her substitute driving shift had caused back at the work unit.

Everyone who heard about it said she had gone mad.

Some were worried. Some were shocked.

No one could sleep.

They gathered together, waiting for news of her.

With wind and rain this heavy, and this being her first time behind the wheel, could she have just driven herself to her death?

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