“Old Madam, as you can see, if it weren’t truly my last resort, I wouldn’t come to you asking for help.”
Across the polished stone coffee table, Yan Xiaye’s father—Yan Jianguo, rubbed his hands together, a pitiful yet shameless figure as he spoke hesitantly to the Old Madam, “Ever since donating bone marrow to the old master, Xiaye has not been feeling well.
My wife indeed wants to nourish her, but the cost of those tonics is really…”
Clutching the saucer tighter, Yan Xiaye’s face turned beet red with shame.
It was bad enough that her father had come to the Li Family to seek favors, but he was also constantly using her name.
Even if the Old Madam didn’t hold it against her, could she really have such thick skin as to sit by and watch her family endlessly exploit the Li Family’s generosity, which had already been repaid many times over?
“Butler, issue a check as usual.”
Old Madam Li twirled her prayer beads, appearing utterly unaware of Yan Jianguo’s true intention, “What my in-law says makes sense.
Although there are quite a few chefs here, none could convince Xiaye to eat a little more.
She’s gotten so thin it truly breaks one’s heart.
I must trouble my in-law to take extra care of her.”
The butler took the order and left, soon returning with a check that had been signed.
Just as he was about to hand it to the grinning Yan Jianguo, a slender, pale hand suddenly reached out from the side and snatched the check away.
Yan Jianguo was left grabbing at air, his brows furrowing as he turned to the intruder and feigned a hearty laugh, “Xiaye, quickly give the check to Dad, don’t joke around in front of the Old Madam.”
“Who’s joking with you!” Yan Xiaye swiftly tore the check in half, ignoring her useless father and addressing the Old Madam directly, “Grandma, I’m eating well at home, and my health is fine; I don’t need any tonics, so there’s no need for this money.”
The Old Madam had intended to send Yan Jianguo away immediately, but Yan Xiaye caught her squarely.
As an elder, she refrained from commenting too much on the family affairs of her in-laws; she could only feign exhaustion and had the butler take the saucer from Yan Xiaye’s hands, “Xiaye, your father is concerned about you.
If there’s something, sit down and talk it over.”
“Grandma, you…”
“It’s all right, it’s all right.
I will have someone mail the check directly to my in-law’s home.
I, the old lady, am quite tired from sitting so long.
I won’t keep you any longer and will go upstairs to rest now.”
Seeing his chance at money, Yan Jianguo’s face beamed with a radiant smile, “Ah, right, right, thank you very much, Old Madam!”
Yan Xiaye watched with annoyance as the Old Madam slowly disappeared up the stairs, unsure of what to say to her father.
Yet Yan Jianguo seemed completely oblivious to the disgrace he had shown, sizing up his daughter whom he hadn’t seen in five years from top to bottom, then casually sprawling on the sofa with his legs crossed, “Alright now, the Old Lady has gone.
Don’t give me that look.
It hasn’t been easy raising you, so why shouldn’t I be entitled to some money for my retirement?”
“Dad, the money you’ve collected from the Li Family over the years would be enough to raise a hundred of me!” Yan Xiaye, seeing her father’s lethargic demeanor, frowned deeply, silently resolving that such an incident must not happen again.
She wanted to resolve the issue and take the opportunity to ask about the gambling debts Li Beicheng mentioned, but with so many people around in the Li house, it wasn’t the right place for such a conversation.
With no alternative, she swallowed hard and softened her voice towards Yan Jianguo, “Dad, I haven’t been able to visit you and Mom in the past five years.
Why don’t we go home now?
I have something I want to talk to you both about.”
“Fine, at least you still have this filial piety.”
Bending down to pick a few rare fruits from the fruit plate, Yan Jianguo hummed a tune as he left the Li Family residence, taking Yan Xiaye to a BMW sedan that was about eighty percent new.
Without asking, given the Yan parents’ non-productive disposition, the money for the car either came from the Li Family or from high-interest loans, either of which was a headache.
On the way, Yan Xiaye tried several times to talk to her father, but each time Yan Jianguo cleverly changed the subject.
Upon returning home, Mother Yan, having likely heard some whispers from her husband, unusually stood in the courtyard to welcome them, prattling as she ushered Yan Xiaye inside, “That Old Madam Li, I tell you, if she didn’t want to give money, she should’ve just said so.
Why pull Xiaye out to use as a shield?
If your father weren’t so clever, she would have really gotten away with it.”
Yan Xiaye’s head spun, and she collapsed onto the sofa, pressing her forehead.
Before she could get a word in to explain, Mother Yan began a new round of harping, “Look at you, no wonder the Li Family is unwilling to give our family money to spend.
It’s all because of your disappointing belly!
The first five years couldn’t be helped, but now you’re finally sleeping in the same bed with Beicheng and still not rushing to carry an heir.
What’s the use of continually conceiving daughters?”
“Mom!” Yan Xiaye couldn’t take it anymore, her body shaking uncontrollably in anger, “What does this have to do with me and Li Beicheng?
Have you ever thought about how I’m supposed to have any dignity left living in the Li Family when you ask for money time and time again?”
“How is it not related?
If you had given birth to Li Beicheng’s son, our Yan Family would own half of the future Li Family, and spending a bit of money would be only right,” her mother retorted.
If it weren’t for Mother Yan’s weak heart, there was a fleeting moment when Yan Xiaye really wanted to tell her bluntly that if Ya’er were a boy, then Yan Shuirou would have already beaten her to achieving that goal.
Seeing Yan Xiaye trembling with her eyes closed, Mother Yan exchanged a glance with her husband, not daring to push her daughter too hard.
Forcing a smile, Mother Yan quickly changed the subject and fumbled in the tea table drawer to find a pile of assorted medicinal herbs, “Look, all these were carefully selected by Mom for you and Beicheng.
Here’s angelica and ginseng, and look, there’s also deer antler…
all of them are to nourish a man’s vitality and vigor!”
Yan Xiaye nearly died of rage on the spot, her temples throbbing, as she suppressed her anger and said firmly, “Anyway, if you want money, I can give my entire salary to the family, but you are absolutely not allowed to extort Grandma anymore!”
“Child, that’s so harsh,” Yan Jianguo commented, blowing a smoke ring with little sincerity, “Alright, anyway the household can sustain for a while, we’ll talk about it later.”
Having temporarily stabilized her unreliable parents, Yan Xiaye was exhausted both physically and mentally, and she didn’t want to say another word.
Just then, her phone rang.
She answered without looking, “Who is it?”
“It’s Li Yuntang.”
The magnetic voice blew into her ears, and Yan Xiaye instinctively sat up straight and gestured for her parents to hush, “Younger Uncle, is there something you need?”
“Yes.” Li Yuntang paused briefly, then explained lightly, “I can’t get back for now, and Yunduo’s teacher just called me to say Yunduo hit a classmate at school.
I was wondering if you might have time…”
“I have time, I’ll be right there!”
Eager to repay even a little bit of the kindness she owed to Li Yuntang, Yan Xiaye agreed without hesitation.
Before she left, Mother Yan clutched at her with a beaming smile, stubbornly packing those medicinal herbs into a black plastic bag and forcefully stuffing it into her hands.