Capítulo 454: Chapter 454: The End
The family sat down together for a reunion dinner.
Shen Erniu just stuck by Lele’s side and refused to budge.
“The kid looks like Ah Guang, just like him when he was little, and he’s got good-looking eyes and brows. Look at that broad forehead; seems like he’s going to be even luckier than his dad,” laughed Shen Erniu heartily.
Lele was intrigued by his laughter and turned to look, curious.
Shen Erniu held him in his arms.
By then, Lele had started to recognize people. He glanced at Shen Erniu’s face, then at Yang Peimin, as if pondering seriously, which made everyone laugh.
“Is the child observing?”
Shen Yiyue hastily dug into her bag, “I bought him lots of fun little toys, look at this little stuffed toy, this is a rattle drum, this is a little car, check out how fun this little doll looks.” She pulled out a pile of stuff, taking up half the table.
Shen Yixiang exclaimed, “Where did you get all this from? Lele can’t even play with these yet, and there are so many.”
Shen Yiyue gave Lele a toy car to hold, and once he grabbed it, she responded leisurely, “He can play with it slowly. It’s my first time seeing my little nephew, so this is my gift to him. Even if he can’t play with them all now, it’s fine. Isn’t there another one on the way in sister-in-law’s belly? I bought these just in time.”
Mentioning this, Shen Erniu also glanced over and grinned at Yang Peimin, “Ah Guang’s wife has worked hard.”
Yang Peimin poured him half a small glass of wine, “Not really, it’s all part of what’s expected.”
Shen Erniu laughed happily, “Very good, very good.”
He called Shen Yiyue to take out the other things as well.
Among them were some dry fruits, local produce, and home-cured meats. Surprisingly, there was also wild ginseng, obtained from who knows where.
Shen Erniu said, “This is good stuff. Uncle Muxin from the village had it, and I traded him a pig for it. Ah Guang’s wife was low on energy last time she gave birth. Thankfully, nothing’s wrong now, but back then it scared us all. Keep this aside for future needs…”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Shen Erniu came over, though he just stayed at home, helping Chen Guizhi with the kids, managing to spend the whole day without needing to step outside or chat with anyone. They now had grandchildren and felt they had everything they needed.
Whereas Shen Yiyue, accompanied by Shen Yixiang, went out to have fun.
Yang Peimin prepared for the factory’s holiday shutdown. Once that was arranged, he could take a break and went back to stay in the military base.
Meanwhile, the Lu family had come knocking for several days in a row, only to be driven back by their own guard dogs—no one from their home showed their face; the door remained firmly shut.
Lu Haijun didn’t have much spare time but still made the effort to come over in the evenings, calling out to Shen Yixiang from the wall.
One time, Shen Erniu caught sight of him and asked who it was. After Chen Guizhi explained, he went straight to dump a basin of cold water over the wall.
But he was not very agile, and Lu Haijun dodged most of it. Just as Hai Jun tried to say something else, Shen Erniu yelled at him to scram.
Only then did Lu Haijun leave.
That evening, Shen Erniu was still fuming when he recounted the incident.
He looked at Shen Yixiang with disapproval, “Look at the trouble you’ve caused! Yelling outside the wall like that, how embarrassing! You even disturbed Lele’s sleep. I finally got him settled, and he doesn’t want to play. If it happens again, I’ll throw bricks next time.”
Shen Yixiang let him scold without uttering a word.
Chen Guizhi pulled her husband aside, “Stop yelling at Yixiang, she’s already broken up with him.”
Everyone looked at Shen Yixiang. They all had a rough idea of the situation over the past few days, though they hadn’t asked her for details.
It was unclear whether she had truly broken up or was just being temperamental.
Shen Yixiang glanced at everyone, “Why are you looking at me? Dad’s right to scold me; that guy is truly irritating. I don’t want anything to do with him.”
Chen Guizhi whispered, “Are you serious?”
Shen Yixiang nodded, “He disgusted me completely. Like his sister, rejecting others’ advances while keeping their gifts, then acting ungrateful and playing the noble card. Then he turns around and blames me for not helping his sister. Is that funny or what? He even had the nerve to criticize me, saying marriage dowries and gifts should be simplified. It’d be better without them, suggesting we don’t bother with a wedding banquet and save the money to send back home, insisting I can’t spend my salary as I please, as there are many other expenses. Really infuriating! He’s just like his mother and sister! The last time, you guys didn’t know the full story, but they’ve asked me to come back home to discuss this very topic. Their veiled words were hoping I’d marry into their family with a substantial dowry, and overlook their side’s bridal gifts, including controlling my salary. They’re all the same, always looking to take advantage of others.”
“I couldn’t stand it. Sister-in-law was right, even if he’s not completely rotten, with a family like that, it’s jumping right into the fire. Now it seems, he too harbors the same thoughts. I gave him a slap, and to think I used to believe his mother was unwell, sending her nutritional products and money every month, which she merely took for granted.”
Chen Guizhi looked troubled as she listened, “Why did you hit him? And people saw it, sigh. What about your reputation now…”
“I wanted to hit him, because I was furious. I feel heartbroken, to have fallen for such a person. If I didn’t lash out, how could I release my anger? Let’s consider my scratches compensation for all the nutrition and money I gave,” said Shen Yixiang still livid, but eventually, tears fell.
Yang Peimin offered her a handkerchief.
Shen Yixiang quickly took it and wiped her face, forcing a smile, “Such a person, it’s good I realized early. I should’ve listened to you all sooner, I…”
Shen Yiyue came over and hugged her, gently patting her shoulder in silent comfort.
Shen Yixiang, though she had regained her composure, couldn’t easily recover emotionally. After all, she had truly loved Lu Haijun and had freely given her genuine feelings to him and his family. Abruptly severing those emotions, like slicing off a piece of her flesh, the pain lingered in her chest.
Everyone tacitly avoided discussing her wounds further, shifting the conversation to other topics.