Chapter 567 - 211: Sparring (Part 2)
Chapter 567: Chapter 211: Sparring (Part 2)
Xu Su Ying felt awkward too, but... well, you have to have a conscience.
"Chen Song has already given me everything he has. After I fell on hard times, I was still lucky enough to meet a man who treats me with his whole heart, who treasures me completely. That’s an incredible blessing. How can I resent him for not trying hard enough, just because he can’t give me the kind of life we had at home? You’re just finding fault for the sake of it, deliberately giving him a hard time."
"You’re defending him! Suying, oh, Suying, you were never like this before. You always had my back. Whoever I picked a fight with, you’d pick a fight with. The two of us together were an unbeatable force in the Capital City."
Xu Su Ying snorted with laughter. "An ’unbeatable force in the Capital City’? Could you be any more childish? You’re a father now! Heck, if you’d married young, you could be a grandfather by now. And you’re still acting like some cringey teenager. If you’re not embarrassed, I’m embarrassed for you."
"What did you just say? Xu Su Ying, what was that? Is that any way to talk to your older brother? You say that again, and see if I don’t give you a thrashing."
"You just try it! If you dare lay a hand on me, I’ll go and tell Mom and Dad, and have them string you up and whip you!"
The words left her mouth, and Xu Su Ying froze.
They had rolled off her tongue so easily; she’d blurted them out without thinking.
But she was absolutely not some petty, crude person who loved to tattle!
’Even though I have a bit of a temper and can be a little dramatic, when I can fight my own battles, I always do it myself. I never ask anyone for help!’
’So why was I being so childish just now?’
’Threatening to tell Mom and Dad, to have them back me up... did I really say something so petty?’
Xu Su Ying was mortified.
Xu Shiling, on the other hand, didn’t seem to think anything was wrong at all. He just looked at Xu Su Ying, laughing in exasperation. "A leopard can’t change its spots. You and that rotten temper of yours... it’s the same no matter where you go. You’re never going to change, are you?"
Xu Su Ying shot back, "And you don’t have a rotten temper? Look at you, ready to start a fight over a single word. You’re not a young man anymore. Be careful you don’t throw out your back."
"Say that one more time. I dare you."
"Bring it on! Who’s afraid of who?"
Xu Yanlin and Chen Yaoan stood at the entrance to the flower hall, not knowing whether to enter or to leave.
Yao’an took a nervous step behind Xu Yanlin and nudged his cousin’s back. "My mom isn’t usually like this. She likes to bicker, sure, but she’s not actually the violent type."
Xu Yanlin said, struggling, "My uncle isn’t like this, either. He’s usually very reserved. All day long, he can barely be bothered to say a few words. His usual move is just to give people a sidelong glance."
Not like now, shouting with so much energy and swaggering around like he owned the place. But anyone with eyes could see he was clearly losing the argument. Yet he seemed to be enjoying himself, with no intention of stopping. He even looked happy to be getting teased.
’Is this just how the two of them interact?’
’Is this how they act around their closest family?’
"Let’s leave them be for now. We shouldn’t get in the way. Let the two of them catch up."
Hearing this, Xu Yanlin and Yao’an glanced behind them and saw that Chen Song had returned at some point.
He was standing behind them, his face expressionless, yet he somehow looked both content and sheepish. It was a complicated mix of emotions.
Yao’an asked excitedly, "Dad, when did you get here?"
"A little while ago."
"Oh." ’Doesn’t that mean he heard everything my uncle said complaining about him?’
’Dad didn’t even have a meltdown. He sure has a lot of patience.’
Yao’an pulled his father toward the exit. "Let’s wait outside for a bit. My uncle’s too worked up right now to talk properly. Once he’s calmed down, we can go back in and greet him formally."
Chen Song ruffled his son’s hair.
Yao’an was young, but he was sharp. He was trying to lead his father away because he was afraid he’d be embarrassed or that his feelings would be hurt.
But he had rehearsed scenes like this in his mind countless times. Xu Shiling’s words were nothing but child’s play, completely within his range of tolerance.
Seeing Chen Song, Xu Yanlin also felt a bit awkward and was at a loss for words.
From his perspective, it was true that this uncle-in-law hadn’t given his aunt a life of luxury, and in that, he was at fault. But as a man from the countryside with no background and no powerful connections, he had achieved his current position entirely through his own efforts. He had worked his fingers to the bone to get ahead.
How could you criticize him just because he hadn’t given his aunt the same lavish life she had with her own family?
No matter his faults, he had ultimately saved his aunt’s life. He had given her a stable home, preventing her from dying in a cold river and saving her from years of wandering destitute.