Chapter 223 - 207: Outburst
Chapter 223: Chapter 207: Outburst
Tang Qingyun slumped over the desk, his head in his hand. It took him a long moment for his mind to catch up, only to hear the dial tone buzzing in the receiver. She had hung up!
He fought to suppress the anger surging through him, telling himself over and over, ’Calm down! The worst thing for a couple is to argue impulsively. Vicious words cut the deepest, just like the ones Xiao Wen is using right now.’
’Xiao Wen... she’s just so disappointed and upset that she’s lost all reason!’
In all their years of marriage, Xiao Wen had always been gentle and soft-spoken, never once losing her temper. This time, she must have been suppressing her feelings for too long. First, she was forced to send Xuanxuan back. After that, the Wu Family, who had been fully prepared and ready to leave, was unable to return to Beijing. Their hopes were dashed. The entire family was stuck in Feng City, unable to make a move and even becoming a laughingstock. All that resentment was then aimed at Xiao Wen, and it was more than she could bear. On top of all that, her own job transfer was halted, leaving her alone in the provincial city, desperately missing her daughter and son...
Tang Qingyun took a deep breath and tried to convince himself again. ’Xiao Wen’s resentment is understandable. The Old Master’s punishment—it’s truly too severe!’
The memory of Manman calling him "Dad," followed by her calling him "Uncle," echoed in his ears, and a bitter taste flooded his mouth.
He redialed their home number in the provincial city. He decided to forget Wu Xiaowen’s earlier tirade and not to question why she had secretly sent letters and money to Xuanxuan behind his back. They needed to talk things out calmly and have a serious discussion. His mother had traveled a great distance from Beijing. As her daughter-in-law, Xiao Wen should—no, *must*—come and spend a couple of days with her. She had to put all her other worries aside and show her mother-in-law the proper filial respect.
The phone rang three or four times before it was answered. It was Tang Yaxuan’s soft, sweet voice on the other end. "Dad," she said cautiously, "Mom’s really upset. She’s crying and can’t talk right now!"
Tang Qingyun’s gaze fell on the military canteen he had brought up and set on his desk. "Xuanxuan," he said, "go get your mom a glass of water. After she drinks it, come back and talk to Dad."
"Okay. Dad, I’ll comfort Mom. You should drink some water too, and try not to be angry, okay?"
"Okay, Dad knows. You’re a good girl, Xuanxuan." Tang Qingyun felt a warmth spread through him. He set the receiver down on the desk, picked up the military canteen, and twisted it open. He tilted his head back and took several large gulps. The herbal concoction, with its woody scent, was bitter at first, but a sweet aftertaste soon followed. A cool, pleasant sensation spread from his tongue down his throat, quenching his thirst and even seeming to calm the agitation in his heart.
Tang Qingyun took two more gulps before capping the canteen and picking up the receiver. He heard Wu Xiaowen say, "Hello?" Her voice was hoarse and weak; she had obviously been crying her eyes out.
"Xiao Wen, can we please stop being angry? No one could have predicted things would turn out like this, and no one understands what we were originally trying to do. But when you get right down to it, we really were the ones in the wrong. We didn’t think it through enough..."
"Yes, yes, it’s all our fault! Now even *you* believe that! Qingyun, just think about it! If your mother wasn’t so damn nitpicky, so critical, always finding fault in me, would things have ever gotten this bad? You’ve seen it all these years! I’ve swallowed my grievances and humbled myself, but I couldn’t get a single kind look from her! Then that ugly monster of a daughter suddenly appears. Do you honestly think your mother wouldn’t have eaten me alive if I’d dared to acknowledge her? And that child, Mo Xiaoman! She’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch! I gave birth to her, and she still treats me like this! She knew the truth the whole time but just hid off to the side, not saying a word! She let that bitch Liu Fengying wrap us around her little finger, watching as we were cursed and ridiculed by everyone! She was gloating! She even joined in to kick us while we were down! How could I have given birth to a daughter like that? She’s disgusting! Hateful! Tang Qingyun, I don’t care what you say, the root of this problem is absolutely not me! I refuse to admit it! If you mention this to me one more time, I’ll lose my mind! WAHHH..."
Another round of hysterical sobbing erupted from the receiver, followed by a girl’s soft, comforting voice. "Mom, please don’t be sad... Mom, you have to take care of your health. You still have Xuanxuan, and you have Hao Hao!"
At the mention of Hao Hao, there was a CLATTER from the other end of the line, and then Wu Xiaowen’s hoarse, choked voice broke through. "Tang Qingyun, give Hao Hao back to me! Bring him to the provincial city next time you come! Have you forgotten how to be a father? You can’t even discipline some wild brat, so now you can’t handle your own son either? I can’t believe I trusted you all these years! You’re so spineless! No guts, no authority! It’s no wonder the Tang family tossed you aside like a dirty rag! I’m telling you, Tang Qingyun, if you really surrender, if you don’t fight for my parents and just accept that three-year transfer to some poor, remote backwater, I will be done with you!"
With a SLAM, the line went dead again.
Tang Qingyun’s face was impassive, but one of his handsome eyebrows twitched slightly. In that moment, he felt preternaturally calm, with no sign that he was about to lose his temper.
But his thoughts were perfectly clear. ’Wu Xiaowen’s resentment has finally boiled over. It’s like they say, *in vino veritas*. She’s finally spoken her true feelings. So all those years of her "trust" were just a case of bad judgment. Back when we were madly in love, she praised me for being talented, refined, and dependable. Now she sees the "truth": I have no backbone, no authority!’
’Wu Xiaowen, oh, Wu Xiaowen... could you possibly be any more hurtful?’
’You feel your trust was misplaced, but what about me? Who was I doing it for when I made my own mother sick with rage, when I left Beijing and accepted being exiled by my family? For ten years, I’ve used every ounce of the Tang family’s secret influence to protect the Wu Family, to protect your reputation and your interests... Does all of that mean nothing?’
’Yes, it’s all in the past. It means nothing now! Now there’s a new crisis, and I’m sorry, but I can’t do anything about it! I’m just... tired!’
’No backbone, no authority? Heh, sounds about right. That must be me.’
A phrase suddenly surfaced in his mind: ’Money isn’t everything, but without it, you can’t do anything! If you can’t cough up the cash, Wu Xiaowen will definitely despise you for being incompetent!’
’Who was it that said that? Right. Mo Xiaoman.’
’That wild brat, Mo Xiaoman!’ Wu Xiaowen’s voice still echoed in his ears. Tang Qingyun felt an urge to laugh, but no sound came out. He wanted to scream.
’Mo Xiaoman. The very woman who gave birth to her calls her a "wild brat." Fine, then. Let Wu Xiaowen watch as this "wild brat" is officially recognized by Tang Qingshan and becomes the eldest daughter of the family’s main branch!’
’She was supposed to be the eldest granddaughter of the Tang family to begin with!’
’It’s just... I’m no longer fated to be her father.’
Tang Qingyun blinked his reddened eyes, cleared his throat, and for the third time, dialed the number to his home in the provincial city.
Tang Yaxuan picked up the phone. "Dad, Mom is—"
"I’ll give her one minute. Put her on."
Wu Xiaowen was, in fact, sitting right beside the phone. Her voice, hollow from crying, came through. "What is it now? Get it all out. I want to rest."
"Hao Hao’s grandmother and his Eldest Uncle arrived in Wancheng last night. Today, they went to Manman’s place in Gongdao Village. They’ll probably stay there for five or six days and head back to Beijing when the harvest break is over... I’m just letting you know. As for the rest... I don’t know anything. You figure it out."
After he finished speaking, Tang Qingyun hung up. Then, he immediately took the receiver off the hook again and laid it on the desk. He was done discussing personal matters. If work was urgent, his secretary could come and find him. ’Who doesn’t need to rest?’ He had been staying up late for days on end, and he hadn’t slept a wink the previous night. If he didn’t get some rest, he was going to collapse.