Chapter 507: Great Transformation
Chapter 507: Chapter 507: Great Transformation
Pingping and An’an chattered excitedly, making all sorts of requests to Ye Ling.
When they were younger, Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng rarely visited Beijing. It was always Ye Ling, Ye Chen, and Ye Zheng who came to visit them.
As for Wang Liwen, she knew Old Madam Xu wasn’t fond of her, so she often bought things for her two sons to bring over but never came in person.
Hearing this, Ye Ling’s eyes lit up. He turned his head and asked, "Brother, Sister-in-law, are you guys really going to Beijing?"
Ye Feng nodded. "With something this major happening, of course I’m going. Don’t be afraid. Dad and I have it covered. It’s not your place to worry about the family. Just eat your meal and stop talking."
"Heh, thanks, Brother," Ye Ling said with a grin.
After the meal, Han Xiaorui carefully sized up Ye Ling’s height and build. "I haven’t seen you in just three months, and you’ve already grown taller. You’re going to be a very handsome man. You haven’t been resting well these past couple of days, so just stay home and sleep."
"Once you’re rested, you can go for a walk around the commercial district. I left some spending money for you on the table in your room. It’s from your brother and me, so feel free to spend it. Your brother and I have some things to take care of today, but we should be back this afternoon."
Ye Ling nodded. "Brother, Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I can take care of myself."
He was extremely familiar with Jinshan Bay, so there was no need to worry about his safety.
Han Xiaorui smiled. "Alright, then! I also need to prepare some gifts to bring along. Make sure you eat and drink your fill, because you and your brother will be carrying the luggage."
"No problem, I’ll carry the luggage," Ye Ling readily agreed.
After breakfast, Ye Feng and Han Xiaorui stuck to their plan and took the four children to the Xu family’s home.
When Old Madam Xu heard Ye Feng’s story, she, like Mr. Xu, was taken aback. "Wu Xingjia? The Wu family?"
Ye Feng nodded. "Yes, Grandpa, Grandma. You know of the Wu family?"
Mr. Xu replied, "More than just know of them. We’re very familiar with them. During the war, they did quite a bit for the Japanese invaders—they were outright traitors. After the Liberation, most of them fled the country."
"However, they left one son behind in the mainland. This is their homeland, after all, and even traitors would rather not be exiled if they can help it. Even after the economic reforms, politically-connected entrepreneurs like us returned to invest long ago, but the Wu family remained very cautious. They’ve only just come back."
Old Madam Xu sighed. "I can’t believe the man Wang Liwen was involved with back then was actually Wu Xingjia. He had no sense of responsibility. Getting her pregnant and then just leaving without a word... he completely disregarded whether she lived or died!"
"Now that the danger has passed and his son is all grown up, Wu Xingjia, remembering he can’t have children of his own, wants to reclaim his biological son. Where in the world can you find a deal that good? He’s having a pipe dream!"
Han Xiaorui smiled and nodded. "That’s right. And that kid, Ye Ling, refuses to acknowledge him. He wants to be part of the Ye Family."
"The Wu family is very wealthy—more so than Ye Ling could possibly imagine," Old Madam Xu said with a laugh. "He’s still young. He might change his mind when he gets older."
Ye Feng shook his head. "It’s his choice. As long as he wants to be a member of the Ye Family in his heart, then he is one. But if he starts getting cozy with the Wu family, I’ll distance myself from him and stop treating him as a brother."
"With things as they are, Xiao Rui and I are preparing to take the children to Beijing for a few days. We haven’t been back in years. It was one thing when everything was quiet, but now that something’s happened, we have to go check on them."
Old Madam Xu nodded. "You should go! Just remember, it’s colder there. Make sure the children are bundled up so they don’t get sick."
Ye Feng smiled. "Okay, I will!"
In the study, Mr. Xu gave Ye Feng a detailed account of the Wu family’s affairs, making sure he was fully aware of the situation.
After lunch, Han Xiaorui had Ye Feng take Pingping An’an and the two other little ones home. She, meanwhile, went with Wu Jiao to the mall to buy clothes for Ye Ling.
Of course, they couldn’t show up empty-handed.
Han Xiaorui picked out many suitable outfits at Wu Lingling’s shop.
She bought clothes not only for Ye Ling but also for Ye Chen, and of course, she didn’t leave out Wang Liwen and Ye Zheng.
She also packed some expensive dried seafood and health supplements.
Uncle Xu had already flown to Beijing that day to get the courtyard house ready.
Every year, Uncle Xu would visit the courtyard house twice to clean it thoroughly, inside and out.
Now, all it needed was a light cleaning and new quilts and bedding to be purchased and laid out.
By the time Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng arrived with the children the next day, they would be able to move right in.
Ye Ling had already called home. Wang Liwen and Ye Zheng were delighted to hear that Ye Feng and Han Xiaorui were coming with the children.
Ye Zheng’s home in Beijing was a small, two-story house.
The house had two guest rooms, which Wang Liwen stayed up late to prepare.
Ye Zheng said with a laugh, "Don’t trouble yourself. Ye Feng, Xiao Rui, and the others won’t be staying here!"
After all, the Xu family had a large, well-maintained courtyard house in Beijing that was much more spacious.
Wang Liwen replied as she tidied up, "It’s a rare occasion for Ye Feng and Xiao Rui to bring the children to Beijing, and they’re doing it for Ye Ling’s sake. I have to show my appreciation."
"We don’t have many rooms, so I know they probably won’t stay here. But I still have to prepare the rooms so we can welcome them properly."
"In the past, I always paid lip service to us being one big family, but deep down, I was too petty to truly mean it. It’s a good thing you were always there to talk sense into me and keep me from doing anything too drastic."
"But after this whole affair with Ye Ling, I’ve come to deeply understand that we truly are a family! Even if Ye Ling isn’t your biological son, Ye Chen is, which means he shares blood with Ye Feng. And since Ye Chen and Ye Ling are brothers, our family is all connected."
Ye Zheng chuckled. "Well, what do you know! Even someone as petty as you can figure things out!"
Wang Liwen shot Ye Zheng a glare. "Don’t underestimate me! Am I not allowed to grow as a person? Besides, things are different now. At my age, if I’m still muddle-headed and can’t figure things out, then what’s the point of having lived this long?"
Ye Zheng chuckled. "You have a point!"
The family was finally in harmony.
Truth be told, Ye Zheng really couldn’t bear to part with his intelligent son, Ye Ling, who not only excelled academically but also had an excellent character.
And just at this crucial time, the Wu family had come to reap what he had sown.
Fortunately, thanks to Ye Feng and Xiao Rui, Ye Ling’s disposition hadn’t been too greatly affected by the situation with the Wu family.
Wang Liwen took time off from the hospital to clean the house and buy all kinds of vegetables and meat, preparing to host Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng’s family.
Even though they had a housekeeper, Wang Liwen bustled about, helping with the preparations.
For the past several years, as soon as her two sons were on winter or summer break, they would go to their uncle and aunt’s house. During the summer break, in particular, the two of them would stay for a full two months.
Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng had never once complained. And when the boys returned home, they were always loaded down with bags of all sizes, full of gifts.
Since Han Xiaorui had married Ye Feng, Wang Liwen felt like the only clothes she ever bought for her two sons and her husband were underwear and socks. Han Xiaorui was the one who bought all their stylish new outfits.