AYLS – Chapter 108

Instructor Chen didn’t pay much attention to what she was thinking. When he got home that evening, neither his wife nor his parents were asleep yet.

There was only one bed in the room. Previously, Instructor Chen would squeeze in with his father in the dormitory. Tonight he came back late, so his father had stayed at home after dinner, waiting for him and taking the opportunity to discuss strategies with his wife.

Li Ermei had gone to Su Weizhen’s house to visit, and she had just returned as well.

Mother Chen, seeing her son come back, looked full of concern. “It’s so cold outside, and you’re still out. Your wife doesn’t even know how to worry about you.”

Li Ermei rolled her eyes at this. “He’s eating well and enjoying spicy food. I haven’t said a word yet.”

Instructor Chen felt a little embarrassed. “Yeah, Mom, I already told you, we went out to eat today.”

“Well, it’s still hard work. Men have it tough outside. Drink some water and rest first. Qiao, go make some hot water for your brother.”

Sun Qiao absentmindedly went to do it.

Li Ermei didn’t even bother paying attention. If someone was serving, she might as well let them.

Instructor Chen was more polite and quickly said there was no need to be formal.

“What formalities? Don’t treat Qiao as an outsider.”

In his heart, Instructor Chen thought, no matter how you look at it, she isn’t a biological sister, so she’s definitely not the same as his own sister.

In front of Sun Qiao, he didn’t say anything. He accepted the hot water with thanks but didn’t drink it, just setting it aside.

“Mom, Dad, it’s getting colder and colder. I heard there will be heavy snow soon. I’m planning to book your tickets tomorrow. You decide which day to go, and I’ll take leave to see you off.”

Upon hearing this, the four of them changed expressions. Li Ermei’s face lit up with happiness, thinking to herself that the way Xiao Qiao and the others had persuaded the men had worked surprisingly well.

Father Chen and Mother Chen were unhappy—their original plan hadn’t even been achieved, and now their son was taking the initiative to send them off.

As for Sun Qiao, she was still confused, her thoughts not yet sorted, and didn’t want to leave.

Back home, there were nothing but crooked melons and misshapen fruits—nothing like here, where conditions were excellent, even with officials coming from the capital. But as an outsider, she had no right to speak, only able to suppress her dissatisfaction in her heart.

The smile on Mother Chen’s face disappeared, and she said unhappily, “So you’re kicking us out, huh?”

“Mom, what are you saying? I’m not sending you away. I’m just worried it might be inconvenient for you to travel back. Otherwise, where would you celebrate the New Year?”

Of course, Instructor Instructor Chen’s Parents didn’t want to spend the New Year away from home. But they were very dissatisfied with their son’s act of trying to rush them.

They began to wonder if their son’s mindset had changed. For them, this was a big issue—it represented a significant reduction in the family’s future income.

Mother Chen immediately brought up the previous topic: “So, about letting Ermei go back with us earlier—have you thought it over?”

Li Ermei hadn’t planned to get involved. Hearing this, she immediately shouted, “I’m not going! Don’t make it my problem. Otherwise, I’ll report to the leadership. Believe it or not?”

“……”

Mother Chen scolded angrily, “What kind of attitude is that? Do you talk to your mother-in-law like this?”

Li Ermei replied, “If you’re so dissatisfied, why don’t you just get your son a different wife?”

Hearing this, Instructor Chen, frowned. “Ermei, say less.”

“Why don’t you tell your mom to say less? Every day she’s looking for trouble. I haven’t even said a word, and she still comes at me. She tells me to go home and rest for the pregnancy, but once I go back, can I even get a bite to eat?”

“Third son, look at her attitude!” Father Chen slammed the table in anger.

Instructor Chen tried to calm him. “Dad, don’t be angry. She’s just moody because she’s pregnant. Please be patient.”

Mother Chen said, “If this were back home, someone would have taught her a lesson.”

Li Ermei, having spent a long time with Lin Qiao and the others, had adopted a more progressive mindset. “The Republic of China has been established for years. Stop clinging to these feudal customs. Saying your mindset is outdated is being too polite.”

Mother Chen: “……”

Instructor Chen felt a headache coming. “Ermei, Mom, stop arguing. It’s my fault for saying too much. You can stay as long as you like; let’s not talk about it today. Dad, let’s go rest. It’s late, and the dormitory is strict.”

Father Chen, normally an early sleeper, felt too tired to continue the argument. Just now, he had been holding back, and hearing his son speak this way, he wasn’t inclined to keep fighting.

The key was that there were few family members here, and this daughter-in-law was so bold that no one could outshout her.

On the way home, Father Chen wanted to talk sense into his son, hoping to get his approval to let Li Ermei return to her hometown.

Along the way, Father Chen reminisced about the past, talking about how much the family had sacrificed for his success.

His intention was to remind Instructor Chen of their gratitude, but Instructor Chen, having just been lectured by Xu Yuanzheng and the others, realized he had indeed caused the family many troubles over the years. He could not let Li Ermei and the baby become another burden.

He sighed, “Dad, I really have caused trouble for the family over the years.”

“It’s enough that you realize that. Our family shouldn’t have been so calculating, but a person must have a conscience, right? Your brothers back home also face hardships; every household has heavy burdens.”

Instructor Chen nodded in agreement. “Yes, they’re not having it easy either.”

Father Chen felt satisfied hearing this. He wanted to tell him to send more money home, but it sounded too blunt, almost as if he only cared about money. “It’s enough that you understand. I won’t say more. Keep this in mind and think about what to do. Your mother and I don’t ask for much, just don’t let your brothers suffer.”

“I won’t. I won’t let them suffer,” Instructor Chen decided firmly. He would take care of his wife and child himself. Even if something happened to him in the future, Li Ermei and the baby would be able to live well.

At that moment, under his father’s guidance, Instructor Chen realized he really needed to change his mindset. He could no longer assume the family was the same as before, that everyone lived together without boundaries. His brothers had their own families and difficulties; he could no longer treat them as a safety net.

Yes, Instructor Chen had always sent money home, but he had never considered himself a true pillar for the family. Deep down, this home was just like his childhood home—whenever he returned, it was always the same. Now that he had made something of himself, it was his turn to contribute. In times of difficulty, this family would also be his support.

He thought simply: marriage changes nothing, but now he understood he could no longer bring trouble to his family.

Father Chen didn’t realize how deeply his son had understood this, but he assumed that since Instructor Chen gave a positive signal, everything was fine. His son was still his son; it was just that his daughter-in-law was too fiery, making life difficult for him.

He muttered, “Qiao is a good girl. If you had married someone like Sun Qiao, life would’ve been much easier.”

“Oh Dad, don’t say that! Ermei and I have been married for so long, and now we’re about to have a child. If you say things like that, how am I supposed to face her later?” Instructor Chen said, annoyed. Who thinks about swapping a wife when life is going smoothly?

Father Chen: “…I was just muttering.”

“Muttering is also not allowed. If someone overhears, they’ll think it’s my idea. This is also a serious matter of conduct, Dad. Don’t mutter about these things.”

Hearing “conduct,” Father Chen dared not speak again. Fine, as long as his son was still his son, it didn’t matter who the daughter-in-law was. After all, they weren’t living together.

…

Fearing his parents would misunderstand, Instructor Chen didn’t mention sending them back. Letting them stay a few more days was fine; there was no way to force them.

Instructor Instructor Chen’s Parents waited for their son, who had already been convinced, to bring up the matter of giving money. When he didn’t, they were left lingering, stuck in a stalemate.

The most frustrated was Li Ermei. His family refused to leave, making her feel uneasy.

Especially Sun Qiao, who went to wait at the gate every day, clearly trying to flirt with Instructor Chen. Even though Li Ermei warned him to be careful and Instructor Chen promised not to let anyone pick him up, Sun Qiao persisted.

She couldn’t argue openly—if it got out, rumors would spread, making it seem like Instructor Chen had a problem.

So she could only complain to her friends.

Lin Qiao listened indignantly, finding Sun Qiao’s behavior utterly shameless. She wished she could confront her with a moral lecture. Still, she asked skeptically, “Are you sure? No misunderstanding?”

She could not understand why a married, soon-to-be father like Instructor Chen would attract the attention of an unmarried young woman.

Li Ermei said firmly, “If she wasn’t interested, would she wait at the gate every single day? Even a wife wouldn’t do something like that.”

“…Indeed, I never wait for Gu Huayuan at the front gate unless I need him to help with something,” Lin Qiao finally believed.

Going to the gate every day to pick someone up—that shows how much one must love.

But loving the wrong person is still a mistake.

Su Weizhen, afraid that the two of them might act impulsively and make a mistake, advised, “I think when it comes to matters between a man and a woman, the most important thing rests with the man. If the man is firm, then there won’t be a problem. So there’s no need for you to go to the woman and say anything—don’t give her any excuse to latch on.”

Li Ermei kept rubbing her belly, reminiscing about the days when she was fearless. Back then, she didn’t understand these principles and didn’t have to worry about anything; she did whatever she wanted, without fear that Old Chen’s position might be affected by her.

Now, the more she understood, the more she overthought.

Next to her, Li Yan watched her so upset and recalled her own past married life with Zhang Tuo.

If Ermei was this distressed over a woman who might intrude, then back when she couldn’t let go of the past, how much anguish must Zhang Tuo have felt?

She asked Li Ermei, “Ermei, if… I mean, if, the Director Chen had someone else in his heart, what would you do?”

Li Ermei instantly exploded with anger at the thought, snapping viciously, “Then I guess I’d have no choice but to become a widow.”

Lin Qiao and Su Weizhen: “…” Brutal.

Li Yan stared in disbelief. “Are you really that mad?”

“Of course! Wouldn’t you be angry? Even if a dog I raised barked at someone else, I couldn’t stand it—let alone a man. Why should my own man think of another woman? Even dogs know loyalty. Being loyal in your marriage—that’s something a dog wouldn’t even fail at.”

Lin Qiao couldn’t help but clap, “Ermei, well said. Marriage is sacred; anyone who betrays it is worse than a dog.”

Su Weizhen said, “Sorry, we insulted dogs.”

Cheered on by her friends, Ermei’s mood lifted. But after venting, she got grumpy again, glaring at Li Yan, “Hey, what’s your deal? You didn’t try to stop me, and now you’re adding fuel to the fire. Are you really my good comrade?”

Li Yan stayed silent, her feelings complicated.

Her mind replayed snippets of her past life: every argument, every cold war, every time Zhang Tuo’s helplessness fell solely on her, and she chose to turn a blind eye.