Chapter 18 (1/2)
Translated by Crystal of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Just as Shen Fu suspected, the situation wasn’t so easily defused. It was barely ten days before Yang JianGuo returned again and this time, it wasn’t just him and Yang Xiao, there was also his wife, the one that hadn’t shown her face yet.
It was only when the car stopped at XiQin’s front doors did Zhao XueMei slowly get out of it. When she got out, the first thing she did was take a look at the restaurant and then say, “Seriously, after all these years I’ve been away, it’s still just as cheap.” She looked both ways, made sure no one saw her, then replaced her mocking expression with a smile. She turned around to call her son, “XiaoXiao, come out, we’re going to see your grandpa.”
Yang Xiao made a sound of acknowledgement and then jump out of the car. He was actually holding a box of milk and a pretty looking dessert as he walked over to Zhao XueMei. From an onlookers perspective, maybe they would’ve thought that a relative of old man Yang’s came to visit. Since with the milk and dessert, it did have some feelings to it.
Yang JianGuo was the last to get out. He took his time, not wanting to go in. Even if other people didn’t know why Zhao XueMei was here, there was no way he didn’t. For the past few days, Zhao XueMei had been blowing a fuss, throwing things, all for that house and that super-money-grabbing-spa. The owner of the store was likely urging her and thus she turned around to urge him. But, there was no way Yang JianGuo could come up with that money on the spot.
All his relatives have been offended by Zhao XueMei’s love of fortune and distaste for the poor. Most weren’t in contact with him anymore, much less willing to lend him money. Not only that, with this kind of situation, even if they had money, he couldn’t bring himself to ask. Since she couldn’t borrow the money, she could only turn to that old building of old man Yang’s.
In their house, Zhao XueMei had scolded him from head to toe, then turned around to tidy herself up and had Yang Xiao buy the gifts. She then took the two of them to a place she hadn’t returned to in years. Even if Yang JianGuo was a hundred percent unwilling, there was nothing he could do now. Zhao XueMei was determined, if she wasn’t happy, then no one was.
The three people inside were currently eating. It wasn’t meal time yet, but those who worked in the restaurant business could never have meals at the right time. Thus, as there were currently no customers, just the three gathered together chatting, full of smiles like a real family.
Zhao XueMei’s gaze instantly turned cold, but her mouth didn’t stop, “Dad.”
Old man Yang quickly turned around. Seeing that it was her, he wiped his hand on his apron then stood up and said, “XueMei, you’re back, have you eaten yet? We’re still eating, if you haven’t, then I’ll make you something.”
Old man Yang had always been respectful to Zhao XueMei, not because he wanted to, but because his wife died young. So when Zhao XueMei married in, he was the only one left. As the only in law, the more respectful he was, the more he took her in as part of the family.
Zhao XueMei’s smile became even brighter, “No thanks, we ate on the way here. This time we are here to visit you.”
Once he heard ‘we’, old man Yang saw two people coming in from the back and that was Yang JianGuo and Yang Xiao. Yang Xiao had things in both hands. The first thing he did was fiercely stare at Shen Fu and Lin ShuYi, before smiling at old man Yang. He placed the things on the table and said, “Grandpa.”
Old man Yang stared at the pastry for a while. This store sold pretty good Chinese pastries, it just that it was a bit too sweet.
Yang JianGuo, who stood beside Zhao XueMei also greeted, “Dad.”
The family of three and old man Yang, it was as if a uncrossable gap appeared between them, separating them to two fronts. Both Lin ShuYi and Shen Fu furrowed their brows.
Zhao XueMei only took a look at them when she walked in and then proceeded to ignore their existence. She sat down and pushed the stuff on the table towards old man Yang, “Dad, we’re here to say sorry. Last time, JianGuo and XiaoXiao didn’t know any better and angered you.”
She went all the way, no matter who saw this scene, they would have believed her to be a polite and thoughtful daughter-in law. Hearing this, old man Yang also had a smile on his face.
Lin ShuYi also loosened his brows. Only Shen Fu rubbed his lips thoughtfully and looked knowingly at Zhao XueMei, clearly he figured out what she was trying to do.
Old man Yang said with a smile, “We’re all family, so don’t say things like sorry. JianGuo’s my son and XiaoXiao’s my grandson, there’s no way I would actually get angry at them. So stuff like this, don’t say it anymore. Come, sit down, I’ll get you guys some water.”
Hearing that, Lin ShuYi stood up and said, “Grandpa, I’ll get it.”
Old man Yang didn’t think further, but Zhao XueMei took another look at Lin ShuYi. Yang Xiao couldn’t retain his composure and wanted to say something, but Zhao XueMei pulled him back. She give him a look, then unwillingly, he stepped behind her. Lin ShuYi went to pour water while old man Yang cleaned up the table, thus only Shen Fu saw this laughable scene. With that, he was sure they were up to no good.
“Dad, how’s the business these days?” Zhao XueMei asked.
In reality, she couldn’t care more about this restaurant. Looking at how run down this place was, how could there be business? If it was good business, why couldn’t it earn any money? She simply found a topic to ease into things, since she didn’t want to piss old man Yang right off the bat with the house.