stonecrandall Chapter 1146 - 1135: Favoring Daughters Over Sons
Chapter 1146 - 1135: Favoring Daughters Over Sons
The four elders never intended for their granddaughter to take care of them in their old age. They cherished the child without expecting anything in return, only wishing for her happiness and an occasional visit.
However, hearing such words out of Ye Qing’s mouth, they couldn’t help but feel a chill in their hearts. After nearly thirty years of doting, had she only seen their affection as an ATM?
Watching their daughter-in-law and grandson drift away, they, like Han Hui and Ye Peilin before them, began to wonder if they had been too indulgent all these years, if they had been too biased.
Now in their old age, it’s only their son who occasionally shows concern. The daughter-in-law and grandson, with whom they dine every day, feel like strangers who never initiate conversations, and treat other elders more warmly than them. Had they truly made mistakes in the past?
Now, with even their last bit of pension taken by their granddaughter, they endure the daughter-in-law’s cold stares without daring to protest, knowing full well that when they can no longer fend for themselves, they will still have to depend on the daughter-in-law and grandson who had never cared for them.
After a lifetime of prosperity, they finally acknowledged the truth that they should not have been biased. But what could they change now? How could they make up for the affection that was missed? Yet, the people involved had grown up, and those who were previously overlooked no longer needed it.
At this moment, they also thought of Ye Qiu, the most outstanding child among the grandchildren. They suddenly realized that over the years, Ye Qiu had been the one who suffered the most grievances.
In the past, any benefits went to Ye Qing, and any mistakes were always pinned on him. Being the eldest, everyone naturally assumed that the youngest was easily spoiled, so they refrained from showing favoritism to him.
And the result? He was the one who suffered the most; no matter what he said, no one agreed with him. At that time, everyone thought he was the most disobedient, the most rebellious, and assumed he would have the least promising future.
But the truth was that he ended up being the most outstanding among them despite everyone’s doubts. They suddenly realized, right now, that their petulance back then even led to them skipping his wedding.
This was an action committed by them, the so-called adults, and they would probably be laughed at if others knew they had coerced their grandson to break up with his girlfriend over a few absurd words, refusing to attend his wedding if he didn’t. How ridiculous their actions were, yet it was something these supposedly wise adults did.
Granny Ye, trembling, dialed Ye Qiu’s number, and in her blurred vision, tears of regret fell. She hadn’t been a good grandmother, and now she only wanted to hear her grandson’s voice.
"Hello, is that grandma?" On the other end of the line, Ye Qiu’s calm voice came through, "What’s the matter?"
Granny Ye’s voice choked: "It’s me, grandma. Are you doing well in Jing City?"
Ye Qiu paused for a moment: "Pretty well."
"Is that so, that’s good. And your wife and child?"
"They’re okay as well."
Granny Ye laughed through her tears: "Grandma was unfair to you before. Can you forgive grandma?"
Ye Qiu remained silent for a moment, but his response was emotionally distant: "You’re my elder, and it’s not for the younger generation to hold grudges."
Upon hearing these words, Granny Ye knew her grandson had eventually drifted away from them. Their favoritism over the years had inevitably estranged the child from them. Moments ago, she wanted to ask more about Ye Qiu’s child, but as the words were leaving her lips, she realized she didn’t even know her great-grandchild’s name, feeling too ashamed to inquire further.
"When will you have time to come back? Your grandpa and I miss you." She quickly added, cautiously, "We know young people are busy with work, so it’s okay if you don’t come back."
"My mother-in-law and father-in-law are planning to return next month to handle some affairs. We might come back together with them."
"Your in-laws are with you?"
"Yes, Xianxian and I are busy with work, so they resigned to help us with Lin Lin."
"Oh, I see, that’s good." Granny Ye savored the words in her heart, realizing her great-grandson’s name was Lin Lin. When they return next month, she should prepare a meeting gift for the child.
But then it dawned on her that all the money they had saved over the years had been swindled away by their granddaughter Ye Qing, including her old jewelry and treasures.
She sighed deeply, smiling bitterly and regretfully at her past bias.
"What happened? Just now, you mentioned it was your grandma calling. Did something happen?" He Xixian asked Ye Qiu. She couldn’t be blamed for thinking this way. Throughout the years, it had always been Ye Qiu who called regularly to check in, never once had anyone called him. Granny Ye’s call was indeed quite unexpected.
"Perhaps she regrets it now!" Ye Qing commented indifferently.
"Regrets what?"
"Regrets being too biased towards Ye Qing back then, now wanting to make it up to me." Ye Qiu joked with his son, showing no other expression on his face.
However, He Xixian looked worriedly at her husband: "Are you okay?"
"What could be wrong?" Ye Qiu chuckled lightly, "I’ve long since come to terms with it. If they want to make amends, that’s their business. I haven’t needed it for a long time."
He Xixian frowned: "After being biased for decades, why suddenly want to make it up?"
"No surprise, Ye Qing must have disappointed them, revealing her true nature." Ye Qiu shook his head, "I’ve always said, the harmonious times were mostly because I was under pressure, or those years when Ye Qing was out of town. Now that she’s back with her husband relying on them, given their lazy nature, no one can endure it for long."
"So, what will you do?"
"We’ll do what we have to do, accompany Mom and Dad for their matters, and then we’ll return."
"Alright," He Xixian breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t unfilial but felt awkward with her husband’s relatives, who once forced Ye Qiu to break up with her. They may now feel guilty towards him, but regarding herself, who knows if they still think she’s not good enough for their successful grandson?
Ye Peilin and Han Hui learned about Ye Qiu’s return after a month had already passed two days later. These days, with Ye Qing moving, and discontent from Han Hui’s sister-in-law and Ye Peilin’s siblings, had exhausted their mental energy. The two appeared to have aged several years in just a couple of years, with no time to even manage their graying hair.
"He’s coming back next month?" Han Hui felt a bit at a loss, unsure how to face it. Having served her daughter for so long, she finally understood why her son had previously held such strong opinions.
She couldn’t bear to think how her son managed to keep up with his studies under those circumstances, and in a household where no one believed him, how much he must have suffered.