Chapter 26: Not Fond of You

Er Dan had no idea how much turmoil his words had caused for his grandparents.

He clung to his father’s hand, trotting happily as they left the compound.

Dad wasn’t going to abandon them just because he was starting a new family, Grandma had given them so many ration coupons, and now they wouldn’t have to cook over a fire anymore…

The more he thought about it, the happier he felt, a silly grin spreading across his face.

Da Dan shifted his gaze away from their father’s large hand gripping his wrist and glanced at Er Dan.

Sensing Da Dan’s look, Er Dan beamed and said, “Big brother, from now on we won’t have to worry about our hands freezing in winter.”

Da Dan gave him a caring look before turning away. Was Dad’s earlier reminder about how they’d moved Su Qinghu at the hospital?

So, would Su Qinghu really be willing to accept them wholeheartedly?

“Big brother? What’s wrong?” Er Dan stood on one side of the display, craning his neck to look at Da Dan on the other. “You’ve been acting weird all day.”

Did their new mom really hit or scold him this morning?

But he’d been squatting by the door and hadn’t heard a peep from inside…

“Watch where you’re going,” Chen Lie lowered his gaze, sweeping his eyes over the two boys, his heart a mix of emotions. He’d told them before—if they ever ran into a problem they couldn’t solve, they should go find Zhao Liangyan.

But to this day, they’d never gone, didn’t even know what Zhao Liangyan looked like.

How afraid must they be that, through Zhao Liangyan, he’d find out how hard things were for them…

“Dad, why were you acting weird just like big brother was?”

Er Dan tugged at Chen Lie’s hand. Chen Lie looked down at him, “What do you mean, acting weird?”

Which part was he talking about?

“Big brother’s been weird today, and you’ve been weird too since we left the compound. What’s going on with you two?” Today was a day of unexpected gains—why weren’t they happy? Why did they look like something was weighing on their minds?

Chen Lie teased him, “Today, every time you two spoke to your grandparents, they’d form a… very subtle… opinion of me.”

A man nearly thirty, and in his parents’ eyes, he was still someone who struggled to support his family…

He felt the weight of the “parental love” in his pocket, looked up at the sky, and after a long moment, let out a heavy sigh.

“What kind of subtle opinion?” Er Dan asked, thinking it over. “Do they think you’re not capable, Dad?”

Da Dan glanced at him but said nothing. Er Dan said he’d been acting strange all day, but he didn’t feel that way himself…

Er Dan looked from Da Dan to Chen Lie, puzzled. “That can’t be right. Dad, you’re the most capable person. Lots of people say so, and you have so many friends! Someone with so many friends can’t be incapable.”

There was a certain wisdom to those words. Chen Lie shot him a look but didn’t reply.

Da Dan was much more perceptive and worldly than Er Dan, so he understood what Chen Lie meant, and felt a bit uneasy. “Dad, I did tell Grandpa and Grandma about the coal briquettes, and that we have money at home…”

But for some reason, no matter how sincerely he spoke, Grandpa and Grandma just didn’t believe him. Or maybe they did, but still insisted on giving them those ration coupons?

“This isn’t your fault,” Chen Lie said, and led the boys onto the bus.

The bus was crowded, so the three of them stood all the way until they got off near home.

“Da Dan, let go of all those negative expectations and try to accept her, okay?” As they neared the door, Chen Lie stopped, crouched down to face Da Dan. “Right now, we’re already a family. Instead of resisting, why not try to see if you can get along?”

Maybe because he’d been old enough to remember when Chen Lie brought him home, Da Dan always reacted the most strongly to things he cared about.

“My brother likes her,” Er Dan raised his hand. “Dad, my brother doesn’t dislike her! He even asked if she could stay with you forever!”

Chen Lie looked at him, a little troubled—this kid could really talk non-stop…

“Really, Dad, you don’t know. At first, my brother and I even wanted to become sworn siblings with her!”

Chen Lie: “…”

Er Dan was so excited, he didn’t even think to check his father’s or brother’s expressions, just kept chattering away.

“…Before, I just didn’t know she didn’t know how to run a household,” Da Dan forced himself to say, suppressing the feelings that came with remembering why he’d thought that way.

“Chen Lie!”

Just then, Zhao Liangyan suddenly appeared, interrupting them. “There’s something I forgot to tell you last night.”

Chen Lie looked at him. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing big, just a couple of sentences. Your new wife said she hopes you’ll take responsibility for your own life, do whatever you want, don’t feel like you have to accommodate her—she can take care of the house.”

“She wants to see you shine in the field you love, to become someone truly unique.”

He repeated every word, though he knew he couldn’t live up to it for now. But he remembered exactly what she’d meant.

As long as the main idea was right.

Chen Lie listened carefully, then smiled. “You came all this way just to tell me that?”

“Yeah, just for that. I don’t think your talents should be buried because of family reasons.” Zhao Liangyan patted his friend’s arm. “So, I’ve told you now. Will you remember? Still thinking of quitting?”

Chen Lie caught a faint whiff of alcohol on him and understood. “You already told me all this before.”

“Huh? I did?” Zhao Liangyan shook his head. “How come I feel like I haven’t?”

Er Dan tugged at his shirt. “Uncle, you’ve been drinking this early in the morning?”

“Drinking in the morning is bad?” Zhao Liangyan’s thoughts were starting to slow. “Does it have to be at night? No way, I can’t go out drinking at night—my wife would scold me. You guys, with your arranged marriages or family introductions, don’t understand us who found love on our own. I can’t come home late and make my wife sad.”

On the surface, he still seemed normal—not at all like someone who’d been drinking.

But inside, he was already completely drunk.

And yet, even drunk, his words cut like knives—every word hit home…

Chen Lie: “How much did you drink with Zhang Dongsheng?”

“Zhang Dongsheng? Who’s that?” Zhao Liangyan’s eyes suddenly went wide. “Wait, I know! I know who Zhang Dongsheng is! That guy’s a real piece of work!”

Chen Lie listened calmly.

After he’d left yesterday, Zhang Dongsheng had probably dragged Zhao Liangyan out drinking.

Knowing Zhang Dongsheng, he’d definitely want to “enjoy life” before going in.

“He said… said I brought the old man over to him, and if I didn’t want him to get mad, I’d have to drink with him. And I couldn’t drink too little—if I did, he’d say he’d go after your pretty wife!”

It really pissed him off—never changes! With so many people who like him, he just has to go after someone who doesn’t even care about him!"