Chapter Forty-Four: As If Swallowing a Fly

He left quickly, and Yi Huayang finally exploded, pointing at me, "Yi Lanshan, are you standing up for yourself or for Du Fanchuan? If you still love him, go ahead, I'll give him back to you. Anyway, he's never forgotten you; even when he's with me, he's thinking about you..."
She wiped her tears, grabbed her bag, and rushed out after Rong Luozheng.

I thought my father would scold me, and I was ready to be beaten. But instead, he got up and took my schoolbag, saying, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll cook you some noodles."

I went to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and buried my face in the basin.

My father rarely cooked, but his noodles were always delicious. When I was little, my favorite late-night snack was the noodles he made.

White noodles topped with an egg and bright green scallions awakened my appetite.

When I finished eating, my father said, "We'll go to the Du family later. Things need to be settled."

My mother rubbed her hands nervously, her frail body trembling. She'd been in poor health since I was born. She said, "It's better not to go. Their family has a grown man; he won't suffer. If things go badly, they can just find someone else. The one who's truly hurt is our Huayang."

My father shouted at her, "What do you know? In the end, it's our fault."

Before leaving, my father insisted on bringing the gifts Rong Luozheng had sent. I refused, "Don't take them. A red envelope is better. I've already prepared one."

He scolded me, "What do you know? Grandma Du's health hasn't been good; she needs these supplements."

I said, "If they find out they're from Rong Luozheng, it'll be like swallowing a fly."

In the end, we went empty-handed. Uncle Du opened the door, and when he saw us, he tried to close it. I quickly called out, "Uncle Du..."

He was the principal of District No. 1 High School and my father's close friend. When I was young, he taught me calligraphy. Whenever I half-jokingly called him 'Dad,' he'd always say that when I grew up, I'd be the Du family's daughter-in-law.

He finally opened the door and let us in.

Grandma Du grabbed me and started crying, making me cry too, and Aunt Du joined in. This relentless life—I don't know what it's trying to mold us into.

My father explained, "We came today so everyone could sit down and talk. I don’t have the heart or the ability to meddle in the children's affairs anymore. I wonder what the three of you think?"

Uncle Du and Aunt Du said nothing. Grandma Du held my hand, "Girl, our Fanchuan was only confused for a moment, bewitched by that vixen. He knows he was wrong, truly knows it. Please, don’t leave him, will you?"

Aunt Du added, "Lanshan, I really want you to be my daughter-in-law. Auntie wants to ask you: if Fanchuan comes back for you, are you still willing to marry him?"

I pulled my hand away, "Grandma Du, Aunt Du, I..."

My father was displeased that Grandma Du called Yi Huayang a vixen, but since she was elderly, he held back. He simply placed a red envelope on the tea table.

Uncle Du glanced at it, "Old Yi, what's this supposed to mean, compensation for emotional distress?"

My father shook his head, "Not exactly. Our Huayang was also at fault, so consider it that. Grandma Du is sick; I'm here to offer my regards."

Uncle Du picked up the red envelope and stuffed it back into my father's hand, "We don’t need it."

Aunt Du said, "Director Yi, please don’t. Your daughter is like a pearl among ordinary stones, and our Fanchuan is just a common man. He doesn’t deserve her. We should thank her for her generosity."

My father tried several times to retort, but I signaled to him with my eyes. He left, fuming, with the red envelope still in hand.

I asked them where Du Fanchuan was. Grandma Du started crying again, "He comes home drunk every day. Girl, can you help Grandma talk some sense into him?"

There was a bar on the pedestrian street owned by Du Fanchuan's friend. When I got there, the manager pointed to a corner, "There. It's been a week straight. If he keeps drinking like this, he'll be lucky to survive."