Some things just can’t be avoided, no matter how hard you try.
During dinner that evening, Madam Yu prepared several lavish dishes, half of which were her daughter’s favorites. Having been away from home for some time, her daughter was dearly missed.
It should have been a joyous family reunion, and the elderly Yu couple were in high spirits—until Yu Ping’s wife brought up the topic of work again, souring the mood.
"Dad, when are you finally going to arrange a job for Yu Ping? He’s been idle for over half a month now. How are we supposed to support the family on just my salary?"
Yu Feng glanced at his son, but Yu Ping acted as if he hadn’t heard his wife’s words, continuing to eat and drink without a care. This only fueled Yu Feng’s irritation, and his tone turned sharp.
"He’s not helpless. If he wants a job, he can go look for one himself. And you—stop fantasizing about working for the government. Drop that idea of quitting your job right now."
Demanding a government position, a high salary, and a leadership role—did they think he was the Chairman of the country, able to arrange anything?
At this point, Yu Feng was so fed up with his son and daughter-in-law that he refused to lift a finger for them. Let them fend for themselves—if they starved, so be it!
Yu Ping was already in a foul mood. He’d never noticed it before, but now it seemed his parents doted on his sister far more than him.
Seizing the moment, he slammed his chopsticks down. "Dad, you’re my real father, not Nan Mingli’s! You managed to get him into the government, but you won’t lift a finger for your own son?"
Yu Luotong was mortified. Why drag her boyfriend into this? But being the sensible one, she held her tongue and didn’t argue.
Yu Feng’s temper flared even hotter at his son’s outburst, and he no longer bothered to spare his dignity.
"Enough of this nonsense! Mingli started at the town government as a mere errand boy, not even a formal employee. Would you be willing to do the same? If so, I’ll send you to another town right now!"
Yu Ping stiffened his neck. Of course he wouldn’t agree. His father was the town mayor—why should he start at the bottom? At the very least, he deserved a clerk’s position.
One look at his son’s expression told Yu Feng exactly what he was thinking. "Stop daydreaming! With your attitude, forget about the government—even getting into a factory relies on my connections. Do you think your little ‘leadership’ title came from your own merit?"
"Listen well, Yu Ping—from now on, do whatever you want. I’m done with you. Tomorrow, your whole family moves out. As far as I’m concerned, I no longer have a son!"
Since his marriage, Yu Ping had lived separately in the county town, and the family only reunited during holidays.
Yu Feng wondered—when had his son’s personality warped into this? Had he hidden it well before?
Truthfully, Yu Feng didn’t intend to sever ties completely. He just wanted to let them struggle for a while, to knock some sense into them. Once they abandoned their delusions of grandeur, he might consider arranging a well-paying factory job for them.
Having been kicked out twice in a row, Yu Ping’s pride was wounded. In a fit of impulsiveness, he agreed immediately.
"Fine! We don’t even need to wait until tomorrow—we’ll leave tonight! And don’t expect me to support you in your old age. Just rely on your precious daughter and her wonderful fiancé!"
Yu Ping’s wife fully backed her husband’s decision. Besides, what father and son held grudges overnight? Once the old man cooled off in a few days, they could always move back.
But right now, she couldn’t stand the sight of Yu Luotong and couldn’t resist taking a jab.
"Luotong, don’t get too smug. Who knows—Nan Mingli might get fired because of his sister one day. Then you’ll have nowhere to cry!"
Yu Luotong was stunned. She hadn’t said a word—why was she being targeted again?
Yu Feng immediately scolded his daughter-in-law. "This is my daughter. She hasn’t taken a single grain of rice from you two. Keep your temper to yourself and get out!"
With that, Yu Feng and his wife wasted no time, noisily packing their belongings.
Though seething inside, Yu Feng forced a calm facade, urging his wife and daughter to eat. But no one had an appetite—they were just going through the motions.
After clearing the dishes, Yu Luotong retreated to her parents’ room, unwilling to cross paths with her brother and sister-in-law. Those two had gone completely mad, lashing out at anyone in sight.
"Mom, do they have enough money to live on their own?"
Madam Yu patted the spot beside her for her daughter to sit. "We’ve given them plenty over the years. Ever since your father and I moved back to the county, they’ve been eating and drinking at our expense. They must have savings. Don’t worry—they’ll come crawling back once they run out."
The couple was in agreement—this was their chance to straighten out their son’s attitude.
One thing weighed heavily on Yu Feng’s mind: What had happened to Nan Sheng? His daughter-in-law’s earlier remark only deepened his concern.
"Has Mingli mentioned how Nan Sheng is doing? Was she suspended? If things are bad, she should just return to Huaishan County. Working under me would be ideal."
Madam Yu shot her husband a warning look. "Keep your voice down. If our son hears, he’ll accuse you of favoritism again."
Yu Feng scoffed. Let him talk. So what if he favored Nan Sheng? He had every right!
Yu Luotong’s face lit up with admiration at the mention of her future sister-in-law. "A while back, Uncle Nan and his family were worried sick, but then a letter came from Rongcheng. Mingli said Nan Sheng has been promoted—she’s now the head of the county’s disciplinary committee! Not only was she not demoted, but she climbed even higher. She’s incredible!"
She hadn’t dared mention this earlier, afraid her sister-in-law would accuse her of showing off.
Yu Feng finally cracked a smile, his voice rising unconsciously. "I knew that girl was something special! The disciplinary committee is a highly respected department."
"See, my girl? Didn’t I pick a good match for you? Whether your future child joins the military or politics, you’ll have connections. Make sure to be respectful and maintain a good relationship with Nan Sheng, understand?"
Yu Luotong bit her lip. "Dad, I’m a little nervous. What if Nan Sheng looks down on me?"
"Not a chance!" Yu Feng was adamant.
"As long as you respect the Nan family, she’ll never give you trouble. She’s a very easygoing person."
Sure, she could be ruthless when necessary—but wasn’t there always a reason?
In Yu Feng’s eyes, Nan Sheng was practically flawless. Everything she did aligned perfectly with his values.
As Yu Ping and his wife packed, they overheard Yu Feng’s laughter and nearly lost their minds.
What was this? Was their father actually happy to see them leave?
Yu Ping’s wife hesitated. "Maybe you should apologize to your dad. What if he doesn’t let us come back?"
Yu Ping, however, was confident. Besides, he had savings—living independently for a while sounded great. Playing cards, drinking leisurely—what could be better?
"Relax. I’m their only son. If they don’t let us return, who’ll perform the filial duties when they pass? We’ll come back once Dad agrees to get us government jobs. And keep the kids in check—no visiting without permission."
Sooner or later, the old folks would miss their grandchildren—if not their son.
