Su Ming enthusiastically handed his report card to her. "Grandma, I got third place in my final exams!"
A smile finally appeared on Xu Yueyun's face, and she praised him with a few appreciative words.
Su Ming peeked toward the upstairs rooms. "Grandma, the New Year is coming. Are you preparing the rooms for us to come home and celebrate?"
Xu Yueyun replied mildly, "They aren't for you. Your youngest uncle and aunt are bringing your younger brother and sister back for the New Year this year. Grandma and Aunt Yu are tidying up the rooms for them."
Although Su Ming was still young and naive, he knew that his grandparents didn't like his parents. Plus... his mom always said that his grandparents favored his youngest uncle.
"Grandma, then where will my brother and I sleep during the New Year?" For the first time, Su Ming asked a question exactly as his mother had instructed.
Su Ming was just a child, and Xu Yueyun wouldn't vent her anger toward her eldest son and daughter-in-law on him. She patiently explained, "Your uncle and aunt don't have a house in the capital, and it's your aunt and sister's first time coming back, so they have to stay here at the house.
Your parents have a place to live. You can spend New Year's Eve at your own home, and when you come to wish Grandma a happy New Year on the first day, Grandma will give you a big red envelope."
Hearing about the red envelope, Su Ming immediately and happily agreed.
When he returned and Fan Biyun questioned her son, she instantly flared up in anger.
When Su Ding got off work, he found Fan Biyun hiding in the bedroom crying.
"What's wrong? Did something happen at the factory?"
"What could happen at the factory?" Fan Biyun wiped her tears. "It's your parents. Ming got good grades this time and went happily to share the good news with his grandparents, but what did your mom do?"
"What did my mom do now?" Su Ding took off his coat and hung it on the rack, his tone tinged with impatience.
Fan Biyun looked up, her eyes red. "She said they were preparing the rooms for your brother's family and told Ming and Su Leilei not to go back for the New Year!"
Su Ding fell silent for a moment, walking over to the table to pour a glass of water.
"Mom didn't mean it that way. She's still mad about what happened last time. It'll be fine once we go back and coax her a few more times."
"If she didn't mean it that way, then what did she mean?" Fan Biyun's voice grew shrill. "Su Ding, stop speaking up for them! Even though your brother's family isn't in the capital, I heard your parents have sent things over several times, and they brag to everyone about how successful their youngest son is.
What about us? We live right under their noses, but how many times have your parents come to see us? Ming got third place and happily went to share the news, but your mom said there were no rooms for them and told us to spend the New Year at our own house.
Forget about the past. At least before, your parents would send some things over whenever they had something. When I took them back to my maiden home, my neighbors all said I married well, and it gave you face too.
I don't know what kind of magic potion that second-hand wife your youngest brother married gave your mom, but your mom has changed completely. She hasn't given us anything since."
Su Ding took a sip of water and said nothing.
Seeing him like this made Fan Biyun even angrier. "Say something!"
"Say what?" Su Ding set down his cup, getting irritated as she kept going on and on. "My brother has been married for so many years, and this is his first time bringing his wife and kids back for the New Year. What's wrong with the family preparing a room for them?"
"If your mom hadn't angered my mom so much that she ended up in the hospital, my parents wouldn't be treating me like this!"
Fan Biyun knew Su Ding's personality well. The moment he toughened up, her attitude immediately softened.
"I'm just feeling wronged on your behalf. It's because your parents don't value you as their son that they also look down on me, Ming, and the rest of them."
"Think about it yourself. Why do your brother's kids get to stay at the house, while ours aren't even allowed to go there for the New Year? Su Ding, search your conscience and tell me, are your parents biased or not?"
Su Ding frowned. "Biyun, it's almost the New Year. Stop making a fuss."
Su Ding understood his parents better than Fan Biyun did.
Especially Xu Yueyun.
When she was mad at you, the more stubborn you were, the more she would ignore you.
"I'm making a fuss?" Tears welled up in Fan Biyun's eyes again. "Su Ding, I've been with you for so many years. When have your parents ever looked at me with respect? Is it just because my family has no money or background?"
"Biyun, my parents aren't like that."
"Am I wrong?" Fan Biyun wiped her tears. "Ming came back and told me that Grandma praised his good grades, and then what? Then she said his uncle and aunt were coming back and there was no room in the house. An eight-year-old child went happily to show his grandma his report card, only to hear a bunch of things about his younger cousins. How do you expect him to feel?"
Su Ding fell silent.
Fan Biyun looked at him, her voice lowering. "Su Ding, I'm not trying to fight for anything. But look at Ming, look at Leilei. They are also your parents' grandsons. Compared to their maternal grandchildren, and that baggage from your youngest brother's wife, who is actually closer by blood? Don't your parents know?"
The laughter of children playing outside drifted in through the window. Muffled by the glass, it sounded very far away.
Su Ding walked to the window and looked outside.
After a long time, he finally said, "I'll go talk to Mom tomorrow."
Fan Biyun didn't reply.
She sat back on the edge of the bed, her head bowed, her shoulders trembling slightly.
After a long while, knowing that she had already swayed Su Ding, Fan Biyun spoke again, her voice muffled. "Su Ding, I'm not forcing you to argue with your parents. I just... I just feel bad for our children."
She looked up. "Let's do it tomorrow. Call the second brother's wife to come along. If it's just the two of us sticking our necks out, we'll be the ones getting scolded."
Su Ding agreed.
The next day, Su Ding and Fan Biyun went to Deng Jing's house.
Deng Jing opened the door and looked surprised. "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"
Fan Biyun wore a face full of smiles. "Mom and Dad said that the youngest brother and his wife are coming back for the New Year this year. What are your family's plans?"
Before Deng Jing could speak, her eldest daughter, Su Pei, ran over happily. "Auntie, my dad sent a letter saying he can come home for the New Year this year!"
Fan Biyun's smile froze on her face, but in the blink of an eye, she changed her tune. "That's perfect. Since Su Jue is coming back this year, we can all go back to Mom and Dad's house to celebrate together."
Deng Jing pulled her daughter close. "Is this Mom and Dad's idea?"
Fan Biyun said, "It's rare for Su Jue to come back. Mom and Dad will definitely want him to go back there for the New Year."
Deng Jing hesitated a bit.
Fan Biyun continued, "Then why don't you make a trip with us? We can take the opportunity to tell Mom and Dad the news of Su Jue's return."
Deng Jing had no choice but to nod.
Deng Jing told Su Pei to stay at home, look after her younger sister, and do their homework properly, while she followed her brother-in-law and sister-in-law back to the small villa.
At the house, Xu Yueyun happened to be out. She had gone grocery shopping with Aunt Yu.
Only Su Bingcheng was at home.
Without waiting for her father-in-law to speak, Fan Biyun immediately smiled and said, "Dad, Su Jue is coming back for the New Year this year."
Su Bingcheng looked at Deng Jing in pleasant surprise. "Really?"
His second son hadn't been back for several years, only sending one or two letters a year at most.
It was about the same as Su Lang.
Now that Su Lang was married, he would occasionally send some things and letters back.
Right now, the person the old couple missed the most in their hearts was their second son, Su Jue.
