Chapter 73 - The Unstable Situation at the Dining Table
He YiJun crazily cursed Chen ShiYi in her heart, but she didn’t show it on her face. She had to show a kind and virtuous appearance no matter what. She kindly called everyone to eat, desperately trying to hide her internal injuries as she did so.
“Why are there so many dishes?” Zheng BuLu glanced at the full dinner table and sent He YiJun a disapproving glance. “YiJun, being thrift is a good traditional virtue to have. Even in this modern age, we shouldn’t lose such values. Although our family isn’t poor, we shouldn’t be so extravagant or wasteful either.”
He YiJun: “….” What the h.e.l.l is wrong with this family? The father asks her not to waste food while the son asks her not to be frugal. They’re trying to kill her with exhaustion!
But of course, He YiJun was no fool. She gave Zheng BuLu a gentle smile as she helplessly said: “I just didn’t prepare enough. I didn’t ask the children what they wanted to eat in advance, so I just prepared a few usual dishes. I didn’t expect that what I prepared wasn’t enough. That child ordered a few more dishes, and since I wanted the children to eat well…I couldn’t let him feel aggrieved, right?”
He YiJun seemed to be blaming herself, but her sentence subtly pushed all the blame to Lin Qian. As expected, Lin YaZhi became very embarra.s.sed when he heard her words. He apologetically said: “Oh, Ah Qian sometimes…”
Before Lin YaZhi could finish, Zheng BuLu interrupted him with a cough. “Don’t mind, don’t mind. Things just ended this way, ah. He YiJun, just pay more attention in the future, don’t blame yourself.”
He YiJun: “…..” No, wait a minute. Are you really saying that this is my fault?
If Zheng BuLu had blamed her directly, she could’ve argued that she simply wanted to save face in front of their guests. But Zheng BuLu was so earnestly ’empathizing’ with her that He YiJun had no idea what to say.
He YiJun used to be so good at being ‘considerate’ towards others, ah. She had achieved many things with her conversation skills. But for the first time, Zheng BuLu was very uncooperative, making her very unhappy.
But what could she say? She was the one who started all this. Even if the plot didn’t go as expected, she still had to continue. So, in the end, He YiJun gritted her teeth and displayed a blinding smile. “Alright, I understand. Let’s all sit down first.”
At this time, Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing arrived. Both men heard the tail end of their conversation, and Zheng PingQing asked: “What’s the matter? Who’s being blamed?”
Shao SiJia cooly responded: “Oh, Ah Qian’s being blamed for ordering so many dishes. Auntie feels very guilty.”
He YiJun: “……???” Young lady, your two sentences are very misleading when together, ah. Aren’t you being a little unreasonable?
Of course, Shao SiJia did this intentionally. She didn’t have a parent’s mindset like Lin YaZhi so she could immediately discern He YiJun’s implied complaints towards her younger brother.
Zheng PingQing turned to He YiJun and smiled: “I don’t think Auntie He did it intentionally, ah. You don’t need to blame yourself, Auntie.”
He YiJun: “….??” Wait a minute. How can the logic of both these people be so unreasonable, ah?
Lin YaZhi previously thought that it was his son who had been a little rude. But unexpectedly, all the blame had been thrust upon He YiJun. Well, since everyone unanimously agreed, Lin Qian must not be at fault here. Lin YaZhi’s heart was relieved, and he even very generously said to He YiJun: “Don’t worry about it, ah.”
He YiJun: “…….”
She tried to steal a chicken, but in the end, she only ended up losing the rice she used to lure it. Everyone is suddenly so ‘considerate,’ ah. How wonderful.
He YiJun, who usually had great control of her facial muscles, couldn’t control her smile from going stiff. She took a deep breath, then said: “Let’s sit down and eat.”
Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing didn’t say anything else. They maneuvered themselves and sat next to each other, prompting Lin YaZhi to smile and say: “Look at that; Ah Qian and Xiao Zheng are so friendly with each other! Their relationship is just like those of close brothers, wouldn’t you say?”
Zheng BuLu nodded approvingly.”Yes, if you were to imagine a close relationship between brothers, it would definitely look like this.”
Chen ShiYi: “…..” You greasy middle-aged pig trotter don’t know anything!
Chen ShiYi painfully turned her head away.
Shao SiJia laughed as if caught by surprise. “Brothers don’t act like that, no matter how close. I’m Ah Qian’s sister. Do you think he had ever willingly sat next to me?”
Chen ShiYi: “k2026;.!” How did she not notice that! Lin Qian and his sister weren’t sticky with each other. How did she not realize that Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing’s actions weren’t that of siblings?
In hindsight, Chen ShiYi noticed all the little things that signaled Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing’s true relationship. She was becoming more and more unwell.
“Come, Brother Lin, let’s sit together.” Zheng BuLu said as he walked towards Lin YaZhi. “We can continue our talk.”
As soon as Zheng BuLu said this, Lin YaZhi’s eyelids suddenly became heavier. But in the end, Lin YaZhi forced his eyes open and tried to persevere. “Alright.”
Chen ShiYi: !!!!
Chen ShiYi glared at the two men. “Talking while eating is so impolite, ah! Talk, talk, what talk?!”
She then pushed in between them and said: “Old Zheng will sit on my left while YaZhi will sit on my right. As the patriarchs of your own respective families, don’t you know when and where you should talk, eat, and sleep?!”
Zheng BuLu: “…..”
Lin YaZhi: “…..”
Lin Qian stealthily covered his smile and gave Zheng PingQing a look: Do you see what you’ve done to your poor mother? You’ve scared her silly.
Zheng PingQing gave him an innocent look in reply: I didn’t do anything, ah. Love isn’t meant to be hidden, ah.
While everyone was busy with their thoughts, no one noticed that He YiJun’s teeth were about to be ground down into dust.
Chen ShiYi is going too far! She’s already the ex-wife, but she still insists on sitting next to Zheng BuLu? She’s really looking down at the ‘current girlfriend’!
Although the meal was supposed to be a banquet for guests, due to everyone’s complicated relationship with each other, it was actually more like a family feast. Therefore, there weren’t any special waiters or servers prepared. Instead, it was a more relaxed affair.
“Ah Qian, try this.” Zheng PingQing placed some crab onto Lin Qian’s bowl. “The chef who cooked this has been with my family for several years now. His crab is the best.”
Lin Qian politely picked up the piece of crab. Noticing the scent of wine from the food, he asked: “Am I going to get drunk from this?”
Zheng Ping Qing replied with an evil/lewd smile: “It doesn’t matter if you do. You can just sleep here tonight.”
Lin Qian narrowed his eyes and said: “Then I can be at ease. You can take care of me if I do get drunk.”
Zheng PingQing nodded. “Eat, eat, I’ll take care of you.”
Chen ShiYi: “…..”
Chen ShiYi stubbornly interrupted them: “You two are still students. Eat less alcohol-infused foods and eat other dishes.:
Lin Qian, who was still mindful of his elders, replied with a smile: “Then I’ll eat just the one piece of crab.”
Zheng PingQing finally realized that his mother, who had just learned the truth, was eyeing them. He coughed and said: “I was just kidding.”
Chen ShiYi: “……” Stop acting, ah. You weren’t kidding at all!
Chen ShiYi was so worried that she ate without tasting any of the food. She noticed Zheng BuLu taking a piece of crab and eagerly moving his chopsticks across her bowl, towards Lin YaZhi. Zheng BuLu said: “Children might be careful with alcohol-infused dishes, but we adults don’t need to care about such things. Brother Lin, come and eat more of this crab. Don’t be afraid to get drunk, ah, we have plenty of rooms in our home…”
Chen ShiYi: !!!!
Chen ShiYi immediately turned her head towards Zheng BuLu and gave him a murderous look. With her voice full of meaning, she said: “Hah?!”
Zheng BuLu: “…..”
Zheng BuLu had never seen his ex-wife act so aggressive before. His hands shook, and the piece of crab between his chopsticks fell, ending up on Chen ShiYi’s bowl instead.
Zheng BuLu really was worthy of being the richest, most successful man in the business industry. He immediately smiled and with a flattering tone, said: “ShiYi, this is for you. Eat, ah.”
Chen ShiYi took back her glare and picked up the crab in her bowl and put it in her mouth. “Hmph, it’s delicious.” To be honest, she couldn’t taste anything.
He YiJun: “!!!”
What is Chen ShiYi trying to do? Was she trying to show off? Getting Zheng BuLu to get food for her? Don’t you have a husband to do that for you, ah?! Does she want to die?!
Lin YaZhi was silent for a while, then picked up a piece of lobster. Not to be outdone, he placed the food on Chen ShiYi’s bowl. “ShiYi, eat this too. Lobster and crab is a good combo.”
Chen ShiYi turned towards Lin YaZhi. Seeing his warm smile, she slowly relaxed.
She was being too sensitive. She was the current wife, ah! Lin YaZhi was definitely straight as a rod.
Chen ShiYi smiled. “Alright.”
Zheng BuLu, who was watching the two interact, couldn’t help but shiver at the corny scene before him. He decided to mind his own business and concentrate on drinking more wine.
However, in He YiJun’s eyes, his actions meant something else.
Zheng BuLu drowning himself in wine? Was he jealous!?
They’ve divorced for a long time now! Chen ShiYi is already remarried! But Zheng BuLu seems to still be in love with her?
She looked around the table and watched as the members of the Lin household and Zheng household served each other dishes. They looked like one happy, harmonious family. In contrast, the one who had been busy this entire morning was pushed to the side and completely ignored.
Over these past few years, He YiJun had tried her absolute best to please Zheng PingQing. Not just to gain his approval, but also to increase the cards she could use on Zheng BuLu.
But this scene in front of her was a loud slap in the face.
He YiJun had never felt so divided from the Zheng family as she did now. She felt that no matter how hard she tried, she could never replace Chen ShiYi. She could only be an outsider.
She couldn’t control the bitterness in her eyes as she gazed at Chen ShiYi.
Why is it that Chen ShiYi could easily get the things she could only dream of? Even with her many faults, Chen ShiYi was still able to receive everyone’s affection!
He YiJun’s hands that clutched at her chopsticks turned white. But just as she was about to lose control, a pair of chopsticks suddenly appeared and dropped a piece of food into her bowl.
He YiJun turned her head and saw Shao SiJia smiling at her. “Auntie, you’ve worked hard. Eat up.”
He YiJun’s tense face suddenly relaxed. She smiled and praised: “The daughter of the Lin family is so well-bred, ah.”
With an innocent and pure smile, Shao SiJia replied: “I’m only following my brother’s example.”
Lin Qian: “……” Why is she bringing me up? Don’t drag me into this, ah.
He YiJun took a deep breath. “Thank you for the food.”
Shao SiJia blinked. “You’re welcome.”
He YiJun bowed her head. When she saw the food on her bowl, her entire face turned dark.
A chicken’s a.s.s!
People in the Zheng family don’t eat chicken b.u.t.ts, ah. All the chefs hired by them will throw such dirty parts. Where in the world did Shao SiJia find this?!
Over the loud throbbing of her head, He YiJun heard Zheng BuLu say: “As expected of the Lin family children. Both daughter and son are so polite.”
He YiJun: Shut up, you self-centered old man!
The author has something to say:
Daily torture of He YiJun (1/1)
He YiJun’s torture will be temporarily put aside after the next chapter.
This chapter also fits the blurb of this story: ‘frightened relatives and friends of both sides,’ haha…
This chapter is alternatively named: The Dining Table is on Fire