Chapter 62 – Reluctant Goodbye
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The moment Madam Zhang heard the latest news going around the village she could no longer sit still.
She hurried into the room, her expression filled with excitement and barely concealed worry. After glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby, she quickly walked over to Madam Wei.
"Mother-in-law, I just heard something about Second Brother-in-law!"
Madam Wei looked up from what she was doing, her brows furrowing.
"What did you hear?"
Madam Zhang leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"My parents live close to where Second Brother-in-law is staying, and when I went to visit them earlier, they told me something shocking."
She paused deliberately, making Madam Wei impatient.
"Apparently, Second Brother-in-law has suddenly made it big. They said he went to town and bought a great many things. He even returned in a horse carriage with several servants following behind him."
Madam Wei’s expression changed.
"Servants?"
"Yes!"
Madam Zhang nodded eagerly.
"They said the servants were calling him ’Young Master Han.’ Everyone around there has been talking about it."
Madam Wei stared at her in disbelief.
Han Yan had left the household with almost nothing. How could he suddenly afford a horse carriage and several servants?
Madam Zhang watched her mother-in-law’s changing expression before finally asking,
"Mother-in-law, what should we do?"
Her voice was filled with barely concealed concern.
"We can’t just sit back and watch him spend so much money buying all those things while we’re struggling to even clear the debts from our poor farm."
Madam Wei’s expression immediately darkened.
That was exactly what she had been thinking.
Their own household was struggling to make ends meet, yet Han Yan, who had once left with practically nothing, was now riding around in a horse carriage and buying whatever he pleased.
How could she possibly accept that?
Even if the village chief had already warned them not to interfere with Han Yan’s affairs, Madam Wei had never truly taken those words to heart.
So what if the village chief told us to leave him alone?
She was still Han Yan’s mother.
She had raised him all these years. Was it really too much to expect him to share some of his wealth with his own family?
Besides, Han Yan had probably bought plenty of good things from town.
Meat.
Rice.
Cloth.
Perhaps even expensive household goods.
Why should he and Lin Xin enjoy all of that while his parents struggled at home?
The more Madam Wei thought about it, the more dissatisfied she became.
"Let’s go now," she suddenly declared.
Her expression hardened.
"I want to see whether that boy has the courage to argue with me. If he has really become so wealthy, then this old mother will certainly teach him a lesson about forgetting his family."
Madam Zhang’s eyes flickered.
She glanced around the room before leaning closer.
"Mother-in-law, perhaps we shouldn’t go today."
Madam Wei frowned.
"Why not?"
Madam Zhang’s eyes darted toward the doorway to make sure no one was nearby before lowering her voice.
"If we go directly to confront Han Yan, he might refuse to give us anything."
She paused, then gave a sly smile.
"But... what if we don’t confront him?"
Madam Wei’s eyes narrowed with interest.
"What do you mean?"
Madam Zhang leaned even closer.
"If it is Han Yan, he may be stubborn enough to argue with us. But Lin Xin is different."
Her voice dropped into a conspiratorial whisper.
"If we intimidate him a little, I’m sure he will give us whatever we ask for."
Madam Wei stared at her for a moment.
Then understanding slowly dawned on her face.
A pleased smile spread across her lips.
"That is a good idea."
She nodded approvingly.
"That useless ger has never even been able to raise his head properly in front of me. A few harsh words should be enough to frighten him."
She snorted.
"If we make him believe that he has offended his mother-in-law, he will probably hand over everything without putting up a fight."
Madam Zhang nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly."
She had already imagined Lin Xin standing helplessly before them, too timid to argue back.
Her smile grew wider.
"Mother-in-law, let’s go tomorrow instead."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Madam Zhang lowered her voice even further before adding,
"Also, when I was coming back from my parents’ house, my brother pointed out the gate he said belonged to Han Yan. I happened to notice that it was locked."
She paused, glancing at Madam Wei meaningfully.
"I think they might have gone somewhere."
Madam Wei immediately understood what she was implying.
"If the gate was locked, then Han Yan might not have been home."
"Exactly."
A sly glint appeared in Madam Zhang’s eyes.
"That is why I think we should go tomorrow afternoon. By then, there’s a good chance Han Yan will be out again."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"If we’re lucky, we can catch Lin Xin alone. Without Han Yan there, it will be much easier to talk some sense into him and get him to hand over a few things."
Madam Wei’s eyes lit up at the suggestion.
She considered it for only a moment before giving a satisfied nod.
"Very well. Tomorrow afternoon it is."
She looked at Madam Zhang seriously.
"But don’t tell anyone about this."
"Of course, Mother-in-law."
Madam Zhang smiled innocently.
"I won’t tell a single soul about what we planned."
She then stood and dusted off her clothes.
"Now let me quickly go prepare the food. Your dear grandson his probably hungry."
Madam Wei nodded absentmindedly, her thoughts already occupied with tomorrow.
She was imagining the look on Lin Xin’s face when she arrived at his doorstep.
If Han Yan wasn’t there, things would be much easier.
She would simply remind Lin Xin of his position in the family make him feel guilty for enjoying a comfortable life while his husband’s parents struggled and demand whatever she thought they deserved.
After all, she was his mother-in-law.
Surely he wouldn’t dare refuse her.
Madam Zhang turned to leave, but before stepping out, she glanced back at Madam Wei.
Seeing her mother-in-law’s satisfied expression, she knew their plan had been accepted.
She left the room with a small, pleased smile.
Neither woman considered what awaited them when they finally arrived at Han Yan’s door.
By the time Han Yan and Wei Jun finished their business with Uncle Shang, the afternoon sun had already begun to soften.
The two men walked side by side along the village path, their conversation relaxed now that everything had been settled.
"I have to admit, Brother Wei, things went much more smoothly than I expected."
Wei Jun smiled faintly.
"Uncle Shang is a straightforward man. As long as we deal with him honestly, there shouldn’t be any problems."
Han Yan nodded in understanding.
Wei Jun glanced at Han Yan and suddenly chuckled.
"Brother Han, I still can’t believe what Fan’er said earlier."
Han Yan raised an eyebrow. "You mean his determination to marry Dong Hai?"
Wei Jun sighed dramatically.
"Exactly that."
He rubbed his forehead, looking both amused and helpless.
"That little brat is only eight years old, yet he’s already decided who he’s going to marry."
Han Yan chuckled at what he said.
Wei Jun’s expression softened.
"I’ve never seen him become so attached to another child so quickly."
Han Yan nodded thoughtfully.
"Dong Hai seems to like him too."
Wei Jun sighed like an old monk.
"If those two keep this up, who knows what they’ll be like when they grow older?"
Han Yan laughed.
"Don’t worry about it yet. They’re still children."
Wei Jun could only smile helplessly. He knew his son well. Once Fan’er decided that he wanted something, he rarely gave up easily.
By the time they reached Wei Jun’s house, they could already hear the children’s voices coming from inside.
Wei Jun’s face immediately brightened.
"Fan’er!"
The moment Wei Fan heard his father’s voice, he immediately turned around and ran over.
Wei Jun bent down and caught him in his arms.
"Slow down, little one."
Wei Fan wrapped his arms around his father’s neck.
"You’re back!"
"Yes, I’m back."
Wei Jun smiled and rubbed his son’s head.
"Did you miss me?"
Wei Fan nodded vigorously.
But after only a moment, his eyes drifted back toward Dong Hai.
Wei Jun noticed.
He raised an eyebrow.
"You don’t seem to have missed me that much."
Wei Fan immediately shook his head.
"I missed you!"
"Then why do you keep looking over there?"
Wei Fan’s little face turned slightly red.
He quickly looked away.
"Nothing."
Wei Jun chuckled.
At that moment, Lin Xin walked over to Han Yan.
"Yan-ge, we should get going soon."
Han Yan nodded.
"Alright."
Dong Hai immediately looked up.
He had been quietly listening.
The little boy’s expression became serious.
He knew what those words meant.
They were leaving.
Wei Fan also heard Lin Xin.
His smile disappeared almost instantly.
"Leaving?"
Lin Xin nodded gently.
"Yes, we need to go home."
Wei Fan stared at Dong Hai.
His little brows slowly knitted together and the happiness on his face disappeared.
"But Dong Hai is staying here."
Dong Hai shook his head.
"No. I have to go home too."
Wei Fan’s eyes widened.
"But... why?"
He looked genuinely unhappy.
They had spent the entire afternoon together.
They had spent the entire afternoon playing with the wooden toys, chatting about all sorts of things, and even making plans for what they would play together the next time they met.
Unaware of how troubled Wei Fan was, Dong Hai answered with a serious expression as though he were explaining something extremely important.
"I have to go because my home is with Uncle Han and Brother Lin Xin."
Wei Fan’s little brows immediately furrowed, he looked toward Han Yan as though hoping he might change his mind.
Han Yan only smiled apologetically.
"We’ll come again."
Wei Fan puffed out his chubby cheeks and tried his best to look serious, making Wei Jun and Liu De struggle to hold back their laughter.
Wei Jun knew exactly why his son was so reluctant.
This was the same child who had confidently announced earlier that Dong Hai was the person he wanted to marry when they grew up.
Naturally, he didn’t want his future husband leaving after only one afternoon together.
Wei Fan walked over to Dong Hai and stood in front of him.
He didn’t say anything for a moment.
His little face was unusually solemn.
Then he quietly asked,
"When will you come again?"
Dong Hai thought about it.
"I don’t know."
Wei Fan’s expression immediately became even more disappointed.
"But you promised we’d play again."
"I remember."
Dong Hai nodded seriously.
"I’ll come again when I can."
Wei Fan stared at him for a few seconds before finally nodding.
"Okay."
He reached out and lightly tugged at Dong Hai’s sleeve.
"Don’t forget."
"I won’t."
Dong Hai answered with the same serious expression.
Wei Fan finally let go.
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