Eighties Sweetheart Wife
Chapter 408: A Grudge Over a Single Sentence

Chapter 408: Chapter 408: A Grudge Over a Single Sentence

The Xia family’s living room was silent.

Xia Bowen felt a pain in his chest.

After a moment of composure, he said coldly, "Back then, I should have let Shangguan Heng kill Xia Xindong, then taken you all to kill both the Song family and the Xia family, fighting to the death to protect your mother.

If we truly couldn’t stay here any longer, your mother and I could have taken you all and fled in secret.

As long as your mother didn’t go to jail, no matter the cost, it wouldn’t matter, and you wouldn’t blame me, right?"

After these words were spoken, those dining at the table shuddered, breaking out into a cold sweat.

Xia Liying’s face turned ashen, and she thought of Song Yunuan.

If they had really done that, she guessed none of them would have been left alive.

Still sitting here, having a meal—how could that be possible?

Tears filled Xia Liying’s eyes, but she quickly held them back.

Now was not the time to cry, crying was an ill omen.

Xia Liying still tried to calm the enraged Xia Bowen: "Dad, please don’t be angry. My second brother has been in a bad mood lately; he’s always getting reprimanded by the leaders at work, and they’ve told him if he keeps this up, they’ll transfer him to the logistics cafeteria."

Xia Ming also said, "We don’t mean anything by it, but with so many things happening, our hearts are of course troubled.

Others may think our mom is a vicious woman, but she is the mother of us four. She has never wronged us; we can’t join others in cursing her. If the second brother wants to move out, it’s also because ’out of sight, out of mind.’"

Xia Bowen quickly regained his composure.

Now, he had no time to worry about his children’s emotions.

How quickly the days were passing, as if there were so many things he had yet to do, and another year had slipped by.

He was currently leading the second joint venture project, which was the automobile production line.

If it were successful and yielded results, even if he were to retire, he would feel that his life had been worthwhile.

Xia Bowen stood up and said, "I don’t feel well; you all eat slowly."

After saying this, Xia Bowen returned to his own room.

Xia Ming followed, opened the door, and saw Xia Bowen standing with his back to him in front of the window.

The image of his father had always been one of a straight-backed, spirited man.

Even at his age, he carried himself with elegance.

But at that moment, Xia Ming noticed that his father seemed to have aged; his back was somewhat hunched, not to mention his hair had turned mostly white.

He remembered his father used to have very few white hairs.

Xia Ming’s heart ached, and he said with a choked voice, "Dad, if you’re not feeling well, you can’t just tough it out. Let me take you to the hospital."

Xia Bowen shook his head and did not turn around, saying directly to Xia Ming, "After eating, take your wife and kids home. I’ve already given the children their New Year’s money. The four of you should have a good New Year. I’m old and can’t manage much anymore. You and Xiaomin should be happy, don’t scare the children... Otherwise, going to your father-in-law’s house is fine too. Leave; don’t mind me and let me be alone for a while."

Xia Ming left.

When he came to the living room and saw everyone looking at him, he said, "Dad wants to be alone for a while; it’s fine. Liying, you and Xia Zhi take care and pay more attention."

Pang Xiaomin had no choice but to speak up.

She said, "Whether it is New Year’s or not, missing one year doesn’t matter. A year goes by so quickly; being busy with this and that, our mom will be home soon.

As for being the subject of gossip, just don’t take it to heart. We live in a society, and as long as there are people around, there will be gossip. Don’t we often gossip about others as well?"

"After I get back, I’ll find some time to talk to Xiao Qin and ask her to persuade Xia Sheng not to be angry with our dad anymore," she said.

She let the two children continue eating while she went to the kitchen to say that she would bring the children over to celebrate the New Year’s tomorrow, and informed Xia Liying that she didn’t need to prepare anything. She would come over early in the morning and cook herself.

Xia Liying hugged Pang Xiaomin and said, "Luckily, we have you as our eldest sister-in-law. Thank you."

In her heart, Pang Xiaomin was actually sneering with derision.

When the mother-in-law was at home, the daily chores were endless, and it was because of a single sentence that she fell out with her own mother.

During a meal with both families, her mother had simply asked Shangguan Yunqi whether Xia Bowen took care of the children from his previous relationships.

Shangguan Yunqi had turned sour at once.

Her mother also realized that this might not have been an appropriate question and immediately regretted it, even apologizing to her.

But Shangguan Yunqi refused to forgive her.

After so many years, she had never shown a kind face.

Back then, this mother-in-law was so proud, and because of this incident, she always found ways to make things difficult for her. During those times, this youngest aunt would add fuel to the fire, never saying a good word.

At the time, she couldn’t understand why it couldn’t be mentioned -- bringing it up was like setting off a bomb. Now she knows, it was because they were guilty all along.

However, the problem now was that her mother-in-law still hadn’t realized how vile and malicious she truly was, still harboring hatred for that girl named Song Yunuan and Xia Xindong.

This was truly a case of ’officials are allowed to set fires, but the commoners can’t even light lamps.’

She smiled as she patted her youngest aunt’s back, saying that this was all part of what she should do; if they were family, why thank her? Did that make her a stranger?

Meanwhile, in the living room, Xia Youyou was playing blocks with her younger brother while Xia Ming and Xia Zhi said, "You’d better give up on that idea of going to Xiangjiang sooner rather than later. Shangguan Heng is not a good person."

Xia Zhi responded indifferently, "He’s not a good person, but that depends on who you’re talking about. He’s our uncle, our own uncle. Just like Little Wan, isn’t she staying here content and justified?"

Xia Ming didn’t want to argue further, "These are troubled times. You’d best not cause our dad any more worry; he’s having a tough time as it is."

Xia Zhi didn’t say anything, and no one knew whether he was listening or not.

On the way, Xia Ming told Pang Xiaomin, "You should take more care of Liying’s matters. With the situation at home, it’s hard to find her a match. In truth, Qin Wang is quite good, but Liying doesn’t like him.

Since returning from Nanshan County Town, these people don’t really associate much anymore. That’s good in a way, to avoid unnecessary trouble. With our mom not at home, you, as the eldest sister-in-law, should introduce some suitable young men to Liying when you encounter them."

Pang Xiaomin smiled and said, "If I do find someone suitable, I guarantee I’ll introduce him. Our Liying is beautiful and a college graduate, so she definitely deserves the best."

In her mind, however, she thought about how she could do their housework, cook for them, but matchmaking was something she wouldn’t handle.

Considering Shangguan Yunqi’s behavior, unless she introduced one of those handsome young men from No. 01 Courtyard Manor to Liying, she was sure to be accused of ill intent and of harboring no good will or something to that effect.

But then again, those handsome young men, especially Gu Huai’an who was now a leading figure in the scientific community, were not someone they dared to think about.

So, agreeing was one thing, but actually doing it was another.

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On the day Song Yunuan arrived in Beidu, there had just been a heavy snowfall.

The snow began from the second day of the Chinese New Year, continuing until the seventh day before it stopped.

Post-snow Beidu was draped in a silvery garb, with the vast white snow blanketing the entire city.

The ancient, fragrant eaves looked as though they were adorned with cloud-like blossoms, and the roadside pine trees remained green and tall.

The sky was a clear blue, and Beidu after the snow felt refreshing and spirited to the onlooker.

Flocks of birds flew back and forth in the sky, settling on power lines for a mere few seconds before flying off again, as if in search of a warm place.