Hearing his father’s question, Ye Yaodong squinted at him, his leg shaking idly as he said, “Just because you don’t know, doesn’t mean I don’t know! I haven’t been wasting my time out all day!”
Ye Father, who had originally intended to ask him a few serious questions, became angry upon hearing this. “You’re out wandering around all day, and you’re still so smug about it? You’re a married man, yet you’re never home, always lazy and doing nothing. Who do you expect to support you? I’ll beat you to death, you good-for-nothing… ”
Growing angrier with each word, Ye Father took off his shoe, held it in his hand, and stepped forward, ready to hit him.
Ye Father was already upset about selling the Large yellow croaker for so little, and now he had a perfect opportunity to vent his frustration!
“Hey, hey, hey… why are you suddenly changing your mind? Weren’t we talking nicely? What did I say? Dad… Dad… let’s talk this out…”
It was the middle of summer, and the smell from the Liberation shoes hit Ye Yaodong full in the face, making his expression change drastically. Just because his own feet smelled didn't mean he could stand the smell of someone else's!
He frantically stood up to dodge. “Dad, what are you doing? At least use a stick; what’s with the shoe?”
“If you have the guts, don’t dodge! All you do is annoy people. Even your grandson is better behaved than you. You have a good life but you don't live it, constantly hanging out with a bunch of ruffians. How did I ever give birth to a good-for-nothing like you!”
The two chased and dodged. The main hall was not large to begin with, and now there were many people. Ye Yaodong directly darted behind his Mother Ye.
“Mother, look, my Dad is already drunk this morning. What did I even say? Don’t let him drink today…”
Unexpectedly, Mother Ye also turned around angrily and smacked him a few times. “Your Dad is not wrong. You are never home all day, you don’t know anything that happens at home, you’re always aimless and idle. How will you support your wife and children in the future…”
Facing a double attack from his parents, Ye Yaodong couldn't hold out much longer. He quickly picked up a wooden stool nearby to block. “Stop hitting! Stop hitting! What kind of family beats their son first thing in the morning? Can’t we just talk nicely? There are so many people in the house…”
Couldn't they just give him some face?
He had dignity too!
Thankfully, the younger generation had all been sent out, otherwise, how embarrassing!
Actually, everyone in the house was already used to it. Ye Yaodong getting scolded and beaten was quite common. It was just that he had suddenly returned from 40 years in the future, and he was a bit unaccustomed to being beaten and scolded by his Dad and Mother!
He held up the stool in the main hall to block for a while, but then he noticed his Mother had picked up a broom, the kind made of bamboo strips. He quickly put down the stool and ran outside the house.
If not now, when? He would avoid the storm for a bit and return once his Dad and Mother had cooled down.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he ran out, he bumped into several nephews and nieces. The children, caught off guard, fell directly onto the ground after being hit. Even his Grandma was affected and lost her balance, sitting down.
At this point, he was a little flustered. He quickly went to help his Grandma up.
“Grandma, are you alright? Where did you fall? Does it hurt?”
Although he was a bit of a scoundrel, he still had some conscience. Old Lady doted on him the most, and seeing her fall, he didn't even bother to dodge anymore.
Ye Father and Mother Ye, who had chased them out, also saw it, and they became even more ruthless. The soles of their shoes and the broom handle directly struck his backside and thighs, while they cursed.
“You good-for-nothing! You don’t even watch where you’re going! I’ll break your dog legs, let’s see if you still run!” Ye Father, not appeased by a few slaps with his shoe sole, snatched the broom from Mother Ye’s hand and hit him hard a few times.
Ye Father’s strength was not comparable to Mother Ye’s. Mother Ye, after all, still doted on her son, so she didn’t use much force when hitting him.
Ye Father, however, was different. He was truly furious and very angry. One strike on his leg made him groan in pain.
How could Old Lady bear to see her precious grandson being beaten? She quickly shielded him behind her. “What are you doing? What are you doing? You want to hit me, do you? You’re going against heaven! Oh, my son is going to hit his Mother! He must have eaten gunpowder first thing in the morning!”
Ye Father looked at Old Lady with a headache, not having touched her at all. “Mother, how would I dare to hit you? I want to hit this brat. He’s completely useless, only good for annoying people, and he even knocked you over…”
“Dongzi was just being careless, and I don’t even blame him. Who are you to hit him? Hurry up and put that broom away and go inside. How embarrassing!”
Despite being 80 years old, Old Lady looked very robust. She wasn't deaf or blind, and when she scolded people, her voice was full of vigor!
Ye Father was a filial son. Seeing Old Lady return, he knew he wouldn't be able to hit his son today. He glared fiercely at Ye Yaodong, threw the broom into the corner by the door, and went inside.
“Don’t be afraid, Old Lady is here. Did you get hurt anywhere? Let me see.”
As she spoke, Old Lady reached out to lift his pant leg. He stopped her with his hand, holding her arm and grinning, “I’m fine. Did you get hurt when you fell just now? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
“No, no, I’m perfectly fine…”
“Mother, Dongzi is 25 now, not a child anymore. He’s a father of two children. You can’t keep spoiling him like this. He never learns anything good, never does any work, he’s so useless…”
“What do you mean he doesn’t learn anything good? Isn’t he quite filial? How successful do you want him to be? For us country folk, it’s enough for our children to be safe and healthy. Besides, Dongzi has never done anything like stealing chickens or dogs. How has he ever embarrassed you all?”
Ye Yaodong was extremely embarrassed. In Old Lady’s mouth, even not stealing chickens or dogs had become one of his virtues!
Old Lady’s expectations for him were truly low…
After so many years and dozens of times of saying it, Mother Ye was also exhausted. In Old Lady’s eyes, her third son was good in every way!
He was truly spoiled rotten by Old Lady!
How diligent the eldest and second sons were! It was truly infuriating. Mother Ye glared fiercely at her third son and stopped speaking.
Anyway, for so many years, whatever they said was useless.
The group of children picked up the scattered corn and green-skinned winter melon, putting them into the bamboo basket.
Seeing that Old Lady hadn't fallen anywhere and could still protect someone, Mother Ye took the basket, took out all the corn to peel, and put the green-skinned winter melon back into the basket.
“Take these inside and tell your Mothers to wash and cut them for you to eat.”
“Leave one for your Third Uncle, don’t eat them all!” Old Lady shouted, afraid that her great-grandchildren would eat all the sweet melons and not leave any for her beloved grandson.
Ye Yaodong’s heart was filled with his Grandma’s love, and he felt a little emotional.
He hadn't felt this in decades. This feeling was wonderful.
Everyone else thought he was bad in every way; even his Dad and Mother disliked him daily. Only his Grandma always doted on him the most, always remembering to save a bite of food for him. His heart was suddenly filled with mixed emotions.
“Let me help you inside. You’re so old, why are you still farming? What if you fall?”
Old Lady’s old face wrinkled into a smile. “It’s not that easy to fall. I’m perfectly fine and can still work. Even if I can’t, I can order your Dad to hoe and water for me.”
Ye Yaodong smiled.