Chapter 1155: Purpose

When the rest of the family returned from work, they saw the seafood on the table.

Mr. Nie, Nie Huaiyuan, laughed and said, "What occasion is it today? How come we’re eating Shanghai seafood?"

Mrs. Nie, Fang Rongyue, brought over the finished soup, "Today is indeed a good day, but this seafood wasn’t bought. Yanqing’s third brother brought it back; you’re enjoying Da Ming and Little Yu’s share."

Nie Ziqiang, who had just washed his hands, was all smiles and said to his wife, "Did third brother go to the seaside again?"

He Yanqing felt proud because of her third brother, and naturally lost her previous restraint: "Yes, didn’t Little Yu say she wanted to eat seafood last time? He remembered it and brought some back to satisfy their cravings."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room except the kids felt somewhat awkward, naturally recalling the unpleasant words the eldest daughter-in-law said over an oyster a while back.

Nie Hongguo, the eldest of the Nie family, looked quite embarrassed and quickly said, "These oysters look really nice today. Xiao Ming and Little Yu should eat more."

Jiao Yushan felt upset seeing her man siding with the second family: "Who cares."

He Yanqing, having been enlightened by Xinyan before, had already understood that even if she gave in to this big sister-in-law, she wouldn’t be considerate: "These were specially brought by your third uncle to satisfy your cravings; remember your third uncle’s kindness."

These words seemed harmless, but the big sister-in-law, Jiao Yushan, wasn’t having it: "What do you mean by that?"

Nie Ziqiang quickly stepped forward and grabbed his wife’s arm: "Let’s eat, let’s eat; seafood must be eaten while it’s hot."

Jiao Yushan burst out in anger: "Wasn’t it just that day my son ate two more oysters? Is it worth remembering for so long?"

He Yanqing couldn’t hold back either: "What did I say? Didn’t I just mention that my third brother brought these for the two kids? What do you mean by that now?"

Jiao Yushan straightforwardly said: "If we can’t get along, we should split the family. You’ve only just come back to the Capital, yet you want to domineer in this home?"

He Yanqing was also inflamed: "Big sister-in-law, clarify your words— how are we domineering in this home?"

Jiao Yushan noticed He Yanqing directly confronting her without backing down: "Why should our family be accommodating to you who just returned from Beijing? I insist on separating the family."

He Yanqing laughed: "Big sister-in-law, if you want to split the family, don’t use us as a scapegoat— it’s truly despising."

Mr. Nie’s face darkened, and he turned to his eldest son: "Hongguo, what do you say?"

Nie Hongguo had heard his wife complain before, but didn’t expect her to say it aloud. As he hesitated, Jiao Yushan spoke up: "Nie Hongguo, since your brother returned, your parents have been biased; are you blind?"

This upset Mrs. Nie as well: "Yushan, what do you mean by this? How are we biased?"

Jiao Yushan didn’t hold back: "Mom, I understand you feel guilty towards Ziqiang over the years, but you should also empathize with the feelings of our three kids.

Besides, they’ve been back for a while now, yet the second daughter-in-law hasn’t started working, which isn’t fair to our family. Is it wrong for me to want to split the family?"

He Yanqing was quite upset upon hearing this: "I said since I came back that today’s outing was to look for work. Sister-in-law, aren’t you being too intolerant?"

Jiao Yushan thought it was just He Yanqing making excuses, refusing to believe: "Look how many returned educated youths are struggling to find jobs around here, yet you dare say that?"

Nie Ziqiang saw his big sister-in-law being aggressive: "I have no objection to splitting the family."

Mr. Nie, Nie Huaiyuan, hadn’t expected the eldest daughter-in-law to be so dismissive of his youngest son’s family, and he glared at his eldest son angrily: "Then let’s split."

Thinking about the money in the savings account that won’t mature until next month, he added: "Then let’s do it at the end of next month."

Jiao Yushan still wanted to argue, but Nie Hongguo pulled her aside and warned firmly: "Dad has agreed to split the family, so stop causing trouble."

Mrs. Nie saw the situation as it was and didn’t want to say more, looking at the kids who were eyeing the dining table: "Let’s eat first, the kids are all hungry."

Nie Ziqiang pulled He Qingyan over, full of apology: "Wife, I’m sorry for the grievance. Rest assured, I won’t let you suffer with me."