Chapter 2271: Rebounded (17)

Yang Anshi was immediately so excited that she kept exclaiming.

"Alright, don’t get too excited. You still can’t see through it, can you?" Yang Peili let out a long sigh, "Just a few days ago, I met Fourth Uncle by the river. He’s already eighty years old, but he seems even more spirited than before. Looking at him, I seem older."

Yang Anshi’s hand moved slightly, grabbing the broom, but she didn’t hit with it.

"The old man probably still can’t bear it. After all, when he came to Dapu East Village with his family, it was my parents who helped him settle down. So, even now, he’s willing to give me a few pointers, unlike others who avoid me when they see me." Yang Peili smiled as he held his smoking pipe, "At that time, he didn’t say much. He just took a bamboo stick, gently broke it, and then flicked it onto me. The first time didn’t hurt much, but gradually he increased the force, and the power of the bamboo stick bouncing back on me grew stronger. By the last time, it was like this." Saying this, despite the cold in the room, he lifted his clothes, revealing his thin and bony back with a long red mark that had faded but hinted at the pain it must have caused.

Yang Anshi’s eyes widened instantly.

Yang Peili knew she saw it clearly, and only then did he put down his jacket: "After Fourth Uncle finished, he just left." Then he smiled, "These days, I’ve been pondering over this while eating and sleeping, and I’ve finally figured out a bit of the mystery."

Yang Anshi looked at Yang Peili, her lips moved.

"One cannot always be suppressed. When pressed too hard, there will be a rebound; the greater the pressure, the greater the rebound, and it would eventually rebound on the one applying pressure." Yang Peili looked at Yang Anshi, "Just like our family, the children are all our children, but your heart was biased. It’s one thing to be biased, but you were too biased. Those who were willing to be suppressed in the beginning were filial, but unfortunately, you didn’t understand. However, even the most filial people will resist if pressed too hard." Now, the eldest is dead, the eldest’s family has severed ties with them, and Xiaowu would rather sell himself than return to the old house; that’s the rebound.

"Of course, I’m also responsible. If I had curbed your bias back then, it would’ve been better, but unfortunately, I acquiesced, acquiesced to your talk of Baihe’s wealthy fate, acquiesced to your harsh treatment of the Da Fang family, acquiesced to..." Yang Peili suddenly stopped and waved his hand, "What’s past is past, but I didn’t expect that this kind of acquiescence would harm the entire Yang Family. In fact, the wealthy fate clearly mentioned Dani..."

"You..." Guilt flickered in Yang Anshi’s eyes.

"The eldest daughter-in-law and children, as well as the fifth, were all good. You know that in your heart but just refuse to admit it."

"Juanzi, you’ve been muddleheaded all your life. What’s happening now is retribution, but don’t worry, I’ll take care of you because I have a part in this outcome, and I must bear it." Yang Peili climbed off the kang, stood there, and pulled the quilt up for Yang Anshi, "Actually, this is fine too. You eat when hungry, sleep when tired, no more troubles to deal with, living out the rest of your days peacefully, that counts as a blessing too. Sometimes, one shouldn’t be too greedy. The elderly often say, ’bite off more than you can chew,’ and it’s not without reason."

Yang Anshi made no further sound but raised her eyes to the ceiling. The wooden beams had turned pitch black, and there was a spider web in the corner with a little bug struggling in it, but shortly it ceased to move, while a black spider crept slowly over...

As she watched, Yang Anshi’s vision suddenly blurred, and the scene before her shifted. She saw herself when she was young, saw the young Yang Peili, the bright red wedding dress so vivid... Later, she seemed to see the scene when this house was built, green brick big tile house, the best house in a ten-mile radius, and the people around looked at her with envy...

In a daze, she saw her eldest son Yang Baiyue slowly walking towards her: "Mother, are you okay?"

Yang Anshi hurriedly shook her head: "Mother is not okay, not okay at all."

"Then come with me, Mother. I’ll take you away from all this bad." Yang Baiyue walked over to her, holding her hand: "In the future, there’ll only be good left."

"But..."

"Mother, let’s go. This place no longer belongs to us..."

"Alright, I’ll go with you." Yang Anshi smiled, reversed her grip on her son’s hand, and slowly rose to leave, but as she reached the courtyard, she couldn’t help but look back, "Your dad will be alone now."

"Let’s go." Yang Baiyue tightly held Yang Anshi’s hand and slowly floated away into the distance.

Yang Anshi looked back at the increasingly blurred scene, tears falling one after another. If there were another life, she would definitely be a good wife and a good mother, not like this life, where she spoiled good days...

At this moment, Yang Ruxin was chatting at Li Zhong’s house.

The twin babies, Baojin and Baoyin, were already eight months old. Because of better living conditions now, Wang Hehua’s milk was especially good. They began adding supplementary food like egg custard, so they were particularly sturdy and could crawl very swiftly. The area around the kang was surrounded with quilts so the little fellows could play by themselves inside.

"Aunt Hehua, actually, there’s nothing bad about Xiaoxiang marrying Xie Tai," Yang Ruxin smiled at Aunt He’s conflicted appearance, "After all, the Xie Family has both money and power, ensuring Xiaoxiang’s lifetime stability, right?"

"But I just can’t set my mind at ease." Wang Hehua shook her head and sighed, "That Xie Family is a high-ranking household to us, and Xiaoxiang’s temperament is straightforward. How would she understand the complexities of a large family? Of course, I don’t understand either, but haven’t we seen it in operas before? ’Entering a Marquis Gate is as deep as the sea...’"

"Haha." Yang Ruxin laughed, "Aunt Hehua, you’re overthinking. Xiaoxiang isn’t foolish, and besides, though the Xie Family is a high-ranking household, our family isn’t without its capabilities," she said, raising her eyebrows slightly.

"You..."

"Aunt Hehua, sitting before you now is the proper Third-rank Madam Ruyi, on par with the Governor of Changhuai State, Governor Lin Lang. My husband is now also a Fifth-rank General, who has distinguished himself in battle." Yang Ruxin took Hehua’s hand, "My god-sister, who would dare to look down on her? Moreover, Uncle Zhong is one of my major managers; there’s a saying, isn’t there? ’A seventh-rank official in front of a prime minister’s door.’ Although I’m not the Prime Minister, my major manager must also be highly regarded in Beijing..."