Song Qinglan’s words further embarrassed Feng Yaojun.
She feigned disbelief and clucked her tongue twice, “Never mind us, even A Yan gives us money every month.”
How much he gave was another matter, but at least it was his gesture, a sign that he remembered his parents.
Zhu Yan mumbled, “Mom and Dad have high pensions, they don’t need money from our Yaojun.”
Song Qinglan shot her a cold glance, “Isn’t our Old Qi’s salary high? Our old lady was even wealthier back then. We still give what’s due. Frankly, he’s married and forgotten his parents. Now that you’ve raised the old lady like a spoiled child, you’re not at a loss.”
Zhu Yan: “…”
Not at a loss? She was at a huge loss!
Anxious, she quickly said, “Mom, it’s not that I don’t want Cheng Tao to live with me, it’s just that this child doesn’t want to. She only wants to live with you and be filial to you elders.”
Song Qinglan retorted again, “She can’t even be a good mother, and she wants to be filial to the elders? What a dream. If she really moved in, it would just be trouble for the nanny, and the old lady would end up having to take care of her.”
Zhu Yan lost her patience and stood up abruptly, glaring angrily.
“Song Qinglan, this is a Feng family matter, what business is it of yours to meddle so much!”
Song Qinglan shrugged, “Can’t be helped, who told me I’m here today? I was even invited by the old lady to have a meal. What are you people? Uninvited guests.”
Cheng You secretly gave her a thumbs-up, her ability to retort was getting stronger.
Zhu Yan was so angry she almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
As the daughter-in-law of the Feng family, she was being bullied like this, and no one spoke up for her.
“Mom, you’re just going to watch me get bullied like this!”
The old lady looked at her coldly, “If you want to stay, then stay. Qinglan, let’s eat.”
Although her mood was ruined, she still had to eat.
Song Qinglan smiled and nodded, “Cheng You, Zhenzhen, let’s go eat.”
They sat down as if no one else was there, making Feng Yaojun even more awkward.
He had grown up in the compound, yet standing here felt like an outsider.
Zhu Yan kicked him under the table, “Are you dead? Can’t you speak? Your father cursed at you, and you’re acting like a meek grandchild, afraid to say a word.”
Feng Yaojun brushed her hand away, “Let’s go back first. We’ll make a plan.”
Zhu Yan was practically dragged out by him. After they were outside, her anger erupted like a wild beast that couldn’t be controlled.
“Feng Yaojun, what do you mean? Who am I doing all this for? Am I doing it for myself? Fine if your parents don’t give you anything, but they have high pensions and now they want child support from us. What kind of parents are they! Song Qinglan said so much, and you didn’t help me at all. Are you even a man!”
Feng Yaojun was full of impatience, “I’m not a man, you are! I don’t want the things from my parents? But we are in the wrong on this matter. I said from the beginning that the child support had to be paid, but you refused!”
Zhu Yan’s face contorted, and she didn’t bother to lower her voice, arguing with him at the doorway.
“Are you trying to settle old scores with me now? When have you ever given child support to my parents? They lived even harder lives, when have you ever thought of them? I manage everything for you at home, when have you ever thought of me? Feng Yaojun, you are heartless!”
Feng Xue felt embarrassed and covered her face, trying to persuade her, “Mom, let’s not talk about it here. We can talk about it when we get back.”
Her silence was better; as soon as she spoke, Zhu Yan’s anger shifted to her.
Zhu Yan jabbed her forehead fiercely, making Feng Xue’s forehead red.
“How dare you speak! I haven’t even scolded you yet! That Ruan Tianyang, break it off with him immediately. You’re involved with a married man, you’ve completely disgraced me!”
“I didn’t…”
Zhu Yan interrupted her sharply, “Don’t say you didn’t. You know in your heart whether you did or not! I’ve raised you for so many years, I can tell from your every word and action!”
She could see Feng Xue’s guilty expression clearly.
The Feng Yaojun family was in chaos, while inside the house, there was peace.
Without the eyesores, the old lady felt she could eat more.
“Tomorrow I’m going to the cultural troupe to watch the two children compete. Do you want to come along and watch?”
Zhenzhen was quick to ask, “Is it Tingting sister and Ruan Jiqiu’s competition?”
The old lady wiped her mouth and asked, “You know about it too?”
Cheng You nodded, “I heard it’s for casting for the National Day performance.”
“Yes, I used to be in the cultural troupe, so Xiao Jiang asked me to go and take a look,” the old lady smiled.
Cheng You and Song Qinglan exchanged glances, surprised, “Grandma Lin, you were in the cultural troupe too?”
The old lady nodded and they moved to the living room for tea.
“I didn’t dance, I was an actress in the drama troupe.”
The nanny beside them chimed in with a smile, “When the old lady joined the drama troupe, she was already not young, but she was still a star performer.”
The old lady playfully chided her, “You’re talking nonsense.”
“I’m not talking nonsense, ask the old master if you don’t believe me.”
Old Master Feng nodded seriously, “Indeed.”
Cheng You was very curious and asked, “Do you have any photos?”
“Yes, I’ll get them.”
The nanny quickly ran upstairs and brought down a photo album.
She had to tidy it up every so often, so she was very familiar with this album.
The photos were all black and white and not very clear, but they could still show the old lady’s appearance when she was young.
Cheng You stared, feeling that the photos were very familiar, as if through the person in the photos, she saw Jiang Qing.
She also had a few photos of Jiang Qing.
If it weren't for these photos, she would have nothing to comfort her when she missed her mother.
“Cheng You, Cheng You, what are you thinking about?” Song Qinglan patted her arm.
Cheng You came back to her senses and chuckled.
“Grandma Lin, you looked a bit like my mother when you were young.”
A hint of nostalgia was in her eyes, and a tear welled up.
Jiang Qing had passed away for several years, and the wound in her heart was no longer as painful as it used to be.
But occasionally, when she thought of it, she couldn’t help but sigh, wishing her mother were still here.
The old lady suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
She had lost her own daughter and knew exactly what it felt like to lose a loved one.
That kind of pain was not something that could be healed quickly; it was a dampness that accompanied one for a lifetime.
Occasionally, when she remembered, the pain was still there.
“You are so outstanding, she must be proud of you,” the old lady stroked her head.
Cheng You was stunned and suddenly thought if her mother had lived to be old, would she also be like the old lady in front of her.
Gentle and elegant.
She curved her lips into a smile, “Of course, my mother loved me the most.”