"Grandma's precious darling, Grandma misses you so much."
As soon as the little child pushed the door open, a plainly dressed woman rushed through the courtyard gate and scooped the little one into her arms.
They say grandparents dote on their grandchildren. The old couple had never given Chen Yang a kind word in their lives, but for their granddaughter, they were truly exceptional. Take the old hens in the yard, for instance.
Their eggs either ended up in the little child's belly or were sold for money, which Shen Xue then used to buy food for her.
"Grandma, Grandpa, I miss you."
The little child also diligently planted a kiss on Liu Chunxia's cheek, clearly very affectionate towards her maternal grandmother.
"Grandpa's good grandchild, the old hen just laid an egg, I'll steam it for my good grandchild later."
Just then, Shen Futang, holding an egg he'd just grabbed from the chicken coop, arrived at the door. However, upon seeing Chen Yang standing beside Shen Xue, his smile instantly turned cold.
"What are you still doing here? This house doesn't welcome you. Get out! I won't hit you in front of our precious grandchild."
Shen Futang's face darkened. He had countless grievances against Chen Yang, unable to voice them all. His daughter, who was considered a gem in Shenjiaba, had somehow fallen for such a good-for-nothing.
He spent his days being lazy at home, leaving his daughter to bear all the hardship. He hadn't expected Chen Yang to suddenly become sensible and turn over a new leaf to live a good life.
But after all these years, Chen Yang remained unchanged. He had grown disheartened.
If Chen Yang had shown even a little change, with the old couple's support, life wouldn't be this difficult.
"You old grump, can't you show your daughter some face? She's already here, why not invite her in for a bowl of water?"
Liu Chunxia, however, looked at her daughter's conflicted expression. A mother's heart naturally ached for her daughter. She placed the little child in Shen Futang's arms and bustled to lead Chen Yang and Shen Xue into the house.
She didn't like Chen Yang either. This son-in-law who had caused her daughter so much suffering was truly hard to like. But for her daughter's sake, she had to endure.
In her heart, she harbored one hope: that Chen Yang would become a little more sensible, shoulder some responsibility as a man, and lighten her daughter's burden a bit. That would be enough for her.
"Mom, Chen Yang bought a roast chicken. It's for Dad to go with his drink."
Shen Xue took the wrapped roast chicken from Chen Yang and, holding his hand, quickly handed it over. She was afraid her father's dislike for Chen Yang would make Chen Yang unhappy and cause him to leave.
Chen Yang might have been thoughtless before, but now he was truly good to her, and she feared he would feel wronged.
"You didn't have to buy anything when you came..."
Liu Chunxia instinctively started to nag. She knew her daughter's family's financial situation well enough. But as the words reached her lips, she suddenly paused.
Roast chicken!
She knew exactly how expensive a roast chicken was. It had been over ten years, when their family was doing better, that she had eaten roast chicken with Shen Futang. How many years had it been since then?
She was well aware of her elder daughter Shen Xue's circumstances. How could they afford a roast chicken?
"Kid, did you do something bad behind Xue'er's back?"
Shen Futang also suddenly froze. The aroma of the roast chicken from the paper bag Shen Xue was carrying was unmistakable. The smell alone made one's mouth water.
"Dad, what are you talking about? Chen Yang has been waking up early and working late these past few days. This is all money he earned through his own hard work."
"He's turned over a new leaf. Look, this roast chicken, and this money, he wants me to give it to you both as a token of filial respect."
Shen Xue looked at her parents, their faces filled with disbelief, and her heart was filled with anxiety. Chen Yang's change had been too rapid; her parents simply couldn't believe it.
"Is this true?"
Shen Futang and Liu Chunxia genuinely found it hard to believe. After all, they had seen firsthand how incorrigible Chen Yang had been before, and how he had remained unchanged despite their countless pleas.
However, the roast chicken in their daughter's hand and the genuine "two big red flags" (ten-yuan bills) she had placed in their hands made it impossible for them to doubt.
"Grandpa, Papa gave Grandpa cigarettes."
Just then, the little child also presented two packs of "Da Qianmen" cigarettes he was holding to Shen Futang. Seeing all this, the old couple was somewhat dazed.
The son-in-law who had been like mud on a wall, incapable of being salvaged, leading them to lament their daughter's unfortunate fate countless times, had suddenly become incomprehensible.
"Mom, Dad, Chen Yang has truly turned over a new leaf."
"He's been so good to us, Mom and me. He even specially bought malted milk essence and red dates for Yan Yan and me to nourish our bodies. He wouldn't even eat a bite himself."
Shen Xue, still worried that her parents wouldn't believe her, quickly spoke up. She tugged at Chen Yang's sleeve, signaling him to speak up.
"Dad, Mom, I was a scoundrel and ignorant before. But that day at work, I saw San Ni from Shen Guanglin's family so hungry that she was chewing on willow bark. I was instantly terrified."
"Shen Guanglin died when he was picking at the riverbank and fell into a flood. Yan Chun is left with several children, and they don't even have enough to eat. That child was skin and bones from hunger. I can't continue like this anymore."
"If I don't try harder, and even return to the city alone, will Xue'er and Yan Yan, that mother and daughter pair, suffer like Yan Chun and her children?"
"The thought of them suffering so much made me realize everything. I have to work desperately to give them a good life."
Chen Yang spoke with conviction. The story was fabricated; he hadn't witnessed the plight of Li Chunyan's children, but he had heard about it.
However, having lived through one lifetime, he knew better than seeing a few tragic children what kind of responsibility he, as a man, had to bear.
"Hmph, if you had realized this sooner, my daughter wouldn't have suffered so much."
Hearing Chen Yang's words, Shen Futang snorted. His expression had clearly improved, but thinking of how much his daughter had suffered for him, he couldn't bring himself to praise Chen Yang immediately.
"Alright, alright. You old man, are you still not satisfied? He bought you roast chicken, brought you cigarettes, what more do you want?"
"Come inside and sit."
Liu Chunxia, naturally, was more willing to let go of her pride. She opened the door and welcomed Chen Yang and Shen Xue into the house. However, she tried to push the money back into Shen Xue's hand.
"Chen Yang's return as a prodigal son makes your father and me happier than anything. We can't accept this money."
"You still have your own life to live. How can we take your money? Besides, we're not so old that we can't move. We can still earn a living without you worrying about us."
All they wanted was for Shen Xue to live a happy life. They had never expected any filial piety from them.
"Mom, we have money at home. Chen Yang said this money is for Er Ni's education. Er Ni is now in high school in the county town. Eating, studying, everything costs money."
"We can't compare to city people, but we can't let her fall behind her classmates at school. In the future, Chen Yang and I will earn more. You two don't have to work so hard. I, as her older sister, will also take care of Er Ni."
Shen Xue forcefully pushed the money back into her mother's hand. She remembered how much her parents had subsidized her over the years.
She hadn't had the ability to repay them before, but in the future, she would definitely be filial to her parents.
"Look at you, silly girl. You keep mentioning Chen Yang. I don't know what kind of magic spell this kid put on you, but you're set on him."
"Mom~"
Liu Chunxia sighed. Her daughter was simply too fond of Chen Yang. But before she could finish speaking, Shen Xue's face flushed red.
"Alright, alright. Mom won't say anymore. You know what's in your heart."
"My son-in-law, come, sit next to your father. I'll get some of the old man's hidden wine. You two can have a drink."