Pampered by the School Bully-Chapter 313 - 305, Two families who haven’t gathered for many years (4)

Chapter 313: 305, Two families who haven’t gathered for many years (4)

At 12:30, Xu Hui and Chen Huifen were ready with lunch and called out loudly in the dining room for the three children, "Lunch is ready, time to eat!"

Chen Huifen’s call was gentle, while Xu Hui shouted as if she was cursing in the streets, "Whatever you’re doing, put it down now, eating is important, hurry up and come out!"

This was also a reflection of the personality differences between Chen Huifen and Xu Hui...

Chen Huifen was gentle like water, a person who rarely spoke loudly.

Xu Hui, on the other hand, was coarse in speech and so loud that you could hear her from a street away.

These two women and their respective husbands had similar contrasting personalities.

Xu Hui and Qingcao’s father were both less educated with rough manners, but they had open hearts and were very forthright.

Chen Huifen and Pu Sangzhi’s father, however, were both mild-mannered, rarely argued with others, and seldom got angry, warm and smooth in disposition.

The two children under Xu Hui, Ye Xi and Ye Qingcao, also had strikingly different personalities.

Ye Xi had always admired Pu Sangzhi’s father, envious of his high education and kind nature.

Thus, under Pu Sangzhi’s father’s tutelage, Ye Xi’s personality became as refined as jade, a lover of tranquility.

Ye Qingcao, on the other hand, was a true product of her parents’ upbringing.

As a result, Ye Qingcao’s personality was as open and bright as her mother’s, with a voice so loud it could carry across a street no less than Xu Hui’s.

These two families and their children, despite their differences, blended well together, living in harmony.

If it weren’t for the company’s failure to operate and the subsequent shutdown, the two families might have remained friends for life.

However, life is often fraught with misfortune; it’s far from smooth sailing.

One can only say that after all they have been through, being able to gather together like they were today was indeed fortunate.

In the study, when Ye Qingcao heard Xu Hui’s loud voice, she quickly sprung up from the lounge chair, responding loudly, "Coming——!"

Ye Qingcao’s voice was also resoundingly loud, easily matching Xu Hui.

In the dining room, hearing Ye Qingcao’s response, Xu Hui and Chen Huifen exchanged smiles, their expressions filled with happiness and affection.

At that moment, Qingcao was the first to dash out of the study, Pu Sangzhi closely behind her, ready to follow suit. But before she could put on her shoes properly, she started to hurry and suddenly twisted her foot, falling to the ground.

Fortunately, Ye Xi, who was right behind her, reacted quickly and caught hold of her waist, embracing her in one swift motion!

In that moment, the contact perhaps too intimate, Pu Sangzhi, once realizing it, quickly stepped out of Ye Xi’s arms.

"Take it slow, be careful," Ye Xi advised her.

Pu Sangzhi nodded, "It was my carelessness. Thank you, Brother Ye Xi."

After speaking, Pu Sangzhi put on her slippers and turned to leave the study.

Ye Xi just stood by the table, lost in thought for a while...

In that trance, the image of him supporting Pu Sangzhi’s waist replayed several times in his mind.

Her frame was still so delicate, her waist slim enough to be encompassed by a single grasp...

Yet, Ye Xi could distinctly sense that she had matured a bit.

From her emanated a faint scent of womanhood; she no longer seemed just a child.

"Bro! What are you doing! Aren’t you coming out yet!"

As Ye Xi was still lost in memories, the boisterous call of Ye Qingcao came once more from the dining room, "Hurry up! We’re only waiting for you! Forget studying for now!"

Ye Xi then gathered his thoughts, shaking his head slightly to regain clarity.

Afterward, he finally put on his slippers and walked out of the study.

On the table lay a very sumptuous spread of eight dishes and one soup, all made by the hands of both mothers.

The two families gathered around the table, the children poured drinks, and the elders uncorked some red wine.

Xu Hui and Chen Huifen said, "A celebration calls for a bit of wine, just a little. I won’t press anyone to drink, just drink as much as you’re comfortable with."

Chen Huifen nodded with a smile, "Sure. I won’t be shy."

"Of course not! If you act polite with me, it’s like you don’t consider me a sister!"

Xu Hui playfully scolded Chen Huifen, "So don’t be polite with me! If you’re polite, I’ll get mad at you!"

The Ye family was as close-knit and amiable as ever, and at that moment, the atmosphere around the dining table was lively and warmly familiar.

Because just three years ago, the two families would often gather together for meals like this.

At that time, Ye Qingcao’s father and Xu Hui hadn’t gotten divorced yet, and life was peaceful and perfect.

Looking back now...

In fact, it seemed as if all the tragedies of both families began from Ye Qingcao’s parents’ divorce...

Of course, now that the two families had finally reunited, they weren’t dwelling on the past.

The Ye Family had been hurt, and the Pu Family had been wounded...

After so many trials and tribulations, the fact that they could still sit together harmoniously, despite the absence of men, undoubtedly made this the best of times.

Lunch started amidst a warm and lively atmosphere...

With Xu Hui and Ye Qingcao, two very talkative people, the mood at the dining table was always lively, with non-stop chatter.

"Come on, let’s drink up, drink up. I’m just so happy today."

Xu Hui raised her wine glass, ready to toast with everyone.

The children all cooperated, picking up their glasses for a collective toast.

Xu Hui downed her glass of red wine with great gusto, letting out a long "Ha~"

"Mom, go easy on the drinking; you’ve already had half a bottle by yourself."

Ye Xi urged Xu Hui.

But Xu Hui wouldn’t listen and poured herself another half glass, "How can you not drink on such a joyous day? It wouldn’t be fun otherwise!"

Chen Huifen also advised, "You really should drink less. If you get totally drunk, won’t I be the only one left to prepare tonight’s New Year’s Eve dinner?"

Xu Hui laughed heartily, waving her hand, "It’s alright! If you feel tired, just let Xiaoxi do it. Xiaoxi is the best cook here!"

Ye Qingcao also added, "Yeah, let my mom drink. She’s really happy today!"

"Xiaocao really understands me!"

Xu Hui smiled and said, "I truly am so happy today. Because I haven’t seen you all for so long. You have no idea, when I got the call from Old Pu saying you two had no one to turn to in Shanghai, I was so worried! I’m not worried about anyone else, just you two! Really..."

While speaking, Xu Hui served Chen Huifen a chicken leg, "Afen, you really need to eat more. This is my heartfelt gesture, and Xiaosang’s too. When Xiaoxi and I went to Shanghai to look for you, Xiaoxi spent two weeks, and I a whole month. It was like searching all over Shanghai to no avail..."

Only then did Pu Sangzhi and Chen Huifen realize that the mother and son had gone to Shanghai to look for them.

Hearing this, Pu Sangzhi and Chen Huifen were deeply moved.

Xu Hui continued, "I’m really useless. I was there for a month and couldn’t find a trace of you. I’m not an educated person, I know too little, and had no idea where to start. When Xiaoxi went to look for you, he actually found quite a few leads. But, it was just bad luck; every time he was about to find you, he heard you had already left. During that time, Xiaoxi was about to take his college entrance exams. Ah... so we mother and son also let you down, not being able to help you at such a critical moment."

Pu Sangzhi and Chen Huifen, mother and daughter, both shook their heads.

Chen Huifen said, "It’s okay, my daughter and I are doing well now. Please don’t blame yourselves."

"That’s good to hear..."

Xu Hui sighed, "Come on, another drink."

So, they toasted once more.

"So, is everything really getting better for your family now?"

Xu Hui took a sip of red wine and asked, "Then why hasn’t Old Pu come back yet?"

"My dad..."

Pu Sangzhi was about to say that her father was still evading his debts, but at the moment she was about to speak, Chen Huifen tugged at her from below.

Pu Sangzhi got the hint and kept silent, and then Chen Huifen spoke, "He says he’s trying too, hoping to come back and reunite with us soon."

In fact, Chen Huifen hadn’t told the Ye Family that they were burdened with so much debt.

Perhaps it was a matter of pride, or maybe she didn’t want to drag the Ye Family into this mess... Hiding the heavy debt, Chen Huifen chose to conceal it.

Therefore, to this day, the Ye Family only knew about the company’s bankruptcy and that all property had been seized and auctioned by the bank. But when it came to the debts, the Ye Family was completely in the dark.

Xu Hui sighed, "I don’t know what Old Pu is working so hard for. But with just the two of you women at home, I’m really not at ease. Look, if anything comes up that you need help with, call me. I do have a shoe factory now, and I’m getting by financially. You mustn’t be polite with me, ever."

Pu Sangzhi and Chen Huifen both nodded, "Of course, we won’t be polite."

Ye Qingcao then said, "Mom, Sangzhi doesn’t even have a cell phone now!"

Xu Hui immediately said, "Xiaoxi, take Xiaosang to buy a cell phone this afternoon."

Pu Sangzhi: "No need, Auntie, I don’t need a cell phone..."

Ye Xi replied, "Just accept my mom’s kindness."