30 Deep Sisterly Bonds VI

Madam Zhang was initially very satisfied with her son-in-law, Yu Shanmeng.

He was a man of integrity who rarely stayed out overnight, always rushing home whenever possible. He was exceptionally attentive to his children, even ensuring his daughter received an education. He managed the family business with great success and held his wife’s family in high regard, always listening to the advice of the couple.

However, once she noticed the ambiguous nature of the feelings between Yu Shanmeng and Zhang Qingyao, she developed an almost instantaneous aversion to him.

Yet, her daughter was already married with three children. No matter how much Yu Shanmeng might pine after the other woman, it was unlikely that anything would truly come of it. Furthermore, he was very skilled at comforting people, and her daughter had remained completely unaware of his hidden thoughts from start to finish. If he could keep up this facade for a lifetime, her daughter would never be hurt.

For this reason, Madam Zhang kept these observations to herself.

But now that her daughter knew… some things, once known, could no longer be ignored, even if one wished to remain immersed in a self-woven dream.

Yu Shanmeng, believing himself to be in the right, argued indignantly: "The two sisters have been close since childhood. Every time the elder sister visited, she would cook with her own hands. But today, I don't know what got into her; not only did she refuse to lift a finger, but she even hinted in front of my brother-in-law about the relationship between me and her sister… Heaven is my witness, I respect her only because she is the elder sister and because I want to be warm and welcoming to the Gao family for her sake."

"You don't need to show me any face," Chu Yunli waved him off. "I have broken ties with my sister; we are enemies now. I cannot help her, and you don't need to waste your efforts."

Yu Shanmeng looked disapproving. "How can there be a grudge between sisters that lasts overnight? You shouldn't alienate each other just because of a few words. Besides, your sister is in her darkest hour right now; you shouldn't be fighting with her..."

"She is not my sister," Chu Yunli interrupted. "I only just learned from my parents' argument that she was born to my aunt. She is merely my cousin!"

Yu Shanmeng was stunned, blurting out, "Is that true?" He frowned. "Even if you aren't biological sisters, you grew up together—the bond is real."

"What bond?" Chu Yunli scoffed. "I have always been the one catering to her, but has she ever truly cared for me? I said it this morning: over all these years, I have given her so much that I made with my own hands, but what has she ever given me?"

Yu Shanmeng disagreed. "Last month when you were ill, she did ask after you..."

"A few empty words, who can't say those?" Chu Yunli challenged. "If I'm not mistaken, she only asked because you were the one delivering things to her, right? Since she knew I was sick, she didn't come to visit, nor did she send anyone over with gifts. Is asking a question supposed to be a sign of true care? If that's the case, then I'll ask a few questions too. Brother-in-law, how are the matters you've been inquiring about? Is there any way for him to get out of this?"

After asking, she sneered, "I suppose that counts as me showing concern, doesn't it?"

Yu Shanmeng was left speechless.

He glanced at his mother-in-law nearby and said, "Mother is here; let's not argue. You go to the kitchen and prepare a couple of dishes, and we'll invite Father over in a while..."

"Are you listening to me at all?" Chu Yunli interrupted. "Father and Mother had a fight; Mother is here to stay for a while."

"It's normal for a husband and wife to quarrel," Yu Shanmeng said with disapproval. "We should be finding ways to reconcile them, not adding fuel to the fire. Tell you what, I'll invite Father over for a few drinks and we can discuss how to save people while we're at it."

The man seemed incapable of understanding simple words. Chu Yunli grew impatient. "If you want to invite him, that's your business. You can host the guests you invite yourself. I don't want to see Father today, and I certainly don't want to see Zhang Qingyao!"

With that, she took Madam Zhang's arm and turned to leave.

"Mother, I'll have the kitchen prepare that duck you like later, and we'll have a good drink together. As for those bothersome people and matters, don't let them weigh on your heart."

Watching the mother and daughter walk away, Yu Shanmeng felt a flicker of dissatisfaction toward his mother-in-law. As he had said, when a couple quarrels, outsiders should only advise reconciliation, not fan the flames. His mother-in-law hadn't tried to mediate at all, and seeing the servants carrying trunks as if she intended a long stay... how could this be allowed?

Yu Shanmeng chased after them for a few steps. "Madam, your sister is in trouble. Even if you won't help, can you at least not make a scene at a time like this?"

Neither woman looked back.

Yu Shanmeng was quite cunning when it came to business; no one could stop him once he set his mind to something. He went to the kitchen to order the meal himself and then traveled to the Zhang residence to bring both the father and daughter over.

Father Zhang had been reluctant to come. He shared Yu Shanmeng's view that with such a crisis at Zhang Qingyao's home, the priority should be saving people, not bickering at such a critical moment.

It was precisely because he felt this was not the time for fighting that he humbled himself to come and seek reconciliation with his wife.

Unfortunately, until the food was on the table, neither the mother nor the daughter made an appearance.

Zhang Qingyao was deeply anxious. She had been crying for hours, her eyes swollen and red, and her voice was thick with tears. She asked softly, "Mother and sister refuse to come—is it because they are angry with me?"

"No," Yu Shanmeng quickly comforted her. "Mother has a difficult temper and is just having a spat with me; it's not because of you."

He felt guilty about his wife's accusation regarding his excessive concern for Zhang Qingyao and feared having Zhang Qingyao discover his own sordid thoughts.

Zhang Qingyao sobbed uncontrollably and probed, "Then did they mention my parentage to you?"

That matter... if one were to look closely, Zhang Qingyao's origins were not exactly honorable. Yu Shanmeng only nodded vaguely.

Seeing this, Zhang Qingyao clutched her father's arm and wept even more bitterly. "I shouldn't have been born..."

"That is not your fault," Father Zhang patted her shoulder. "No one can choose their birth; don't dwell on it. Your children are still waiting for you."

Zhang Qingyao trembled as she cried. "If this gets out, how will I ever face anyone again?"

"It doesn't matter," Father Zhang had already considered this. "If there are rumors about your parentage outside, I will say that your mother is biased toward her younger daughter and is spreading these lies on purpose to make people dislike you."

Zhang Qingyao shook her head while crying, saying nothing more. It was a clear, silent agreement.

Yu Shanmeng also couldn't help but add, "Mother is indeed... it's not my place to speak of a parent's faults, but after so many years of affection between mother and daughter, how could she be so cruel? They managed to keep it a secret all these years; why not continue to do so?"

Seeing Zhang Qingyao crying so sorrowfully, he whispered, "Don't cry. Even if it gets out, any reasonable person won't blame you." He then ordered his servants once more to go and invite the mother and daughter.

In the back courtyard, Chu Yunli remained unmoved by the servants who came repeatedly to summon her. She would not go!

If a guest arrives and the mistress of the house does not appear, it is a clear signal that she does not wish to interact. Chu Yunli had no intention of granting Zhang Qingyao that courtesy today.

If Zhang Qingyao understood the ways of a guest, she would have had the sense to leave early upon seeing that the hosts were not receiving her.

Clearly, Zhang Qingyao lacked that self-awareness.

The father and daughter had arrived when it was nearly dark. By the time the meal was finished, it was pitch black outside. The two men had failed to come up with any useful plan, and Yu Shanmeng suggested they stay the night, ordering guest rooms to be prepared.

All three families lived in the same city, and in the past, they always returned home the same day unless someone was too drunk to travel.

Zhang Qingyao refused to stay, crying, "There are two children at home; I need to go back and check on them."

Yu Shanmeng immediately replied, "I will have them brought here. With the trouble at home, even with you there, they will likely still be frightened."

"No, that's too much trouble," Zhang Qingyao declined politely.

Father Zhang pondered for a moment and said, "Bringing them here is fine. Stay the night, and tomorrow we shall all go to the Zhang residence to stay for a while. Until the matter with the Gao family is settled, none of you should go back."

Zhang Qingyao was terrified at the prospect of returning alone to the vast, empty Gao mansion, even with servants to attend to her. She immediately acquiesced.

In the back courtyard, when Madam Zhang heard that even Zhang Qingyao's two children had been brought over, she was so furious she laughed. She had been drinking, and feeling impulsive, she prepared to head to the front courtyard.

Chu Yunli rushed to stop her.

Madam Zhang grabbed her shoulder, tipsy and slurring, "Daughter! Men are just cheap! They always think the grass is greener on the other side. Today, I am going to force him to show his true colors!"

Making a scene might not be a bad thing. Chu Yunli appeared to be holding her back, but in reality, she was supporting her as they walked toward the outer courtyard.

When the mother and daughter entered the room, Zhang Qingyao was huddled with her two children, weeping, while the two men tried to comfort them. Seeing the pair enter, Yu Shanmeng felt a moment of unease and asked, "Why are you only coming now?"

Chu Yunli helped Madam Zhang to a chair and sat her down. "I heard we had guests even at this late hour, so I came to take a look." She looked at the mother and her two children. "If I recall correctly, when one is a guest in someone else's home, one should not be crying."

Madam Zhang chimed in, "I taught Qingyao that rule myself back then. It seems, however, she didn't take it to heart."

Father Zhang was worried about his eldest daughter, and having waited for his wife without success, he had already built up a great deal of resentment. Hearing this, he scolded, "Who wouldn't cry when faced with such a situation? Madam, Qingyao is not your enemy—can you not be so sharp-tongued?"

"I have been more than fair to her," Madam Zhang, fueled by the alcohol, slammed her hand onto the table. "I am being sharp-tongued today, so what will you do about it!"

Father Zhang: "..."

The weeping mother and children were jolted by the commotion. Zhang Qingyao cried, "What did I do wrong? If you didn't like me, you shouldn't have agreed to raise me all those years ago..."

Madam Zhang was so enraged by these words that her drunkenness vanished, and she sneered, "I only distanced myself from you after you were ten years old. You should know how I treated you before you were ten—did I raise you wrongly?" She asked word by word, "You owe me a debt of upbringing that you haven't repaid; where do you get the face to say such things?"