NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: The Family with Ji Jianwen and Yun Lili
Ji Jianyun’s eyebrows scrunched up and he looked at his younger sister. “Yunyun, what are you talking about?!”
“Is what I said not clear? Third brother, don't be deceived by her. I didn’t think you would be so enchanted by the way that fox looks!” Ji Yunyun snorted.
“I usually bring mutton, beef, pork and eggs over. Sister-in-law, you haven't eaten any of it, have you? Otherwise, sister-in-law would not have said such a thing. After all, she is going to take the college entrance examination soon,” Su Danhong dryly stated.
Nevermind how abnormal Ji Yunyun was after it had been so long since she had returned, Su Danhong was not used to how condescending she was in front of Jianyun!
She was filial, but not filial to Ji Yunyun. She had been back home for so long now so who was she still being strange for?!
Ji Yunyun was speechless.
How could she not eat the food that was usually brought over? She used the reasoning that because the college entrance examinations were soon, she needed nourishment for it. She ate the most and more than half of the portion brought over went into her stomach.
She had only been back for a few days, and her complexion had already become even better…
“It seems like you have eaten the food. Since it is like this, then who are you saying these words to?” Su Danhong’s tone was still indifferent.
Mother Ji came out when she heard the noise and saw her son.
“Jianyun is back?” Mother Ji happily asked.
“Mother, can't you see that when I say one word, this woman tops it with three1!” Ji Yunyun said with resentment.
Mother Ji was about to pinch her. “Why haven’t you gone back to your room yet?”
Ji Yunyun was extremely upset and retorted, “Why should I hide her every time she comes to the house? Why?”
Su Danhong said nothing.
Ji Jianyun frowned and looked at his wife. Su Danhong didn’t know why, but in her mind she suddenly felt wronged. Was this her fault?
“Mother, I still have some things to do, so I'll go back and take care of it first,” Su Danhong said. She turned around and went back to her home.
“Honey…” Ji Jianyun called after her.
“Just go! Who cares if she leaves?!” Ji Yunyun, like a winning rooster, sneered.
“You rotten girl! If I don't beat you to death, then all the food given to you by your third sister-in-law has gone to a mutt. You white-eyed wolf!” Mother Ji was so angry that she picked up the broom and was about to beat this disobedient daughter who had been thinking about making trouble all the time.
“Mother, it's the last day of the year today! If you hit me with a broom2, then I’ll have bad luck for a whole year, and if I don't pass the college entrance examination, then I'll blame you to death!” Ji Yunyun screamed.
Mother Ji was so angry. “You rotten girl! Just wait until I clean you up after the New Year!”
“Mother, don't be angry, Yunyun is still young,” Ji Jianyun said. That was what he said, but he continued to frown when he looked at Ji Yunyun.
“Jianyun, go back and coax Danhong. Mother can handle things over here. Tell her not to be annoyed with this girl,” Mother Ji said at once.
Ji Jianyun also wanted to go back, but he had to rush over, so he said, “Danhong won't be angry with Yunyun.”
Mother Ji said, “Mother was in the house just now and heard a few words. You don't have to listen to Yunyun, this rotten girl. Danhong is not the same as before. She is good to me and your father and the neighbors can see that too. This rotten girl is a white-eyed wolf who doesn't know who is feeding her3. Don't mind her. She will be done for when she marries out in the future.”
“Mother, you really deserve to be my biological mother. I have never seen you emphasize males over females. It is a new society now, with equality between men and women and opposition against discriminating between men and women!” Ji Yunyun complained.
“Yunyun, how can you talk to mother like that?!” Ji Jianyun frowned.
Ji Yunyun was still a little afraid of her third brother, who was a soldier. She snorted and went back to her room. She took a box of vanishing cream and put some on in the mirror.
“There are still a few boxes at home. I'll get them for mother to use later,” Ji Jianyun said as he watched her.
Ji Yunyun's eyes lit up.
“No, no need,” Mother Ji hurried to say. “These were all brought over by Danhong, otherwise how can this girl have such a rare thing to use?”
“Hmph! It’s just a little vanishing cream. When I am at fourth sister-in-law's apartment, she doesn’t let me casually use any. If she gave everyone a box of vanishing cream, they would be forced to praise her!” Ji Yunyun snorted.
Mother Ji was angry and was about to swear when there was a sound coming from outside.
It was Ji Jianwen, who taught in Jiangshui City, and Yun Lili, who was brightly dressed in the latest fashion and taught at Jiangshui City Primary School, arriving with New Year goods.
Yun Lili was holding her baby girl in her arms, while Ji Jianwen was carrying the New Year goods and greeting some villagers outside of the door.
“Jianwen.” Ji Jianyun came out to have a look and saw his younger brother.
Ji Jianwen was also very happy to see him. “Third brother, when did you come back? Why didn't I hear mother mention it?”
“It’s because I returned last night.” Ji Jianyun chuckled.
“Third brother-in-law.” Yun Lili also greeted him, but after entering the Lao Ji family’s house, she frowned.
If she had a choice, she would not come back here every year for the New Year. But once it became the end of the year, she could only come back for a few days and endure it until it was over.
”Fourth brother, fourth sister-in-law, you are here.” Ji Yunyun was particularly happy to see Yun Lili.
“Yunyun, come and hug your niece as her fourth aunt,” Yun Lili said to Ji Yunyun.
“That’s right! My precious niece must really miss her aunt.” Ji Yunyun swiftly hugged the little baby girl and giggled.
“Mother, is the road being repaired? It was exhausting for us to come back using a different way,” Yun Lili said to Mother Ji.
With regards to Lao Si’s family coming back for the New Year, Mother Ji was also very happy and said, “It is being repaired, but it's only a little bit out of the way. I often go to town with your third sister-in-law and it’s not very far.”
Yun Lili pursed her lips when she heard those words. How could that woman compare to her?
“Mother, why do you choose to speak now when it’s about Su Danhong? Don't you just give her something to eat? Is she worth that much of your thoughts?” Ji Yunyun said.
Mother Ji glared at her.
Yun Lili smiled and said, “Mother, when I came back with Jianwen this time, we brought back a lot of New Year goods. They are specialties from Jiangshui City and we brought them back for you and father to taste. That’s right, where's father?”
“That's very kind of you,” Mother Ji said and laughed. “Your father went out early in the morning. He has a small job today. He will be back in the afternoon.”
Ji Jianyun and Ji Jianwen were outside and came in.
Mother Ji saw her grown son and quickly said, “Jianwen, the journey was tiring, right? Go take a break. Mother will get you warmed up with some brown sugar and ginger tea.”
“Mother, don't forget me. I want some, too.” Yun Lili smiled.
“Of course, what can we do without you?” Mother Ji grinned happily and went in to make brown sugar and ginger tea.
While Ji Jianyun was talking to Ji Jianwen, he felt a little meaningless for some reason. He didn't feel like this in the past, but right now he felt like an outsider.
“Mother, I'll go home first and bring Danhong over for dinner,” Ji Jianyun said these words to them in the kitchen and went back.
“Yunyun, what happened to third brother-in-law? Why is he paying attention to that woman?” Yun Lili questioned.
“What do you mean ‘that woman’? That's third sister-in-law!” Ji Jianwen frowned.
Yun Lili’s lips twitched. She didn’t care and waited for Ji Yunyun to answer.
tarararawr’s rararamblings: The yun(云) in Yun Lili and Ji Yunyun are the same…
- 说一句,顶三句(shuō yījù, dǐng sān jù) – It’s like a way of saying someone is back-talking
- A New Year tradition is to not sweep the floor or use the broom because you will “sweep” away your good luck.
- 喂不熟的白眼狼 (wèibùshúdebáiyǎnláng) – way of saying ungrateful