Chapter 311: Chapter 302: The Grand Finale (Part 4)
And she’s still the same as before, spreading rumors everywhere that He Chen got rich and forgot his roots, ignoring their only relatives’ well-being and such.
But whether people believe it or not is another matter, after all, everyone knows what kind of people the Li Hongmei family are.
Looking at her like this, you can tell immediately that the pitiful, seemingly terminally ill weakness she showed when she first opened the door was all an act.
Ye Manman knew He Chen felt disheartened and gently patted his back, comforting him.
"It’s okay now, don’t think too much, and don’t be upset. Everyone will encounter some strange people in their lives, just ignore them, and life will still be beautiful, right?"
He Chen held her hand, rubbed her hand’s surface with his thumb, and then lifted it to give a gentle kiss, his expression immediately softened.
"You’re right."
"I just didn’t expect that after so many years, she hasn’t changed a bit."
"Liu Tiejun is spoiled; she is completely oblivious to her mistakes and keeps blaming others. I really can’t understand someone like her."
Ye Manman leaned on his shoulder, letting him play with her hand.
"Yeah, I didn’t understand before, and I still don’t now."
"But them ending up like that is probably their karma. It’s sad, but also contemptible. We don’t need to worry too much about them."
He Chen answered with an "Mm," and once again they both gazed up at the night sky.
The two of them sat in the yard for a long time, talking about many things from the past until they felt a bit cold and then returned inside to sleep.
The next day was their third day of the short stay, and it was the only day they spent resting at home properly.
He Chen and Ye Manman took their son and daughter out officially, introducing them to the places they remembered from before.
For example, the few plots of land that He Chen used to be responsible for, even though they’re now leased to others for farming, the crops in the fields are still thriving.
When they went over, they happened to run into the person who leased that plot, who was very straightforward, directly picked several fresh and crisp cucumbers and handed them to them.
"Back again, huh? It’s rare to see you all back. Here, have a cucumber."
"This is a new variety from the past two years, not bitter at all, tastes great raw, no pesticide used, just wash and eat."
He Chen chatted with that person a bit, while Ye Manman called the two children.
"Quick, say thank you to Uncle."
He Yanzi and He Yuchu were very obedient.
"Thank you, Uncle, for giving us cucumbers to eat!"
"Uncle, you’re really nice!"
The uncle was charmed by these little ones, kept praising how sensible they were, how sweet they talked, and specifically picked another dozen cucumbers for He Chen to take home.
He Chen insisted on refusing, but when the uncle was about to get upset, he had no choice but to accept.
So now they had an extra dish for dinner.
But these freshly picked cucumbers were indeed very juicy. They found a well in the village to rinse them a bit, and eating them was a burst of juice; both little ones ate a whole one each.
Ye Manman also ate a bit more, consuming one and a half, and shoved the other half into He Chen’s mouth.
Later, they went for a stroll at the foot of the mountain, but didn’t go to He Chen’s former secret base.
That place has probably been overgrown with weeds and plants as it hasn’t been tended to for years, and it would be too dangerous to take the kids inside.
After walking half the day, they went home to rest for the other half, pretty much packing up to drive back the next morning.
But at dinnertime, Ye Guoqiang actually came over.
Maybe it was because they mentioned leaving the next day while chatting outside with people, and Ye Guoqiang couldn’t hold back and came straight over.
Furthermore, after he arrived, Ye Manman saw Yang Xiumei not far away with a boy about the same age as He Yanzi watching from a distance.
She’s long had a fallout with Ye Guoqiang, and even more so with Yang Xiumei; she probably knew it was likely, which is why she just watched from afar without coming over.
But Ye Guoqiang seemed even more shameless than before.
He came over directly asking for money!
"Manman, why haven’t you come back to see me for so many years? I’m your dad, your real dad!"
"You don’t care about me, your sister’s nowhere to be found for years, and I hardly managed to raise you two daughters, and in the end, not one grateful one!"
"If your sister is useless, fine, but you’re doing so well, driving such a nice car, how come you never thought of sending money back home? Is it because you’ve made it big and completely forgotten us old folks?"
Ye Manman laughed out loud.
"Ye Guoqiang, are you alright?"
Hearing her call him by name, Ye Guoqiang got so mad he wanted to hit someone.
He Chen came over within two steps and grabbed his hand, unable to free himself, Ye Guoqiang could just brush it off.
But his expression remained as shameless as ever.
"I remember clearly telling you before I left that you had no right to ask me for money. Not to mention my mom was abducted, which alone is enough to jail you."
"You should have long known that my mom is alive, right? Let me tell you, now my mom remembers everything from the past, she can even testify in court how she was trafficked to bear your children, are you sure you want to keep asking me for money?"
"If you really want to spend the rest of your life behind bars, I don’t mind helping you out."
Ye Manman spoke with a calm yet intimidating tone, and her words were so piercing that they scared Ye Guoqiang pale as a ghost.
He originally planned to pester his wealthy daughter for money all his life, but now that she was threatening to send him to jail, where would he dare to continue, and he ran off without another word.
Yang Xiumei was just standing not far away. The boy next to her didn’t seem well-kept, was a bit rebellious, kept shouting about wanting to go home, and even kicked Yang Xiumei’s leg when she tried to coax him.
With Ye Guoqiang scared off, Yang Xiumei naturally left as well.
She was really just here to see if Ye Guoqiang could get any money.
After all, they’re old, and it’s really getting hard to help raise Ye Xiaotong’s kid, especially since the child loves to compare with others, always pestering her for this and that, but as an elderly person, where would she get money for treats?
Thus, seeing Ye Manman back, she casually instigated Ye Guoqiang to go ask for money.
Unfortunately, not only did he not get any, he was scared so badly that he almost got sick at home, continually cursing Ye Manman, even declaring he wouldn’t acknowledge this daughter anymore and so on.
Being cursed behind her back is so commonplace, Ye Manman didn’t care at all.
After brushing off the annoying ones, the family had one last night in this old house and left at the crack of dawn the next day.
Many people in the village heard the sound of He Chen’s car passing by, and quite a few watched them drive away, sighing as they stared at the village entrance.
"This is probably their last time coming back, huh?"
"The two of them pretty much have no family here, it’s likely we won’t see them again."
"But they’re really doing well, who would’ve thought someone from our village could make it so big."
"..."
