CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: "THE ONLY FAMILY

Liu Tiejun thought for a moment and felt that his mom made a lot of sense, so he decided to go with Li Hongmei to give it a try.

Just as the two were about to leave, Liu Dongliang returned from outside.

"Where are you going? It’s so late, why not wash up and go to sleep?"

Li Hongmei glared at him. With He Chen’s father building a big house and He Chen making lots of money later, she regretted more and more marrying such a useless man like Liu Dongliang. It led to them being so old yet still having to apologize and be cautious with the younger generation.

However, she still recounted the whole situation to Liu Dongliang again, attempting to call him along, thinking the whole family going would definitely be more effective.

But Liu Dongliang refused.

"If you want to go, go by yourselves, I’m not going."

Li Hongmei wasn’t pleased to hear this and her face fell immediately.

"What’s the matter? Are you still worried about losing face?"

Liu Dongliang didn’t say anything.

Li Hongmei grew even angrier.

"If you had some ability, would the two of us be like this? Having to beg others isn’t it because you’re too useless? If you had the ability to build a big house, would we still be living in this broken old house? If you could make money, would our son Tiejun be so skinny from hunger?"

"If you don’t go, you don’t go. If He Chen really agrees to let us move back, you can stay here alone, and I’ll go live with Tiejun. Living with someone who eats well and dresses well is much better than staying with you facing the bitter cold every day!"

She dragged Liu Tiejun out, fuming.

Liu Dongliang opened his mouth, but couldn’t say anything to keep them. He stood at the door for a while and then went back inside.

He didn’t believe He Chen would really let them move back, Li Hongmei still underestimated He Chen too much.

That kid made it clear last time that he wanted to cut ties with the whole family.

...

Ye Manman was extremely tired after returning home; after shopping for so long and encountering such a frightening incident, both her body and mind were utterly exhausted.

He Chen quickly boiled some water for her to take a shower.

While Ye Manman was bathing in the room, there was a knock at the door.

He Chen was a bit puzzled about who would come so late. As he opened the door, he unexpectedly saw Li Hongmei directly bringing Liu Tiejun to kneel before him.

Li Hongmei had made up her mind this time to give He Chen a dose of shock treatment, and immediately knelt down.

Liu Tiejun, for the sake of a better future, also reluctantly knelt.

However, He Chen’s face fell as soon as he laid eyes on them.

Li Hongmei didn’t notice at all and began to cry.

"He Chen, it was Aunt’s fault; Aunt was confused and treated you poorly before, favoring Tiejun, and even bullied your wife. Aunt knows she was wrong."

"From now on, Aunt will definitely treat you as her own, treating you the same as Tiejun, okay?"

"I am your only relative, He Chen. Look, our old house is broken and damp, it’s simply not a place fit for living. After living there for so long, Tiejun has already slimmed down with me. Aunt truly realizes her mistake."

"Manman is a good girl, I was too selfish before. From now on, I will treat her like my own daughter. Please forgive us, we’ve been punished."

This time, her crying wasn’t loud, seemingly without the intention of making a big scene for the villagers to know. Instead, she softly apologized, as though sincerely remorseful.

But He Chen didn’t feel a thing.

He even grew more cold-hearted the more he listened.

Li Hongmei’s words seemed repentant between the lines, but in essence, she was using the only relative card as a deliberate taunt to him.

And her intentions were far too obvious, saying the living conditions are too poor and life is too hard, in reality, she just wants to move back.

Would she genuinely treat him and Ye Manman like her own?

The answer would definitely be no.

And they both didn’t need such a "birth mother."

He Chen’s heart was extremely clear at this moment.

Looking down at their expressions, a cold indifference surfaced with even a hint of disgust.

"Are you just trying to move back?"

He Chen felt somewhat amused; the only relative, coming over to play the victim and put on a show, is it just because they saw how well they were living?

If he He Chen were having a difficult time, with not a penny to his name, would she still come over to admit her mistakes and apologize?

She’d probably be avoiding them.

Li Hongmei didn’t catch the sarcasm in He Chen’s tone and thought he had softened, nodding quickly.

"Yes, I’ve been thinking, once we move back, I’ll cook for you two every day, do laundry too so Manman doesn’t need to, I’ll take care of her, and you can go out to earn money without worry."

At this point, her smile suddenly froze, and she quickly covered her mouth.

Raising her head, He Chen was coldly watching her, as if looking at trash.

As expected, she was drawn here by money.

He Chen couldn’t help but curl his lips self-mockingly.

What so-called only relative.

He didn’t need such profit-driven and undignified relatives.

"No, He Chen, I don’t mean that. I just meant that Manman doesn’t need to work, you’re usually busy, so I thought of helping you take care of her. That way, you don’t have to worry about her having no food at home or clothes going unwashed."

It was the first time Li Hongmei was looked at by He Chen with such an expression; somehow her back chilled, but she still clung to the last hope and explained herself thoroughly.

Yet, the expression on He Chen’s face did not change in the slightest.

He merely said coldly.

"Moving back is possible, but first return half of the money I gave you before; consider the other half as eaten by me and for the rent, calculate the rent for those years at ten yuan per year and continue at that price."

After saying that, He Chen watched Li Hongmei’s changing expressions and chuckled softly.

"This price is well below the market rate, essentially letting your family live for free. Also, I am busy now, and can’t earn much outside; the money was spent on clothes long ago. How much do you have, bring some out first to pay me back?"

He Chen didn’t notice how much he resembled Ye Manman in demeanor and expression right now, especially having a smile while speaking exploratory words.

Yet he had more presence than Ye Manman, even as he smiled asking her, Li Hongmei had no doubts he truly wanted to reclaim that money.

This made Li Hongmei hesitate, if she really followed his words to give money and pay rent, wouldn’t she have to fork out hundreds in one go? Where would she get so much money?

Thus, she put on a pitiful face again.

"He Chen, you know our family expenditure is large, and there’s no money left. Besides, we are relatives, the only ones left; it’s like we are family, how could there be rent involved."

After saying that, she thought she had made a reasonable point, and chuckled.

"Isn’t that becoming formal, I plan to treat you two kids as my own."

The more she spoke, the more her expression brightened as if certain He Chen had softened.

However, He Chen just found it disgusting hearing her mention the only relative again.

"So you mean living for free while I have to give your family a living allowance? I pay money, and you cook for Manman?"

Li Hongmei heard this and felt there was even greater opportunity, nodding incessantly.

"That’s right, give me money, and I’ll take care of Manman."

Seeing her face so overtly full of greed, He Chen’s exploratory intentions vanished, leaving only disgust.

His voice abruptly turned icy cold.

"No need, I’ll take care of Manman myself, there’s no need to trouble you. Please leave."

Li Hongmei froze, her smile stiffening.

"Wh-what? Didn’t you agree to let us move back?"

He Chen looked at her distastefully, suddenly realizing the sadness of having such a relative.

"Let me make it clearer then, I, He Chen, have had nothing to do with you since that day a month ago; how you live is none of my concern, please do not disturb us again."