"Huanhuan, my dear, you must be suffering out there. Your mother is being too much.
Since it's so difficult out there, why don't you come back?
I'll call your teacher later, and tomorrow I'll pick you up myself. You won't need your mother to pick you up anymore. I'll pick you up from school every day, how about that?
That way, you won't have to sleep in that basement anymore.
You won't have to sleep on the floor, endure hunger and cold!
Come back, and Grandma will prepare delicious food for you, fried pork chops, fried chicken legs, fried meat strips, and other tasty treats!"
"Okay, Grandma, I want to go back right now!"
Upon hearing this, a joyful exclamation came from the other end. This happiness was clearly heartfelt.
How deep could a child's thoughts be? Even though Liu Lan had instructed him to steer the conversation towards her and mention how worried she was about his grandfather's old age and poor health, etc.
But as soon as Ding Yun mentioned good food,
especially fried food,
Hu Huanhuan had already forgotten his mother's instructions from earlier. At this moment, he wished he could run home overnight.
It's human nature to be drawn to those who provide comfort and sustenance.
Besides, he wasn't seeking refuge with bad people.
What was embarrassing about seeking refuge with his own grandmother?
However, his response nearly drove Liu Lan, who was standing nearby, crazy. This child was too unreliable; he hadn't said a single serious word and had already been swayed by a sugar-coated bullet.
Anxious, she quickly pinched Hu Huanhuan's thigh.
At the same time, she covered his mouth and silently mouthed reminders not to forget their previous instructions.
Then, Hu Huanhuan burst into tears and quickly broke free, starting to complain:
"Grandma, my mom hit me, and she pinched me!
Wuwuwu... It hurts so much. I don't want to stay here anymore. I want to go home. Grandma, I miss you so much. When will you come to pick me up? I want to go home, home!"
"Liu Lan, you're standing there. You've really become something. You hit your child, and you even manipulate him behind his back to call me and complain. What, do you think I'll definitely compromise? You're dreaming!
As long as I'm alive for one more day,
don't expect to bring Liu Guoding back.
Also, if you're incapable of taking care of Huanhuan, send him back quickly. Don't think your guardian status is so great. With no income, I have the right to request a change of guardianship.
I am also qualified to be Huanhuan's guardian.
So, you'd better behave yourself!"
Ding Yun was a little strange at first, wondering why her grandson would suddenly call to complain.
But after hearing him cry like this,
everything became clear.
Therefore, she immediately began to threaten him without any politeness.
"Mom, why are you doing this to me?
I just want to fulfill my filial duty. Why are you blocking me? The saying goes, 'A day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace.' How can you be so cold-hearted?"
Seeing that her plan had been exposed, Liu Lan stopped hiding and directly snatched the phone from her son's hand. She spoke to Ding Yun across the distance with great anger and dissatisfaction.
"When did I stop you from fulfilling your filial duty?
You want to be filial to your father? Be filial then. Buy him villas, yachts, treat him to the best abalone soup every day, and get him the best check-ups. I won't stop you.
If you want to be filial, be filial.
Just don't drag me into it!"
Good heavens, Ding Yun was striking at the heart. If her daughter had the ability, would she still be causing such a fuss?
Saying this to someone capable is a sign of dissatisfaction.
Saying this to someone incapable is mockery.
Liu Lan was so angered that her hand holding the phone trembled slightly. She tried to control herself from smashing the phone. After a long while, she mumbled:
"Mom, what's the point of you saying all this?
You know my situation. I'm taking care of the child all day. How can I find time to work..."
This time, Ding Yun interrupted her before she could finish:
"What? When I got divorced, did I not go to work? Decades ago, I could do it. Now you can't. And back then, I didn't have elders to help me; I had to raise you alone.
I had to bring you with me even when I went to work.
And did I ever say I wouldn't help you take care of the child?
I told you long ago that I could help you take care of the child. If you don't want to go to work, don't blame Huanhuan for everything. Don't tell me your twisted logic. Your twisted logic is useless to me; it's all nonsense.
It's all you making excuses for yourself.
You can be filial; when have I ever stopped you? Be filial if you want to. Even if you want to donate your liver, kidneys, or heart to him, I don't care. Donate if you want.
Just don't bother me here.
And don't delay or affect Huanhuan's studies."
"Mom, I'm not looking for a job because my education level was low back then, and I couldn't find any good jobs!"
Liu Lan immediately got anxious.
Ding Yun, however, retorted without backing down:
"Are you blaming me now for your low education? Did I not let you go to school or pay your tuition?
Didn't you secretly drop out and elope?
There are some things I don't even want to say to you. Do you know how many unpleasant things and gossip there were in the village after you eloped? Yes, you don't know these things; you don't hear them. I heard them in the village for years. And you still have the nerve to say it's because of your low education.
And what's wrong with a low education?
My education isn't the same as yours; we both graduated from junior high. There are many junior high graduates on the street, and they're all starving. Not only are they lazy, but they also have the nerve to blame their low education.
Do people who haven't studied not live?
Saying that people who haven't studied all become big bosses might be an exaggeration, but most people can at least maintain a basic standard of living. Forget it, I'm so angry I'm full.
If you can take care of Huanhuan, do so.
If you can't, send him back quickly!
Be filial to yourself if you want to be filial. Go be a servant, beg on the streets to be filial to your father. Don't bring Huanhuan, and don't expect to bring Liu Guoding here to freeload off me."
Towards the end, Ding Yun was too lazy to argue with her daughter anymore. Their values were too different, so what was the point of continuing to argue? Moreover, legally speaking, she did have a certain duty to support Liu Guoding. So be it.
As long as it didn't disturb her and Huanhuan.
"Mom, how can you say I'm freeloading...
If you say I'm freeloading, aren't you doing the same? This house you're living in wasn't built by you, was it? Wasn't it left to you by Grandpa?"
"That was left to me by my father. If you have the ability, go ask your father for something similar. Moreover, half of this old house was built with my salary. And before my father gave me the house, I had already spent several thousand yuan to buy back the other half from my brother.
Also, have some shame! After I turned sixteen, except for my dowry, I never took a single cent from my parents. And how old are you this year?
Last month, I still paid your medical insurance.
The water bills, electricity bills, gas bills, three meals a day, even daily clothes, and the child's tuition fees.
Which of these aren't paid by me?
If this isn't freeloading, what is it?
When we worked and were unmarried, we paid living expenses at home. Did you ever pay?"