Huang Jin Da Pang Zi

Chapter 455 First Love

Liu Lan Ying had reached the pinnacle of wifely virtue. Whatever benefited Ye Tian Cheng, she would strive to do it, a tangible manifestation of a woman’s heartfelt love for a man.

Perhaps others were drawn to Ye Tian Cheng for his capabilities or his handsome appearance, but Liu Lan Ying’s affection was more straightforward. It was because Ye Tian Cheng was Ye Tian Cheng, that she favored him so. This love, stemming from the depths of her heart, was entirely unadulterated.

“Alright, let’s eat. That’s enough for now. Dwelling on the past is useless; it’s all gone, and time cannot be rewound.”

During the meal, Liu Lan Ying’s mother appeared quite normal. This was all thanks to Ye Tian Cheng’s genuine care. Liu Lan Ying’s mother was expending her own energy, a phenomenon that for someone critically ill, might be akin to a final burst of vitality.

“You ungrateful girl, bringing out all the good things from home for your man. Why don’t you ever cook so many dishes for us? You truly are a spendthrift. Xiao Yingzi, I’m warning you, from now on, you must consult me about everything. How could you have killed all the chickens we’ve raised for so long?”

Liu Lan Ying’s mother ate, unable to keep her mouth shut, muttering incessantly. Liu Lan Ying didn’t say much, merely exchanging glances with Ye Tian Cheng, urging him to just eat and ignore her mother’s words.

“You ungrateful girl, what are you doing with those winks and nudges? Do you think you’re so great now, so full of yourself? With a man to rely on, you’ve forgotten your mother and your brother.”

“Mom, look, we have a guest. You’re talking so much, and your spittle is flying everywhere. It’s rather impolite. Perhaps you should stop talking for a moment, Mom, and let’s finish our meal quietly, for the guest’s sake?”

Liu Lan Ying usually wouldn’t speak up, no matter how much her mother nagged. She would always offer a perfunctory agreement. The reason she couldn’t even feign compliance now was that her mother had gone too far. Liu Lan Ying felt immense pressure and knew she wouldn’t be at peace unless things were clarified.

“You ungrateful girl, now you’re turning your elbow outwards to speak for others. It’s fine if your mother were healthy, but I don’t have long to live. Before I die, I hope you and your boyfriend can get married. Then, I can die with my eyes closed.”

Upon hearing this topic, Liu Lan Ying naturally resisted. “Mom, I’ll tell you the truth. I confessed to Ye Tian Cheng, but he rejected me. I’ve accepted it. It’s already embarrassing enough for a woman to make the first move, and you keep pushing me. Are you trying to make Brother Ye dislike me?”

“That’s not true at all. I think you ungrateful girl are just making excuses. Based on what, can Ye Tian Cheng not fancy you? I’d like to hear his peculiar reason.”

Her mother’s words made Liu Lan Ying feel even more mortified.

“Please don’t pressure Brother Ye, okay? It makes it seem like I can’t get married and that I’m clinging to Brother Ye. How will he interact with me in the future? We might as well not even be friends.”

“Don’t say that. I think you’re quite good, Liu Lan Ying. I won’t let such a small matter create any awkwardness between us. I don’t think that’s necessary. We’re good together, and we’ll continue to be. There’s no need to make it so we can’t interact in the future; it’s not worth it.”

Ye Tian Cheng spoke with a degree of open-mindedness, but Liu Lan Ying’s mother was quite direct. “You brat, you know how my daughter feels about you, yet you’re beating around the bush. If you don’t want to marry my daughter, then stay away from her and stop tormenting her.”

Liu Lan Ying’s mother, though usually overbearing, was advanced in years. Old ginger was spicier, and she understood men well.

“Mom, please don’t interfere in our affairs. We are just ordinary friends, absolutely not the kind of relationship you imagine.”

Liu Lan Ying had stated her position so clearly, yet her mother remained unconvinced. “If you insist on saying that, then you’re wishing for your mother to die quickly. I won’t be able to close my eyes when I die because my daughter is not married. After I pass away, my daughter will still be an old maid, looked down upon by others.”

Liu Lan Ying was extremely helpless. “Mom, I just graduated from college. I’m only twenty-three this year. How am I an old maid? Please don’t get upset. Your health is poor, and you need rest, not to throw tantrums according to your wishes.”

“Anyway, I’m going to die. What difference does it make if it’s sooner or later? It’s already good that I can eat and drink heartily. I don’t dare to have any more expectations.”

This mother of Liu Lan Ying was truly intractable. No matter what Liu Lan Ying said, she insisted on her marrying.

The meal turned into a chaotic affair. Before it was even finished, Liu Da Jun entered, clutching his stomach.

“I knew there would be food today. Great, I’m starving. Your sister-in-law is a shrew and kicked me out again. It’s perfect that I can just grab a bite here.”

Seeing so many dishes on the table, Liu Da Jun’s eyes lit up. He claimed he was just grabbing a bite, but he was already prepared to feast and stuff himself.

“Big Brother, Mom was in such a critical condition at the hospital today. I called you, but I couldn’t get through. You deliberately hung up on me, didn’t you? I heard you went gambling. Are you not thinking straight at all?”

“You ungrateful girl, are you deliberately trying to anger me to death? So what if I’m not thinking straight? Mom is fine, she’s right here. Are you trying to cause Mom’s death by crying and wailing like this?”

Liu Da Jun sat down and began to eat. After his rant, he calmly ate, appearing somewhat schizophrenic and abnormal.

“The reason Mom is sitting here perfectly fine is all thanks to Ye Tian Cheng. Ye Tian Cheng is just an outsider, but what did you, her own son, do? You did nothing but cause trouble.”

“Don’t say that. You make Ye Tian Cheng sound like some divine being. Can this kid cure late-stage cancer? I think you’ve been bewitched, completely infatuated with this kid.”

“Liu Da Jun, I made this meal, and I bought the ingredients. I won’t allow you to eat here. Go back home immediately.”

“On what grounds? I am the only son of the Liu family. I am the pillar of this family. Without me by your side, you are all lost. Now that I’m here, you’re clinging to me. Are you all out of your minds?”

This Liu Da Jun was truly infuriating. Liu Lan Ying was already in a bad mood today, so she quickly snatched the bowl of rice from his hand.

“I told you not to eat. Go home quickly. You’re just causing trouble by staying here. Seeing you makes me angry.”

Naturally, Liu Da Jun was indignant at being treated this way and glanced at his mother.

“Mom, please tell Xiao Yingzi to stop. This woman is getting out of hand. Now that she has someone to rely on, she’s become unbearable and doesn’t even respect me, her own brother. It’s so infuriating!”

At this moment, Liu Lan Ying’s mother still chose to side with Liu Da Jun.

“Xiao Yingzi, what’s wrong with you? Can’t you get along with your brother? Must you quarrel with him so fiercely?”

Liu Lan Ying had never been so overbearing, but today, for some reason, she found the courage. She grabbed a broom and began to strike Liu Da Jun with it.

“What are you doing? Liu Lan Ying, don’t you think you can hit your own brother just because I don’t hit women? What you’re doing is wrong. Be careful, or I’ll fight you to the death!”

As Liu Da Jun spoke, he didn’t forget to grab a pig’s trotter and quickly ran out. Seeing that Liu Lan Ying was genuinely hitting him and not just pretending, he was scared and fled immediately. He didn’t dare to return.

After returning with the broom, Liu Lan Ying sat on a stool, catching her breath for a long time, feeling somewhat flustered.

“I know I shouldn’t have hit my brother, but I really couldn’t help it. I get angry when I see him.”

Thinking about her contributions to the family over the years, if her brother, who had spent her money, had shown any promise, it would have been fine. But he had turned out like this. Liu Lan Ying felt that her efforts over the years had been in vain. The more she thought about it, the more difficult it felt, even to the point of wanting to cry.

“Alright, don’t think too much about it. Although your elder brother is a bit of a spendthrift, he hasn’t squandered the entire family fortune. Our Liu family still has some assets. With the old house being acquired for demolition, it should fetch at least a few million. Why must you and your brother quarrel so fiercely over this matter?”

Her mother suddenly mentioned the Liu family’s ancestral property. Liu Lan Ying became worried again. Given her brother’s disposition, it was obvious to anyone that once their mother passed away, if the inheritance fell into her brother’s hands, it would likely be squandered by this prodigal son within six months.

“Mom, I know you’ve always favored sons over daughters, believing that my brother is the descendant of the Liu family, and I’m just a cheap acquisition. I have an idea. Can the inheritance of the old house be placed under my name? Otherwise, my brother will quickly squander it all.”

Liu Lan Ying felt her own words were a bit exaggerated. After all, given how much her mother doted on her brother, she would certainly not agree to her request easily. However, if Liu Lan Ying didn’t voice her concern, she would feel suffocated, so she decided to try, even if she failed, she would have no regrets.

“You crazy girl! The Liu family’s old house property naturally belongs to your brother, Liu Da Jun. Would it be given to an outsider like you?”

Liu Lan Ying didn’t know how to respond to that. Her mother’s words were quite hurtful, and Liu Lan Ying felt like crying at that moment.

“Although I am an outsider and should not interfere in your family matters, I believe that if the money is kept by Liu Lan Ying, at least Liu Da Jun’s children will have a stable future. If all this money is given to Liu Da Jun, I fear it will be like a drop in the ocean, quickly squandered by him.”

Although Liu Lan Ying’s mother was very biased towards her son, she was not foolish. She knew that her daughter and Ye Tian Cheng had a point. In fact, she had also considered how to properly distribute the property. She had initially thought about letting Liu Lan Ying manage the money.