CHAPTER 43: 042: MUTATION

Old Mrs. Ye’s harsh words left everyone in the room slightly stunned. Ye He Ping opened his mouth, not knowing how to refute, yet felt his mouth was as heavy as a thousand pounds, unable to move.

Ye He Ping understood why he didn’t have the face to refute. Previously, he said not to let the older daughter study, all for the sake of the younger daughter. Now, his mother’s words had blocked any further discussion.

In the living room, Bai Xue became anxious after hearing this

Although she hadn’t stayed close to her mother-in-law in recent years, she knew well her mother-in-law’s temperament. Once she made up her mind, it was generally hard to change.

Whether the eldest daughter attends school or not, Bai Xue didn’t care, but the younger daughter couldn’t not study, particularly not give up dance class, or else wouldn’t her life be over? At that moment, Bai Xue was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing anxiously, yet didn’t dare to rush into the East Room. Unable to wait any longer for her husband’s words, Bai Xue wished she could shout out loud to remind her husband to refute.

Finally, Ye Qian couldn’t hold back any longer. Without saying more to her mother, she took a few big steps into the East Room, and her crying voice came out, "Grandma, please don’t be mad at Dad. If you must blame someone, blame me. It’s all my fault, I’m the one dragging the family down."

Ye Qian knelt directly by the bed, crying to the bedridden Old Mrs. Ye, then admitted her fault to her father beside her, "Dad, I won’t study or learn dance. Let my sister go to school, or else even if I live, I’ll despise myself for life. Dad, I know you and Mom mean well for me, but if my sister truly can’t study because of me and wastes her life, I’ll never forgive myself."

Ye He Ping’s eyes reddened, his voice trembled slightly, "Good child, stand up, it’s your father who’s incompetent, it’s all your father’s fault."

"No, Dad is not at fault, it’s my fault. I know Mom and Dad cherish me, but this is a rich man’s disease I have, please don’t let me burden the family anymore. Whatever happens, just let it happen, don’t continue treating it." Ye Qian threw herself into her father’s embrace and began to cry.

Ye He Ping couldn’t help but tear up as well.

Father and daughter wept together, while on the bed, Old Mrs. Ye’s face turned increasingly grim. Ye Ling touched her nose, standing like an onlooker. At this moment, should she join in the crying too?

At that moment, Bai Xue also walked in from the living room, "Mom, don’t be angry, it’s my fault. I felt the family was under a lot of pressure, that’s why Lingzi couldn’t attend school. If you must blame, blame me. He Ping had no choice; if he really had a way, he wouldn’t let his own daughter not go to school."

After saying this, she too lowered her head and wiped her tears with her sleeve.

Ye Ling frowned slightly, then lowered her head, her eyes filled with coldness.

Such cunning thinking, taking all the blame upon herself, making father feel even more guilty. Even if father had any resentment in his heart, it would surely disappear at this moment. Given his temperament, mother and Ye Qian subtly pushed forward like this, only making the soft-hearted father more determined in his decision.

Indeed, as expected, Ye He Ping, seeing his daughter and wife both weeping sadly, and his eldest daughter standing silently with her head down, made his decision, "Mom, given the current situation at home, Lingzi can’t continue her studies. Ye Qian is now sick and can’t do heavy work in the future. There’s no other way but to make her study to get an easy job in the future, so Ye Qian must study."

Ye He Ping paused, "But she shouldn’t learn dance."

Besides the money, Ye He Ping also felt that learning dance was too exhausting, and his daughter’s body couldn’t handle it.

Bai Xue was anxious, but she understood she couldn’t speak now. Her gaze swept over to the eldest daughter, her eyes turning cold, thinking it was all this troublesome girl causing the problem.

"Dad, I won’t study, let Sister study. Sister is better at studying than I am..."

"Qianqian, you don’t need to say more. This is for both of your sakes, and that’s final." Ye He Ping interrupted his daughter.

Ye He Ping, previously the dutiful son, suddenly made his decision. Ye Ling anticipated such a change, as her mother and younger sister subtly encouraged it. However, Old Mrs. Ye couldn’t accept such a change and did not look at her son, calling her eldest granddaughter instead.

"Lingzi, put on your clothes, we’re leaving."

Old Mrs. Ye got out of bed herself.

Ye He Ping knew his mother would be unhappy, but hardened his heart, "Mom, I beg you, just think this is for the best of the family, let me be the decision maker this time."

"Since you were transferred, when have you not been the decision maker? Back then, Bai Xue wanted to follow you while pregnant, Lingzi was only one year old. She directly left Lingzi at home and went with you. I thought she must be carrying a boy, otherwise, how could she be so heartless to leave her one-year-old daughter. That’s why I took Lingzi and let you leave, only for her to give birth to another girl. Did I ever blame her for not bearing a son? Have I ever said anything about taking care of Lingzi all these years? How many times have you sent money home these years? You know it well, right? Lingzi and I don’t eat a bite or drink a drop from you, haven’t used any of your money. Now that money needs to be spent, you remember you have a daughter. You are truly something."

Ye He Ping’s face turned red with embarrassment from his mother’s words, and Bai Xue’s face turned pale as well.

In these times, a woman who can’t bear a son can’t stand tall, yet her body wasn’t cooperative, consecutively giving birth to two daughters, and over the years, there’s been no more change. Now with the one-child policy, even if they can have more, they can’t.

All these years, she was grateful her mother-in-law was understanding and never mentioned this matter. Now suddenly bringing it up, Bai Xue felt she had no ground to stand on.

"Mom..."

"Don’t call me Mom anymore. I’m taking Lingzi away now. If I can earn money for Lingzi to attend school, I will. If not, then she won’t attend. It has nothing to do with you," Old Mrs. Ye had already got out of bed.

Ye Ling also got up to support her grandmother, having worked a day in the village and taken an overnight train. At such an age, how could she endure it?

Ye He Ping couldn’t persuade his mother and could only turn to his eldest daughter with a stern face, "Lingzi, you’re not a child anymore. Given the family situation, persuade your grandmother."

Ye Ling could suppress her anger before, but seeing her father directing it towards her now, she looked up coldly, "Dad, I know I have no right to speak in this family. You’re the son, I’m the granddaughter. If anyone should persuade Grandma, it’s you who’s most qualified."

Parents constantly acting in ways that lowered their daughter’s opinion of them, yet now trying to assert fatherly authority, truly made Ye Ling disappointed.