Chapter 173 - 71: Dad, Mom, I Want to Split the Family
BANG! Mr. Xie slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. His eyes were full of menace as he demanded harshly, "Jie Jingchen, are you trying to rebel?"
"Dad, in your eyes, is splitting up the family the same as rebelling?" Jie Jingchen countered coldly.
Mr. Xie glared furiously at Jie Jingchen. The atmosphere at the dinner table, already strained, became even more oppressive and tense. No one else dared to even breathe. They stopped eating, putting down their chopsticks and sitting up straight.
Seeing that Jie You was still eating happily, Jie Jingwei shot Xu Chunyan a look. Xu Chunyan understood instantly. She picked up a bowl and chopsticks, put a chicken wing and some meat in it, and led Jie You away from the main hall.
The little one wasn’t happy about it, but after Xu Chunyan whispered something in his ear, his eyes lit up, and he obediently followed her out of the main hall.
’Splitting the family?’ Qin Mei was also shocked. She secretly tugged on Jie Jingchen’s sleeve. ’Thanks a lot. Could you please not drag me into this?’
’Never mind that I don’t know how to do anything. If we split off, who’s going to cook? Starving would be the least of my worries. Right now, judging by my father-in-law’s attitude, he’s clearly against it. Even though Jie Jingchen was the one who brought it up, he’ll probably take his anger out on me, thinking I’m the one who whispered in Jie Jingchen’s ear and instigated this.’
Jie Jingchen squeezed her small hand, giving her a reassuring smile.
Qin Mei stared at him blankly. She did not feel reassured at all.
"Jie Jingchen," Qin Mei whispered, shaking her head at him.
After a long moment, Mr. Xie suppressed his anger, composed himself, and asked sharply, "Why the sudden demand to split the family?"
"It’s not sudden. I’ve given it careful thought. This isn’t a whim," Jie Jingchen said, his low voice full of conviction.
Mr. Xie’s expression darkened. His sharp brows knitted together, and his cold gaze locked onto Qin Mei.
Qin Mei thought to herself, ’Just as I expected. He’s treating me like the main culprit. This is so unfair! I swear, Jie Jingchen never even discussed this with me. I’m just as shocked as anyone that he suddenly brought it up, okay?’
"Is it because of your wife?" Mr. Xie demanded coldly.
He didn’t even call her Xiao Mei anymore. Qin Mei clearly felt the distance in his tone.
Qin Mei didn’t care at all whether her father-in-law liked her. All that mattered was that her mother-in-law liked her.
"Yes," Jie Jingchen admitted without hesitation.
Qin Mei looked to the heavens. ’Does he have to be so honest! He should have just denied it right then and there instead of dragging me into it. Thanks to Jie Jingchen, the conflict between me and my father-in-law has now officially begun.’
"Fourth Wife of Jing, you’re the one who wants to split the family?" Mr. Xie’s gaze was sharp, his tone clearly displeased.
Qin Mei wanted to say that she’d never had any intention of splitting the family, that it was all Jie Jingchen’s idea. But she figured that even if she said so, her father-in-law probably wouldn’t believe her and would just assume she was making excuses.
"Yes," Qin Mei admitted with a calm and composed expression.
"Why?" Mr. Xie’s gaze was sinister, a chill emanating from between his brows.
Qin Mei fell silent. It was all too sudden; she couldn’t come up with a reason why they had to split the family on the spot.
"Dad, am I not married?" Jie Jingchen’s deep voice held its usual arrogance.
Mr. Xie’s mouth twitched, his pupils contracted, and he snarled viciously, "You’re married? Jie Jingchen, that’s no reason to split the family! Your second and third brothers are married too, and they even have children! Are they clamoring to split the family?"
"They are they, and I am I. It’s their business if they don’t want to split. I *do* want to split." Jie Jingchen stressed the last sentence, showing his determination.
"This is rebellion!" Burning with rage, Mr. Xie grabbed a bowl and mercilessly threw it at Jie Jingchen.
Jie Jingchen could have dodged it, but he didn’t. It hit him on the forehead, not breaking the skin but leaving a swollen red mark. The bowl landed in his lap, and grains of rice stuck to his short hair, face, and clothes.
Qin Mei was furious. Having been indifferent about splitting the family before, she was now instantly resolute. She picked up the bowl that had landed in Jie Jingchen’s lap and slammed it down on the table, making her displeasure clear. "Dad—"
"Jing Si, Xiao Mei, do you two really want to split the family?" Mrs. Xie, who had been silent until now, spoke up, cutting Qin Mei off.
"Mom, I’m not just saying it," Jie Jingchen said, looking at his mother with a determined gaze.
"Then let’s do it," Mrs. Xie agreed without hesitation.
"Yan Qiu," Mr. Xie protested, unhappy.
Mrs. Xie ignored her husband’s protest and began assigning things directly. "You two can have the three rooms in the west wing. Jing Wu and Jing Qi will have to move out."
"Mom!" Jie Jingjue protested. He had lived in that room since he was a child and was used to it. He didn’t want to move out!
"What ’Mom’?" Mrs. Xie shot Jie Jingjue a look, her gentle voice leaving no room for argument. "The two rooms next to your third brother and sister-in-law are empty. You can pick one of those. Or perhaps you’d prefer to be next to your second brother and sister-in-law. That would be good too; it’d be convenient for you to help them look after Xiao You."
Look after Xiao You? Jie Jingjue’s head throbbed. He hung his head, looking pitifully at Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei. "Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law, do we really have to split the family?"
’Fine, split the family, but why do Jing Qi and I have to move rooms?’
Jie Jingchen ignored him and looked at his mother. "Jing Wu can move. Jing Qi stays."
Jie Jingshan breathed a sigh of relief, but Jie Jingjue was not happy.
"Xiao Mei, what do you think?" Mrs. Xie asked Qin Mei. Given Jing Qi’s situation, it would be inconvenient for her to move. But if Qin Mei insisted, she wouldn’t object.
"Whatever Jie Jingchen wants is what I want." Mrs. Xie nodded in satisfaction at Qin Mei’s reply.
"Then it’s decided. Jing Qi stays, Jing Wu moves," Mrs. Xie declared, finalizing the decision.
"Mom, why do I have to move? I’m not moving either!" Jie Jingjue protested.
"On the grounds that this courtyard was a gift to me from your maternal grandfather," Mrs. Xie said domineeringly, silencing not only Jie Jingjue but everyone else as well. It was her courtyard, so her word was law.
This so-called "splitting of the family" was really just Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei living independently while everyone else maintained the status quo. Aunt Zhang breathed a sigh of relief. If the Jie Family had truly splintered, what would happen to her and Wan’er?
If the family was divided, who would she and Wan’er go with? The Jie Family probably wouldn’t have a place for them anymore.
"Jing Qi, who will you go with?" Qin Mei asked Jie Jingshan, not making the decision for her but letting her choose for herself.
"Fourth Sister-in-law," Jie Jingshan said, looking at Qin Mei with some surprise. "Fourth Sister-in-law, are you really willing to have me live with you and Fourth Brother?"
"You should think it over carefully. If you live with us, you’ll have to learn to cook for yourself," Qin Mei said with a smile.
"I’ll live with you," Jie Jingshan said without hesitation. She was overjoyed that her fourth brother and sister-in-law hadn’t abandoned her. "Mom."
Mrs. Xie was very pleased. Qin Mei was treating Jing Qi’s leg, so she felt at ease with Jing Qi living with them. "As long as you’re happy."
"Thank you, Mom." A genuine smile appeared on Jie Jingshan’s face.
Aunt Zhang watched Jing Qi, her heart sinking. Jie Jingshan choosing to go with Jing Si and his wife was undoubtedly a slap in her face.
"Hmph!" Mr. Xie angrily slammed the table, glared at Jie Jingchen, and stood up to leave in a huff.
Mrs. Xie watched her husband’s furious retreating figure, a dark glint flashing in her eyes. Looking at the dishes on the table, she too had lost her appetite and rose elegantly from her seat.
Jie Jingchen and Qin Mei also stood up, and Qin Mei pushed Jie Jingshan away from the table.
Jie Jingjue sat there with his head hanging, thoroughly depressed. Xu Chunyan returned and sat down beside him. Patting his shoulder and looking at him sympathetically, she said softly, "Jing Wu, move in next to me and your second brother. When we’re too busy, you’ll be right there to help us look after Xiao You."
Jie Jinghun and Shen Qing both looked over at Xu Chunyan at the same time. Shen Qing gave a mocking smile, then stood up and left. Jie Jinghun followed suit.
"Split the family, fine, but why do they have to move my nest?" Jie Jingjue lamented. He didn’t want to move.
"It was your fourth sister-in-law’s idea. Your mom dotes on her, so of course, she grants her every request. I just don’t understand why Aunt Qiao chose to sacrifice you just to please your fourth sister-in-law. You’re her biological son. Could it be that in her heart, the son she carried for ten months is less important than her daughter-in-law?" Xu Chunyan said, taking the opportunity to stir up trouble.
"I’ll move to the room next to Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law." Jie Jingjue shot to his feet. It was his mother’s decision. How could he dare to disobey?
Her attempt to sow discord had failed. Xu Chunyan was a little disappointed, but she was also glad that Jie Jingjue was moving to the room next to Jing San.