Chapter 88: This Is Her Ancestor’s Doing
Shen Meng slept until past six. When she awoke, her head was still throbbing, a little sore. She gently touched the wound on her forehead, letting out a soft “hiss~.” From outside, Ming Fang heard the sound and immediately rushed in.
“Mother, you’re awake? Are you hungry? Father made some food. Should you get up and eat?”
Shen Meng shook her head. She had just woken up and wasn’t hungry at all, but she was thirsty. Just as she was about to ask Ming Fang to get her some water, the door was pushed open again, and Lu Zhenping entered. From this angle, lying down as she was, she thought Lu Zhenping looked extraordinarily tall.
“Still feeling unwell?”
Shen Meng nodded, her face pained. She was indeed feeling unwell. She had thought this time she’d recover as quickly as when she first transmigrated, but instead, sleeping only made her head worse.
“This won’t do. I’ll go find someone to take you to the hospital.”
“No, I don’t want to go. I don’t want to move.”
Lu Zhenping noticed something was off about her tone. He touched her forehead; it was warm. He couldn’t delay any longer. He turned and left the room. Ming Fang, seeing her mother looking weak, gently touched her forehead and pressed her face against Shen Meng’s.
“Mother, are you in pain?”
“It’s nothing, Ming Fang. I’m fine. Don’t worry!”
Ming Yang, Ming Liang, and Lu Ming Kai, who were waiting in the main room for Shen Meng to come eat, saw their father rushing out and quickly entered the room. The three of them huddled at the edge of the kang. Lu Ming Kai, barely reaching the edge, rubbed his feet, kicked off his shoes, and scrambled onto the kang, his head resting on Shen Meng’s lap.
“Mother, what’s wrong? Still a headache?”
Ming Yang looked at Shen Meng, her eyes narrowed, her face pale. He was furious, his eyes bloodshot.
“It’s Grandfather. It’s all his fault. If it weren’t for him, Mother wouldn’t be like this. I’m going to settle the score with him!” He rushed towards the door.
Shen Meng, startled, sat up. The movement was too sudden, pulling on her back injury. A muscle spasmed, and she whimpered in pain.
“Brother, come back! Mother is in pain!”
Shen Meng, enduring the pain, turned to look at Ming Yang, who was hesitating about leaving.
“Ming Yang, come back. Don’t go. If you must, let Father go. You’re still young and shouldn’t go. Mother is fine. She probably kicked the covers off while sleeping and caught a cold. Don’t worry.”
Ming Yang, stubborn, continued toward the door, still wanting to go. He saw his mother being hurt, her forehead red.
They had already separated. They were living their own lives. Mother hadn’t done anything wrong. She was taking care of Xiao Kai and them. Why was he being bullied? It took a lot for them to have peace and quiet.
“Mother, rest. I’ll be back soon.”
Ming Yang didn’t listen. His anger grew. He rushed out. Shen Meng called out, but couldn’t stop him. She tried to get off the kang, but Ming Liang held her shoes.
“Mother, don’t go. Stay put. Let Brother go. If it weren’t for Brother being quick, I’d go too!”
“What did you say?”
Shen Meng was shocked. She remembered the words she heard in her dream, the words about Ming Yang and Ming Liang’s suffering. She had tried to be a good mother, to ease their anger and resentment, but now she was staring at her children.
“We’ve already separated. How long has Grandfather been back? He’s bullying Mother again. It’s become a habit. Father came back today. They had to pay some money. If Father hadn’t come back, we wouldn’t know what would happen. Sister-in-law Si had pulled out a lot of Ming Fang’s hair. I was so angry.”
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“Angry enough to pull out Si’s hair.” Lu Ming Kai, holding Xiang Xiang, said in a baby voice.
These words made Shen Meng shiver. She looked down at the adorable Lu Ming Kai. How could such a young child speak so harshly?
Shen Meng swallowed, questioning further.
“Ming Kai, my dear, what did you say? I didn’t quite hear you.”
Lu Ming Kai, eyes bright, thought his mother was praising him. He sat up straighter, smiling. “Pull out Si’s hair! Yes! Big Brother went to Grandfather’s. I wish I could get hit too. Father should hit them back! Hehe.”
Shen Meng: “…”
These were her own children! They were her ancestors!
“Stop it! Who taught you to speak like that, Ming Kai? How old are you? You shouldn’t think or say such things. You too, Ming Liang. Go get your brother back, or Mother will be angry. ”
Ming Liang, seeing his mother’s stern expression, stepped back. He clearly didn’t want to go. They were only trying to help Mother.
“Mother, once Brother comes back, Grandfather and Grandmother won’t dare to bully you anymore. Believe me.”
Shen Meng pointed at Ming Liang. “Go now! Mother can still speak to you. If you don’t go, you and Ming Yang and Ming Kai won’t be able to call me Mother anymore. I’ll only have Ming Fang as a daughter. You’d better believe me. If I get serious, I won’t even care about your father.”
Her stern words made Ming Liang hesitate, then he quickly looked at Shen Meng.
“Mother, please don’t be angry. I’ll go get Brother. I’ll bring Brother back. Please don’t stop loving us. Don’t be angry.”
He turned to leave, but just outside the yard, he saw his brother being dragged back by Father.
Ming Liang: “…”
Had his brother reached Grandfather’s, or not yet?
“What are you standing there for? Mother is unwell. I’m taking her to the hospital. You stay here and eat. Eat, wash up, and go to bed early. Your Uncle is here to watch you. Once you’re asleep, he’ll leave. You’re men now. Can you take care of yourselves?”
Ming Yang, dragged back, was red-faced. His father clearly didn’t respect him. He stood his ground. “I can!”
“Good boy. Then eat, wash up, and go to bed early. Your Uncle will be here later. Lock the doors, take care of Xiao Kai. Tomorrow, heat up the steamed buns, eat some bean paste, and go to school. You’re not children anymore. Don’t rely on Mother for everything.”
Ming Yang: “…”
Ming Liang: “…”
We’re still children!
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