Training the Heavens

Chapter 163 Returning to Mother’s Home

"Apologize? Why apologize?" Zhuang Tunan asked directly.

Zhuang Chaoying hadn't realized the change in Zhuang Tunan's tone yet, and he was still saying his old words, "You're the eldest grandson of the Zhuang family. You should set a good example for your brothers and sisters. How could you flip the table on grandma's birthday? That's unfilial. Shouldn't you apologize to grandpa?"

"Chaoying, today is Tunan's big day. Can't we talk about it in a few days?" Huang Ling was also angry. Everyone was having a good time, but you insisted on bringing up things that were not related to the topic. Aren't you just making everyone upset?

Zhuang Chaoying was baffled. "It's Tunan's big day, so the whole family should be happy together."

"How am I unfilial? He stood up for my mother when she was bullied. If this is not filial piety, then what is? Even if he needs to apologize, he should apologize to me." Zhuang Tunan refused to give in.

"How is this bullying your mother? Your mother is the eldest sister-in-law of the Zhuang family."

Huang Ling didn't know if it was because she had moved to a new house, because she saw Song Ying's confident attitude when confronting people, or because Zhuang Tunan had been specially recruited into the university, but she was increasingly unwilling to endure all this.

Before Zhuang Chaoying could finish her words, she launched into a barrage of insults, "So what if you're the eldest sister-in-law of the Zhuang family? Your parents favor your younger brother. They didn't give you a cent of your salary before you got married, yet they only gave you a washbasin and a thermos when you got married. I had two children and nothing at all. When your younger brother got married, your mother even wanted to use the sewing machine I brought as a dowry from my parents' family as a betrothal gift, telling me that marriage was a lifelong event and I had to be respectful. I was stunned when I heard that. Does your mother also know that marriage is a lifelong event?"

"It's been so many years since these things happened, why are you still brooding over them? You're totally unreasonable!" Zhuang Chaoying couldn't understand. Wasn't it just for the sake of family harmony that he had to endure a little injustice? Why could he tolerate it, but others couldn't?
"You know it's been so many years since these things happened?" Huang Ling was getting angrier the more she thought about it. "But in all these years, has any of them ever said sorry to me? Has any of them changed? None of them have changed at all, right? You still have to hand over your salary every month, and every time I go to their house I have to cook, just like a maid. But they just sit there with their hands in their pockets, waiting for the food to be served. Why do I have to do all this work?"

"Mom, grandpa and grandma don't like Xiaoting and me, so why should we go to their house for the New Year? Let's go to grandma and grandpa's house this year." Zhuang Tunan felt that the time was about right, so he gave a push at the right time.

In the past, Huang Ling would not have made up her mind not to go to her parents-in-law's house during the New Year, but the situation is different now, especially what happened today, which made Huang Ling feel even colder.

It was indeed a good thing that Tunan was admitted to university. Huang Ling's first reaction to the news was that Tunan was only eleven years old. Could he adapt to life away from home? As a mother, what should I do to help him get through this?

Zhuang Chaoying's first reaction was that Tuanan had become successful and could help his two younger brothers Zhendong and Zhenbei, just like he helped his two younger siblings Hualin and Ganmei. This made Huang Ling shudder.

For the sake of this big family, she can sacrifice herself, but she is absolutely unwilling to sacrifice her own children. She doesn't want Zhuang Tunan to become like Zhuang Chaoying, being dragged down by the whole family.

In the past, Zhuang Tunan was still young and didn’t understand this principle, so she didn’t know what to say. But now that Zhuang Tunan has come to his senses and doesn’t want to repeat Zhuang Chaoying’s mistakes, then as a mother, she should provide a good life for her child.

So Huang Ling agreed without hesitation, "Okay, this year during the Chinese New Year, we'll go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We don't have to wait until the New Year, we'll leave today. I'll ask the factory leaders for leave right away."

Huang Ling immediately began packing, with Zhuang Tunan helping. Zhuang Xiaoting, still young, didn't understand what was happening and was simply overjoyed at the prospect of seeing her grandparents. A moment later, Huang Ling, carrying her bag in her right hand and Zhuang Xiaoting in her left, and Zhuang Tunan, carrying a small bag, followed behind. The three of them left, leaving Zhuang Chaoying alone in the empty house, bewildered and lost.

After entering the cotton mill and talking to the factory leaders, Huang Ling immediately approved her leave. Firstly, Huang Ling was a model worker in the factory and she still had several days of leave this year, so it was only natural for her to be approved for leave.

Secondly, the other person’s child has already been admitted to university. No one can predict how far an eleven-year-old college student can go in the future. There is no need to cause trouble for yourself because of a trivial matter.

After completing the leave procedures and buying some gifts at the store, the three of them went to the train station, lined up to buy tickets, waited at the station, checked their tickets and boarded the train. After an hour and a half, they arrived in Changzhou from Suzhou where their grandparents lived.

When leaving the station, Zhuang Tunan deliberately looked back at the sign of Changzhou Station. Fortunately, the cap of the word "Chang" was still there. It would probably take many years for Changzhou's famous nickname to appear.

After taking the bus for a few stops and walking for a while after getting off, the three of them finally arrived at their grandparents' house. When they knocked on the door, grandma came out and was startled to see them. She came over without even saying hello in advance. Could something have happened?
"Grandma, I was admitted to university, and I came here today to tell you the good news." Zhuang Tunan stepped forward and acted cute, which instantly put his grandma at ease.

"Are you going to college? Which school? What major? Come in and tell grandpa about it." Grandpa came out of the house when he heard the voice.

As soon as they entered the house, grandma and grandpa were busy pouring water and looking for snacks everywhere. It was completely different from the treatment at their grandparents' house.

As Zhuang Tunan ate snacks and drank soda, he recounted in detail how he was specially recruited by Jiangsu Normal University. His grandparents listened attentively, and at the end, they asked with concern, "You're going to college on your own at such a young age. Can you adapt?"

Look, this is the difference. Those who truly treat you as their family will always care most about whether you are living a good life, while only blood-sucking worms care about what you can bring to them.

"Fortunately, the school is not far from home. The bus only takes half an hour to get there. I have agreed with Teacher He that if I miss home, I can come back and stay anytime." Zhuang Tunan replied. This is also the benefit he fought for himself.

"That's good, that's good." Grandma and Grandpa felt a little relieved.

They were having a great time, but Zhuang Chaoying ran into trouble.

The next morning, the Suzhou Daily announced the news that Zhuang Tuanan was specially recruited by Jiangsu Normal University. A large number of people immediately flocked to Zhuang Chaoying's home, including reporters, leaders, and enthusiastic onlookers.

But when I arrived at the courtyard, I saw that Zhuang Tunan had gone.

(End of this chapter)