The Nightmare Experience of a Useless Person

Three hundred coins! She had never given Xiao Chengyang so much money before, let alone Ye Qingchen, that sensible child, who couldn't even afford a piece of clothing.

Childbirth had drained Song Huixin of her vitality, and years of hard work had further gnawed at her body. At this moment, anxiety, helplessness, and irritability surged up all at once, making her dizzy, blurring her vision, and chaos took over.

Did the child change their personality as they grew up?

Has she never neglected her child's growth?

Was all that nonsense they talked about all day, all that she didn't understand, just utter rubbish?

The moment she saw Ye Qingchen lying on the bed, all her emotions, including self-blame, surged up from her stomach. She tried her best to control herself and remain calm.

"Chengyang, I'm asking you, where did those three hundred coins come from?" Song Huixin didn't dare to scold Ye Qingchen, so she had to start with her own son.

As if sensing the hint of ill intent in his tone, Jiang Zhiyang instantly became like a cat with its fur standing on end, ready to unleash all his power.

But he didn't speak. His hand was held tightly by Ye Qingchen. He understood that Ye Qingchen wouldn't allow it.

"Did you borrow it from a neighbor or friend?"

No one answered.

"Where did you find it?"

Silence fell.

"Could it be that it was stolen?" Song Huixin's words trembled, yet were extremely heavy, as if all her emotions were contained in this one sentence.

This was a match that instantly extinguished Jiang Zhiyang's reason. He remembered the man's contemptuous gaze, Ye Qingchen's trembling as she leaned against him, and the flickering candlelight as he stayed up all night copying books...

Jiang Zhiyang personally tore off the reins tied around his neck, stood up abruptly, and poured out all his grievances.

"Mom, why do you never care about me? Never about my studies? Never about my thoughts? All the meals, all the chores, all the difficulties I encounter are taken care of by an outsider. Other people's mothers bring them food and water every few days, constantly showing concern. Are other people's children the only children? You come back and all you talk about is money, money, money, stealing. Fine, I stole this money, are you satisfied now?!"

The sharp words stung her ears.

"Yes, I've never been to school, I don't understand those grand principles, and I don't know how to be a good mother. All I ask for, all I've tried my best for, is that you two have food to eat and clothes to wear!"

Song Huixin's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing all of Jiang Zhiyang's surging emotions.

"Chengyang, get out!" Ye Qingchen ordered.

"Get out!" he repeated.

Jiang Zhiyang stepped out of the low house and looked at the vast sky. At this moment, his emotions were like a strand of broken hair blown by the wind, drifting aimlessly.

Yes, a peasant woman who only knows how to farm is expected to understand complex emotions, have profound studies, and have lofty ambitions. All she can do in her entire life, exhausting all her strength, is to ensure that her children are fed and clothed.

Jiang Zhiyang was making things difficult for him. He knew perfectly well that, just as no child will grow up to be a model of a good child, there is no standard for being a mother.

The meals at home were prepared by Ye Qingchen out of consideration for Song Huixin's hard work.

Ye Qingchen would voluntarily help with the household chores, which Xiao Chengyang often failed to do well.

All the difficulties he encountered were things he secretly confided in Ye Qingchen because he was afraid of worrying his parents.

Song Huixin is completely innocent.

I regret it, I regret it so much. I regret my emotional outburst, my lack of empathy, and how I took everything from my mother and selfishly said it wasn't enough.

He closed his eyes, turned his back to the door, and waited, knowing that Ye Qingchen would explain everything.

Fifteen minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Xiao came out of the house. Their expressions were calm, but they didn't say a word.

Jiang Zhiyang crawled back into the house and lay on Ye Qingchen's lap like a bullied kitten seeking comfort.

Ye Qingchen gently stroked his head, and he didn't need to say anything; that person would understand everything about him.

"From Aunt Song's perspective, she's just worried that we'll go astray, so don't blame her."

Jiang Zhiyang remained silent, only nodding.

"But you really shouldn't have said those things. She gave you a life and gave me food. That's all she has. We can't take everything from her and still complain that she didn't give us enough."

Ye Qingchen gently patted him on the back as a form of punishment.

"Ye Qingchen, this is my first time being a son. How can I be a good son?"

"Hmm... If Aunt Song only wishes for you to be well-fed, warmly clothed, and grow up safely, then you should eat well, dress well, stay safe and healthy, and not worry her. Furthermore, study hard, strive for success in your studies, and bring her some glory."

"Okay." At this moment, Jiang Zhiyang felt like he knew nothing. He had become a jigsaw puzzle scattered all over the place. Fortunately, Ye Qingchen knew everything. He would patiently teach him what he had learned and then piece him together piece by piece.

But where did Ye Qingchen learn this from? A child without a mother is teaching a child from a happy family who also gained an older brother what filial piety is...

That night, Jiang Zhiyang climbed into the Ye family's courtyard again and leaned against his bedside. Ye Qingchen couldn't refuse because the child had a perfectly legitimate reason—if Ye Qingchen developed a fever in the middle of the night, he would be able to sense it immediately.

Can he really sense it? Perhaps the day's busyness and emotional outburst had exhausted all of Jiang Zhiyang's strength. He put his head on the quilt and fell asleep in a strange sitting position.

Ye Qingchen looked at this unguarded face and thought it was so cute. His fingers traced the relaxed eyebrows, long black eyelashes, high nose bridge, and soft lips of the person in front of him, finally stopping at the rounded chin.

In the darkness, two soft pieces gently touched each other.

I like you too.

……

His eyes flickered slightly, then quickly returned to calm.

Yu Qingjun has returned.

Listening to Jiang Zhiyang's even breathing, she felt a little embarrassed... Ye Qingchen was attracted, along with her. But she didn't kick this offensive guy off the bed, but just lay quietly in his arms, enjoying the warmth of his arms.

At this moment, they share the closest relationship in the world, walking hand in hand, growing together, and experiencing the deepest, most unspoken affection...

Yu Qingjun didn't know what to do either. She just felt that they were two burning flames that were meant to merge into one, unrestrained by reason, driven only by overwhelming impulses.

But now, she can only pretend to be mute. Should she let this guy know that she kissed him first?

don't want……

Ever since his falling out with Song Huixin, Jiang Zhiyang has never dared to hold his head up at home again, spending his days carrying a "hammer" and building steps around.

"The food today is so delicious! Who made it?"

Seeing that his mother didn't show any displeasure, Jiang Zhiyang quickly winked at Ye Qingchen, and Yu Qingjun had no choice but to chime in, "Of course it's Aunt Song! It's so delicious! Eat more!"

"Hot steamed buns, with scallion and pork filling, who loves them the most?"

Song Huixin was feeding the chickens when Jiang Zhiyang crawled up to his mother, grabbed a steamed bun, and shoved it into her mouth, finally eliciting an annoyed remark: "If you don't like it, then feed it to the chickens!"

"My goodness, this little frog stool is perfect for sitting and picking vegetables."

Just as Song Huixin was about to sit down, Jiang Zhiyang obsequiously pushed the small stool under his mother's bottom.

"whee……"

"..."

"Vegetables, vegetables! Freshly picked from the field this morning, they're so fresh!"

Jiang Zhiyang took over Song Huixin's job of hawking her wares and squatted in front of the stall to greet passersby, while Yu Qingjun was wrapped up in layers of clothing and placed on a small frog stool to the side.

"Oh, alright, alright, what kind of life do you have? Do you even deserve to sell vegetables?" Song Huixin couldn't help but intervene, "Take Qingchen home and keep her behaved at home."

"No, I don't care what fate holds me. I'm still your son. You're the vegetable seller, and I'm the vegetable seller." Jiang Zhiyang stared straight at his mother. In Yu Qingjun's eyes, he was like a little kitten who had made a mistake and was trying to win her favor. He was cute and adorable, and also a little cheeky.

"Hey, isn't this Scholar Xiao? What brings you here as a vegetable vendor today? Hahahaha."

Jiang Zhiyang recognized him. He was a good-for-nothing playboy in the academy and a regular customer of Ye Qingchen who did his homework for him. Every time Ye Qingchen returned his homework, this man would always try to humiliate him by giving him a few more coins than others.

But this hardly qualifies as humiliation. Every time Jiang Zhiyang encountered this living god of wealth, his smile was tinged with a hint of flattery.

"Yes, yes, wanna buy some? Chinese New Year is coming soon, it's good to buy some vegetables to stock up. If we can't finish them, we can pickle them into sauerkraut, make sour soup, or sauerkraut fish—it's all wonderful!"

Seeing Jiang Zhiyang's enthusiastic introduction, the young man didn't know how to respond. He had no choice but to drop his mocking expression and ask, "Is...is that so? How much is this?"

"This costs six coins per pound."

"What about that one?"

"This costs eight coins, but it's great! It was just picked from the field. Look, there's still juice dripping from the stem! It's incredibly fresh!"

"Well, this, this, well, oh well, never mind, I'll take your whole stall. The housekeeper will come to pay the bill."

"Alright, sir, have a good trip!" Jiang Zhiyang bowed and kowtowed, barely able to hide his excitement.

Yu Qingjun received his winking signal and couldn't help but chuckle, causing the little collar around her neck to tremble.

"You'd be perfect as a shrewd businessman."

"I'm not lying, these vegetables were indeed picked this morning." Jiang Zhiyang pouted and muttered softly.

"Didn't you just spill this water? Also, you're charging him an extra coin for every dish. Aren't you afraid he'll find out and cause you trouble?" Yu Qingjun teased.

"What's this little bit of money to Jin Caishen? Besides, I've clearly marked the price; he's the one who wants to buy it." Jiang Zhiyang counted the copper coins in the bag like a miser, then pretended to organize them before handing them all to Song Huixin.

"Your Xiao family is truly blessed. Your son is so successful; even selling vegetables, he does better than us," the auntie at the next stall laughed heartily.

Hearing her say that, Song Huixin couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, not at all. We were just lucky today. You keep selling. We'll go home now."

The two exchanged polite words, and Jiang Zhiyang carefully examined his mother, who was two heads shorter than him.

When she smiled, her eyes drooped, squeezing out wrinkles from her age-spotted skin.

She's getting old...