The Art of Teasing - Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Regarding the grievances and entanglements between Lian Huaixin and the Wen family, Ye Ling truly couldn't say much about it, and it was even more impossible for her to take this matter up with Wen Zhengyu.
Ye Ling was close to both Wen Zhengyu and the Lian family members. When Wen Shishu suddenly asked about Lian Huaixin out of the blue, she couldn't help but ponder the meaning behind that question.
Lian Huaixin had a twin sister named Lian Huaijin. The siblings were extremely close. His sister had died in her husband's home less than a year after marrying. At that time, his sister was pregnant, and her husband had quarreled with her. She fell in the courtyard, and the husband left without looking back. His sister's water broke, blood flowed across half the courtyard, and she passed away beyond treatment. When his sister died, they performed a C-section and delivered a child—that was Wen Zhengyu. For the sake of this child his sister left behind, Lian Huaixin had endured for over twenty years before finally taking action against Wen Shiyi.
As for Mr. Wen Shiyi, whom she and Lian Huaixin had joined forces to bring down, Ye Ling truly didn't know what to say.
Lian Huaixin had worried that, having lost her mother, Wen Zhengyu would also lose her father and be bullied. He had endured until Wen Zhengyu reached adulthood and could stand on her own before making his move. For Wen Zhengyu's sake, after so many years had passed, Lian Huaixin venting his anger and teaching Wen Shiyi a lesson was enough to let the matter be settled. There was no need to actually send the man to prison or deal with him to the death.
Yet Wen Shiyi had actually abandoned his elderly father and daughter and just run off like that.
This made Lian Huaixin so furious he wanted to fight another round, chase him abroad, and thrash Wen Shiyi once more.
Of course, Lian Huaixin's reach wasn't that long; he couldn't extend it abroad. Moreover, Wen Shiyi had an eldest sister over there protecting him. Besides, when Lian Huaixin dealt with Wen Shiyi this time, the Wen family, being in the wrong first, had accepted the consequences. They sold their residence and assets to fill the hole Wen Shiyi had dug, without a single word of protest. With this attitude from the Wen family, Lian Huaixin couldn't be unreasonable and push things too far. Basically, the matter could be considered concluded.
The accounts between the Lian family and Wen Shiyi were settled. But Wen Zhengyu carried half the blood of the Lian family, and her appearance favored the Lian side—it was said she resembled Lian Huaijin particularly closely. When she ate with Lian Huaixin, she had heard him murmur twice: "My niece looks like my sister."
Old Master Lian and his wife were both still alive, but their daughter had passed away early, so they naturally always had this granddaughter on their minds.
However, when Lian Huaijin passed away, Wen Zhengyu was still young. She bore the surname Wen, not Lian. With her mother gone, she naturally had to stay with her father and couldn't be taken away. The Lian family had come to raise a ruckus several times and only managed to retrieve Lian Huaijin's dowry. The Wen family, feeling guilty, had compensated with double the dowry. Old Master Lian and his wife had stated at the time that this dowry would be given to Wen Zhengyu when she grew up and could be independent.
Regarding the Wen family's affairs, Wen Shishu was thoroughly informed.
The matter of Wen Shiyi had already turned the page. Now the Lian family wanted to reclaim their granddaughter. Wen Shishu bringing up Lian Huaixin to Ye Ling at this moment—Ye Ling couldn't help but read into it.
Previously, because Wen Shiyi stood between them, the Lian family hadn't sought out Wen Zhengyu. The Wen and Lian families had cut off all contact and hadn't taken Wen Zhengyu to visit. Wen Zhengyu likely didn't know the Lian family members.
Lian Huaixin felt that since Ye Ling was close to Wen Zhengyu, he wanted her to sound Wen Zhengyu out first.
If it were merely a matter of having Wen Zhengyu visit relatives, and Ye Ling just needed to pass along the message, she would have done so. But this involved more than just family visits; it also concerned the dowry Lian Huaijin had left behind.
Ye Ling didn't know the specific details of this dowry. She only knew that after it returned to the Lian family, it had always been managed by the Lian family matriarch. The Lian family matriarch, who controlled the family's financial power, was a formidable figure and well known in the local area. Under the matriarch's capable household management and financial stewardship, the value of this dowry had kept multiplying, to the point that the younger generation of the Lian family more or less all eyed it covetously. Wen Zhengyu bore the surname Wen and hadn't set foot in the Lian household for over twenty years. The younger generation of the Lian family had strong opinions about Wen Zhengyu coming to divide the Lian family's assets.
The matter of fighting over family assets—Ye Ling was well-versed in it, rich in experience, and had never feared anyone. If Wen Zhengyu needed her help, she would be very happy to serve. But Wen Zhengyu was so poor she had pawned the bracelet her grandmother left behind and still didn't have money to redeem it. Poor to that extent, yet even with her closest second aunt, she hadn't borrowed or asked for a single cent. Ye Ling knew that Wen Zhengyu was the type who could live on pride alone, with a stubborn and obstinate nature. Coupled with her quiet temperament, Ye Ling estimated that Wen Zhengyu wouldn't be too willing to stir up that muddy water.
She and Lian Huaixin had joined forces to empty the foundations of Wen Shiyi and Elder Wen. Wen Shishu naturally wanted Wen Zhengyu to obtain Lian Huaijin's dowry to support herself. But in this matter, if the Lian family didn't bring it up proactively, the Wen family had no standing to mention it.
When a matter involved such a large sum of assets, and she had this kind of relationship with Wen Zhengyu, for a moment, Ye Ling found herself damned if she meddled and damned if she didn't. She wanted to stand on the dry bank and watch the excitement, yet this was precisely an opportunity for her to contribute and earn goodwill. But if this matter was mishandled, dragging Wen Zhengyu into muddy waters and bungling things, her future chances would be completely ruined.
Ye Ling pondered for half the night.
Since Lian Huaixin had brought it up, and Wen Shishu had also brought it up, clearly both had that intention. Now it depended on what Wen Zhengyu thought.
As for the younger generation of the Lian family, apart from Lian Xin who had some promise, Ye Ling genuinely looked down on the other few.
Ye Ling saw that Elder Wen's birthday celebration had passed, most relatives had left, but Wen Shishu hadn't. Wen Zhengyu's cold was mostly better but she was still recuperating, which meant there was free time. Taking advantage of a visit during her convalescence, Ye Ling decided to bring this matter up with Wen Zhengyu.
She first peeled an apple for Wen Zhengyu, then hesitantly said: "There's something. I don't know if I should tell you."
Wen Zhengyu, upon hearing this, glanced at Ye Ling before shifting her gaze back to the laptop in front of her. With one hand moving the mouse, the other brought the apple to her mouth to nibble.
Ye Ling wasn't impatient. She waited calmly for Wen Zhengyu's reaction.
Only after Wen Zhengyu had finished the apple did she say: "If there's something, just say it." People who claimed not to know whether they should speak were invariably people who had something to say.
Ye Ling said: "Lian Huaixin, you know him, right?"
Wen Zhengyu turned her head to look at Ye Ling in surprise, not understanding why Ye Ling would suddenly bring up that uncle she had never had any contact with.
Ye Ling said: "Not long ago, Mr. Lian mentioned to me that Elder Mr. Lian and his wife's health hasn't been very good in recent years, and they've been constantly thinking of you."
Wen Zhengyu felt slightly taken aback. She asked: "You know my uncle?"
Ye Ling nodded and said: "We've had dealings, worked together, and have been in regular contact in recent years."
Wen Zhengyu gave an "oh." The idea that Old Master Lian and Grandmother had been thinking about her was hard for her to process at first. Living in the same city, with no contact for over twenty years, suddenly hearing that they had always been thinking of her sounded a little disingenuous. But when she thought of her mother, she would also think of her mother's family. When Old Master Lian and Grandmother thought of their daughter, it was only natural that they would think of her as well.
She thought for a moment but still felt it was somewhat nonsensical. She looked at Ye Ling again and asked: "Is something going on?" If she meant thinking of her, her phone number, her address, her art studio—none of these were hard to find out. It would be very easy to locate her. Why take this roundabout way through Ye Ling to bring it up?
Ye Ling lifted her eyes to glance at Wen Zhengyu and, feigning confusion, asked: "What do you mean, is something going on?"
Since Ye Ling wasn't saying, Wen Zhengyu couldn't be bothered to press further. She continued looking at the report.
Wen Zhengyu didn't pursue it further, so Ye Ling said nothing more either. She lazily curled up on the sofa, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
Ye Ling stayed until a little past four in the afternoon, but she had a dinner engagement that evening, so she took her leave of Wen Zhengyu.
Wen Zhengyu rose to see her out and asked Ye Ling for Lian Huaixin's phone number. Since Ye Ling had brought it up, and Wen Zhengyu now knew, she ought to make a call and ask.
Ye Ling gave Lian Huaixin's private number to Wen Zhengyu.
After seeing Ye Ling off, Wen Zhengyu dialed Lian Huaixin's number.
The phone rang twice before connecting. A steady male voice came through: "Is this Yu'er?"
Wen Zhengyu gripped the phone and was instantly stunned. She hadn't expected that an uncle who had never contacted her before would have her phone number stored. She murmured softly: "Uncle."
Lian Huaixin said: "I heard you've been feeling a bit unwell. Are you better?"
Wen Zhengyu replied: "Much better."
Lian Huaixin said: "That's good. See when you have a free day to come out and have a meal with us. No outsiders, just me and your grandparents."
Wen Zhengyu hesitated for two seconds before responding: "Alright." She paused, then asked: "Their… health, is it okay?"
Lian Huaixin said: "It's alright. Just that with old age, they have occasional discomforts, nothing serious."
Wen Zhengyu gave a soft "mm." Elderly people had weak immune systems. She was afraid of passing her cold to them, so she pushed the date a few days later, thinking it better to see them once her cold was completely gone.
Lian Huaixin said: "Fine, then I'll book the restaurant. Should I send someone to pick you up?"
Wen Zhengyu said: "No need to trouble anyone. I can go myself."
Lian Huaixin said: "Alright then. See you there."
Wen Zhengyu responded: "Okay," and added: "Goodbye, Uncle."
Lian Huaixin replied: "Goodbye."
Wen Zhengyu hung up, her mood a complex mix of emotions. Over twenty years with no contact, and suddenly there was a connection again.
On second thought, she figured she'd just treat it as having one more relative to keep in touch with, and her heart eased.
Wen Zhengyu's cold was mostly better, so she moved from the hotel back home.
She didn't hide the matter of contacting Lian Huaixin from the elder Mr. Wen and Ms. Wen Shishu.
Elder Wen gave an "mm" and said: "Your maternal family, they're not outsiders. It's good to keep in touch," and said nothing more.
Wen Shishu smiled and asked: "Did Xiao Yezi act as the bridge making this connection?"
Wen Zhengyu nodded. She realized her second aunt's capabilities were truly extraordinary; her information was indeed well-informed.
Wen Shishu said: "She certainly isn't afraid of taking on extra trouble."
Wen Zhengyu couldn't tell whether her second aunt's words were complimentary, and silently said nothing.
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