Father-in-Law 08

The atmosphere at home had grown strange. Fang Yunyun and Chen Cai still appeared to be a loving couple, but Chen Xiaoqun had begun to distance himself from Fang Yunyun. He could not forget how this woman had hit him! The little boy secretly vowed never to acknowledge her as his mother again!

Fang Zhiyi said nothing about this. After her outburst yesterday, Fang Yunyun had stopped speaking to him, even turning her face away whenever she saw him. It was Chen Cai who approached Fang Zhiyi with a smile to discuss things.

"Old brother, how about you continue to be in charge of the kid from now on? Yunyun has her job and is really too busy. You saw what happened yesterday."

Fang Zhiyi nodded, sneering inwardly. Me, in charge? So I can become the scapegoat when things go wrong?

"But I've been busy lately with the property transfer paperwork..." Fang Zhiyi put on a look of great difficulty. "You know how it is. I'm getting old. While I can still think clearly, I really need to get the house matters settled."

At these words, Chen Cai's eyes lit up. The house? He had been scheming about this for ages. Had the old man finally come to his senses?

Immediately, he thumped his chest. "Old brother! You focus on your business! Leave the house... ahem, leave the kid to Yunyun!"

Watching him return to the bedroom to persuade his wife, Fang Zhiyi took out a lollipop, gave it to his grandson, and offered a few words of encouragement. Only after seeing the child's eyes brighten did Fang Zhiyi leisurely head out.

Because he was suspended from school, Chen Xiaoqun had to stay home, left to stare at Chen Cai all day.

By noon, Chen Cai had ordered takeout to fill their stomachs and soon grew restless again.

"Son, play by yourself at home. I'm going out for a bit." With that, he simply left, leaving Chen Xiaoqun alone in the house.

A child's capacity for destruction is immense, especially with no adult around.

He had initially held some restraint, but after these past few days—receiving praise and encouragement from his previously strict grandfather, coupled with the beating from his mother yesterday—Chen Xiaoqun's inner rebellion surged back.

When Fang Zhiyi returned home again, well-fed and content, the commotion coming from inside made him suppress a chuckle before he strode in.

"You explain yourself! Why did you ruin my work like this?" Chen Cai, shedding his usual "good dad" persona, had one hand twisting Chen Xiaoqun's ear, resembling nothing less than a furious grizzly bear.

"I didn't! Dad, I just thought the painting wasn't good, I wanted to help you fix it..."

Fang Zhiyi's return went unnoticed. He glanced at several paintings placed to the side and couldn't help but curl his lip. Truth be told, Chen Xiaoqun wasn't wrong this time. What on earth is Chen Cai trying to paint?

"Not good?" Chen Cai, as if deeply provoked, roared, "What the hell do you know!"

He raised his hand and delivered a heavy slap. Chen Xiaoqun, caught off guard, spun around several times on the spot before finally bursting into loud sobs.

Fang Yunyun, sitting on the nearby sofa, also looked displeased. Seeing her son hit made her anxious, but seeing her beloved husband in such a state left her conflicted, unsure whom to side with.

"You hit me!" Chen Xiaoqun suddenly wailed. "I hate you! I hate Mom! You both hit me! Pah! Your painting is just bad!"

"What did you say?" Chen Cai grew even angrier. Deep down, he knew his paintings held little value, but he refused to admit it, especially not in front of the whole family and from the mouth of a child.

What followed was a severe beating. This time, even Fang Yunyun couldn't stand it and hurried forward to intervene.

Fang Zhiyi also spoke up to stop it: "Why are you hitting the child? Don't you know hitting children is illegal abroad? This kind of discipline is wrong! You'll stifle the child's spirit!"

Chen Cai heard his father-in-law's voice. The words sounded eerily familiar, reminiscent of something he himself had once said. That time, Fang Zhiyi had been about to strike Chen Xiaoqun's palm for stealing a classmate's eraser when Chen Cai saw it and uttered those very words.

Now, those same words were being used against him!

Flustered and furious, he stammered, "This kid... he... I..." Chen Cai was at a loss for words, suddenly realizing the tables had turned. Anything he said now would be throwing his own words back in his face.

"If you're not going to help, at least don't make snide remarks!" Fang Yunyun finally lost her patience, turning to loudly confront Fang Zhiyi.

Fang Zhiyi clutched his chest. "Wh-what did I say wrong?"

Chen Xiaoqun, covering his face, ran to stand in front of Fang Zhiyi. "Don't you talk about my grandpa!" He was no fool; he knew his grandfather was his only protector now.

"You little brat, get over here!" Chen Cai shouted menacingly.

"If I'm a little brat, then you're the old rabbit!" Chen Xiaoqun glared at his father, his heart full of resentment.

"What did you say!"

Fang Yunyun couldn't understand how their once-good home had come to this. Wasn't it fine before? Fang Zhiyi took care of disciplining the child, she and Chen Cai enjoyed their loving relationship, occasionally offering critiques on Fang Zhiyi's methods. There were arguments, but the family was harmonious.

After a moment, it dawned on her. All of this started when Fang Zhiyi stopped managing the child!

"Dad, why are you doing this?" Fang Yunyun suddenly asked.

Fang Zhiyi looked bewildered. "Doing what?"

"You... you're Xiaoqun's grandfather. You're supposed to make sacrifices for him. It's all because of you that everything's such a mess now!" Fang Yunyun even felt righteous in her accusation.

Fang Zhiyi nearly laughed out loud, but kept a wounded expression on his face. "I'm just supposed to sacrifice for you all, am I? Hmm?"

"Isn't that how it should be? What are you always running out for? You don't cook anymore, you don't clean the house, you don't look after the child!" Fang Yunyun seemed ready to vent all her recent grievances, completely unaware that Fang Zhiyi hadn't closed the door, and their noisy quarrel had already attracted some neighbors sneaking glances from outside.

"I... I have the property matters to attend to. I have my own things to do. At my age, if I don't see some people now, I might never see them again. I've been busy for you for decades. Can't I have something of my own?"

"What could you possibly have to do! You're just selfish! You can't stand to see me happy!" Fang Yunyun grew more agitated as she spoke.

Chen Cai, who had been about to lay hands on Chen Xiaoqun again, now noticed the open door behind his father-in-law and the curious neighbors outside. He instantly cooled down. "Yunyun, that's enough!"

"I will say it! Don't think you can have your way in everything just because you're my father! I sometimes wish I weren't even your daughter!"

As these words left her mouth, Fang Zhiyi seemed to deflate all at once, aging before their eyes. Seeing him like this, Fang Yunyun felt a surge of satisfaction. The last time she remembered feeling this way was during that incident on her birthday.