Chapter 222

Chapter 222

Qi Yingying was someone who valued face immensely. Despite her dislike for her brother-in-law, she had never confronted him directly but vented her frustrations privately to her husband. Even though he knew she didn't welcome him, they had never had an outright falling out.

She had never spoken about these family issues outside, always feeling it would be shameful.

Thus, the years passed in relative peace.

Until today, she could no longer tolerate it.

Looking at her brother-in-law He Youde, Qi Yingying wished she could kick him away into the sky.

He Youde did not expect his sister-in-law to be so direct in asking him to leave. Seeing her expression, he became even more smug and turned to look at his brother He Zhifei.

Feigning sadness, he said, "Big Brother, I think I should take Xiao Tian and go. Your wife is clearly telling us to leave. Don’t keep worrying about Xiao Tian. If you and your wife can’t find your eldest son, you still have these two sons.

How do you expect your wife to feel when you only care about Xiao Tian?

Over the years, you’ve been very considerate of us."

As he spoke, He Youde even wiped away tears.

Without waiting for his brother to respond, he called out to his son, "Xiao Tian, quickly come home with me. You’re not being observant. Staying at your uncle’s house for so long without considering your aunt is inappropriate."

"Uncle, Aunt, I’ll go back with my father now. I’ve caused you trouble during this time, and I will repay you someday. I will never forget your kindness," He Tian said respectfully to He Zhifei and Qi Yingying.

After their polite farewells, they were about to leave.

Qi Yingying watched them without stopping them. "Alright, you two go back first. We still need to eat, so we won’t see you off."

She had seen this act too many times.

Today, Old He wouldn’t be able to keep them here!

All of Old He’s resources should go to her and their son. What was He Tian?

Even if they were to help anyone, it should be someone truly capable. What did He Tian have? Only the facade his father had created for him!

He Zhifei listened silently as his wife and brother spoke. Seeing Qi Yingying so openly trying to send his brother and nephew away, he frowned deeply.

Just as they were about to leave, he intervened, "Youde, what are you doing? Is your sister-in-law being unreasonable, and now you are too? Bring Xiao Tian back and sit down. This is still my house, and it’s not up to your sister-in-law to decide.

I see potential in Xiao Tian. He is diligent, respectful to elders, and works hard.

If I don’t support such a person, who else should I support?

Should I support those who don’t strive for their own future? They don’t deserve to be my children.

I’ve promised to help Xiao Tian, and that promise stands. No one can change it.

Stay here until we settle Xiao Tian’s matter. Tonight’s meal isn’t great, but bear with it. In this house, I make the decisions."

He Zhifei’s stance was firm.

As he spoke, he looked at his two sons and daughter He Wei.

Seeing their indifference, he felt disheartened.

These were his children, and he hoped they would succeed, but unfortunately, none of them showed any promise.

Even after saying all this, they remained unbothered.

His attempts to provoke them failed to ignite any spirit in them. Neither he nor Yingying lacked ambition, so why were their children like this?

Qi Yingying, unaware of his thoughts, seeing her husband’s attitude, exploded.

She wanted to flip the table but couldn’t bear to waste the food.

She had lived through hardship.

Even in anger, she wouldn’t take it out on the food.

Qi Yingying felt a metallic taste in her mouth as she yelled at her husband, "He Zhifei, what do you mean? This is a family where everyone has a say. Why should you alone make the decisions? If you want to pave the way for your nephew, fine, but don’t touch our family’s resources.

If he were truly capable, he wouldn’t rely on his parents or his uncle. Let him prove himself!

Don’t tell me we’re a family because one child succeeds. I don’t want to hear it!

You, me, and our three children are a family.

Even if not for them, think of our lost eldest son!"

Qi Yingying frantically thought about what to do.

In the end, she could only bring up their lost eldest son.

Only mentioning this child would make Old He reconsider.

Sure enough, when Qi Yingying mentioned their eldest son, He Zhifei fell silent.

Over the years, he believed he had done right by everyone except that child.

Back then, because of his negligence, the child was lost.

Every time he thought about it, his heart ached.

The child was so young; who knows if he even survived.

If he did survive, what if he didn't receive a good education and ended up falling behind others? Coming back to the compound, he would be ridiculed by everyone.

Thinking about all this made him feel even more guilty.

For so many years, he initially wanted to find the child, but as time went on, he gradually gave up that idea.

Even if he found the child, they might not be close, or worse... the child might already be dead.

And the root cause of all this was that he didn't watch the child properly back then.

It was he who ruined his eldest son. Whether alive or dead, his eldest son's life was already destroyed.

"Old He, our eldest hasn't been found yet. Even if you don't care about the other children, shouldn't you at least feel for him? If he comes back without our help, what will he do? We lost him, and if we hadn't, maybe he would have turned out well?

Maybe..."

Qi Yingying choked up as she spoke.

Upon hearing this, He Youde felt like cursing.

His sister-in-law always used this tactic. Over the years, whenever his brother mentioned his lost eldest son, he always looked guilty. Xiao Tian's matter was thus left unresolved.

Did his brother really intend to give all the connections he had built over the years to someone who should have been long dead?

Why should he?

For so many years, he had made Xiao Tian treat his brother so well, all for their benefits.

If they couldn't get any benefits, wouldn't all those years of Xiao Tian's kindness be in vain?

He Youde was unwilling and was about to continue speaking.

But his son He Tian pulled him, making a small gesture to signal him to stop talking.

Although He Youde didn't know why, he was willing to follow his son's advice.