Chapter 038: A Tug-of-War Argument

This story is entirely fictional.

Xiao Yi had been drinking at the bar and didn’t return home until very late. She stumbled in, unsteady on her feet. Still, her mind remained relatively clear as she keyed in the door code. The door sprang open automatically, the security lock clanged, and once she was inside, the door closed behind her.

Reeking of alcohol, Xiao Yi made her way straight toward her room, only to be blocked by Jin Yan. “Aren’t you going to explain these grades?” Jin Yan’s voice was icy, almost cutting.

Xiao Yi opened her mouth slightly, but not a word came out. She lowered her head and continued toward her room.

Her silence infuriated Jin Yan, who was already struggling to contain her emotions. “Look at your grades—how much you’ve slipped! Other people’s children are all making progress, but you? Your scores have plummeted. How are we supposed to face others as your parents?”

“I, I, it’s not all—” Xiao Yi finally couldn’t hold back a retort. But seeing her father standing there, the rest of her words caught in her throat. She held it in, waiting for her mother to finish venting before slipping into her room.

Once inside, she collapsed heavily onto her bed, her mind spinning with recent events.

That familiar face of the older man kept appearing before her eyes. His presence, like sunlight, melted away her grievances, anxiety, and unease. She couldn’t explain why, but she felt warmth radiating from him.

Gradually, under the dim light of her desk lamp, she drifted into dreams.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Xiao Jin and Jin Yan kept up their quarrel deep into the night, volleying words back and forth in a tug-of-war.

At last, Xiao Jin gave in. “Alright, let’s not argue anymore. You win,” he said, glancing at his wife.

With Xiao Jin subdued, Jin Yan calmed as well. Pointing upstairs, she asked, “Don’t you think it’s strange?”

“Can’t you say a bit less to the girl? Say what you like to me; I don’t mind. But haven’t you noticed our daughter has been acting a bit off lately?” Xiao Jin pressed.

“She? If you call that normal, when has she ever been normal? This is just how she is. If I didn’t keep her in check, who knows what she’d turn into. What, you think the girl’s fallen in love? But I haven’t seen any sign of it,” Jin Yan replied, puzzled.

“She’s still a child, not even eighteen. What’s this talk of love? It’s normal for her to go to bars, dance, act wild and let off steam,” Xiao Jin mused, reconsidering. “But honestly, maybe she isn’t that young anymore. Do you think she really is in a relationship?”

“What makes you say that? I haven’t noticed anything suspicious. If she were in love, there’d be some clue,” Jin Yan said.

“Do I really need to spell it out? It runs in your family. You and your sister both started dating young. You were about her age, maybe even younger, clinging to me and refusing to let go—don’t you remember? With all those beauties around me, why did I marry you? Honestly, at the time, you weren’t even on my list of potential wives. You showed up at my workplace, crying, making a scene, threatening me. I couldn’t stand your infatuation. If you hadn’t seduced me that night, I’d never have married you,” Xiao Jin sneered.

“Oh, I seduced you? Don’t you remember how deep our feelings ran? You’re flattering yourself. What’s wrong with marrying me? Have you looked in the mirror? They used to call you ‘Big Mouth’—and they weren’t wrong. Your mouth is huge! You’re sharp-tongued, always saying the nastiest things. And all those beauties you claim were after you? Please, you’re hilarious,” Jin Yan shot back defiantly.

“Big Mouth? Big Mouths can eat well wherever they go! Thanks to me, you’ve eaten, drunk, worn gold and jewels, lived in the best riverside duplex long before anyone else. Your sister may be a hundred times prettier than you, but look at her now—made the wrong choice, living in a tiny apartment, wearing your hand-me-downs, her child can’t even get into a good school. Didn’t I solve all your problems with my ‘Big Mouth’? Complain all you want about my mouth—you should appreciate it,” Xiao Jin retorted, widening his already large eyes.

“My sister is a hundred times prettier? You must be blinded by lust. Remember that time I was away on a business trip? You drank with my father, got him drunk, and then pretended to be drunk yourself. You went to my sister’s room and slept with her. Did you really think I wouldn’t know? Every time my sister visits, you ogle her, exchange glances; you two have been keeping secrets. And don’t think I don’t know about the money you’ve given her—I checked your bank statements, Xiao Big Mouth.”

“We weren’t as sordid as you make it sound. My love is reserved for my darling daughter Xiao Yi and my beloved football. You know I haven’t been interested in women since I was injured on duty all those years ago. Sometimes I might want to, but I just can’t. Sometimes I blame God for being unfair—but at least He left me with a lovely daughter. Your accusations are nonsense,” Xiao Jin defended himself.

“Don’t try to wriggle out of it. You slept with my sister—I have solid proof,” Jin Yan insisted.

“If you have proof, show it. Don’t slander me. Another word and I’ll break your legs,” Xiao Jin fumed.

“Just wait. I’ll show you evidence of your crime. Let’s see you try to deny it then,” Jin Yan shot back.

She pulled out her phone and found the photo: a doggerel written on the wall. The poem read, “Brother-in-law pretended to be drunk after drinking…”

“See? My sister wrote this on the wall after you slept with her. Irrefutable evidence. How can you deny it now?” Jin Yan declared.

Xiao Jin burst out laughing. “Ridiculous. Your whole family’s the same—playing the victim while being guilty. I try to be a good man and get framed for it. Look at this!”

“Watch your mouth. Who are you calling guilty? Be clear, or I won’t let this go,” Jin Yan countered.

“You only see your sister’s poem, but didn’t you notice the one your father wrote underneath?”

Jin Yan froze, realizing Xiao Jin knew about her father’s poem. Maybe there was some mistake. “You saw my father’s reply?” she asked.

“Yes. Your father spoke to me about it. He wrote: ‘Kids don’t know better, scribbles on the wall, all family here, nothing happened.’”

Jin Yan checked the photo on Xiao Jin’s phone—word for word. “So tell me, what happened?” she pressed.

“That time you were away, your sister went to a bar, got drunk, and ended up getting caught by the police for possession. She was fined, but had no money, so she begged me for help. I pulled some strings and paid the twenty-thousand fine to settle it. She pleaded with me not to tell you, so I didn’t. That night, your father invited me over, we drank, he got drunk and went to rest. I got drunk too, and… well, that's how it happened,” Xiao Jin explained.

“So that’s what really happened. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? All this time I’ve been suspicious, thinking you two had something going on, but my husband’s an upright man after all.” Jin Yan rose up on tiptoe to kiss Xiao Jin’s big mouth.

“I never realized how devious my sister could be. She’s always asking about you and your interests, offering to help when I’m away. I used to think she was just concerned, but now I see she wanted to usurp my place. People’s hearts are hard to fathom,” Jin Yan sighed.

Seeing Jin Yan’s anger dissipate, Xiao Jin lowered his voice. “From now on, let our daughter do as she likes. The more you try to control her, the more trouble it brings. If you let go, you’ll get used to it. People say kids these days need to be raised free-range, so they learn to adapt.”

“Free-range? Nonsense! A girl should be raised to be a lady, not let loose to pick up bad habits. Falling in love at this age will ruin her studies and college entrance exams. Young people act on impulse—one day she’ll turn up pregnant and you’ll be stunned!” Jin Yan shouted.

Just as their argument reached a fever pitch, a loud crash made them both jump. A vase had fallen from upstairs, shattering on the floor not far from them. Looking up, they saw Xiao Yi standing on the landing, hair disheveled, clutching her head and screaming hysterically, “Stop fighting! Can’t you let me sleep?” The two stared at each other in shock. Xiao Yi’s words were followed by the heavy slam of a door upstairs, reverberating through the house and plunging it into silence.

(To be continued)