She won't clear her name; she'll throw away all the scum.

Chapter 562

Old Chen was alone in the house. Grandpa Li had brought him dinner in the evening. Grandpa Li was also going home early to help out today, so he brought him dinner first. Considering it was New Year's Eve, he even went out of his way to wipe his body and wash his hair.

Being clean made him feel a little better, but hearing the lively and cheerful sounds from every household outside made Old Chen feel uneasy.

His memories went back to a few years ago when the children were still at home. At that time, Grandma Xia would diligently cook in the kitchen, while he would smoke outside and watch his grandchildren laughing and playing.

Chen Xiangdong and Chen Xiangnan would usually take the child out for a stroll, set off some firecrackers, and then come back and chat for a bit.

Chen Xiangbei, that kid, is like a nail stuck in his bottom. He can't sit still at home. He only comes back covered in dirt before the food is ready, and then after being scolded by Grandma Xia, he eats without a care in the world.

Back then, braised pork was a must-have in our home. It was stewed until tender and glistening with oil; one bite and all the fatigue of the year would disappear.

The New Year's dishes usually start with a plate of fried nuts and seeds, followed by fish, meat, eggs and vegetables, and finally end with a bowl of fresh salted vegetable and bamboo shoot soup or brown sugar sweet soup, leaving everyone with a full belly.

Old Chen reminisced about the scene from that time, and then thought about how he was fed by Grandpa Li today. The difference was so great that it made Old Chen feel a little sad.

Although the food today was much better than usual, and Grandpa Li wasn't one to mistreat him, it was just...

As he listened to the crackling of firecrackers outside, he felt the house was as quiet as a coffin.

These little brats, I raised them all so well, and now that they're paralyzed, not one of them comes back for such an important day as New Year's Eve.

These unfilial children are ingrates!

In stark contrast to this place, Grandma Xia's side was bustling with activity. The children were asleep, but the adults were all very energetic, chatting and eating melon seeds to celebrate the New Year.

After midnight, amidst everyone's congratulations, they went back to their beds and fell asleep.

Grandma Xia gave her bed to Xiang Hong and her husband, and slept with her sister. Chen Xiangbei slept in the living room as usual, Chen Xiangdong and his wife took the sleeping Baoyuan home, and Chen Xiangnan and Chen Lingling slept in Jiang Wenhua's room.

The two old ladies slept together. Old Mrs. Xia lay on her side looking at her sister with a smile on her face. "Sister, I feel very happy."

Xia Yu'e tucked the blanket around him. "I also feel that this year is the happiest time of my life. Since I found you, every day has been wonderful."

The two fell asleep with smiles on their faces.

The New Year passed quickly, and everyone went about their own business.

Chen Xiangnan took Chen Lingling with him when he went back to work, saying it would be good to take her out for some fun. He also considered that Grandma Xia was also working away from home, and that his aunt's health wasn't very good, so he was worried that she would get tired taking care of the child alone.

He said he would send Chen Lingling back after Grandma Xia returned.

When Chen Lingling left, she was as excited as a little monkey.

Grandma Xia was unaware that she was so popular outside. Old Yuan accompanied her, but she only stayed for a few days before having to go back, while Grandma Xia was going to stay there for several months.

She went to the factory of Director Song's friend, and everyone treated her well. Grandma Xia felt that her work was going very smoothly.

However, in this factory, Grandma Xia unexpectedly ran into Wang Dahe, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.

Wang Dahai, who insisted on becoming someone's live-in son-in-law, and whose own father was also a live-in son-in-law, is his brother.

Grandma Xia couldn't understand why she had to travel so far away from home when it would be better to stay in her hometown.

Wang Dahe said shyly, "Auntie, you don't know, my mom is terrifying. Ever since my brother became a live-in son-in-law, she's been keeping a close eye on me. She keeps telling me every day to get married and move in with a wife. I'm so tired of hearing it."

The pressure is just too much. If I continue to stay at home like this, even if I don't want to be a live-in son-in-law, I'll have a rebellious streak and want to follow in my father's footsteps.

Grandma Xia was dumbfounded. She had never imagined that her child, who had always been so obedient, could say something like "rebellious."

"I remember...you seemed to have dated someone before, what happened to that girl?"

Wang Dahe scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "She's not going to see me anymore. She said I'm dull and you can't get a word out of me."

Grandma Xia said regretfully, "If you had gotten together with her right after graduation, your mother would have definitely treated you like royalty."

Wang Dahe chuckled, "That's true, but I guess we weren't meant to be. Later, I participated in the school's internal recruitment and chose this place, which is neither too far nor too close, to become a worker."

Life is actually quite nice when no one's watching. It's just that when I came here after the New Year, my mom scolded me for the entire holiday.

Grandma Xia: "She definitely deserved to be scolded, it was good for her to vent her anger. Now look what's happened, your mother has no children left."

Wang Dahe: "At worst, she can come to live with me after she retires. I probably can't count on my brother in his condition, so I'll just support him myself."

Grandma Xia sighed, "Your mother is truly blessed to have such a filial son like you."

Wang Dahe: "Auntie, has anyone ever said that you always praise people in a sarcastic way?"

Mrs. Xia: "..."

As expected, Old Lady Wang from the compound cursed every day, especially when her youngest son disobeyed her and ran away; she would curse him incessantly.

However, the one who scolded the most was Zhang Xingwang's wife. If he hadn't set a good example, Wang Dahai wouldn't have followed suit.

Zhang Xingwang felt bitter, but when he thought that Old Lady Wang was one of those old ladies who went through a period of irritability as they got older, he felt a little better.

It's a physical problem, I don't really want to curse.

When Grandma Xia sent the letter, Grandma Wang cried, wondering if the child was eating and sleeping well away from home.

While Zhang Xingwang was still trying to comfort her, he saw the old lady rummaging through drawers and cabinets, preparing to send money to Wang Dahe, muttering that he would run out of money.

That makes sense. When you first start as an apprentice in the factory, you don't have any money. If you encounter an emergency and can't come up with any cash, you'll be in a real bind.

When Wang Dahe received the money sent by his parents, he drank a lot of wine with Grandma Xia.

When Grandma Xia held the wine bottle, she never imagined that one day she would be dragged into drinking by a child who was about the same age as her third son. This was also the first time she had ever drunk so heavily.

Back when I was with Old Chen, we only drank a little.

However, to be fair, drinking with some snacks does make life quite enjoyable. Old Mrs. Xia even wondered if there was some reason why those men liked to smoke so much.

After trying it, she was choked so badly that tears welled up in her eyes. She then forbade Wang Dahe from smoking either, or she would tell his mother when they got home.

Wang Dahe obediently complied and gave the cigarettes away.