Chapter 313: The Younger Brother-in-law’s Request

Chapter 313: Chapter 313: The Younger Brother-in-law’s Request

Seeing Ye Feng still scowling, Han Xiaorui reached out and gently squeezed his arm. "Xiao Chen knows he was wrong now, so don’t be angry anymore!"

Hearing this, Ye Feng turned to Han Xiaorui, his brow furrowed. "I finally understand why my dad left these two little brats with me! He knew I wouldn’t be able to stand their mischief and would definitely discipline them with a heavy hand."

Ye Ling pricked up his ears to eavesdrop and gradually understood his father’s reasoning.

He had thought it would be fun to hang around his big brother, but now it seemed it was best to behave. If his brother could discipline Ye Chen, he could discipline him, too.

When Ye Chen heard this, a chill went down his spine. He had originally planned to complain to their dad.

But it turned out this was their dad’s idea all along. Their dad couldn’t bear to discipline them, so he let their big brother do it. How ruthless of him!

Han Xiaorui smiled. "Actually, Ye Ling and Ye Chen are quite well-behaved. If they don’t listen, you discipline them once, and they get the picture right away!"

Hearing this, Ye Ling and Ye Chen exchanged a glance. They had thought their sister-in-law was very nice, but now it seemed she was no saint herself.

"Exactly!" Ye Feng nodded. "They say ’spare the rod, spoil the child.’ My old man couldn’t bear to hit these two, so he left it to me! You two, listen up. You can be mischievous, but you can’t cause real trouble. I’ll only warn you once. If that doesn’t work, I’ll go straight to punishing you!"

Ye Ling knew his big brother wasn’t kidding and quickly replied, "Big Brother, I’ll be good!"

Although Ye Chen still felt a little defiant, the circumstances were against him. With their parents not around, he was under someone else’s roof and had no choice but to bow his head.

"Big Brother, I’ll be good too. Please don’t punish me!"

Seeing the expressions on her two brothers-in-law, Han Xiaorui smiled. "Your big brother is just doing this for your own good. If you behave, as your sister-in-law, I’ll have rewards for you."

Hearing this, Ye Ling immediately asked, "Sister-in-law, I heard you have a fishing boat. When we get back from our trip, can you take us fishing on the ocean?"

Han Xiaorui hadn’t expected Ye Ling to be so interested in the sea. "Sure, but fishing out on the ocean is very hard work."

"Sister-in-law, I’m not afraid of hard work! I just want to see what it’s like on the open water. We’ve only ever hung around the shore and the beach before."

Ye Chen’s eyes widened. "Sister-in-law, can we go fishing on the sea?"

Han Xiaorui smiled. "Yes! You can do all of that!"

Ye Feng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at this. "Aunt Wang pampers them to no end; she’d never let them suffer out at sea. You’re quick to agree now, but you might end up getting blamed for it."

They weren’t born of the same mother; a barrier would always exist.

Ye Feng had no desire to raise his stepmother’s children, nor did he want to be ensnared by his own father.

Did his father really think he didn’t know what he was up to? Wasn’t it just a ploy to make him spend more time with his two little brothers and improve their relationship?

But his father hadn’t considered the huge age gap between him and Ye Ling and Ye Chen. What kind of bond could they possibly form?

Besides, he already had two daughters and would have more children of his own in the future. He could barely manage his own kids; how could he have the energy for someone else’s?

"Big Brother," Ye Ling piped up, "if you and Sister-in-law don’t say anything, and Dad definitely won’t, then Mom will absolutely never know!"

Ye Feng turned his gaze toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen quickly nodded as well. "I won’t tell either, but you have to take me! If you leave me behind, I’ll definitely tattle when we get back."

Hearing her two brothers-in-law, Han Xiaorui smiled. "Alright, I’ll take you! My boat is quite large. As long as you wear life jackets and listen to me once we’re on board, there shouldn’t be any problem."

"We’ll listen! We’ll definitely listen to Sister-in-law," Ye Ling nodded repeatedly. As long as he could go out on the ocean, he’d agree to anything.

Ye Chen chuckled. "Right, right, we’ll listen to Sister-in-law."

After he had been standing for about fifteen minutes, Han Xiaorui had Ye Chen sit down. "I’ve drawn a board for Military Chess here. How about we all play together?"

"What’s Military Chess?" Ye Ling and Ye Chen asked, curious. Even Ye Feng was intrigued.

So, everyone gathered around the small table for a match.

Pingping and An’an huddled around their mother, watching the excitement. Even though they couldn’t understand, they thought their mom was amazing.

Not only did their little uncles listen to their mom, but even their dad listened to their mom.

As the rookies at the bottom of the power hierarchy, Pingping and An’an followed their instincts, which told them that their mom was the most powerful of all.

With the introduction of Military Chess, Ye Ling and Ye Chen, both from a military family, quickly fell in love with the fun game.

Except for eating, using the restroom, and sleeping, the pair of brothers couldn’t put the game down.

They planned to play it with their friends after they got back. If they became experts now, they would be able to beat all their little buddies.

Now that things had quieted down, Guard Xiao Zheng could finally rest for a bit.

He had been so worried those two little terrors would run off and get lost. Ms. Han really had a way with them.

Meanwhile, Qi Wenxuan had managed to swap tickets for a neighboring berth. The other person hadn’t wanted to switch at first. It was only after Qi Wenxuan said he needed to accompany his girlfriend that an older woman agreed to do him the favor.

Grateful, Qi Wenxuan gave the woman a pack of pastries as a special thanks.

As Han Xiaoqing went to get hot water, Qi Wenxuan called out, "Xiaoqing!"

Han Xiaoqing froze. "Qi Wenxuan, what are you doing on this train? Where are you headed?"

"To Yunnan," Qi Wenxuan smiled. "Where are you all sitting? I’ll go say hello."

A suspicious look appeared in Han Xiaoqing’s eyes. She pointed to a spot not far away. "Over there."

A light blush colored Qi Wenxuan’s face. "Then I’ll head over and see."

Watching Qi Wenxuan walk ahead, Han Xiaoqing lowered her head, the corners of her lips curling upward.

So subtle. Did he really think she couldn’t see what he was doing?

But Han Xiaoqing deliberately chose not to point it out.

She and Qi Wenxuan had met at Auntie Qi’s house. Later, their bond deepened when they sold ornamental fish together to help a classmate.

Even though they lived in the same city, they had continued to correspond through letters.

If he didn’t have feelings for her, who would bother writing letters when they lived so close?

Han Xiaoqing quite enjoyed this feeling, but she waited and waited, and Qi Wenxuan still hadn’t confessed his feelings.

Han Xiaoqing could be patient, too. If you don’t confess, I won’t say a word.

Her resolve only strengthened after she learned that Qi Wenxuan was about to graduate and go abroad.

She had just started her freshman year of college. Even if she wanted to go abroad, it would be another three years.

A young, wealthy, and handsome man like Qi Wenxuan going abroad... who knew what might happen?

Could she really expect a man who wouldn’t even confess his feelings to stay faithful and wait for her for three years?

And so, Han Xiaoqing said even less.

She just never expected that Qi Wenxuan would actually follow them to Yunnan.

When Qi Wenxuan appeared, Han Xiaorui was also taken aback. "Wenxuan, where are you headed?"

Qi Wenxuan smiled. "Sister Xiao Rui, it’s winter break, so I’m going on a study trip to see Yunnan. It’s pretty boring on my own. Can I tag along with you all?"

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui looked at Qi Wenxuan, then glanced at her sister and smiled. "Sure. We can always use another strong back. When I go shopping, you’ll have to help me carry things."

Qi Wenxuan’s heart soared. "Okay!"

Initial objective, achieved. Time for the next step.