Love Affairs in Melbourne-Chapter 309 - 304 Seeking Solutions in the Absence of Solutions (5)
After the divorce, it was the first time Qi Yi’s father and mother sat together.
Qi Yi was very worried about the situation that might arise today.
After all, in the many years since his father had left Wenzhou, his parents’ every encounter had been without Qi Yi’s knowledge, spent in the midst of intense arguments.
To Qi Yi, whether those fights would cease because of the divorce remained an uncertainty.
He didn’t want the war that had barely subsided between his parents to reignite because of him.
For this meeting, Qi Yi decided to personally oversee it.
After all, they would be discussing matters concerning him, and participating was better than not being involved at all.
But as soon as his father began to speak, Qi Yi started to regret it.
Qi Yi began to regret not insisting that his father should go and speak with Yan Yan’s parents himself.
Because the "better way" his father conceived of was simply...
Qi Yi didn’t even know how to describe it.
After Qi Yi’s father sat down, he cut straight to the point with his mother, "I’m planning to remarry. She’s about your age but not as good-looking as you. You used to go around telling people I was seduced by a vixen. When I remarry, everyone will see that’s not the case. No one finds a vixen like I supposedly did."
Qi Yi had already envisioned the scene of his mother storming out.
He doubted whether he had made a mistake in bringing his father.
Bringing up the worst topic, not helping the situation, and now this kind of opening statement was clearly meant to disrupt the meeting, and he had already virtually lost his standing with his own mother.
Qi Yi couldn’t imagine what he could do, except watch his mother leave.
Time ticked by, second by second, and half a minute passed; Qi Yi’s mother was still sitting very calmly.
Her facial expression hadn’t changed much.
It was as if Qi Yi’s father was a stranger, talking about something that had nothing to do with her.
Qi Yi was a bit taken aback; when had his mother’s composure become so strong?
Seeing that his mother had no reaction, the anxiety Qi Yi had just felt eased slightly.
Yet his father, who was usually rather "timid" in front of his mother, seemed to have gone through a rebirth today, gaining the courage of a bear or leopard.
That opening statement, which had been shocking enough, was apparently just a prelude.
"I’ve heard from my son that he also intends to get married, but you don’t agree.
I don’t need to ask to know you’d tell Yi if he marries without your approval, he’s no longer your son.
I didn’t know you had objections to his girlfriend before, but now that I do, it couldn’t be more perfect.
I’ll remarry first.
Then, when it’s my son’s turn to get married, my spouse and I will fully support and help arrange it.
At that time, we’ll invite more people.
Those who haven’t met Qi Yi’s mother will think our family of three has a harmonious relationship.
Those who have met you but aren’t very close will wonder, ’Qi Yi’s mother used to be quite beautiful, how did she become so ordinary in middle age?’
And then there are those close to you, who will realize the one arranging the wedding for her son isn’t his biological mother."
"When people see that even your own son can’t get along with you, they’ll understand why I left Wenzhou.
All these years, you’ve always strived to maintain the image of a virtuous wife and good mother in front of relatives and friends.
I’ve watched and felt exhausted for you; now that the marriage is over, and the son no longer needs your care, you can stop trying so hard to keep up appearances. Take a good rest." Qi Yi’s father’s words were piercing.
Even after saying so much, Qi Yi’s father seemed unsatisfied.
"After the divorce, since you can no longer play the part of the virtuous wife, you keep saying that someone like me couldn’t possibly make something of himself no matter how hard I try. You also boast about your successful parenting, saying that if it weren’t for a father like me, our son wouldn’t have turned out the way he is today.
So let’s take this opportunity to show everyone whether or not your son is truly filial.
My son only found out during his trip to Yiwu that his dad is doing quite well. Without a second thought, he decided to follow me. That’s the extent of the son you’ve raised." Qi Yi’s father continued to provoke his mother with all his might.
Qi Yi watched his father in disbelief. The man sitting beside him now, he seemed like a stranger.
His father was supposed to be someone who wouldn’t dare to raise his voice in front of his mother.
In Qi Yi’s memory, his father was the type who, even if he were caught secretly eating his wife’s most hated vanilla-flavored ice cream, would have to apologize profusely and meekly.
Since sitting down, Qi Yi’s mother had maintained a proper posture and a calm expression.
It wasn’t until Qi Yi’s father mentioned the limited extent of her parenting that an expression of anger finally surfaced on her face.
But it was merely a fleeting moment.
"Qi Yi, are you planning to stay with your father from now on?" Qi Yi’s mother finally spoke up, but she wasn’t addressing his father; she was asking Qi Yi.
Qi Yi hadn’t figured out how to answer yet when his father patted his hand under the table, signaling him not to speak, and presumptuously gave an answer to Qi Yi’s mother on his behalf:
"Our son is so grown up now; there’s no question of who he follows. Do you think he’s still a minor?
Anyway, you don’t acknowledge this son of yours. When he comes back to the country with his wife one day, whether he wants to or not, it won’t be convenient for him to visit you.
Left with no choice, he can only go to his wife’s family home or bring her to Yiwu.
You’ve always said your son wants nothing to do with me, and I almost started to believe that was true.
I thought I wouldn’t have many opportunities to enjoy family bliss in the future, and I should thank you for your generosity in giving me such an opportunity even after our divorce.
When the time comes for a grandchild to be born, we’ll be there to help with the caregiving."
～～～～～
[Xiao Mo’s class]Box
Boxing Day, also known as Box Day, is one of the most important days in Western holidays.
What makes this day special isn’t just because it’s the day after Christmas, but more importantly, because it’s the cheapest day of the year to shop.
On this day, department stores in Europe and America, and Australia, which usually close at four or five in the afternoon, many are open for 24 or even 48 consecutive hours.
Some domestic malls now do the same, but historically they have a much shorter tradition and the scale of participation is much smaller.
Boxing Day is a more economical shopping holiday than China’s Double Eleven, and it is an official public holiday in many countries.
Overseas, Christmas is about family reunions, similar to China’s Spring Festival.
People give each other gifts (and if there are children, they often pretend it’s from Santa Claus), but they don’t have the time to open them.
Gifts are placed under the Christmas tree first.
After Christmas, the whole family sits down to open the gifts together.
Boxing Day, as the name implies, is the day to open the boxes – or more descriptively translated as Boxing Day.
