Rebirth: He Decides to Lie Flat
Chapter 496 - 496 491 Sudden Turmoil

Chapter 496: Chapter 491 Sudden Turmoil Chapter 496: Chapter 491 Sudden Turmoil That afternoon at five o’clock, Yang Dan returned to his ancestral home without a hitch.

Because he had called home in advance, after Yang Dan, Ding Yamin, and Guan Jiao arrived at Jianghai Town by bus, their fathers were all waiting at the bus station platform.

Among the three families, only Yang Dan’s elderly father was over sixty, the oldest of the lot. The other two families’ parents were in their forties, not yet fifty, so standing together it seemed like there was a generation gap.

Ding Yamin’s father held a lot of respect for Yang Dan’s father and had been engaging him in enthusiastic conversation while they waited. On the other hand, he didn’t pay much attention to Guan Jiao’s dad.

When the three of them got off the bus, he even said to Yang Dan’s father, “Old Brother Yang, our villages aren’t far apart, so next time don’t trouble yourself with the trip. I’ll pick up Yang Dan for you and ensure he is safely delivered home.”

Ding Yamin thought nothing of it, assuming his father was just being considerate because of Old Yang’s age and the inconvenience of riding a bike. Thus, he also chimed in, “Yeah, Uncle Yang, don’t be polite with my dad. Our electric scooter is fast, and it won’t take long to get there.”

While they were talking, Guan Jiao’s dad had quickly loaded her suitcase into an electric tricycle and, after hurrying Guan Jiao aboard, left without greeting anyone.

“Hey, Dad? … Dan Dan, Ding Yamin, I’m heading out first…”

Guan Jiao called out to them hastily as the tricycle had already darted off a considerable distance. Turning to her father, she said, “What are you doing? You didn’t respond to my classmate and didn’t even say goodbye before leaving, and with such a gloomy face. Are you mad about something?”

Not wanting to lash out at his daughter who had just returned home, Guan Jiao’s father held back but finally managed to say in a stilted tone, “Keep your distance from that Ding kid. There’s no future between you two!”

Guan Jiao was startled by these words. Back in her first year of college, she and Ding Yamin had kept their relationship from their families, but now, after nearly three years together and always seen in each other’s company, both families were well aware.

Truthfully, in the countryside, Ding Yamin’s family was considered a Family of Scholars. His grandfather had been a primary school headmaster before retirement, and his father was a teacher. Although employed by a private institution, in rural areas, these were regarded as iron rice bowls, impressive achievements indeed.

So when they had initially found out, her parents were very pleased. What could have changed now? Had something happened in the meantime?

Guan Jiao wasn’t sure about the character or the way Ding Yamin’s parents conducted themselves, but considering the two were merely in a confirmed dating relationship and hadn’t even graduated yet, it certainly hadn’t reached the point of discussing marriage. So she doubted that they would go out of their way to make any move.

It seemed more likely that the issue lay with her own mother.

Who her mother was and how much she liked to stir things up were things she was painfully aware of.

Her mother’s mouth was always quicker than her brain, spewing out anything and everything, necessary or not, and her father, the typical introvert, always listened to her.

Given her mother’s penchant for talking, Guan Jiao had not had a proper conversation with her in a long time. Whenever she called, it was always a rushed exchange, “Is everything fine at home? No problems? If nothing’s wrong, I’m hanging up, I’m busy here.”

She had never given her mother a chance to speak more than five sentences.

After some thought, Guan Jiao asked her father, “Did Ding Yamin’s dad offend you?”

“Hmph!” Guan Jiao’s father snorted coldly. “Didn’t you see how he behaved towards Yang Dan’s father? It’s clear he prefers Yang Dan over you.”

Guan Jiao was initially taken aback, then burst into laughter. “You parents really have some imagination. Uncle Ding was just a bit warmer to Uncle Yang, talked a bit more, that’s all. And you concocted all these other ideas from that. Wow, really something!”

She shook her head in resignation, deciding not to continue the conversation with her father, and thought it would be more reliable to get the story from her brother.

“You girl, this is about your future, do you think your dad would make baseless remarks?”

Guan Jiao rolled her eyes and ignored him.

On the other side, after the Guan family had left, Ding’s father greeted Yang Dan and his father, and then rode the tricycle back home with his son.

At the last stop, only the Yang Family father and daughter remained.

“Hurry up and get on, it’s getting dark. Your mom must be getting anxious waiting at home.”

Yang Dan stood still. Pointing at the old, creaky pedal tricycle in front of her, she asked her father, “Why are you riding this again? What happened to the electric tricycle I just bought for you when I came back for summer vacation?”

Her father’s smile stiffened on his face, and he twisted his mouth, stammering out, “It’s, it’s at home. This one’s pretty good too, isn’t it? If it’s not used, it will rust.”

Yang Dan’s frown deepened. She could tell her dad wasn’t telling the truth, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she walked over to the seat, insisting her dad get into the cart while she pedaled.

“Dad, can you manage…..”

“Manage what? Don’t you know your own condition? How many years have you had bone hyperplasia? Doesn’t it hurt?”

Why did she buy them a smaller electric tricycle? She thought it would save some effort when going out to buy things and give his legs some rest. But where was the tricycle now?

Yang Dan pedaled all the way home. As soon as she entered the yard, she stopped in her tracks.

It was already somewhat dusky. The lights were on in the main room and the kitchen, but they weren’t the bright incandescent lights she had installed on her last visit. It was still the old bulbs emitting an orange glow.

Unable to help herself, Yang Dan’s brow furrowed again. Just as she was about to ask a question, someone came out of the kitchen, calling out to her with surprise, “Dan Dan.”

“Sis.”

Yang Yan helped take her suitcase out of the tricycle. Their father asked her, “Is dinner ready?”

“Almost, Mom is cooking right now.”

Yang Dan sensitively noticed something off. Hearing her enter the yard, why hadn’t her mom come out of the kitchen?

As she was wondering, a familiar voice called out from the kitchen, “Dan Dan…”

“Sis, help me put the suitcase in the room. I’ll go see what Mom has cooked.”

But Yang Yan grabbed her and whispered, “A few days ago, Mom fell while working, and I took her to the hospital. Her left lower leg is fractured, and the doctor said it needs two months to heal. We were afraid of worrying you, so we didn’t tell you…”

Yang Dan frowned and asked, “Two months will be enough for a full recovery? Aren’t there any other precautions? Like bed rest?”

“No need for that, but she can’t do any more work, can only move a little, and needs plenty of rest.” After saying this, Yang Yan reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ve been here for the past couple of days, just went home yesterday. Once the new year passes and you start school, I will come over every other day. I’ll make sure she doesn’t do any work.”

Indeed, for the past two years, Yang Yan had been coming over to help out with the farm work, easing the burden on their parents.

Yang Dan breathed a sigh of relief, then asked again, “The hospital you took Mom to, what about my older and second brothers? Have they come to visit?”

Yang Yan pursed her lips, “Bullshit, not one of them even bothered to ask. Relying on them, could our mom even survive?”

Yang Dan turned her head, her gaze once again falling on the decrepit pedal tricycle that had been parked in the yard. She then looked around the yard but didn’t see any sign of the electric tricycle.

She turned to ask Yang Yan, “Sis, do you know where the electric tricycle I bought for Mom and Dad is?”