Looking at the word "Mom" on the screen, Li Bin suddenly felt a mix of unfamiliarity, nostalgia, and sadness.
When he decided to become a live-in son-in-law, was it really his choice? Li Bin didn't want to be a disrespected son-in-law, suffering in his wife's family.
At home, with parents to care for and support him, sharing his burdens—who wouldn't want that life? But his parents' favoritism toward his older brother and the family's struggles forced Li Bin to make that choice.
If it weren't for the betrothal money from the Wen family, his brother wouldn't have been able to afford a house or marry such a beautiful, gentle wife.
In the past, Li Bin might have harbored resentment toward his parents, but now, he had let it all go.
After all, they were his parents—no matter the grievances, he should choose understanding.
Besides, he was doing quite well now.
Marrying into the Wen family, meeting his mother-in-law Shen Han, and his sisters-in-law Wen Lan and Wen Ting—Li Bin felt sexually fulfilled! If his parents hadn't favored his brother, and if his brother hadn't secretly pressured and coerced him, Li Bin might not have this blissful life today!
Li Bin answered the call, cautiously saying "Hello" into the phone, softly calling out with a now-unfamiliar feeling, "Mom…"
"Little Bin… what… what are you up to? Have you eaten?" His mother's familiar yet distant voice came through the phone.
Li Bin paused, unable to hold back as tears welled up in his eyes.
"Not yet, Mom. How have you and Dad been lately?" Li Bin asked with concern.
Since marrying into the Wen family, it had been a long, long time since Li Bin had gone home.
After his first visit home post-wedding, when his stubborn father scolded him and drove him out, Li Bin lost the courage to return.
His father's slap, his mother's coldness, and his brother's smug smile remained vivid in Li Bin's memory!
"Little Bin… I heard… heard you've been writing… some novels and made a lot of money, become a big author… You… you must have earned a lot, right? I… I heard them say… you… you even bought your mother-in-law a million-yuan Mercedes…" His mother Xu Fang's voice carried a hint of flattery mixed with faint jealousy, making Li Bin sense she had something on her mind.
"No, Mom, is something up?" Li Bin probed cautiously.
"Oh… haha… well… don't hold a grudge against your dad. He scolded you back then because he couldn't bear you marrying out… Don't take it to heart. Come home when you have time. Your dad and I… we miss you. It's been so long since you've been back… People in the village are gossiping about you!"
His mother's words over the phone brought tears to Li Bin's eyes. How many years had it been… how many years since he'd heard his mother speak to him like this? In his parents' eyes, he was never as good as his brother, always the useless one, always the one who brought them shame.
His brother Li Qiang was just too outstanding, while he was far too ordinary.
Li Bin had once been so envious of his brother's excellence.
He had also been so jealous, jealous that his brother got all their parents' love.
But now, all that was in the past. Li Bin didn't want to dwell on it anymore.
His mother taking the initiative to invite him home made Li Bin happy, and his first thought was to share the good news of his wife Wen Wan's pregnancy.
"Alright, Mom, I'll find time to bring Wen Wan home in a few days. I haven't told you yet—Wen Wan's pregnant! You and Dad will soon be grandparents…" Li Bin said with a smile to his mother on the phone.
"Oh… that's great. Since Wen Wan's pregnant, don't make her travel so far. Just come by yourself."
To Li Bin's surprise, his mother seemed indifferent to Wen Wan's pregnancy, responding casually and tactfully declining the idea of Li Bin bringing her along.
This made Li Bin sense something more.
Sure enough, the next moment, his mother eagerly got to the point: "Little Bin… your… your brother's house is too small. Back then, our family was poor and could only afford a 65-square-meter place. Now, with your sister-in-law giving our Li family a big, healthy boy, it's not right for their family of three to live in such a small space. So… we're thinking of buying them a bigger house… You know how housing prices are now—50,000 or 60,000 per square meter. You know our family's situation; we can't afford much. Since you've become a big author and made so much money, could you… lend your brother some?"
Hearing the real reason for his mother's call, Li Bin took a deep breath, his eyes filled with disappointment and pain.
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