Chapter - 22 - Not Going Back

"Minghuan, I brought you some food." Father Yi walked to the door of the west room and shouted inside.

Yi Minghuan immediately put down his book, got up and opened the door. Seeing his father who was smiling happily his heart felt warm. He took the bowl of hot soup and buns from his hands and, put it on the table beside him. 

He asked him,"Father why did you bring it yourself, you could have called me to bring it here. Have you had your meal. Would you like to have some?"

"No, this is yours. You can eat it." Seeing that Tang Li was asleep, Father Yi exhaled softly, and said in a low voice, "Eat all of it, don't save it for her. I'll get my two buns in a while and save one for her to eat later." 

"Father, I'm not hungry, and I won't go to work in the afternoon. I'll just eat a steamed bun." Yi Minghuan knew that Father Yi really loved him, but he was even more afraid of Gu Xiulan.

"Ah! If you don't go to work after coming home, your mother is going to make trouble again. Well, you see, you should go..." Father Yi's face changed, he rubbed his hands in embarrassment and worry, and paced a bit in panic.

"Father, Li fell asleep with a fever, so I'm worried about leaving her alone." He explained to Father Yi: "If I'm not here, she might come to beat her again."

"Hey, that's right. Then, that's fine, you watch Li. I, I'm going to eat. If you don't go to work, your mother will hit you but don't be afraid, I won't let her beat you." Father Yi slightly his straightened his back, as if to give himself more courage, and said to him. 

"Father, I've grown up, I'm not afraid of her hitting me anymore, and she can't hit me either. You too..." Yi Minghuan felt warm and bitter in his heart. He was powerless and uncomfortable, facing Father Yi who still treated him like a child.

"That's right, dad forgot, you are a young man now! It's better to go out. If you didn't go back then, you would have been ruined at home!" 

Father Yi grinned, smiling happily and brightly, even his eyes were a little moist, he wiped away his tears, and said: "You stay at home for a few days. Spend some time with your wife and me. Then you can leave again."

"Father, I'm not leaving. I'm not wanted over there." He stared at him and said in a low voice.

"You, what are you talking about?! You are not leaving? Why? This, this is not allowed, this is not allowed! Minghuan, why can't you go! Did you commit a crime? Let's ask someone to let you go back again!" 

Father Yi grabbed his arm anxiously, his eyes were red. His face was terrified and he kept saying no. 

"Father, I... didn't do anything wrong!" Yi Minghuan looked bitter. He grabbed his shoulder, calmed him down, and comforted him: 

"If I leave, I can still do other jobs, don't panic!" 

"That's not okay! If you stay at home, your mother won't be happy when she sees you, she will make a scene." Father Yi said in a panic. 

"Father, it's already been decided that I won't go back. She can make all the fuss she wants, but there's nothing she can do to change it." He let go of him, and said in a deep voice. 

Father Yi met his steady gaze and his trembling body gradually calmed down, but his back was even more hunched. His frowning face was full of sorrow. He was silent for a long time, and then he whispered:

"I have to deal with this matter. Don't tell them yet. Let me think about it for a few days." 

Yi Minghuan nodded. 

"Then you, hurry up and eat, I'm leaving." Father Yi said to him, and left in a daze.

Yi Minghuan frowned. He turned around and looked at Tang Li. Seeing that she hadn't been woken up and was still sleeping soundly, his frown gradually relaxed. 

He sat down, picked up the steamed bun and took a bite, then took a sip of the soup. He finished a steamed bun quietly, drank half a bowl of soup, and then put down his chopsticks, saving the rest for her....