Chapter 10: Regret and Realization4_1
He Dongxue was a straightforward person. She wouldn't take credit for washing the clothes if she hadn't done it herself.
He Dongxue's words startled He Teng and He Zhongguo. He Zhongguo laughed, seeming quite pleased. "This kid," he remarked, "just recovered from illness and already washed the whole family's clothes. I hope she doesn't get sick again." Despite his words, He Zhongguo was very happy. He thought to himself: This kid has indeed grown up and has started to understand the importance of helping out at home.
In the past, He Zhilan would never do such a thing. No matter how busy the family was, she would only wash her own clothes and wouldn't even lift a finger to help wash a single sock belonging to someone else.
He Zhongguo murmured to himself and then went to He Zhilan's room to see if she had fallen ill again after washing clothes all afternoon. He Dongxue made a playful face at He Teng and pulled him aside for a private chat.
"Brother, do you think she's gone mad these days?" He Dongxue poked her finger at He Teng's head. "At noon, she gave me the last egg, volunteered to wash my dishes, even offered to tutor me when I was doing homework. I ignored her, but then she quietly washed all our clothes in the afternoon!"
After pausing, He Dongxue asked, "Brother, do you believe what Dad said that she's truly grown up? I hope so, otherwise, she will continue to mess up our home."
Upon finishing, He Dongxue muttered, "If she has truly matured, I might be able to tolerate her as my sister-in-law. She is the most beautiful girl at school and has the best grades. She is just about good enough for my great brother!"
He Teng gave He Dongxue a sidelong glance. "Take a walk outside when you're tired from studying. Staying in your room all day isn't good for your eyes," he suggested, then walked off toward he and He Zhilan's new room.
In the room, He Zhilan was speaking with He Zhongguo. When He Teng entered, he glanced at He Zhilan and then at the room, instantly noticing how tidy it was.
He Zhilan was speaking softly to He Zhongguo. He Teng didn't listen closely and couldn't make out the details of their conversation, but he could see that He Zhongguo was constantly laughing. It seemed that He Zhilan was sharing amusing stories from her school days with him.
He Zhilan was brought into the He family when she was six. He Teng was, at that time, fifteen and was about to enlist in the military. Even though he only spent a few days with her before leaving, he quickly realized that his future wife was a stubborn girl.
Over the years, due to his military duties, He Teng only returned home every few years for short periods. He watched He Zhilan grow more and more willful and distant, which made him increasingly dislike her. However, out of respect for his father, he never voiced his feelings.
Now, after twelve years, he heard He Zhilan speaking softly to He Zhongguo in a dutiful daughter-like manner for the first time. Nor had he ever heard her discuss her school days with anyone else.
Since she entered the He family, He Zhilan had been quiet but whenever she spoke, she had a haughty tone that made people want to discipline her. Her behavior was as people said, 'it's written all over her face that she deserved a spanking.'
He Teng left the room without listening to the father and daughter's conversation anymore. However, he let out a small sigh of relief. After her recovery, He Zhilan has indeed changed, and it has made him rethink his thoughts about divorce.