Chapter 300: Similar Experiences

“Come… take this, child,” Xia Jingshu closed the lid of the jewelry box and stuffed it in He Xiyan’s hands.

“Mum…this is too precious, I…” He Xiyan shook her head and felt that the item in her hand seemed exceptionally heavy. She didn’t dare accept this gift. She had been part of the Ye family for some time now and had only bought some clothes and food for her parents-in-law but she had never given them anything so precious.

Now, they were giving her something that was worth millions, so she felt that this gift was too much.

Xia Jingshu patted her daughter-in-law’s hand and smiled warmly.

“Yan Yan, this is a little something from your father-in-law and myself. Please treat this gift as a welcome present. The Ye family lacks many things but we don’t lack money, so you shouldn’t feel burdened by this gift and accept it.”

He Xiyan nodded and thanked her but she still felt a little bad, as though she hadn’t displayed enough filial piety to her parents-in-law.

“Mum, look at me, I didn’t even prepare any gifts for you…” He Xiyan smiled awkwardly after she accepted the gift, revealing two tidy rows of pearly white teeth and looked a little embarrassed.

Xia Jingshu picked up her hand and although her eyes were lined with age, they were still bright and beautiful.

“Yan Yan, I don’t need you to give me anything. It doesn’t matter whether the present is expensive or not. My only hope is that you would treat Ye Hao well and that you’ll never leave him. Although I’m not even 60 yet, I’m paralysed for life. I don’t even hope to live till a hundred,” Xia Jingshu sighed and looked a little sad when she thought of the state of her body.

He Xiyan patted her shoulder.

“Mum, what are you even saying?” Why did she think that she wouldn’t live past a hundred? Xia Jingshu merely couldn’t move the lower part of her body. It’s not like she had been struck with an incurable disease.

Xia Jingshu shook her head and her voice became slightly hoarse while sorrow crept into her eyes.

“I know my body best. Yan Yan, I actually liked you since the day I met you. Even though you had only known Ye Hao for a short while then, I had hoped that I would have a daughter-in-law just like you.”

Then, Xia Jingshu grasped her daughter-in-law’s hands once more while He Xiyan flushed from embarrassment, a little embarrassed to receive such high praise from her mother-in-law. She had always felt as though she didn’t match Ye Hao.

Xia Jingshu paused, then continued, “Then, you became closer to Ye Hao and I know that you were once-married and also knew that you were pregnant. I did think about forbidding Ye Hao to continue to date you but I ultimately didn’t stop him from doing so because I was once in the same shoes as you had been.”

Xia Jingshu turned away as though she had dredged up old memories. Her eyes suddenly turned red-rimmed and filled with tears.

“Mum…” He Xiyan quickly pulled out a sheet of tissue and wiped at her tears. “Mum, don’t get so agitated.”

She didn’t understand why her mother-in-law was suddenly so overcome with sorrow so she didn’t know how to comfort her.

Xia Jingshu heaved a deep sigh. 31 years had passed but each time she thought about the past, she felt extremely upset.

She coughed twice before she continued, “When I was younger, your father-in-law and I fell in love with each other and we were extremely close. Unfortunately, I came from an average background and was only the daughter of ordinary civilians. Therefore, the Ye family treated me with contempt when your father-in-law first brought me home.”