Director Wu didn’t hesitate any longer.
With two swift strokes, he signed everything.
Qin Xiangru was so furious that tears streamed down her face. She shot Liu Meiling a vicious glare before turning and storming off.
Li Mingliang panicked and didn’t care where he was.
He hurried after her. “Xiangru, Xiangru, don’t run! Wait for me!”
Director Wu spoke meaningfully, “Your younger sister seems quite close to your husband.”
Liu Meiling smiled. See—even a random outsider could tell Li Mingliang and Qin Xiangru had an unusual relationship. And yet she had been blind, deceived for over sixty years in her previous life.
“Director, we’ll head back now.”
Director Wu nodded. “Alright. Yu Tao, right? Remember to report to work on time tomorrow!”
Yu Tao nodded, her nose tingling with emotion—she finally didn’t have to go back.
Ma Xiulian held her daughter’s hand, holding back tears. “Thank you, Director.”
…
Liu Meiling returned to the state-run restaurant with the mother and daughter. Yu Yuan had checked his watch countless times. Seeing Ma Xiulian’s red eyes, his heart skipped. “Let’s eat first!”
Ma Xiulian patted Yu Tao’s hand and poured a glass of wine. “Quick, thank your Aunt Ling.”
Liu Meiling waved her hands. “Oh, what’s this for? I didn’t lose out!”
“What do you mean ‘lose out’? Sister, I saw it myself today! You took the pressure from your family and still gave the position to Tao’er. I’ll never forget this favor!”
Liu Meiling didn’t pretend otherwise.
She clicked her tongue and said honestly, “I just didn’t want to give it away for free, so I sold it. At least I got some money. If I gave it to her, I wouldn’t get a cent. Enough of that—let’s eat!”
They chatted about everyday life, drank some wine, and the meal lasted two hours—the most relaxed Liu Meiling had felt since returning.
Before she got married, she loved drinking with her father.
On her wedding night, she drank too much and, in her strength, accidentally knocked Li Mingliang’s back out when she sat down, causing quite the joke.
From then on, whenever she drank, Li Mingliang mocked her. After a few times, she stopped drinking altogether.
After more than ten years without alcohol, Liu Meiling felt a bit unaccustomed. By the time Ma Xiulian’s family escorted her back to the residential compound, she was slightly tipsy, swaying as she walked.
“Oh my, Ling’er, you’ve been drinking?”
Wu Chunhua wiped her hands and rushed over to support her. Liu Meiling waved her off, cheeks flushed. “No… not drunk!”
“Alright, alright, you’re not drunk. I’ll help you inside.”
They often visited each other, so Wu Chunhua knew where she slept and helped her straight into the east room.
Inside, Xiao Yuncheng was lying flat, bored out of his mind. Hearing movement, he sprang up like a carp. “Mom, you’re back—”
Wu Chunhua blinked. “You… are really Meiling’s son?”
Xiao Yuncheng answered honestly, “I don’t know. I lost my memory. She saved me. She’s the only one I remember.”
He didn’t even know where he came from—just his name and Liu Meiling’s fierce face. If she hadn’t introduced herself, he wouldn’t even know who to look for.
“Well… this…”
Wu Chunhua stammered, unsure whether to let go of Liu Meiling.
“Give her to me. Don’t worry—she’s my mom.”
Xiao Yuncheng emphasized the last word, pulled Liu Meiling over, took off her shoes, and tucked her in.
Before long, thunderous snoring filled the room.
A burnt smell reached Wu Chunhua’s nose.
She slapped her thigh and rushed out. “My food!”
When Liu Meiling woke up, it was already dark. Baomei quickly got off the kang and poured water. “Mom, have some water.”
Liu Meiling gulped it down, finally soothing her throat.
Turning her head, she saw Xiao Yuncheng, Qian Feng, and Qian Mianmian chatting and laughing. The dim night was quiet, a single candle between them lighting their faces just enough for her to see clearly.
For some reason, her heart calmed again.
“Mom, I heard you sold Dad’s job?”
Baomei asked softly, lowering her head, lost in thought.
Liu Meiling ruffled her hair and sat up. “Yeah, sold it. Did your dad make a fuss again?”
Baomei pressed her lips into a thin line, her face devoid of a smile. “This afternoon, Aunt Qin made a scene, saying she wanted to leave. She cried while packing, saying you gave the job to an outsider instead of helping her, a widowed relative.
Dad…”
She hesitated and didn’t continue.
Qian Feng’s faint smile faded, quietly savoring the rare moment of peace.
“Auntie, I’m sorry…”
Qian Mianmian nervously twisted her clothes.
She didn’t understand why her mother made such a fuss—the job belonged to Auntie, after all.
“What about your dad?”
Liu Meiling raised an eyebrow, puzzled. Even if she drank too much, she shouldn’t have slept through such chaos.
Xiao Yuncheng puffed his chest proudly. “Mom, when Dad tried to come in this afternoon, I threw him out!”
Liu Meiling twitched her lips, not knowing what to say.
He sure got familiar fast—calling him “old bastard” in the morning, “dad” in the afternoon.
“Mom, Sis came back too. Her mood… wasn’t good. She made a scene as well.
And… Brother brought his wife home. They said the wedding will be on the tenth.”
…What?
Liu Meiling doubted her sanity. She had only taken a nap—how did so much happen at home?
Li Mingliang had already given her money—how could he still afford to marry off the eldest?
And the Zhan brothers had been sent to prison by her—how could their family still agree to marry Zhan Hongmei into this house?
Suddenly, Liu Meiling slapped her thigh.
How could she forget something so important?!
In her previous life, the eldest son’s marriage had indeed gone through—on this very day!
And a month later, Zhan Hongmei would start showing signs of pregnancy!
Having lived through life once, her mind was much clearer now. Back then, her first grandson had been born prematurely—eight months after the wedding.
But the child had been strong and healthy, nothing like a premature baby. She had even scolded her son for being irresponsible, assuming the couple had gotten involved before marriage.
But now, it didn’t seem so simple!
The Zhan brothers were already in prison—no way the Zhan family would still marry their daughter into this house.
Unless…
Zhan Hongmei was already pregnant!
Liu Meiling hadn’t expected that despite all precautions, Zhan Hongmei still ended up entering the family.
But it didn’t matter. She had already decided to get rid of Old Li—let alone Li Baoguo, who wasn’t even her biological son.
She wouldn’t be the one suffering in the future.
Having figured it out, Liu Meiling said nothing more.
Let them marry if they want.
Seeing Baomei hesitate, Liu Meiling knew she hadn’t finished speaking.
“What else did your dad say?”
Baomei’s little face tensed, lips pressed into a line. “Dad said… if you can’t find Aunt Qin a job, once Big Brother gets married, he’ll divorce you.”
“What?!”
Divorce?
Liu Meiling felt like she’d misheard. How did the heavens suddenly say exactly what she’d been thinking?