Before dinner, Wen Li received a phone call from her natal family.
On the other end of the line, her father scolded her harshly. “We’re all family. What good does it do you to slander us like this?!”
“Hurry up and come home. Explain things clearly to the people outside. Say that everything you said was said in anger—it was all fake!”
Wen Li raised an eyebrow. It seemed those words had done their job.
When people she disliked were unhappy, her mood improved tremendously.
With a smile in her voice, she said, “Slander? Then go ahead and sue me.”
Her father was momentarily speechless.
He softened his tone. “You’re making such a fuss—how is your brother supposed to marry a wife?”
“And Tiantian too. She’s at the age to get married.”
Wen Zhiyuan had dated two women before. Both came from good families, were educated, and were pretty.
But after coming to the Wen household for dinner twice, both relationships fell through.
Given the Wen family’s conditions, it shouldn’t have been hard for Wen Zhiyuan to find a wife. The problem was that the women he liked didn’t want to date him.
And the ones who liked him—he didn’t like.
After those two failed relationships, Wen Zhiyuan had stayed single ever since, with no sign of marriage even now.
He was already twenty-seven, still not settled. Wen Father and Wen Mother were getting anxious.
There was an old saying: start a family before building a career—starting a family came first!
If he didn’t marry soon, when would they ever get to hold a grandson?
Wen Li knew they had arranged several blind dates for Wen Zhiyuan and planned to let him meet the women around New Year’s.
At a critical time like this, bad rumors about the Wen family would definitely affect Wen Zhiyuan’s matchmaking.
But what did that have to do with her?
Wen Li said, “Women aren’t blind. They don’t just jump into any pit they see! Instead of wasting time talking nonsense to me, why don’t you reflect on yourselves?”
“Wen Li!”
So angry that his breathing grew heavy, Wen Father barked, “Don’t forget what your surname is!”
Wen Li replied calmly, “I don’t mind changing it.”
Her stubborn refusal to budge made Wen Father furious.
No wonder one trip home was enough for her to turn the entire household upside down.
She’d really grown capable!
Wen Father said, “Don’t you just want money? Come back and settle this matter. We’ll give you money.”
Wen Li sneered. “You can believe your lies yourselves.”
If she really went to clarify things, once the matter was over, all she’d get would be a round of scolding—and the Wen family wouldn’t give her a single cent.
And afterward, no matter what she said, outsiders wouldn’t believe her anymore.
The current situation was perfect.
Wen Li decisively hung up the phone.
Xu’s mother hadn’t heard clearly what was said, but she didn’t need to—she knew the Wen family couldn’t possibly say anything decent.
Fortunately, Wen Li’s attitude was firm, and she hadn’t been fooled into going back.
Xu’s mother said, “Ignore them. If anything really happens, your dad and I will back you up.”
Wen Li felt deeply moved.
In this family, the only one who treated her well wasn’t just Xu Zhouye.
She smiled and said, “Relationships between relatives also depend on fate. Clearly, I don’t have that fate with them. There’s no need to force it.”
In the past, she hadn’t understood this. She had always longed for familial love, which was why she had suffered so many grievances.
Love others—but love yourself first.
Endless compromise would never earn sympathy, much less affection.
It would only make them push their luck!
Xu’s mother said, “Once you get to the base, you and Qingqing won’t know anyone there. If you’re too soft-hearted, it’s easy to suffer losses. I was worried before—but seeing you like this now, I’m actually relieved.”
Wen Li was good-tempered, a well-behaved girl.
Xu’s mother had no issues with Wen Li herself—she simply disliked the Wen family people.
Now that Wen Li had stood up for herself, Xu’s mother was genuinely happy for her.
The kind are bullied; the gentle are ridden.
Kindness also needs an edge!
Otherwise, how could one protect oneself and one’s child?
Xu’s father had worked all day and was now holding Qingqing, feeding him steamed egg custard.
He called out to Wen Li, “Hurry up and eat, or the food will get cold.”
Wen Li responded and went to the table, putting that phone call completely out of her mind.
Qingqing took a few bites of egg custard, then pointed at the flatbread. “Want to eat~”
Holding the child, Xu’s father broke off a small piece for him.
Qingqing held the flatbread with both little hands, took a bite, and chewed hard.
His fair, chubby cheeks puffed up—it was unbearably cute!
Xu’s father’s eyes were full of affection. He couldn’t bear to put the child down even while eating.
One hand cradled the child, the other held the flatbread.
Eating and taking care of the baby at the same time!
Xu’s mother picked up some cabbage and tofu, let it cool a bit, and fed it to Qingqing.
Qingqing didn’t like cabbage—unless it was mixed with meat and had a meaty aroma.
He pressed his lips tightly together, refusing to open his mouth, even covering it with one chubby little hand.
His clear black-and-white eyes rolled around, looking clever and adorable.
No matter what Qingqing did, the elderly couple found him cute.
Xu’s mother coaxed him, “Your mommy worked hard cooking. Just eat a little, okay?”
Xu’s father added, “If it tastes good, eat more. If it doesn’t, eat less. But you can’t not eat at all—that would be disrespecting someone’s hard work.”
Qingqing furrowed his tiny brows, thought for a few seconds, then said, “Okay~”
He opened his mouth wide and主动 bit into the cabbage.
Then, with a bitter little face, he said to Wen Li, “Mommy, tasty~”
Wen Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Then have some more?”
Qingqing: “……”
He turned his head away and silently went back to gnawing on his flatbread and eating his egg custard.
With the elderly couple around, Wen Li didn’t need to feed the child or coax him at all. She could eat peacefully.
There weren’t many people in the household, but with a child around, it was never quiet.
Laughter rang out from time to time.
Meanwhile, at the Wen household, the atmosphere was stifling.
Wen Tiantian had cried until her eyes were swollen.
In her heart, she cursed Wen Li as a vile bitch.
Her reputation was completely ruined now—men with good conditions would no longer date her!
Wen Li—how dare she?!
“Dad, when will she come back?” Wen Tiantian asked impatiently.
Wen Father couldn’t answer that question.
He had never imagined that one day his obedient, sensible daughter would turn against him.
Spouting nonsense outside was bad enough—but she even dared to hang up on him!
Wen Father was extremely displeased.
But Wen Li was already married. He couldn’t very well run to the Xu family to teach her a lesson.
“Dad?” Wen Tiantian pressed.
Wen Father said coldly, “Take two hundred yuan. Zhiyuan, you go give it to her and tell her to hurry back and resolve this mess.”
If things weren’t clarified soon, this fire would eventually burn every one of them.
His job, Zhiyuan’s job, and Tiantian’s job would all be affected—then the losses would be huge!
Leaving work aside, being pointed at and gossiped about every day—was that a life worth living?
Wen Father didn’t want people stabbing him in the back with their words. This matter had to be resolved immediately!
Wen Zhiyuan said, “She’s just making a scene to get money. If we give her money, won’t we just be falling into her trap?”
Wen Mother nodded in agreement. “Let’s ignore her for a few days. When the rumors die down, as long as we stay calm, it won’t affect us.”
Wen Father roared, “Long hair, short sight!”
Wen Mother shot back, “You care about too many things—that’s why that damned girl has you wrapped around her finger. Try ignoring her and see who gets anxious in the end!”
Anyway, her husband was a factory director. He wasn’t going to lose his job.
Being cursed for a few days—this would all blow over eventually.
But if they gave Wen Li money now, they’d only whet her appetite.
Two hundred this time—would it be five hundred next time?
Absolutely not!
Although Wen Li was her biological daughter, even five fingers weren’t the same length.
Wen Mother wanted to leave the family assets to her son and let a little slip through her fingers to Tiantian.
As for Wen Li—she was already married, yet still coveting her natal family’s property. Wasn’t that going too far?
Wen Tiantian bit her lip and suddenly began to hate Wen Mother.
The one being pointed at behind her back was Wen Tiantian. The one being excluded whenever she went out was also Wen Tiantian!
They claimed to love her, yet watched helplessly as she suffered.
This wasn’t love at all!
Tears streamed down Wen Tiantian’s face as she felt utterly wronged.
Wen Father was already irritated. Seeing Wen Tiantian cry made him even more agitated.
He shouted, “Hurry up and get Wen Li back here!”
“If she doesn’t come back today, then she should never come back again!”