Wen Zhiyuan brought two hundred yuan with him to the compound to look for Wen Li, but he couldn’t even get past the front gate.
In the past, whenever they came to the compound, they would either notify people in advance or have someone from the Xu family come out to receive them.
Being shut out like this—this was the first time.
Wen Zhiyuan’s face darkened. He thought to himself that this must be Wen Li stirring up trouble again.
Her mind was narrower than the eye of a needle. Even after returning to the city for so many years, she still hadn’t gotten rid of her bad habits.
Before, she would at least pretend a little. But ever since marrying into the Xu family, her wings had grown harder and harder.
This time, she hadn’t left even the slightest bit of room. Could it be that she really wanted to sever ties with her natal family?
Wen Zhiyuan felt both angry and uneasy.
He was angry that Wen Li was so immature.
He had personally come here, and she still refused to take the hint and back down!
At the same time, he was afraid that she was truly furious.
After all, the man Tiantian liked was Wen Li’s legally married husband.
If someone coveted your own partner, who could possibly accept that?
No one is willing to wear a green hat!
Wen Zhiyuan suddenly calmed down, and much of his resentment toward Wen Li dissipated.
If Wen Li didn’t want to apologize to Tiantian, then so be it.
But she still needed to explain things to the people in the workers’ family compound—that all those angry words were false.
As for what the truth really was, it was enough that their family knew.
There was no need to let outsiders watch them make fools of themselves.
Wen Zhiyuan waited a long time but never saw Wen Li or anyone from the Xu family appear.
Once he was sure he wouldn’t get to see Wen Li, Wen Zhiyuan could only ask someone else to pass the money to her.
He also had them relay a message, telling her to return to her natal home as soon as possible.
No sooner had Wen Zhiyuan left than Wen Li received the money.
This was something the Wen family had voluntarily handed over—why refuse free money?
Wen Li decisively put the money into her space.
As for going back to her natal home to help them clear things up—don’t even think about it!
From the moment she left, she had never planned to return to the Wen family.
Days passed one by one.
Wen Li still didn’t go back. She didn’t answer calls from the Wen family, and when they came to the compound to look for her, she refused to see them.
The Wen family was furious.
But since they couldn’t see her, they didn’t even have a place to vent their anger.
They could only thicken their skin, pretend nothing had happened, and cover their ears to avoid hearing the gossip.
…
Unable to reach Wen Li and with their calls unanswered, Mother Wen was furious.
“I told you we shouldn’t have given her money. Now look—two hundred yuan! Just thrown into the water!”
That amount was enough for an ordinary family to marry off a son.
In the end, it was like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone forever. Mother Wen’s heart ached so badly it felt like it was bleeding.
With that money, they could’ve bought a few more pieces of furniture when Zhiyuan got married.
Wen Li was already married out anyway, with no affection left between them—why spend money on her?
Letting Wen Li gain two hundred yuan for nothing also made Wen Tiantian extremely unhappy.
She said to Mother Wen, “Why don’t we try writing her a letter?”
Then she quickly added, “I don’t mean to scold Wen Li. Even if she hits me or curses at me, I can endure it. But she’s made such a huge mess of things and caused Mom, Dad, and Brother to suffer. I really feel sorry for you all.”
Mother Wen comforted her, “You were the one who met Xu Zhouye first. It’s normal that you like him. There’s no need to feel sorry toward Wen Li.”
“If she dares come back and make trouble again, Mom will definitely help you hit her back! If we don’t discipline her properly, she’ll really turn the world upside down!”
A flicker of a smile flashed through Wen Tiantian’s eyes.
She couldn’t wait to see Wen Li get beaten.
She suggested, “Why don’t you pretend to be sick? If she hears you’re unwell, Wen Li will definitely come back.”
If they wrote her a letter scolding her, she would only hide like a turtle and never return.
Wen Tiantian thought to herself: first trick Wen Li into coming back.
Once she was home, whether to squeeze her flat or knead her round—it would all be up to her!
Mother Wen had originally wanted to curse Wen Li out, but after thinking it over carefully, she felt Wen Tiantian’s idea was better.
“You write her a letter. Say that I’m so sick I can’t get out of bed, and tell her to hurry home.”
Mother Wen felt smug. Wen Li lacked love so much and craved her family’s approval—once she heard this news, she would definitely rush back without stopping.
She would just wait at home!
If Wen Li behaved well, she’d scold her a little less.
Both the Wen family and the Xu family lived in the provincial capital, not too far apart. Before long, the letter reached Wen Li.
Sick?
The same excuse again.
If it were the old Wen Li, she really would’ve been fooled.
But now, her heart was completely calm.
Even if Mother Wen were only pretending, or even if she were truly sick, Wen Li would not go back.
Her experiences from her past life had taught her a simple truth:
Pressing your warm face against someone else’s cold backside will never end well!
Mother Xu also saw the letter and felt a bit worried. “Why don’t you go back and take a look?”
After all, that woman was Wen Li’s biological mother. If something really happened, Mother Xu was afraid Wen Li might regret it.
Wen Li directly burned the letter. “It’s fake. No need to bother.”
Mother Xu smacked her lips, feeling enlightened. “If we don’t set up a stage for them to act on, it’s really wasting their talent.”
Wen Li couldn’t help laughing. Those people really did love acting.
When she had been brought back, they had staged a whole performance.
They said they would cherish her, make up for all the years she’d missed.
But they couldn’t keep acting for long.
They disliked her lack of education, mocked her for being shabby, small-minded, and an uncultured country bumpkin…
Years had passed, yet they still looked at her through the same old lens.
Letter after letter was sent to the Xu family. Even Wen Li herself got fed up.
She simply decided to take the child and head to the military base ahead of time.
Although Mother Xu was reluctant to part with them, she supported Wen Li’s decision.
She only said, “Children have weak constitutions. If Qingqing isn’t used to the climate, come back right away.”
Wen Li wanted to be with Xu Zhouye, but the child was also her treasure.
If Qingqing couldn’t adapt to life on the border, she would have no choice but to return to the provincial capital with him.
Wen Li said, “You take care of yourselves at home too. If the Wen family comes to cause trouble, don’t bother with them. Once they know I’ve gone to join the army, they probably won’t come looking for trouble.”
Her mother-in-law already disliked those people. Now, she would be even more annoyed by them.
This was also one of the reasons Wen Li left early.
Mother Xu replied, “They won’t be able to make a scene. Don’t worry.”
Although the Wen family had treated Wen Li unfairly, Wen Li’s father was the director of a pastry factory and cared about saving face.
If things really got noisy, the ones who would lose face would be them.
Wen Li grew up in the countryside and had seen the power of shameless pestering, tantrums, and rolling on the ground.
Although she felt the Wen family wouldn’t stoop to that level, before leaving, she still wrote them a letter.
She warned them to behave themselves, or she would expose all the dirty secrets of their family.
When that happened, their precious son truly wouldn’t be able to find a wife!
After settling everything, Wen Li finally left the provincial capital with her child.
The military base where Xu Zhouye was stationed was far away. She had to take more than ten hours by train first, then transfer to a coach.
Transfers took even longer—few vehicles, poor road conditions. It would likely take two or three days to reach the destination.
Fortunately, Wen Li had mailed part of the luggage ahead of time, with some stored in her space. She only needed to carry one child and one bag.
Otherwise, with big and small bags everywhere, just thinking about it made her head ache—she might not even want to go join the army.
Unless Xu Zhouye came back to pick her and the child up himself!
To make Wen Li and the child more comfortable, the Xu family bought her sleeper tickets.
After getting off the train, they would rest for a night in a small town, then continue the journey the next day.
At dawn, Mother Xu went to the train station to see Wen Li and Qingqing off.
Since Qingqing was born, Mother Xu had hardly been apart from him.
Even when she went out shopping, she carried Qingqing on her back.
Now, holding the child, her reluctance to part soared to the extreme.
Mother Xu instructed him, “You must listen to your mommy. Don’t go with strangers, and don’t eat things given by strangers.”
Qingqing nodded blankly.
Mommy said she was taking him to find Daddy.
Actually, he didn’t miss Daddy at all. He only wanted to stay at home and play with Grandpa, Grandma, and Mommy.
But Grandma said Daddy was all alone and very pitiful, so he and Mommy should go keep Daddy company.
When he missed home, they could come back.
Before even leaving, Qingqing already missed home.
Pouting his little mouth, he looked aggrieved. “Don’t want Daddy!”
Wen Li silently sympathized with Xu Zhouye for a few seconds. The little guy seemed to have forgotten him again.
When Xu Zhouye first left, Qingqing had still looked for him, wanting to play with him.
Now he didn’t even mention him.
He didn’t want to go to the base to visit relatives either.
If Xu Zhouye knew this, it would definitely pierce his heart.
Mother Xu was reluctant to part with her eldest grandson, but she also couldn’t bear for her own son to be all alone at the base.
Since they had the conditions to join the army, having the family of three live together would not only stabilize the marriage but also allow the child to grow up with both parents and be happier.
She comforted Qingqing, “In a few days, Grandma will go see you.”
Qingqing nodded heavily. “You have to come~”