Since she was leaving the next day, Wen Yu wanted to stay at a guesthouse in the county town. However, the Shao family refused.
“It’s not safe for a young woman to stay alone at a guesthouse. Wenwen, stay here for one more night. Tomorrow, we’ll have the orderly escort you to the train station.”
Shao Kai also chimed in, “If something happens to you outside, how are we supposed to explain it to your father? It’s only one night at home. There’s no need to rush.”
If she insisted any further, things would only become more awkward, so Wen Yu nodded.
“Then I’ll trouble you all for one more night.”
A pang of bitterness rose in Wang Xuemei’s heart.
Originally, they should have been family. Why speak of troubling each other?
Her gaze drifted subtly toward Xu Wan.
Why didn’t she faint earlier or later? Why did it have to happen at the most critical moment?
A perfectly good marriage had now fallen apart.
Wang Xuemei did not want to complain. After all, Xu Wan had not done anything improper these past few years and had even left behind a bloodline for Wenqing. Yet she still could not help herself.
In the end, she could only sigh.
Perhaps the two children were simply not fated to be together.
She patted Wen Yu’s hand gently.
“It’s our Shao family that wronged you. If there’s ever anything you need in the future, just tell Mom… tell Auntie. As long as we can help, we absolutely will.”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
Wang Xuemei sighed again.
If this had happened to another young woman, she might have caused a huge scene already.
Such a considerate daughter-in-law was simply not meant for their family.
Shao Wenye never returned after leaving earlier in the day, not even by dinnertime. Everyone tacitly avoided mentioning him, afraid that bringing him up would only upset Wen Yu again.
Perhaps out of guilt and apology—or perhaps because the ingredients had originally been prepared for Wen Yu and Shao Wenye’s wedding feast—the dinner that evening was especially lavish.
There were dumplings, stewed chicken, fish, and various seasonal vegetables.
In those days, even a political commissar’s family lived on fixed rations. Without ration coupons, one could hardly move an inch. Being able to prepare such a table of dishes to entertain Wen Yu was no small matter.
If not for what happened during the day, the atmosphere now should have been warm and joyful.
“Wenwen, eat more. Riding the train is exhausting. You should nourish yourself beforehand.”
Wang Xuemei kept serving Wen Yu dumplings and ladling chicken soup into her bowl. In the end, she even placed a chicken drumstick into her bowl.
“Grandma, I want a drumstick too.”
At this point, Wang Xuemei could not even be bothered scolding him anymore. She directly placed another drumstick into her grandson’s bowl.
“Eat.”
Shao Rong looked at the drumstick in Wen Yu’s bowl before turning to Xu Wan.
“Mom, this one’s for you.”
He gave his own drumstick to his mother, but his eyes remained fixed on the one in Wen Yu’s bowl.
Xu Wan looked embarrassed.
“Mom doesn’t like drumsticks. Xiaobao, you eat it yourself.”
Shao Rong tilted his head stubbornly.
Ever since Uncle got a wife, Grandma no longer cared about him and Mom as much. From now on, he needed to treat his mother even better.
Because of this small incident, the atmosphere at the table instantly became awkward again.
“Auntie, drumsticks are for sick people and children.”
Shao Rong’s round eyes stared directly at Wen Yu.
Being stared at like this by a child barely over two years old left Wen Yu in an awkward position. Whether she ate it or not felt wrong either way.
“Shao Rong!”
Shao Kai’s face darkened with displeasure.
This child was becoming more outrageous by the day. The family already gave him the best food and drink first, yet he still wasn’t satisfied.
Wen Yu placed the drumstick into Shao Rong’s bowl with a faint smile.
“Sister Xu Wan isn’t in good health and should nourish herself. And Shao Rong is still growing, so he should eat well too.”
Xu Wan hurriedly refused.
“One drumstick is enough for Xiaobao and me to share. Comrade Wen, please eat your meal. Don’t mind him. This child just likes stirring up trouble.”
As she spoke, she lightly smacked Shao Rong’s hand.
“Eat your food properly.”
“Oh.”
He immediately took a bite from the drumstick in his bowl, then secretly cast Wen Yu a smug look, believing he had hidden it well.
The Shao family felt embarrassed again, but they could not discipline the child in front of Wen Yu. If he started crying and throwing another tantrum, nobody would be able to finish dinner.
So they all pretended not to notice.
Wen Yu merely smiled and said nothing.
There was no reason to take back something she had already given away. Besides, it was only a chicken drumstick. There was no need to make everyone uncomfortable over it.
Shao Rong snorted.
If this aunt had never suddenly appeared, all these delicious things would have belonged to their family alone. Now that they had even shared dumplings with her, he was already unhappy about it.
Not wanting to argue with a child, Wen Yu simply ignored him.
For a while, the dinner table fell silent. Other than the sounds of bowls and chopsticks clinking together, no one spoke.
Perhaps feeling that the earlier incident had made things too awkward, Wang Xuemei told Wen Yu to go upstairs and rest after dinner.
“The train ride back to Shanghai takes five days. Rest well tonight and recover your energy.”
Wen Yu nodded.
“Auntie, then I’ll head upstairs first.”
“Alright, go on.”
Wang Xuemei waved her hand and stood at the foot of the stairs watching Wen Yu leave.
Too many things had happened today. She needed time to process it all herself.
The Shao parents and Xu Wan stayed on the first floor. The second floor had three rooms, and the largest one had been decorated as the bridal room. Bright red double happiness decorations were pasted on the door.
Wen Yu stood there staring at them quietly for a long moment.
Then she reached up, tore the decoration down, and tossed it into the nearby trash basket before walking into the guest room next door—the room she had been staying in these past few days.
The moment she lay down on the bed, it felt as though all the strength had been drained from her body. She did not even have the energy to move a finger.
Before coming to the southwest, Wen Yu had imagined many possibilities.
The worst scenario she could picture was living politely and indifferently with Shao Wenye for the rest of her life.
But she never imagined that in the end, she would leave this place in such humiliation.
A tear slid from the corner of her eye and disappeared into her hair.
All the hope and anticipation she once held in her heart had ultimately come to nothing.