After Xu Suyu went out, the old master saw that Jiang Sun was still sitting there, fiddling with the “peace pendant” hanging around his neck. He lifted his foot and kicked him lightly. “You brat, why are you still sitting here?”
Jiang Sun rolled his eyes speechlessly. “Old man, let’s be reasonable. Now even me sitting here is an eyesore to you?”
“You fool! Suyu is a good girl. Just now Han Shumo acted on impulse and let her go, which let you pick up a huge bargain. But Han Guozhang is a shrewd old fox—do you think he’d just give up like that? They’re clearly sending someone to snatch your wife back! And you’re still sitting here? Go out and take a look!”
Thinking about how Han Shumo had behaved toward that rotten potato Qin Wanqiu just now, Jiang Sun felt that the Han family probably couldn’t even handle their own son, let alone dare to snatch someone back.
But what if?
Xu Suyu was already his fiancée. If someone took her back, where would he put his face?
He got up and jogged out after her.
When Xu Suyu reached the front gate, she saw Cao Meiru—wearing a short, blunt “Liu Hulan” hairstyle—standing under the old tree across the road, chatting enthusiastically with several longtime neighbors from the compound.
The moment she spotted Xu Suyu, Cao Meiru hurried over and warmly grasped her hand, every inch the picture of a kind elder.
“Oh, Suyu, dear. I just went to work and came back, and you’d already moved out? I heard from your Uncle Han that you got engaged to Little Jiang from Commander Jiang’s family. You’re just a young girl—moving from one unfamiliar household to another so suddenly. Are you adjusting alright?”
The way she put it made it sound as if Xu Suyu casually stayed in strange households, as though she were improper.
Xu Suyu wore a gentle smile. “Don’t worry, Auntie. My grandfather once saved the lives of both your family and Commander Jiang’s family. Because of that kindness, whether I stay at your house or Grandpa Jiang’s, it’s all the same. Grandpa Jiang and the others treat me extremely well. After arriving in the capital, it’s the first time I’ve felt like I’m home.”
Cao Meiru was slightly surprised.
This girl had been quiet and obedient these past three days, speaking little. She’d assumed she was simple and honest. Who knew she could speak with such hidden barbs?
Xu Suyu continued, “Besides, Comrade Han already has someone in his heart. As an unmarried young woman, staying at your home would cause misunderstandings for the person he likes.”
Several military wives nearby looked surprised and turned to Cao Meiru curiously.
“Sister Cao, your Shumo has someone he likes? How come we’ve never heard about it? He’s so outstanding—the girl he likes must be exceptional too. Which family is she from? You’ve kept it well hidden.”
Cao Meiru quickly laughed in response. “Oh, nothing like that. Suyu must have misunderstood since she just arrived.”
Qin Wanqiu? As if she were worthy.
“Suyu, actually Shumo doesn’t like anyone. He just didn’t want to marry you and didn’t want you to feel embarrassed, so he made up an excuse to spare your feelings. That child is just too kind and soft-hearted—he doesn’t like hurting others. Don’t overthink it.”
Just then, Jiang Sun strolled over lazily from the gate and sneered, “Oh? You say not to overthink, yet in front of so many people you announce that your son didn’t want to marry my fiancée. You elevate your son’s character while trying to put down my fiancée. Cao Meiru, is your heart made from lotus root stuffed with stinking mud? Dirty and black.”
Cao Meiru’s eyes turned sharp. “Jiang Sun, is that how you speak to an elder?”
“Did you raise me? Since when are you my elder? A black-hearted lotus root like you thinks you’re worthy?”
Cao Meiru frowned. “Jiang Sun! You’ve gone too far. I’ll tell Commander Jiang you—”
“Go ahead. If that’s not enough, you can just slit your throat right now and go complain to my ancestors underground. I won’t object.”
“You… you…”
Having lived two lifetimes, Xu Suyu was finally witnessing Cao Meiru—the smiling tiger—have her mask ripped off in public. Her face shifted from red to white, then white to black with rage.
After all, Cao Meiru had always been domineering—she demanded obedience and tolerated no defiance. If crossed, she would shut the doors and resort to crying, making a scene, or threatening suicide.
In her previous life, for Han Shumo’s sake—so he wouldn’t be caught in the middle—Xu Suyu endured as much as she could.
Until one time, when Cao Meiru tried the same suicide trick again. Xu Suyu saw through her act. Hearing movement from her bedroom, she deliberately sent Han Shumo out to buy soy sauce and pretended to know nothing, returning calmly to the kitchen to continue cooking.
Yet Cao Meiru’s life was stubbornly resilient. That day, Han Shumo forgot to bring money and came back for it—just in time to save her, when she had only a breath left.
From that day on, Cao Meiru never dared to threaten suicide again—but she never stopped cursing.
“I never approved of you as my daughter-in-law from the start! If my son hadn’t married a capitalist young lady like you, he’d have been promoted even faster. You’re a jinx, exploiting kindness and dragging my son down!”
“If I’d known you’d worm your way into marrying my son, I might as well have let him marry Qin Wanqiu—the girl everyone in the compound looks down on! Even she would be ten thousand times better than you!”
“You eat my son’s food and drink his earnings. So what if my son can’t have children? You’re still not worthy of him!”
“Now that I’m sick like this, I don’t trust anyone else to take care of me. Xu Suyu must do it. Wasn’t she a pampered capitalist young lady? If she’s been served before, she must know how to serve others!”
She had heard countless words like these in her previous life—especially during her final bedridden years. Han Shumo could always claim the hospital was busy and avoid coming home, but she had to face Cao Meiru every single day.
If not for the fact that Han Shumo had once treated her well, she would have long since told this woman to go as far away as possible.
Because this woman had forgotten her roots! Without Grandfather’s lifesaving grace, Han Shumo wouldn’t have been marrying or getting promoted—grass on his grave would have grown into towering trees!
Xu Suyu drew her thoughts back and glanced at Jiang Sun. “Ah Sun. That’s enough. Don’t make a scene.”
Jiang Sun obediently stepped back and stood behind her. “Fine. I’ll listen to you, sis.”
The surrounding onlookers gaped.
This little devil… actually listened to this young girl?
Had the sun risen in the west?
Cao Meiru clenched her teeth. “Suyu, for your sake, I won’t stoop to his level. But you—”
“Aunt Cao is truly broad-minded. Jiang Sun is young and doesn’t know better. I knew you wouldn’t lower yourself to argue with him,” Xu Suyu said sweetly, even patting the back of Cao Meiru’s hand in return. Polite words—she knew how to use them too. If Cao Meiru continued to press, she would only appear petty.
“Aunt Cao, did you come specifically to see me today? Is there something you need?”
Cao Meiru bit her lip tightly…
Through clenched teeth, her smile no longer looked sincere. “Your Uncle Han was worried about you, a young girl living outside alone. The moment I got off work, he kept urging me to come and persuade you to move back and stay with us.”
“Aunt Cao, thank you to you and Uncle for your kindness. But I’m living quite well here at Grandpa Jiang’s place. I won’t trouble you by moving back.”
Cao Meiru sighed. “Suyu, Auntie understands the difficult position you’re in right now. Your Uncle Han truly wanted you to become our daughter-in-law with all his heart. It’s just that Shumo acted foolishly, and there’s nothing we could do about him.
“But that child Shumo has always been one to repay kindness. So just now, he came up with a way to return the favor that would satisfy both sides. He asked me to come and see if you would be willing.”