RGL – Chapter 136

A person isn’t naturally scheming—it’s just that Wang Mingsong had pushed her too far. Su Min really had no other choice. As for how she knew something would go wrong at the farmer’s market, well, that was her own secret.

She smiled and patted Su Min’s hand. “Alright, I won’t ask about it anymore. I was just casually bringing it up. The fact that you’re being this honest, I have nothing else to say.”

Su Min pressed her lips together and nodded. “Sister Wan, I promise you, I will never intentionally hurt anyone. Everything I do, I can live with it in good conscience.”

“I believe you. I also trust my own judgment. But don’t mention this matter to anyone else. Even though Wang Mingsong has been arrested, and some others involved were also taken in, there’s no guarantee that someone else won’t try to retaliate. If word gets out that you were part of the planning, you’ll be in trouble in the future.”

“I understand. I won’t tell anyone.”

Ke Wan smiled with her lips pursed.

That afternoon, Wu Zhe was busy at the company and didn’t come home, so Su Min simply stayed and had lunch with Ke Wan.

Ruirui could now crawl on the floor. His chubby little hands pawed across the carpet and soon grabbed at the hem of Su Min’s skirt.

Su Min picked him up. “Ruirui, say ‘Auntie.’”

Ruirui blew a bubble and wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth onto Su Min’s clothes.

Ke Wan came over and took the baby into her arms, laughing. “This little guy is so attached to you. If you don’t come around as often, he’ll definitely throw a fuss.”

“I’ll make sure to come by often to see Ruirui,” Su Min said, gently stroking his little face.

Ke Wan smiled. “That’s good. But Wu Zhe wants to develop his career in the provincial capital, so we might be moving. Sigh, we’ve lived here for so long, I’ve gotten used to it. Now that we’re moving, I really feel reluctant to leave. But back when Wu Zhe came back, he never planned to stay here for long—it was just to visit family. If he wants to truly grow his business, he needs to be in a bigger market.”

Hearing that they were planning to move, Su Min felt downcast. It was rare to have a good friend like Ke Wan. They had become as close as sisters, but now she might be leaving. Who knew how long it would be before they could see each other again?

“Are you planning to settle down in the provincial capital?”

“I don’t know yet. I still want to stay in the city—the environment is better here, not so noisy. But it depends on what Wu Zhe wants. Also, Shu Jing and Zhang Ning suggested we go to City B. If we go there, we could collaborate.”

That made Su Min feel a bit better. She smiled and said, “If you really go to City B, then it’ll be easier to meet up. Once I get accepted into a school there, I’ll be able to visit you all the time. And with Sister Shu Jing and Sister Zhang Ning around, you’ll have more company too.”

Ke Wan smiled. “So you’ve decided to apply there?”

“Mm.” Su Min blushed and nodded. “Though I haven’t taken the exam yet, I did a little self-assessment, and I think it should be fine.”

Ke Wan nodded and smiled. “That’s great. The schools over there are quite good. If you can get in, you might even be able to start your career there. Su Min, take my advice—your business has more potential in a place like City B. The country isn’t what it used to be—now people are valuing traditional things more and more. Your custom clothing has real prospects in that market.” Seeing Su Min silent, she smiled again. “Don’t underestimate me. Before I married Wu Zhe, I had a career overseas too. After coming back and having Ruirui, I had to stay home. But once he grows up, I’ll be like Shu Jing and the others—I’ll have my own career too. As women, we can’t place our hopes on men.”

This was the first time Su Min had heard Ke Wan say something like that. In her mind, Wu Zhe treated Ke Wan very well—almost doting on her—so she had thought Ke Wan was just a sweet, pampered woman. She hadn’t expected her to have such a strong, independent mindset.

Seeing that even someone with a comfortable life like Ke Wan hadn’t lost her drive, Su Min felt she had even less reason to slack off.

“Sister Wan, thank you for the advice. I won’t place my hopes on anyone else either. We have to rely on ourselves.”

After the school term started, Su Min got busier and barely helped out at the store anymore. Sun Yan understood she had a heavy academic load, so she didn’t disturb her much and kept the store running herself. Besides, there weren’t any custom orders now, so Zhang Qingqing helped out with sales.

With more exposure to the outside world, Zhang Qingqing had become more outgoing too.

“Panpan, I want to build a new house at home. Our old house needs an upgrade so Mom, Dad, and Grandma can live more comfortably.”

That evening, after getting off work, Zhang Qingqing brought a late-night snack to Zhang Panpan and shared her plan.

She had made quite a bit of money by now and wanted to improve her family’s living conditions.

Their home was an old mud house. Grandma’s health wasn’t great, and if they could live in a clean, solid brick house, it would be better not only for Shuisheng’s future marriage but also for Grandma’s recovery.

Of course, this was a big decision. She’d always lacked confidence in such matters, so she came to ask her younger sister for her opinion.

Zhang Panpan didn’t have much to say—after all, she wasn’t earning any money, and it was her sister’s money. She didn’t feel right telling her sister how to spend it. “Sis, Mom said last time that you’re at the age to settle down. You should save that money for your dowry.”

“What are you talking about? I earned this money for the family. Why else would I come to the city? Isn’t it all to make sure the family lives better?” Zhang Qingqing said seriously.

Seeing her sister upset, Zhang Panpan quickly said, “Alright, I won’t say anything else, okay?”

With tears in her eyes, Zhang Qingqing said, “Panpan, Grandma isn’t well. I want her to have a few good years. Ever since we were kids, with Mom and Dad so busy, it was Grandma who took care of everything. She raised me and the younger ones. Now that she’s lying in bed, it breaks my heart.”

Grandma Zhang had been a strong, capable woman when she was younger. She had raised Zhang Panpan, her sister, and their younger brother Shuisheng, so all of them had deep affection for her.

Hearing Zhang Qingqing talk about Grandma brought a pang to Panpan’s heart.

Her biggest worry now was that she wouldn’t make money in time—and Grandma might not be around by then.

“Sis, I still have several years to go…”

“It’s fine. I can manage. And look—plenty of city girls don’t get married until their late twenties. We’re not in a rush. Right now, the priority is to earn money. Let’s not talk about anything else.”

Zhang Qingqing had thought it through. Rather than marrying just anyone, she’d rather focus on making money first. If the right person came along later, she’d think about it then.

After her last relationship, she wasn’t interested in dating at all.

Since she planned to return home to build a house, she also asked Su Min for leave.

Right now, the store wasn’t taking custom orders, the embroidery work wasn’t too heavy, and since she was going back to build a house, Su Min agreed without hesitation. She only asked that she handle things at home quickly and come back as soon as possible.

Zhang Qingqing quickly packed her luggage and went home.

When she arrived in the afternoon, her mother was sun-drying beans at home. Seeing her daughter return, she happily said, “Qingqing is back.”

Grandma Zhang, who was inside the house, also heard the sound and called for Zhang Qingqing to come in.

Grandma Zhang’s health was poor now, and even getting out of bed was difficult most days. Fortunately, Mother Zhang was diligent and always kept things clean and tidy.

Zhang Qingqing took out the nutritional supplements she had bought for her grandmother and then told her about her plan to build a house for the family.

“Don’t worry about that. Building a house isn’t something a girl should be concerned about. At your age, you should be thinking about finding a husband.”

“Grandma, I came back this time specifically to build a house for the family. I’m not thinking about anything else.”

“You may not be, and that’s your filial piety. But your parents and I have to think about it. Stay at home for a few more days while you’re here. I’ll have your mother find someone to match you with. Once you’ve met someone suitable, then you can return to the city. You’re working in the city now, and many people have been asking about you.”

“I think now that my sister is back, my parents will definitely bring up marriage proposals for her,” Zhang Panpan said while eating with Su Min at school.

Su Min smiled and said, “If there’s someone suitable, it’s good to get married. But if there’s no one right, forcing it wouldn’t be good either.”

“You don’t know. Where we’re from, many people get married in their teens. In our village, many of my peers who didn’t study much are already married.”

“That’s too early.”

Tang Man, who overheard, joined the conversation. “They’re still just kids in their teens—how can they get married? They’d even have to bear children.”

“You haven’t lived in that kind of environment, so of course it’s hard for you to imagine,” Zhang Panpan said. She also thought it wasn’t good, but there were indeed many such cases in the village. That’s why she was always grateful her family allowed her to study. Otherwise, she might’ve already been engaged or even married by now.

Thinking about being stuck in her hometown for life, unable to freely go out after marriage, never getting to know so many friends or learn about so many things, she felt guilty and scared.

Tang Man, unaware of Zhang Panpan’s thoughts, was reminded of Su Wenwen when the topic of teen pregnancy came up.

“Hey, have you heard? That Su Wenwen processed her transfer papers. It seems she’s transferring to a county school.”

Everyone hadn’t really paid attention to this news, but now that she mentioned it, Liao Zhaodi glanced at Su Min and asked on her behalf, “Why did she transfer?”

“I heard her father got into trouble. Su Min should know, right?” She looked at Su Min. “Wasn’t your family’s supermarket framed for poisoning last time? Turns out, it was Su Wenwen’s stepfather who did it.”

Yin Jing added, “This isn’t exactly new news. I knew about it. But transferring schools seems unnecessary. It’s hard to get into a top city school—why transfer out?”

Tang Man grinned mysteriously. “You guys don’t know this, huh? I went to middle school with a girl in her class. She told me that apparently, Su Wenwen had a miscarriage. Bet you didn’t see that coming.”

At the word “miscarriage,” everyone looked a little embarrassed.

“Don’t talk nonsense. How could that be possible?” Liao Zhaodi waved it off.

“Why not? I’m telling the truth. She accidentally overheard their homeroom teacher talking about it. I always knew someone like her wouldn’t end up well. She doesn’t respect herself. She’s so young and already doing disgraceful things. How will she face people in the future?”

The others nodded in agreement.

Su Min didn’t say anything. She quietly sipped from her water bottle and wiped her mouth. “Alright, let’s stop talking about this. If someone hears us discussing this at school, it won’t look good.”

Only then did Tang Man realize and quickly looked around. Seeing no one nearby, she finally relaxed.

If someone overheard her gossiping about a miscarriage, it would definitely damage her own reputation.

Back in the classroom, everyone returned to reading.

Su Min sat at her desk, still thinking about what Tang Man had said. She had only suspected that Su Wenwen had a miscarriage, but hearing it confirmed still shocked her. If it was true, then there was no longer any need to guess whose child it was.

Now that this had come out, Gao Hong surely knew as well.

She just hoped that after this, she’d never have to see Su Wenwen again. A person like that had no bottom line—being with her own stepfather and snatching her biological mother’s husband. There was no limit to what she could do.

And Su Wenwen probably didn’t even feel she had done anything wrong. Instead, she likely felt that others didn’t understand her.

“I’m not going back to the county!”

Su Wenwen was yelling loudly while sitting on the hospital bed.

Gao Hong looked utterly exhausted as she sat to the side. Besides her, Grandma Gao was also present.

As soon as she heard her granddaughter had an accident, she rushed over from the county. Although heartbroken that the girl was so foolish, she had raised her with love and couldn’t bear to see her suffer. So she planned to take Su Wenwen back to the county and take care of her herself. She didn’t want her daughter to be overwhelmed taking care of two children, which could lead to another incident.

Looking at her unwilling granddaughter, Grandma Gao sighed, “Wenwen, be good. Come back with Grandma. I’ll cook you delicious food, okay? At my place, no one will upset you. Didn’t you say you were unhappy living at the Wang family’s place?”

“But the Wang family house is big,” Su Wenwen said, biting her lip.

“You still dare bring up the Wang family? You’re going back to the county immediately!” Gao Hong suddenly stood up from her chair, furious. She pointed at Su Wenwen and shouted, “How did I raise such a shameless daughter? If you don’t go back, then don’t even think about staying with the Wang family anymore. I’ll move out myself. Let’s see where you go then!”

“What kind of talk is that? Don’t say such things!” Grandma Gao quickly stopped her. “Even if you don’t care for yourself, think about Tianci. If you leave the Wang family, what will happen to him?”

Hearing her younger son Wang Tianci’s name, Gao Hong felt bitter. “It’s because of him that I haven’t divorced Wang Mingsong. Otherwise, I would’ve left that family long ago.”

She was secretly relieved that Wang Mingsong would be in prison for thirty years—at least she wouldn’t have to face him again. Every time she saw him, she’d think of the disgusting things he did with her daughter. Sometimes, she even wanted to strangle him.

Su Wenwen, hearing that Gao Hong was staying at the Wang house for Wang Tianci’s sake while throwing her away to the county, felt wronged. “I knew it. You don’t care about me at all. You only like Tianci, not me.”

“After what you’ve done, how can I still like you? If you go back with your grandmother, I’ll still support you. But if you refuse, I’ll cut ties with you. Go wherever you want.”

Gao Hong said through teary eyes.

Grandma Gao quickly tried to persuade her, “Come on, she’s still your own daughter. Behind closed doors, we’re all family. You’ve raised her for seventeen or eighteen years—can you really cast her away?”

Gao Hong wiped her tears. “Mom, I really have no other choice. Look at what she’s done—what am I supposed to do?”

Su Wenwen angrily shouted, “What did I do? I just made a mistake. Why does that make you so upset? If you won’t care for me, fine! I’ll go find my father!”

“Who? Su Changgui?” Gao Hong glared at her.

“Yes! I’ll go to him! Don’t worry, I won’t ruin your happy life anymore!” After saying this, she yanked up the quilt and wrapped herself tightly in it.