RGL – Chapter 63

“No matter how indecisive you are, you’ve still got to care about your own children. They’re their biological parents, after all.” Anyway, if her parents insisted on her dropping out of school and getting a job just to save face, and even forced her to follow everything they said, she really wouldn’t be able to accept it.

At the hospital, Sun Hai had already signed the consent form for a C-section.

Once the doctors went in, Sun Qiufang pulled Sun Hai down to sit on a chair and wait. Better not to have someone faint outside while they’re operating inside. That would really be a mess.

When Su Min and Su Changrong got back home, Grandma Sun was still waiting in the living room. They’d been planning a cheerful lunch just a short while ago, and now the daughter-in-law was in the hospital. Xiao Hai had just gotten married at his age and was already having a baby—how did things end up like this?

Grandma Sun looked worried. When she saw Su Min and the others return, she hurriedly stood up, swaying a bit as if she might lose her balance.

Su Min quickly rushed to support her. “Grandma.”

“How’s Mengmeng?” Grandma Sun asked anxiously.

“She’s at the hospital,” Su Changrong replied. “Qiufang said it looks like the baby’s coming today. She told us to come home and grab some things for Li Meng and the baby.”

Grandma Sun turned quickly toward Li Meng’s room. “I’ve already packed everything. I’ll go get it.”

The baby clothes had been prepared for a while—some made by Grandma Sun herself, and others bought earlier by Li Meng and Sun Hai. Everything was packed neatly and ready to go, and it came out to a big bundle.

Su Changrong picked it up and was about to leave when Grandma Sun said, “I’ll go with you. I’m too anxious sitting at home. I want to see how things are going too.”

It was cold outside, and at first Su Changrong didn’t want to take Grandma Sun out into the chilly air. But seeing how insistent she was, he relented. “Then wrap yourself up in a blanket so you don’t catch a cold.”

Su Min quickly grabbed the blanket from the couch and helped Grandma Sun downstairs.

When they arrived at the hospital, the surgery was still underway.

Seeing Sun Hai’s anxious expression, Grandma Sun felt her own heart tighten. This matter wasn’t entirely unrelated to her. If something really happened, she wouldn’t be able to face her son and daughter-in-law.

They all sat in the chairs lining the hallway, none of them daring to leave.

Noticing the time, Su Changrong went downstairs to buy some food for everyone. But neither Grandma Sun nor Sun Hai could eat a bite. Sun Qiufang wasn’t in the mood either—she just encouraged Su Min to eat something so she wouldn’t go hungry.

A long while later, Li Meng was finally wheeled out of surgery.

The doctor took off her surgical mask, revealing a broad smile. “It’s a boy. Both mother and baby are doing well.”

Hearing this, Grandma Sun let out a huge sigh of relief. “Thank heavens.”

Sun Hai was already at Li Meng’s side, holding her hand. His palms were soaked in cold sweat.

The baby had arrived before the due date, so he was placed in an incubator. Su Min went with Qiufang and Grandma Sun to see him. After they returned, they let Sun Hai go have a look too.

“I want to talk with Mengmeng,” Sun Hai said with a smile.

“You should stay with her. She’s the great contributor to our Sun family—gave birth to a big, healthy baby boy! He looks just like you, Xiao Hai,” Grandma Sun said, grinning from ear to ear.

Li Meng smiled brightly at the words. Giving birth to a son lifted a huge weight off her heart. “We haven’t even picked a name yet.”

Grandma Sun chuckled. “Let’s call him Dou Dou for his nickname—it’s easy to raise. You two can decide on his formal name.”

Sun Hai laughed. “I’ve already thought of one. I just hadn’t had a chance to tell Mengmeng.”

Li Meng smiled, lips pursed. “You’re always scheming on your own and never discussing it with me. What is it?”

“Sun Rui.”

Rui (睿), meaning wisdom. He hoped his son would grow up to be intelligent, understanding, and discerning.

Su Min secretly smiled when she heard the name. It was a great name, but when Dou Dou grew up and went to school, he’d probably complain about his uncle for giving him one with so many strokes.

Little Dou Dou’s safe arrival brought joy to a once chaotic and anxious household. No one brought up Zhang Guihua or Sun Bing anymore. Even Li Meng had no complaints to voice.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Rongfang Supermarket reopened. After helping on the first day, Sun Qiufang spent the rest of the days at the hospital helping take care of Li Meng. Grandma Sun was too old to stay up late, and Sun Hai, being a man, didn’t really know what to do—so as the older sister, she had to help.

Maybe it was because Dou Dou hadn’t existed in her previous life, or maybe because Su Min had no siblings, but ever since Dou Dou was born, she adored him. Every day she would go look at him through the glass, watching him change little by little—it brought her endless joy.

Dou Dou remained in the incubator until the day before Su Min’s school started. Li Meng had eaten so well during her pregnancy that even though the baby was premature, after being in the incubator for several days, he looked very healthy and full of life.

After Su Min returned to school, she still couldn’t stop thinking about Dou Dou. During class, she couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so she could go to the hospital and see him.

While teaching, Wen Heping occasionally glanced at Su Min. Noticing how distracted she was, so unlike her usual focused self, he found it odd. After class, he casually asked, “You seemed a little out of it in class. Is something going on?”

“No, I just got a new baby cousin, and I was thinking about him.” Su Min’s face lit up at the thought of Dou Dou.

Su Min was always quiet in class. Wen Heping hardly spoke to her, let alone saw her smile like this. His heart skipped a beat as he lowered his head, pretending to look at his book. “No wonder you’re so happy. Your cousin must be really cute.”

Su Min smiled. “He is. He’s very cute, but he was in the incubator for a while, so I haven’t gotten to hold him yet.” Just thinking about it made her even more eager to go home and cuddle him.

Wen Heping stole a glance at her and found that she looked more radiant than ever.

At lunchtime, Su Min quickly packed her things and headed out. Wen Heping saw her and hurried to catch up. He finally reached her at the school gate. “Su Min, can I come with you to see your baby cousin this afternoon?”

“Huh?” Su Min was surprised. She and Wen Heping weren’t that close.

Scratching his head, Wen Heping said, “I really like kids. I’d love to see him.”

Seeing him like this, Su Min suddenly felt awkward, remembering her previous suspicions. She instinctively shook her head and declined, “My cousin’s still really little—not good with strangers. Maybe some other time.”

Sensing the rejection in her tone, Wen Heping looked disappointed and lowered his head. “Alright then.”

Seeing how disappointed Wen Heping looked, Su Min also felt a little sorry. But she didn’t have much choice—she wasn’t truly a little girl. And even if she were, she couldn’t just accept someone’s kindness without reason.

After Su Min left, Wen Heping remained standing there for a while.

“Stop staring. She’s long gone,” Su Wenwen said as she walked up to him.

Wen Heping turned when he heard the voice and saw it was Su Wenwen.

He didn’t have a good impression of Su Wenwen. He also knew she liked to target Su Min, so he really didn’t want to talk to her now. He picked up his schoolbag and tried to leave.

Seeing Wen Heping like that, Su Wenwen immediately felt indignant. Why did everyone like Su Min? Why did he make that kind of expression when looking at her?

She wasn’t any less pretty than Su Min. In fact, the environment she grew up in was far better than that wild girl. Why should she be treated like this?

When she got home, Gao Hong was cooking, and Su Changgui was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper.

Su Wenwen glared at Su Changgui, threw her schoolbag down, and went to the kitchen to find Gao Hong.

“Mom, didn’t we say we were going to pick up Grandma today?”

Gao Hong was thinking about that exact thing. Hearing her daughter’s words, she glanced nervously toward the living room and shook her head. “I haven’t brought it up with your dad yet.”

This was Su Changgui’s house, and she couldn’t make decisions without him. If he didn’t agree, even if they brought her mother over, she wouldn’t be able to stay.

Already upset over Su Min, Su Wenwen was now even more frustrated with Su Changgui, a fellow Su family member. “Why are you afraid of Dad? Grandma and Grandpa treated him so well in the past. Now that Grandma has nowhere to go, we should obviously take her in. If not, I won’t support him when I grow up.”

Su Changgui was just about to enter the kitchen when he overheard that. He sneered, “Good thing I wasn’t planning on depending on you anyway.”

Gao Hong and Su Wenwen were both startled to hear Su Changgui’s voice.

Su Wenwen turned and glared at him. “Why are you eavesdropping on our conversation?”

Su Changgui went into the kitchen, picked up a basin of hot water, and walked out without saying a word to either of them, treating them like strangers.

Once he left, Gao Hong said, “Wenwen, don’t talk about your dad like that anymore, okay?” Things weren’t like they used to be. Her job at the unit was difficult now, and no one knew what the future would bring. The whole family might end up relying on Su Changgui.

She didn’t want a divorce either. Now wasn’t the time to start a conflict.

Su Wenwen felt indignant. “He’s my dad. Why does he treat me like this?” Other people’s dads always bought their kids whatever they wanted. They never hit their kids or acted so cold.

“Enough. Stop talking,” Gao Hong tried to calm her daughter down.

She’d realized a lot recently. Back when her family was doing well, she’d been used to doing whatever she wanted without thinking about consequences. Over the years, she thought life was good and spoiled her daughter the same way.

Now that she’d ended up like this, she didn’t want her daughter to walk the same path. Hopefully, Wenwen could find a man who genuinely cared for her—someone who wouldn’t make her suffer like this.

At dinner, Gao Hong cautiously brought up the idea of bringing her mother over to stay.

As soon as Su Changgui heard it, he snorted. “There are only two bedrooms in the house. Where would the old lady stay?”

Gao Hong quickly replied, “She can share a room with Wenwen. We can fit another bed in there. Changgui, my mom’s all alone over there. Her place is about to be repossessed. If I don’t take her in, she’ll be homeless. We all know people at the work unit—if word gets out, it’ll look bad for you too.”

Hearing that, Su Changgui chuckled coldly and nodded. “Fine, bring her over. Just make sure she doesn’t act like she used to. Things aren’t going well for me at school. I don’t have the patience to deal with her now.”

“I understand,” Gao Hong swallowed her anger and forced a smile.

Next to her, Su Wenwen shoved food into her mouth angrily and glared at Su Changgui again.

If Grandpa were still here, Grandma and Mom wouldn’t have to put up with this. Ultimately, it was all Su Min’s fault. If not for her, Grandpa wouldn’t have had that accident, and their family wouldn’t be like this now.

At that moment, in the city prison, Grandma Gao was talking with Gao Long.

“The house will be taken back tomorrow. Honghong told me to move in with her.”

Separated by a pane of glass, Gao Long looked like he had aged ten years. His face was full of wrinkles, and much of his hair had turned white. There was no trace left of the elegant, dignified man he used to be.

He sighed. “Once you go over there, just keep quiet and live peacefully. Even though I’m in here, I can guess that Changgui isn’t the same as before.”

“Don’t mention him. That ungrateful wolf.” Just hearing Su Changgui’s name made Grandma Gao furious. “Honghong told me he even wants a divorce. If we hadn’t thought he was honest back then, we wouldn’t have let Honghong marry him. And now? Something goes wrong and he wants to cut all ties. Honghong got dragged back to his hometown for the New Year and got humiliated.”

Gao Long shook his head. “I’ve had a lot of time to think in here. If we hadn’t spoiled Honghong so much all these years, and if we hadn’t pushed down on Changgui so hard, maybe he wouldn’t have turned out like this.”

“But back then, Su Changgui only got where he is because of us. We just said a few things to him—what’s the harm?”

“I used to think the same. I thought no one should ever bully my daughter. But now I see we were wrong. In a marriage, it’s not about who’s bullying who—it’s about building a life together. Honghong never really saw Changgui as a husband. Do you think Changgui saw her as a wife?”

Gao Long sighed heavily. “Now that I’m out of the picture, I can’t look after you anymore. Try to live peacefully with Honghong. Help her be more considerate. A married couple needs to live with mutual respect. Don’t let her be as willful as before. As her father, I can’t protect her anymore.”

Seeing him like this, Grandma Gao felt her heart ache. In her mind, he’d always been sharp and wise, never defeated by even the hardest times. But now he looked so broken. Her eyes turned red, and she started crying. “Lao Gao, don’t say that. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t made that phone call, you wouldn’t be suffering now. I brought this on you.”

“Enough. It’s in the past now. Just stop bringing it up. I’m already in here. You just need to live well out there. And make sure you guide and support Wenwen. I’ve spent my life in education, but I didn’t even teach my own kid well. I’ve failed Honghong.”

Tears streamed down Gao Long’s face. When things first happened, he was furious at how reckless his wife and daughter were. But now, in prison, he realized he couldn’t blame them. He hadn’t raised them right. If the child made a mistake, the parent had to take responsibility.

He waved his hand and stood up. “Go home now. Take care of Honghong and live your life.”

That evening, Gao Hong and Su Wenwen went to the old house to pick up Grandma Gao.

Seeing her swollen eyes, Gao Hong asked worriedly, “Mom, what happened?”

Grandma Gao wiped her tears. “Nothing. I just hate to leave this place. We’ve lived here so many years. I thought we’d grow old here.”

Gao Hong comforted her, “It’s okay. My place is the same. You can live there from now on.”

Grandma Gao nodded. “By the way, does Changgui know I’m moving in? Did you two argue?”

“No. He’s a prideful man. If people found out how heartless he is, he’d be the one embarrassed.”

“That’s good. Try to live peacefully with him. Learn to compromise when needed.”

“I know,” Gao Hong said, sniffing to keep her nose from running.

Su Wenwen added tearfully, “Grandma, Dad’s become really mean lately. He gets angry at the smallest things.”

Hearing that, Grandma Gao’s expression shifted slightly, but in the end, she could only sigh.