“Chunlei is back?”

The Tang family’s door opened, and a woman in her fifties or sixties stood in the doorway wearing a blue padded jacket. Though she called out to Tang Chunlei, her eyes were fixed on Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng.

Seeing Xia Xiaolan’s expensive attire, and knowing that Tang Hongen’s stepdaughter lived so well, how could the woman be happy?

“Mom, why did you come out? Quick, go inside, it’s so cold out here. These are Uncle’s daughter Xiaolan and her husband Zhou Cheng, whom I told you about.”

“Hello, Aunt.”

Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng greeted her following Tang Chunlei’s introduction.

Tang Hongen’s sister-in-law was called Shi Surong, now in her fifties.

In normal family relations, Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng should have called her “Elder Aunt,” but remembering what Shi Surong had done to Old Tang, including knocking the incense from his hands earlier, Xia Xiaolan found it difficult to use that term.

For Xia Xiaolan, the title “Elder Aunt” implied trouble.

Zhang Cui was her real Elder Aunt, kind-faced but bitter-hearted.

Jiang Hong was Zhou Cheng’s Elder Aunt, whom she had worked hard to win over.

Shi Surong should only be Ji Jiangyuan’s Elder Aunt by rights.

Tang Ruojia glared fiercely at Xia Xiaolan before rushing inside. Zhou Cheng took their things from the trunk – they couldn’t come empty-handed, but they weren’t genuinely giving gifts to the Tang family either, so they’d just bought some random items as presents.

A flashy pile of things that weren’t worth much money.

However, Shi Surong’s expression improved slightly, and she actively invited Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng inside.

The Tang family had recently held a funeral, leaving the courtyard quiet and the atmosphere gloomy. Mainly because Shi Surong was naturally stern, only softening when speaking to her daughter Tang Ruojia. Otherwise, she maintained a strict face, making even Tang Chunlei’s son afraid to speak loudly.

Such a family atmosphere was truly oppressive.

Tang Chunlei tried hard to lighten the mood, even inviting some relatives with the Tang surname from the village to join them, which helped somewhat.

At mealtime, Tang Chunlei had been drinking, his ears red, and insisted on toasting Zhou Cheng twice.

“It’s kind of you not to look down on our countryside. Relatives should visit more often. Come, let’s drink heartily today.”

“Brother Chunlei, I still have to drive this afternoon—”

Zhou Cheng pretended to decline, but Tang Chunlei shouted, “What driving? Since you rarely visit, you must stay overnight tonight.”

Then he turned to ask Xia Xiaolan, “Sister, do you approve of Zhou Cheng drinking?”

Others laughed, treating Zhou Cheng as henpecked.

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “He can’t drink with others, but drinking with Big Brother is fine!”

Having received his wife’s permission, Zhou Cheng finally began raising his glass frequently.

He was already handsome, and when drinking without hesitation, he appeared especially masculine, leaving Tang Ruojia at the other table staring in amazement.

Women and men ate at separate tables. When Xia Xiaolan went to get water halfway through the meal, Tang Chunlei’s wife hurried to accompany her: “Sister, wait, I’ll get you some water.”

“Sister-in-law, let’s go together.”

After Xia Xiaolan left, Shi Surong quietly warned:

“How can you stare at people like that? No matter how handsome he is, he’s a married man. Don’t make a fool of yourself!”

Tang Ruojia protested: “Don’t wrongly accuse me, I don’t have such thoughts… I just feel uncomfortable. What is she anyway? I heard she was also from the countryside. We Tangs haven’t all escaped our rural roots, yet others get to enjoy good fortune first.”

If she were Uncle’s real daughter, there’d be nothing to say.

But she’s just a stepdaughter – where does her pride come from?

If not for Uncle, how could a countryside girl attend Huaqing University? How could she marry such a man?

Shi Surong also pressed her lips together.

“…That’s just fate.”

If they had known their younger brother-in-law would achieve such a high position one day, regardless of what others had promised, they wouldn’t have betrayed him.

Living miserably in the countryside for so many years affected not just the couple but also prevented their children from having better lives.

Instead, that mother-daughter pair who appeared out of nowhere enjoyed great fortune because of Tang Hongen – how could Shi Surong be happy?

She had already humbled herself by calling Tang Hongen to return home for the funeral.

She was the elder sister-in-law, and Tang Hongen the younger brother-in-law – how much more humble and apologetic did she need to be?

Tang Hongen sending his stepdaughter and son-in-law to the countryside – who was he looking down upon?

Only because her son Tang Chunlei had sincerely pleaded with her to consider the bigger picture, otherwise Shi Surong wouldn’t have bothered receiving Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng, let alone being called “Aunt” – they had no manners!

When Xia Xiaolan and Tang Chunlei’s wife returned from the kitchen to the table, they found Tang Ruojia picking at her food. Whenever Xia Xiaolan reached for a dish, Tang Ruojia would make an exaggerated move for the same dish, annoying even Tang Chunlei’s wife:

“Ruojia, are you feeling unwell today?”

Xia Xiaolan smiled, “Maybe it’s motion sickness. People who don’t often ride in cars tend to get carsick.”

Tang Ruojia stood up with her bowl and chopsticks, “I have no appetite. Please continue eating.”

Shi Surong felt sorry that her daughter hadn’t eaten enough and showed an even worse attitude toward Xia Xiaolan.

Yet Xia Xiaolan seemed oblivious, following Shi Surong wherever she went. While the men’s table was still drinking, the women’s and children’s table had been cleared. In the kitchen, as Shi Surong directed her daughter-in-law to wash dishes, Xia Xiaolan asked directly:

“Aunt, Chunlei must have told you why we came. Chunlei said he wants to find his lost aunt, and I agree. However Zhou Cheng and I investigated for several days without any leads, so I wanted to ask you. Since Uncle Tang has passed away, only you would know the details of what happened back then.”

Shi Surong thought, where did this tactless person come from?

“What do you mean!”

“Don’t misunderstand, Aunt. I know Aunt Tang was lost, and after so many years, we don’t know if she’s still alive. But if you could remember some useful clues, we might find her?”

Shi Surong’s mouth twitched – find her, my foot.

Tang Hongen must have spent effort searching too, hadn’t he? And what did he find? Nothing!

Xia Xiaolan stared intently at Shi Surong, certain she hadn’t imagined seeing a flash of pleasure in Shi Surong’s expression?!

My, what a dark heart.

Not finding her lost sister-in-law probably didn’t cause Shi Surong much pain, but she knew this would be Tang Hongen’s lifelong regret, a wound he wouldn’t want to touch. Did Shi Surong take pleasure in Tang Hongen’s torment?

Shi Surong’s impression of Xia Xiaolan came through her son Tang Chunlei, and with this preconception, she didn’t take Xia Xiaolan seriously, casually responding:

“If you want to search, go ahead. After I finish cleaning the kitchen, I’ll tell you about what happened back then in detail.”

Anyone with sense would offer to help with the kitchen work at this point, right?

But Xia Xiaolan just happily agreed and ran out!

Shi Surong’s chest heaved with anger – her daughter was right, how could someone like this deserve to enjoy good fortune ahead of the Tang family?!