Both entertainment-seeking and a change of heart – probably a bit of both.

Word was that Aunt Liu Fang now worked as a sales clerk at the department store, while Liang Bingan had been idling at home since losing his position. For someone as proud as Liu Fang, losing face was worse than death.

The Liang family must be scheming, trying to curry favor with her and her mother.

That was Aunt Liu Fang’s plan.

Xia Xiaolan remained noncommittal.

This showed why one needed their capabilities. Relatives like Liu Fang had arranged Xia Xiaolan’s marriage without regard for the mother and daughter’s wishes, treating her as a mere pawn – all calculations without respect.

After suffering greatly through Xia Xiaolan, they realized they couldn’t mess with her. The gap between them had grown too wide, and even after losing their positions, they dared not think of revenge.

Perhaps during New Year’s, they’d heard about Tang Hongen’s influence from villagers, making Liu Fang and Liang Bingan increasingly uneasy. Now they’d completely swallowed their pride, their attitude shifting from arrogant to respectful, from scheming to avoidance, and from avoidance to shameless flattery… Xia Xiaolan hung up the phone, pondering this but not particularly concerned about the Liang family.

“How interesting – like a tortoise eyeing mung beans, have they taken a liking?”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t know that Xiao Yu was Xiao Rou, the hostess who had once seduced Liu Yong.

Back then, she only needed to confirm whether Liu Yong had been deceived, paying no attention to the hostess’s appearance. Xiao Yu had been terrified at the sight of her, hiding away – they’d never actually met face to face.

Xiao Yu had only just learned she was Xia Dajun’s daughter.

Xia Xiaolan had no way of knowing Xiao Yu and Xiao Rou were the same person. Otherwise, she would have immediately thought that Liu Tianquan-Xiao Yu’s appearance in Xia Dajun’s life was no coincidence.

Now, Xia Xiaolan could only say they were “fated.”

The tortoise had taken to the mung bean, and Xiao Yu was pregnant – this news truly disgusted Xia Xiaolan.

Though she’d cut ties with Xia Dajun, others didn’t see it that way. Whether Xiao Yu’s child was male or female, they would be Xia Xiaolan’s half-sibling… With this child, would Xia Dajun cause trouble again?

Even if Xia Dajun didn’t, what were Xiao Yu’s intentions?

Xia Xiaolan felt that Fan Zhenchuan’s downfall had saved the women he’d victimized – a satisfying outcome!

But Xiao Yu was the exception, different from the others. The others were Fan Zhenchuan’s victims, but Xiao Yu was willing. No normal woman would actively approach, saying she wanted to serve Fan Zhenchuan alongside Xia Xiaolan!

With such abnormal thinking, Xiao Yu might even hate her for destroying her comfortable life.

Considering Xiao Yu’s mindset, Xia Xiaolan felt that Xia Dajun’s marriage to her was like a ticking time bomb.

“Perhaps I should have agreed with Du Zhaohui to have Xia Dajun lose his job?”

Xia Xiaolan muttered, making Grandmother Yu anxious:

“Don’t be foolish. If they discover they can use Xia Dajun to threaten you, you’ll have endless trouble. They could fire him to please you, then rehire him to anger you – hiring or firing him would be at their whim. Better to wait until they dislike him themselves and fire him – then it won’t involve you!”

Though Grandmother Yu had never met Xia Dajun, just hearing Xia Xiaolan’s stories told her what kind of person he was.

Such a man was fortunate to have had a wife like Afen before.

Now married to Fan Zhenchuan’s maid, wouldn’t she turn the Xia family upside down?

Grandmother Yu shared her wisdom: “An old man loving a young wife – this maid who could anger Fan Zhenchuan’s first wife to death must be shameless but crafty. She married Xia Dajun perhaps to trouble you, but likely also for his money. Didn’t you say all the Xia family moved to Pengcheng to live with him? Just watch – the Xia family will have quite a show ahead!”

Afen’s kindness had tolerated even Xia Dajun’s blind filial piety, only breaking when the Xia family ganged up to bully Xiaolan.

That maid wouldn’t be so tolerant.

Grandmother Yu smiled imagining the Xia family being tormented by the maid.

She tugged at her lips.

How strange – she hadn’t liked to smile for so many years, but living with Liu Fen and her daughter, more and more things made her want to laugh. The feeling was completely uncontrollable!

Xia Xiaolan also laughed at Grandmother Yu’s words:

“Then you think we shouldn’t tell Mom for now?”

Grandmother Yu nodded, “Telling her would only upset her. But you can tell Mayor Tang. To be frank, if your mom marries Mayor Tang, she’ll be living her life with Tang Hongen. As her daughter, you should learn when to let go, and not worry about everything for her. Can you take her place in managing her marriage? Let your mother learn to handle things herself.”

With the daughter worrying about everything, Liu Fen was worse off than others.

Who was the mother and who was the daughter?

Grandmother Yu felt Xia Xiaolan should try trusting Mayor Tang and gradually transfer Liu Fen’s “guardianship” to Tang Hongen.

Grandmother Yu spoke the truth, though it made Xia Xiaolan’s heart heavy.

“Don’t take it badly. If you have free time, spend it on your partner! Zhou Cheng handled the Shi family matter well, so why not make time to visit him? If you don’t care for your own man, don’t blame other women for worrying about him.”

Grandmother Yu shared her wisdom freely, making Xia Xiaolan thoughtful:

“Grandmother Yu, is this experience speaking? Sounds like there’s a story…”

Grandmother Yu shooed her away: “Get out! Don’t you know how to respect elders? If you don’t want to listen, then don’t!”

Xia Xiaolan quickly backtracked: “I’m listening! All your words are golden advice. I was already planning to visit Ji Bei Province this weekend. Today I’ll visit the Zhou family first, and pay respects to the elders for Zhou Cheng.”

Zhou Cheng had spent all his leave with her; Xia Xiaolan was willing to visit his family more on his behalf.

Though the Zhou family wanted for nothing, her care was different.

Grandmother Yu checked the time and urged her to go, “Remember to bring gifts. No matter how well Zhou Cheng’s parents treat you, you’re still an outsider. Never visit empty-handed – excessive courtesy causes no harm. They might say it’s unnecessary, but won’t they be happy receiving your gifts?”

Every word was a life experience, and Xia Xiaolan gladly accepted the teaching.

After she left on her bicycle, Liu Fen drove home:

“I heard from Neighbor Old Zhang that Xiaolan came by?”

Grandmother Yu looked at Liu Fen – who would believe this woman driving around Beijing was a middle-aged divorced village woman? Life’s paths were truly mysterious. Grandmother Yu had concluded: don’t get cocky in prosperity, maintain good relationships – you never know when those connections might help in hard times.

Don’t resign to poverty either – keep working hard, you never know when fortunes might turn.

Seeing Liu Fen’s rosy complexion, Grandmother Yu didn’t mention the troubling news. Why should women worry? Let Mayor Tang handle it:

“She did come by. Haven’t visited the Zhou family in a while, so she’s dining there tonight. Are you heading to Yangcheng to stock fall clothing?”