Chapter 532 No Love for Me Anymore?

Chapter 532: No Love for Me Anymore?

Li Yulan was carried out of the car in Wang Yongzheng's arms, princess-style.

The crowd around them broke into cheers. Embarrassed, Li Yulan lightly thumped Wang Yongzheng's arm twice amid the teasing.

As soon as she steadied herself, Zhang Shuangshuang came forward. "Yulan, you're finally back! It's been so long since I last saw you—I wasn’t used to it at all."

Li Yulan looked at her dear friend, her eyes brimming with joy. "I missed you all too—every tree and stone in Ninety-Three, and every single one of you. That’s why I came back to see you."

Zhang Shuangshuang took Li Yulan’s hand and led her toward the house. "I’ve already cleaned your place. Later, I’ll give you some live coals from my stove to get your stove going. You didn’t make any honeycomb briquettes this year, but luckily, I made plenty. I’ll have Yongzheng carry over a stack for you."

"Come on, let’s go to my place first for some hot tea. It’s bitter cold today. By the time we finish, your fire should be going. With your hearth cold and stove dark, everyone’s having lunch at my place today."

Watching her grandmother, full of energy, whispering secrets with Zhang Shuangshuang while holding her hand, Su An began to understand why, even with all her loved ones around, her grandmother still missed Ninety-Three so much.

This place held the memories of her grandmother’s entire life—the familiar routines, the friendships, the home where she had spent her years with her husband, where her children had grown from babbling toddlers to running around, and eventually starting families of their own.

Here lay her most precious memories.

Zhang Shuangshuang and Wang Lihua were incredibly warm hosts, and Zhang Cuihong and Wang Damin also came to pull everyone inside. Unable to refuse such hospitality, Li Yulan and the whole family ended up having lunch at Wang Lihua’s house.

After the meal, the house was a hive of activity. Many neighbors came by to help—some brought a handful of scallions, others a couple of radishes, one carried a bundle of firewood, and another offered a bowl of pickled vegetables.

Wang Xiaocui’s new house was already built, but the furnishings were still old. They managed to rest there for the night, and the next day, Su An took her uncle straight to the county town.

When they heard Wang Yongzheng was driving the big truck to town, Anai, Wang Zhangyi, and Wang Lihua—along with Wang Damin—tagged along to do their New Year shopping.

After a big shopping spree in town, they returned with plenty of groceries. On the 25th, Su An’s family held a simple housewarming banquet.

That feast gave Wang Xiaocui serious face. After the guests left, slightly tipsy, she grabbed Su An and Su Ping’s hands, laughing and crying.

"An An, Ping Ping, did you see how admiring everyone was? Did you hear all the nice things they said about me? I never thought I, Wang Xiaocui, would ever have a day like this."

"The hard times don’t bother me because I have you two. If I had to do it all over again, I’d endure it all again—I’d still marry Su Jianjun and give birth to you both."

"It’s not that I loved Su Jianjun—it’s that I wanted to be your mother."

Word spread throughout Ninety-Three and the neighboring villages—the Wang family had risen.

And the Wangs could clearly feel the warmth and goodwill around them. The troublemakers from their hard times were nowhere to be seen. Now, the villagers who surrounded them greeted them with smiles and kindness.

On the second day of the New Year, Wang Xuanying and Wang Xiaofen came to pay their New Year respects.

Su An had just woken up and was heading to her grandmother’s house when she heard Zhang Shuangshuang and Wang Xiaocui’s laughter before she’d even crossed the threshold.

Mixed in was Li Yulan’s scolding voice.

"You’re grown women—can’t you watch what you say? Have you no shame?"

Wang Xiaofen, thick-skinned, retorted, "If I had shame, would I be where I am today? I’d have been eaten alive by the gap-toothed family long ago."

"Look, we married because he liked me and I liked him, right? Otherwise, how could we have ended up together?"

"But now, after five kids, he tells me there’s only just family ties left—no love left. So now I’m his mom? So he doesn’t have to treat me well, just let me wait on him hand and foot?"

"If he only sees me as family now, then as his ‘family,’ shouldn’t he support me finding love elsewhere?"

"And if he’s cleared the way for new love, who’s got his eye now?"

"He still complains I'm fat and says there's no love between us anymore. If there's no love, then don't bother me at night!

'Kinship by day, romance by night?'

'By day, he says I'm fat!'

'By night, he knows how to rock back and forth!'"

Another burst of laughter filled the room.

Su An stifled a smirk. No wonder Grandma scolded her—this aunt had no filter.

Su An pushed the door open and walked in.

"Auntie, Happy New Year."

Wang Xiaofen's eyes lit up. "Oh, An An is here! Come, come, warm up over here. You’ve blossomed into such a beauty!"

"Here, let me give you a little red envelope. Study hard and go far—don’t complain it’s too small, hahaha!"

Su An didn’t hesitate and took the red packet. In their village, as long as someone wasn’t married, they were still considered a child. The elders all agreed that Su An’s fling with Zhao Daxing didn’t count.

Not only did she get a red envelope, but her brother did too. Her uncle, aunt, and grandma had already given theirs the day before.

"Auntie, where’s Uncle and the cousins?" Su An asked as she sat beside Wang Xiaofen on the bench.

Wang Xiaofen handed Su An the tea Zhang Shuangshuang had poured. "Gap-tooth took the kids to Big Uncle’s place. I’ll head over later."

Wang Xiaofen and Wang Xiaocui had been close since childhood, and Zhang Shuangshuang was their best friend. When the three of them got together, they were unstoppable.

After sitting for a while, Su An felt like her presence was making them hold back—probably because she wasn’t married yet, so they kept their jokes tame.

"Alright, you all chat. Sister Xuanying must be back by now. I’ll go check at Big Uncle’s place."

After saying goodbye, Su An headed to Wang Yongshun’s house.

Wang Xuanying had already arrived. Liu Xiaomei was holding a chubby baby bundled up like a little snowball, grinning from ear to ear.

Liu Hongmin, quick on the uptake, sat for tea before heading into the kitchen.

It had been decided earlier that on the second day of the New Year, all the siblings would gather at Wang Yongshun’s for a meal.

Liu Xiaomei and her husband had a good year financially. When Su An’s family went to the county to shop, she tagged along and bought plenty of fancy groceries and holiday treats.

Three of the four Wang siblings were now in City A, so they rarely got to see each other. This New Year, Wang Xiaofen stayed at her parents’ place with her kids for three days, while Wang Xuanying stayed right up until her parents’ departure for City A.

On the eighth day, everyone returned to City A. Su An wished Chu Shuyu, Mr. Luo, and Ms. Wei a Happy New Year, sorted out shop business, and then prepared to head to Yangcheng for school.

"Mom, don’t worry. Didn’t I call Aunt Hou in advance? The train goes straight there—no transfers. Someone will pick me up when I arrive. What’s there to worry about?" Su An brushed off her mom’s fussing and boarded the train.

Leaning out the window, she waved at the family seeing her off. "Head back inside—it’s freezing! Take care of yourselves!"

By the roadside outside Yangcheng’s train station,

Zuo Zuying held up a small mirror, combing mousse into his hair while chewing gum. He checked his reflection left and right, satisfied with his irresistible charm, before rushing to the pickup area.