Chapter 525: Control Group

Chapter 525 The Comparison

Liu Yumin did not stay in Shangyao Village for long; after all, it wasn't his home, and he didn't feel right overstaying his welcome.

His visit now was entirely because of Lan Ruolin.

Lan Ruolin was still not divorced and was determined to stay with her son, so he naturally had no say in her decision.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Liu Yumin left.

The people he left behind to assist Su He were told to check in with her once she returned to Wencheng.

The Fu family had a wonderful New Year's celebration, and no one came to cause trouble during that time.

Su He guessed that the Gu family probably still did not know about Fu Tinghua's existence.

Or perhaps they did know but held off visiting until after the New Year, so they might wait until after the holiday.

Come on, come on—Su He and Fu Tinghua believed that if the Gu family wanted to reclaim Fu Tinghua, it must be out of a desire for him to reconnect with his roots.

However, they were worried that the Fang family might intervene midway and pull some underhanded tricks against them.

Su He and Fu Tinghua separately discussed this matter with Fu Dajun and Wu Yanhua.

When they heard Fu Tinghua say that if the Gu family came and could not be refused, he would go to the capital with them, the couple didn’t object.

It was just that both Fu Tinghua and Su He were perfectly capable individuals, and they, being older, couldn’t be of much help with many matters.

Thinking of this, they even felt a sense of guilt.

This time, however, they finally did not jump to conclusions or assume that Fu Tinghua was turning his back on the Fu family.

Since Su Shiming and his wife had also come along, Su He had never planned to stay in Shangyao Village for long.

So, on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, they took Su Shiming and his wife back to Wencheng for a visit to her family home.

Returning to this familiar courtyard, they had to tidy up as soon as they arrived, since it had been unoccupied for a long time.

"Ah, Wen Qing, you’re finally back! You actually spent the New Year with your daughter at her in-laws’ this year?"

While Wen Qing was cleaning the entrance, a familiar voice called out.

She looked up and saw her good friend, Xu Runze's mother, walking toward her.

Following beside her was her son, Xu Runze.

"Oh, Runze came back for the New Year?" Wen Qing asked with a smile.

"Yes, this child—he’s so busy with work, originally couldn’t make it back, but insisted he missed us and squeezed onto the train to come home," Xu Runze's mother said with playful chastising, her words bragging. Wen Qing could easily see right through it.

Wen Qing smiled but did not respond. Instead, she asked, "Hey, where’s your Su He? Didn’t she come back with you? I can’t believe you guys—how could you spend the New Year in the countryside? It’s so dirty there. You’re just too easygoing, talked into it by your son-in-law, weren’t you?"

Xu Runze’s gaze drifted toward Wen Qing’s home, though he wasn’t sure what he was hoping to see.

He and Tan Xiaoshuang had completely fallen out, to the point where their families weren’t on speaking terms.

After being together for so long, the woman suddenly calling off the engagement was something neither family could accept.

Hearing his mother’s words grow more and more out of line, Xu Runze felt he should step in, but for some reason, he found himself hoping that Su He might come out and put his mother in her place.

He spotted their car parked right out front, so Su He must be around too, right?

Wen Qing had always felt that she and Xu Runze’s mother had a very good relationship, but she never expected that the first person to throw shade at her upon returning would be her.

She looked at the woman before her and felt that her face didn’t look as sweet and innocent anymore.

"My Su He said that this year we spent New Year’s at our son-in-law’s family’s home, and next year she and her husband will spend the New Year here with us.

Besides, the countryside is really nice. Throughout the entire New Year period, my daughter and son-in-law did all the cooking. I finally got to experience what it feels like to be totally spoiled.

My daughter said she wanted to take care of her parents and let us relax and enjoy ourselves.

And my son-in-law—I don’t even know what to say about him. He’s usually so busy with work, but during the holidays, he still gets up early to help.

Tell me, as a mother-in-law, what more could I possibly ask for?

Oh, and my daughter gave each of the older relatives in the family 200 yuan (about $30) in red envelopes during the New Year."

Every word Wen Qing said was true, straight from her own experience.

Su He really did give each of the five elders 200 yuan during the New Year.

As for the children, the Fu kids probably got the biggest red envelopes, right? Each of them got five yuan, which made all the children extremely happy, and they were totally crazy about Auntie Su He.

Of course, Zai Zai (male) and Niu Niu (female) also received lucky money from various elders, though certainly not as much as what Su He gave out.

Upon hearing Wen Qing’s words, Xu Runze’s mom’s first thought was that Wen Qing was bragging.

Some people might only make 200 yuan a month—how could anyone give out 200 yuan in lucky money? And to every elder, no less.

But then she remembered—the news about Su He’s recent business success had spread throughout their neighborhood, and it was indeed true.

So she remarked, her voice dripping with jealousy, "Su He has really changed a lot this past year. Her business took off overnight. The chubby girl she used to be has transformed so much."

She deliberately brought up Su He’s past weight to get under Wen Qing’s skin.

Xu’s mother simply didn’t want to admit that her son hadn’t made it like Wen Qing’s daughter had.

Back in the day, she was always showing off in front of Wen Qing about how she had such a talented son who excelled in his studies.

And what about Wen Qing’s daughter? She was overweight, disobedient, and married some guy from the countryside.

What’s the use of being good-looking? Can good looks put food on the table?

In the eyes of city folks, country folks were often looked down on.

Who would have thought that one day Su He’s husband would make the newspapers and become a doctor everyone flattered and were scrambling to see?

Wen Qing, who had struggled all her life, suddenly found herself living the good life in her later years—something no one could have predicted.

Thinking about her own son, already in his twenties and still not seeing anyone the family actually likes, Xu’s mother wore a worried expression.

Wen Qing didn’t get upset by Xu’s mother’s mention of Su He’s past weight.

But she finally realized that this woman she had considered a close friend for decades wasn’t cheering her on now that her life had improved—instead, she was jealous.

"Wen Qing, Su He and them? Are they home?" Noticing that Wen Qing hadn’t responded, Xu’s mother thought she had hit a sore spot and felt a bit better.

This was how it should be—Wen Qing had always been her benchmark.

Every time she saw Wen Qing having it worse than herself, Xu’s mother felt much more satisfied.

Now that Wen Qing’s life had taken a turn for the better, how could Xu’s mother accept it?

It was like someone you’ve always looked down on suddenly becoming richer and happier than you—that innate sense of superiority vanishes, and you naturally try to find flaws in them to make yourself feel better.

Before Wen Qing could respond, a voice called out from behind her: "Oh, Auntie Xu, what brings you here?"