It was a relief to finally reach Fengcheng Station. Fu Wenwen felt like she had narrowly escaped death and would rather have used her abilities to go back than endure that kind of journey again.
Seeing that both Fu Wenwen and Lin An looked unwell, Lin Feng spotted several tricycles near the station entrance and quickly hailed one.
Fu Wenwen got onto the tricycle with Lin Feng, holding Lin An in her arms.
"Driver, to Post Road Number Three," Lin Feng told the driver.
"Alright, hold on tight," the tricycle driver replied with a smile.
The driver pedaled with all his might. As Fu Wenwen sat on the tricycle, the gentle breeze against her face dispelled the earlier gloom. She admired the scenery along the way, and her mood brightened considerably.
They arrived at their doorstep by tricycle. Fu Wenwen, still holding Lin An, hurried inside. Lin Feng paid the driver and entered with the groceries.
Fu Wenwen opened the windows and doors to air out the house. Seeing the mess, she knew she had to clean.
She took out Xiao Xue and the three kittens from their carrier. The unfamiliar surroundings made Xiao Xue a little nervous, while Lin An held the kittens close, comforting them.
When Lin Feng let Xiao Hei out, Xiao Xue immediately ran to its side, licked its scent, and curled up by its feet.
Xiao Hei lowered its head and licked Xiao Xue's fur, as if to soothe it.
Watching them, Fu Wenwen chuckled.
Lin Feng wanted to help Fu Wenwen clean, but she pushed him away. "It's almost time for work, hurry to your unit and don't give anyone a reason to criticize you."
"But..." Lin Feng looked at the mess in the house, unwilling to leave Fu Wenwen to clean alone.
"I'll finish this quickly. Go now!" Fu Wenwen urged him. Lin Feng leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Leave it. I'll clean it when I get back at noon."
"Go now!" Fu Wenwen glared at him.
Reluctantly, Lin Feng left.
Fu Wenwen first tidied up the bed, letting Lin An lie down and rest. Then, she began to tackle the mess in the house.
"Fortunately, they were just thrown around, not broken," Fu Wenwen picked up the items, wiped them clean, and they were mostly fine. Nothing seemed to be damaged.
Only the clothes scattered on the floor would need washing.
Fu Wenwen dragged out a large basin, took some laundry powder from her space, mixed it with warm water, and soaked all the clothes.
"Wenwen jie, are you home?" a knock sounded at the door, and Zou Xiaomei's voice called out. Fu Wenwen quickly replied, "Xiaomei, I'm here!"
"Wenwen jie, you're finally back! I was so worried," Zou Xiaomei said to Fu Wenwen, her voice full of grievance.
"Sorry to have made you worry!" Fu Wenwen smiled at Zou Xiaomei, sitting on a small stool.
Zou Xiaomei found a small stool in the room and sat beside Fu Wenwen, helping her wash clothes.
"Xiaomei..." Fu Wenwen was about to refuse, but Zou Xiaomei had already put her hands in the water. "Heh heh, too late, I've already gotten wet! Two people washing is faster than one!"
"You!" Fu Wenwen sighed, helpless. "Have lunch at my place! I'll make you something delicious!"
"That's a deal! I don't have many hobbies, but I love to eat!" Zou Xiaomei said happily.
"Wenwen jie, did your house get burgled?" Zou Xiaomei asked cautiously. "Everyone has been guessing what happened at your place the past two days. Some gossips said terrible things, and I got so angry I argued with them."
"Aunt Qu and Aunt Hu?" Fu Wenwen glanced at Zou Xiaomei. Zou Xiaomei's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
"Your mother wouldn't spread gossip, and Aunt Ma wouldn't either. Aunt Qu and Aunt Hu were provoked by me that day, so they'd definitely want to strike back," Fu Wenwen said calmly, having already made her judgments about the aunts.
"Wenwen jie, you're amazing! You guessed it perfectly!" Zou Xiaomei nodded repeatedly.
"Aunt Qu said you were showing off and that you deserved it."
"Aunt Hu said you were getting retribution. In any case, they said nothing good."
Zou Xiaomei wanted to say more but couldn't replicate their tone, saying angrily.
"It must have been difficult for you," Fu Wenwen smiled. "And you argued with them for me. Your mother must have scolded you."
"Let her scold me. I don't expect Aunt Qu and Aunt Hu to introduce me to any good men, and even if they did, I wouldn't marry them," Zou Xiaomei said righteously. "They wouldn't wish me well!"
"They'd rather we not be as good as their families, to be beneath them, so they can act superior to us!" Zou Xiaomei snorted disdainfully, unwilling to associate with them.
"They're happy when others aren't doing well," Fu Wenwen chuckled.
"Exactly. If anything good happens to anyone, they're more upset than anyone else," Zou Xiaomei pursed her lips.
"Don't say it, they'll be here soon." Fu Wenwen heard footsteps in the alley and quickly reminded Zou Xiaomei to stop talking.
Zou Xiaomei blinked, and both of them silently lowered their heads and focused on washing clothes.
"Xiao Fu! Are you home?" Just as Fu Wenwen finished speaking, Aunt Qu and Aunt Ma pushed the door open.
"Oh! Xiaomei, you're here too?" Aunt Hu smiled when she saw Zou Xiaomei.
"Aunt Qu, Aunt Ma, what brings you here today? I'm a bit busy right now. Perhaps you could come back later?" Fu Wenwen looked up, holding up the clothes she was washing to show them, indicating she couldn't entertain them at the moment.
"Xiao Fu, what happened to your house?" Aunt Hu asked knowingly. "Did a thief break in?"
"Indeed, they turned my house upside down. Fortunately, all my valuable tickets and money were on me. Otherwise, I would have cried my eyes out," Fu Wenwen sighed heavily, but with an expression of relief.
"It's good that you're safe... the money... uh!" Aunt Qu was about to say that losing money didn't matter, but her face stiffened when she heard Fu Wenwen say the money wasn't lost.
"The money is all here, I have it with me! It's also fortunate that Xiaomei dragged me out shopping at the time, otherwise... wouldn't it have been lost?" Fu Wenwen smiled broadly.
"Th-that's right." Aunt Hu awkwardly twitched the corner of her mouth. Then, as if remembering something, she looked at Fu Wenwen and smiled again. "Xiao Fu, we've lived here for so many years and haven't encountered thieves much. For you to have this happen right after you arrived, it's really..."
"Indeed, you're too unlucky!" Aunt Qu immediately chimed in.
"Could it be that you're too ostentatious? Look, you had a military vehicle and all that..." Aunt Hu continued.
Fu Wenwen looked up at them. "There's nothing I can do about that. I can't exactly refuse guests, can I? That was my husband's former superior, who took care of my husband for many years. They were like brothers. I couldn't possibly stop him from visiting, could I? Aunts, what do you think?"
"Yes... yes, yes!" Aunt Hu and Aunt Qu exchanged glances and nodded unwillingly.