"That's right, Yang Yang relied on her background to bully people, she has no quality at all."
"Didn't you see Young Master Yun leave early? Clearly, she embarrassed him so much he had no face to stay."
...
The farce ended, but Tang Xiaomin vaguely sensed a dangerous aura. She hoped she was just being paranoid.
After the funeral, Tang Zhongcheng's body was cremated and taken to the cemetery, placed beside Tang Xu's grave.
With her two dearest relatives lying in two graves, Tang Xiaomin's heart felt an indescribable oppression.
According to custom, on the day of the burial, the family would set up a table in front of the grave to eat with the deceased family members.
As for whether the deceased could actually eat anything, only ghosts knew.
Feeling troubled, Tang Xiaomin poured wine at the tombstones of Tang Zhongcheng and Tang Xu, and then drank a few cups herself.
"Xiaomin, the dead cannot come back to life. No matter how sad you are, you should drink less. Take care of yourself," Li Changchun said. Zhou Xiaolan, standing beside him, also looked at Tang Xiaomin with concern.
"Yes, your mother just got out of the hospital. You can't let yourself be dejected and dispirited now, or you'll worry her even more."
When Tang Xiaomin got engaged, Li Changchun and Zhou Xiaolan were very busy in the countryside and couldn't get away. It was only after Tang Zhongcheng's death that they returned.
Hearing this, Tang Xiaomin put down her wine glass.
"I know, I won't drink anymore."
She had always listened to her adoptive parents. If they said not to drink, she wouldn't.
"Dad, Mom, you've been in the countryside for a while. Now that you're back, don't go again. As for a place to live..."
"You can stay in the villa in the suburbs. I've already had it redecorated," Yan Jue said solicitously.
This...
Li Changchun and Zhou Xiaolan exchanged glances, looking at Yan Jue with complex expressions, seeming hesitant.
This was because Li Changchun had been suddenly fired by Xianfu Group and expelled, forcing them to return to the countryside.
That bitter experience made them realize that no matter how luxurious a place was, it was not as good as their own humble abode.
Yan Jue didn't know how to explain that incident, so he could only try to please them.
"Uncle Li, it was my oversight last time, I didn't consider things thoroughly. It won't happen again. I'm engaged to Xiaomin, so you are my parents-in-law. I will treat you with the same filial piety as my own parents."
"Please don't go back to the countryside, stay here."
Love is not something
You can buy if you want to buy
...
The phone rang with the ringtone "Love for Sale," playing loudly. It was Li Changchun's phone. He quickly answered.
"What? Aren't your elder brother and sister-in-law taking care of him?"
"They had to leave for something, then who will take care of the old man?"
"Alright, alright, we'll be back soon."
After hanging up, Li Changchun sighed.
"Thank you for your kindness. It's not that we don't want to stay, but there's an elderly person to take care of in the countryside. We have to rush back after eating."
"Xiaomin, when I have time later, my wife and I will come back to see you."
Both of them were ordinary people, and they were reluctant to part with Tang Xiaomin.
However, if they lingered with Tang Xiaomin, it would put her in a difficult position. Since they had matters to attend to, going back to the countryside was better for everyone.
"Are you going back to take care of the old man again?" Tang Xiaomin asked.
Years ago, due to the division of the family property, the old man was biased. Coupled with Zhou Xiaolan's infertility, they had no children, so the old man simply didn't allocate any land to them.
As a result, Li Changchun took Zhou Xiaolan to Modu to make a living. At that time, housing prices in Modu were cheap, so they saved diligently and bought a small fifty-square-meter apartment in the old district.
"Yes, so my wife and I won't stay. We'll go back after eating."
"Okay, then I'll arrange a car to take you back."
Tang Xiaomin knew she couldn't persuade them, so she stopped trying.
"When I have my vacation, I'll come to see you."
Upon hearing that a car would be arranged for them, Li Changchun became even more insistent.
"No, no need. Your mother and I can take the bus. There's no need to go through so much trouble."
The main reason was that he didn't want those distant relatives to know that he had a rich adopted daughter and son-in-law in Modu. If they knew, it would be a big deal.
"Alright, then I'll take you to the station."
After dinner, Tang Xiaomin personally saw her adoptive parents off at the bus station.
Seeing their rough hands now made her feel uneasy.
"Mom, you work very hard in the countryside, don't you?"
Zhou Xiaolan said indifferently, "Life in the countryside is just like that. It can't be compared to Modu, but you get used to it."
"However, the expenses in the countryside are low, and utilities are much cheaper. It's just that old man..."
Li Changchun subtly tugged at Zhou Xiaolan. Then, Zhou Xiaolan realized something and stopped talking.
Tang Xiaomin reluctantly saw them onto the bus and transferred some money to their card.
Watching the bus drive away, she felt ashamed and helpless.
They had their own choices, and she couldn't force them to stay.
...
The Ye Family.
Madam Ye was looking at Yang Yang with a disappointed gaze.
Facing the scrutiny of her future mother-in-law, Yang Yang had lost all her airs of a young lady.
She lowered her head, her attitude extremely humble, like a child who had made a mistake and was being questioned by an adult.
"I heard you caused a scene at Tang Zhongcheng's funeral and were even thrown out in public. How do you explain this?"
Mentioning that day made Yang Yang furious.
She had argued with Tang Xiaomin, and Ye Lingyun had left.
Even the bodyguards they brought were taken away by Ye Lingyun. He truly didn't care about her well-being.
"It was just... a few words exchanged, it wasn't a big deal."
"Hmph!"
Madam Ye stood up, her expression changing.
"The social circles are now full of discussions about your behavior that day. They say the Yang family raises children without teaching them, and that your daughter is arrogant and unruly, causing trouble at someone else's funeral without regard for the occasion."
"They also say my Ye family has blind eyes for choosing a daughter-in-law with a corrupted character. And that if we truly marry such a daughter-in-law, we'd be bringing in a jinx!"
The wealthier people are, the more superstitious they become. Madam Ye was very concerned about such matters.
Yang Yang grew even more flustered, her legs feeling weak.
She hadn't expected the news to reach Madam Ye so quickly, and to be so unpleasant.
"Auntie, those people can't say anything good. They just can't stand to see others do well. Please don't listen to their nonsense. I was just reminding Tang Xiaomin to cry a little before her father's spirit to show filial piety. I really wasn't causing trouble."
"You can ask Lingyun. He heard it at the time too."
Madam Ye had called both of them because she didn't want to believe hearsay and wanted to hear Ye Lingyun's account.
However, Ye Lingyun was detached, playing on his phone nearby, saying nothing.
Seeing this, Yang Yang immediately ran to him and grabbed his arm.
"Lingyun, Auntie has heard rumors. Quickly tell Auntie what happened at the funeral and let her know the truth."
Ye Lingyun pulled his arm away, putting some distance between himself and Yang Yang.
"Mother doesn't want me to see Tang Xiaomin. I left immediately after offering incense. I don't know anything about what happened afterwards."