Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Consolation

After hearing Xia Shuhua’s analysis, Chen Zhaodi felt it made a lot of sense.

That old lady from the Yun family cared most about appearances and had never really approved of her, thinking her background was too humble. After what happened at the wedding, she hadn’t bothered with them at all. Just as her mother had guessed, the old lady probably wanted to push her out so she could find someone new for her grandson.

At the wedding, the Yun family had wanted to save face, so at least they hadn’t mentioned divorce outright. They must have been hoping she’d leave on her own, so the Yun family could keep their good reputation.

Thinking about it this way, everything made sense.

Yun Nianzhou went out drinking every day, loafing around, not looking for work, and his attitude toward her was getting worse and worse. All these signs pointed to them trying to force her to give up on her own.

Sure enough, the older you are, the wiser you get. If her mother hadn’t pointed this out, she might really have lost her resolve.

“Mom, you’re right. I can’t give up now. I’m just one step away from the finish line. I have to hang in there.”

“It’s good that you’ve figured it out. Your job now is to take good care of Nianzhou and don’t argue with him. Then, try to get pregnant as soon as possible—boy or girl, it doesn’t matter, but best if it’s a boy. If you can give birth to a son, the Yun family will welcome you back with open arms. By then, all the wealth and glory will be yours.”

Xia Shuhua painted a grand blueprint for her daughter, but in truth, she was also drawing a pie in the sky for herself.

She owed the factory so much money and couldn’t pay it back. She couldn’t run away, had no job, and now didn’t even have a place to live. There was also a young child to raise, so she could only get by day by day.

Her only way out was her daughter. Although things were tough now, as long as her daughter could secure her place in the Yun family and have a child, a few thousand yuan would be nothing—they could easily help her pay off her debts.

Then, she could go back to living the comfortable life she used to have.

Fortune and misfortune come in cycles, and she wasn’t about to give up.

After their talk, both mother and daughter felt much better.

But Xia Shuhua’s predicament still wasn’t solved.

Chen Zhaodi didn’t have any money to help her pay off her debts, and Xia Shuhua was thinking of moving in with her daughter.

But Chen Zhaodi flatly refused.

“Mom, the Yun family already looks down on us. If you move in, what would that look like? Even if Nianzhou agreed, if his grandmother found out, she’d be even angrier. You’d better think of something else! What about the Xia family? Grandma and Grandpa took plenty of money from you every year, and you often helped out Uncle’s family too. Now it’s time for them to help you. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always my dad’s side. You’ve been giving them twenty yuan a month for five years. It’s time they gave something back, don’t you think?”

There was no way Chen Zhaodi was going to take in Xia Shuhua. That would be a bottomless pit—why should she, as a daughter, be responsible for her mother’s entire life?

She had completely forgotten all the good food and drink she’d enjoyed over the years with Xia Shuhua.

“Don’t even mention it. Your grandparents have always doted on your uncle and treated me like a tool—use me and toss me aside. Your uncle is even colder. The night after the wedding, he took Xia Chun away, afraid I’d take advantage of them. If I hadn’t been taken away myself, he’d have called Xia Chun back that very day. Relying on them? I might as well go beg on the street.”

Talking about her own family made Xia Shuhua angry. If her parents had been a little tougher and treated her better, she wouldn’t be in this mess.

“But you reminded me—your deadbeat dad threatened me, took so much money from me, and I even bought him a job. Now it’s his turn to pay me back. If it comes to it, I’ll just move into the Chen family’s place. I don’t believe he’d dare throw me out.”

In the past, she would have been too embarrassed to do this, with too many concerns. But now, she couldn’t care less. When you’re on the verge of not surviving, who cares about pride or appearances?

The Chen family was the last straw she could grasp.

At least her own son was still there.

No sooner said than done, Xia Shuhua gave her daughter another pep talk, telling her to hang in there and not give up easily.

Then she took her son and went to the Chen family’s place in Mao’er Hutong.

Mao’er Hutong was as lively as ever, full of people everywhere.

She arrived right at rush hour, with crowds squeezing into the communal buildings. Carrying her child, she almost lost a shoe in the crush.

Finally, she made it to the Chen family’s door, looking as disheveled as could be, and the child was crying loudly.

Chen Fulai happened to be coming home from work and ran right into her.

“Mom, what are you doing here? Bringing the living expenses?” Chen Fulai looked at her suspiciously. He remembered his sister had brought the money just half a month ago!

The Chen family was out of the loop and hadn’t attended the wedding. Chen Zhaodi wouldn’t have told them about her own disgrace, so they had no idea Gu Yunchuan had been arrested.

Xia Shuhua didn’t say a word, just kept a stern face.

As usual, Chen Fulai respectfully ushered in the “God of Wealth.” After all, when he got married, he was counting on Xia Shuhua to give him money for the “three rounds and one sound.”

Old Mrs. Chen was tidying up inside. When she saw Xia Shuhua arrive, she was very surprised. In the past, Xia Shuhua always came dressed to the nines, covered in jewelry.

But this time, she wasn’t even wearing earrings.

And it was the first time she’d brought the child.

Speaking of the child, Old Mrs. Chen disliked him. When Xia Shuhua was pregnant, she’d secretly mocked her for having a baby at her age—what a joke.

It was also proof of Xia Shuhua’s betrayal of her son, and just looking at the child made her upset.

Xia Shuhua wasn’t there for small talk. She sat down and bluntly explained everything.

When the three members of the Chen family heard why she was there, the peaceful little house immediately erupted.

What? Gu Yunchuan was arrested? No more living expenses?

Especially Chen Fulai—he was devastated, unable to believe it was true.

Although the rumors about Wang Xiaowei had affected him a bit—people in the building whispered about him, and no one tried to set him up with anyone anymore—it didn’t affect his prospects at the factory. People there didn’t know about his family’s issues.

He’d just started seeing a girl from the factory’s logistics department, and she’d said she wanted the “three rounds and one sound” and “twenty-four legs” for the wedding. He’d already boasted he could manage it. The family had some savings, and with his mom’s help, it wouldn’t be a problem.

He never expected that just as he was about to succeed, the money tree would be gone!

Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Kuan weren’t as disappointed. In fact, they felt a strange sense of satisfaction—especially Chen Kuan, Fulai’s father, who was lying in bed, secretly delighted.

That shameless woman had dared betray him—now she was getting her comeuppance!

He was happy the money was gone, too. Every time she came over, she acted so high and mighty. Now that she’d fallen on hard times, let’s see how she shows her face.

Old Mrs. Chen was also pleased. For the sake of that twenty yuan a month, she’d put up with Xia Shuhua’s attitude for years. Now, finally, she could get her own back.

“Your man got arrested, so what are you doing here? Xia Shuhua, don’t forget, you were the one who did wrong first. Don’t think we’ll take you in—no way!” Old Mrs. Chen immediately kicked her out."