Liu Huan followed her out, thinking she was lost, so she went out to greet her: "Hello, Auntie, so you're from Huangshi Town."

The woman smiled somewhat reluctantly, "Yes, my family used to be from Huangshi Town, and my husband's family is from Qingyang Town. I saw a banquet being held here, so I just took a look around. It turns out it's your family."

Su's mother was a little puzzled, and when the two asked, she asked, "Huanhuan, do you know her?"

To avoid worrying her, I could only say, "Yes, we met in the county, we've met once."

Mother Su was very hospitable and quickly invited her inside.

"Come in and have a seat. My family just had a wedding yesterday, so you'd like to share in the joy."

The woman suppressed her excitement and followed them inside.

Looking around the courtyard, it was clean, tidy, and cozy; it was clearly the home of a good family.

A boy's angry roar came from next door: "Liu Huan, I'm not playing with you anymore!"

Seeing that she had really angered Xiao Shi, Liu Huan shamelessly yelled, "Okay, okay, I know I was wrong."

The woman kept staring at the two people playing around in the yard, her eyes glistening with tears.

Su's mother thought she was thinking of her own children. "Sister, don't be shy. My two kids are just very naughty. They fight all the time. We're used to it."

The woman snapped out of her reverie, "I haven't asked what your surname is yet, sister."

Mother Su smiled and said, "My husband's surname is Su, and my maiden name is Liu. What about you, sister?"

The woman replied, "My maiden name is Tang, and my husband's surname is Yang. He is a scholar."

Then he asked, "Does your daughter take your surname?"

Mother Su didn't want to continue the topic, so she changed the subject by saying, "Sister, please go inside."

The lunch was prepared by Cao'er. Fang Yi originally wanted to go too. Su's mother wasn't the kind of wicked mother-in-law who would torment her daughter-in-law on the first day of their marriage.

Da Shi, being a doting husband, naturally let her go back to her room to rest.

The woman was distracted during the meal, which was noticed by the whole family.

After finishing the meal, Liu Huan skillfully cleared away the dishes and chopsticks. The woman was about to take the dishes and chopsticks from her when she said, "Let me do it."

Liu Huan was startled. "No need, Auntie, I can do it myself."

Su's mother also chimed in, "Yes, sister, you sit down, they'll take care of it themselves."

The woman's gaze followed Liu Huan. "How can we do this? The child is still so young. Let me help her."

Su Yi had been watching this strange woman the whole time. Her eyes were fixed on Huanhuan, and her voice trembled occasionally. It was hard to believe that she hadn't planned something.

The woman continued chatting with Su's mother and showed no sign of leaving.

Seeing that it was getting late, Liu Huan reminded her, "Auntie, where do you live? It might not be safe to go home so late."

The woman paused for a moment, then said, "Oh, my home is in town. It's true, I got so caught up with you that I forgot the time. I'll head back now."

After saying that, she took out the hairpin in her hand and said, "Elder sister, since your eldest son is getting married, I don't have anything good to give, so please accept this hairpin as a gift."

Upon seeing that it was a gold-inlaid hairpin, Su's mother quickly refused, saying, "Sister, you're too kind. It's just a meal; how could I let you spend so much?"

The woman then handed it to Fang Yi, saying, "Take it, consider it a good deed. I'll head back now."

Mother Su nodded, "Since your aunt gave it to you, you should keep it."

The woman left without further delay.

Fang Yi handed the hairpin to Su's mother, but she refused, saying, "Our family earns our own money and keeps our own things. It's the same when you come to my house. You'll get used to it eventually."

Xiao Shi waited until she was far away before saying, "Mom, that aunt is really strange. She stayed at my house the whole time."

Su's mother scolded her sternly, "Alright, stop talking badly about others."

The woman walked along the street, turning back every few steps, until she reached the gate of a small courtyard and went inside.

A little boy, about seven or eight years old, came up to us and said, "Mom, where have you been today? Dad and I looked everywhere for you and couldn't find you. We thought you had gone home by yourself."

The woman took out the pastries she had prepared beforehand, saying, "I'm going out to visit some old friends. I won't leave you behind, will I?"

An old woman came out from a side room. "You're back? Let's eat."

The woman said calmly, "Hmm."

The man who was reading in the next room also came out, smiling gently: "Rui-ge'er has been thinking about you all day."

The woman smiled and said, "You're so old and still can't leave your mother. Aren't you ashamed?"

Before going to bed that night, the old woman called the woman in and asked in a serious tone, "Did you go looking for someone again?"

The woman did not refute.

The old woman angrily raised her hand and slapped her arm twice, lowering her voice to say, "Why won't you listen? That child is dead. I've already thrown him to the wolves."

"You've abandoned your scholar husband and son to go after a child who's been dead for ten years. I think you've gone mad."

The woman, tears streaming down her face, grabbed the old woman's hand and asked, "Mother, did you give her away back then? Please tell me where you sent her."

“Dead is dead. Don’t be so stubborn. Go back tomorrow and never come back. I’ll pretend I never had a daughter like you.”

"I don't believe it..."

The two were arguing so loudly that they woke up the man next door.

QQ!

"Mother, Xiuzhen, are you alright?"

The woman quickly composed herself, forced a smile, and opened the door: "It's nothing, I just remembered some things from the past and couldn't help but say a few words to Mother."

The man assumed she was missing her deceased father and comforted her softly, "We'll visit your father tomorrow, and we'll be going back in a couple of days."

The woman cried even harder, and didn't stop until the middle of the night.

In the following days, she intentionally or unintentionally visited the Su family's shop, bought some things, and chatted with Liu Huan.

As they talked, Liu Huan asked, "By the way, do you need to go back to the county after you come here?"

The woman also asked her, "And you, when are you going back?"

After Liu Huan told her the time, the woman showed a knowing look: "What a coincidence, we're going on the same day too. Why don't we go together?"

Liu Huan nodded: "Sure, it'll be good to have someone to keep me company."

...

When Da Shi and Fang Yi returned to their parents' home, Fang's mother almost cried when she saw the happiness on her daughter's face.

She took her daughter to her room and asked her some intimate questions: "How does your son-in-law treat you?"

Fang Yi said sweetly, "Brother Da Shi is very good."

Are the Su family members easy to get along with?

"Yes, they're all easy to get along with. This bracelet was given to me by my mother-in-law; it's pure gold. She also said that all the money Da Shi earns in the future will be ours, and I'll keep it myself."

Mother Su was very satisfied: "That's good. The Su family is destined to be extraordinary in the future. You should take good care of your parents-in-law and treat your younger siblings well. My son, your good fortune is yet to come."

Fang Yi nodded happily: "I know, Mother."

Because Su Yi had taken leave, the two didn't stay long. This time, they also planned to take Xiao Shi to the county to study, since if Su Yi didn't take care of him, he would cause a huge disturbance at home.

When they arrived at the city gate, the woman was already waiting there.

Liu Huan stepped forward to greet her: "Aunt Tang, you're here so early."

The woman turned around, her smile widening. "Huanhuan's here, and Aunt Tang just arrived too."