On the other side, Gu Huanian arrived home after a few days by train, but his father still hadn't returned.

There was still only one Wang Ma at home.

Wang Ma hadn't expected Gu Huanian to return at this time, so she hurriedly went to greet him, saying, "Young Master Gu, have you eaten? Would you like me to make something?"

Gu Huanian nodded; he was indeed a little hungry. "Where's my mom?"

"These past few days, Madam has been going out every day, but I don't know what she's doing."

"Okay, you can go ahead and get busy!"

Seeing that Wang Ma had gone to the kitchen, Gu Huanian thought for a moment and then walked towards Chen Shujing and Gu Aiguo's room.

He opened the door, and what came into view were two photos hanging on the wall. In one photo, Gu Aiguo had his hand on a woman's shoulder. The two were smiling brightly. In the other photo, the three of them were posed together, with him standing in the middle.

This photo was taken when he was eight years old. He remembers having a family photo taken when he was five.

Later, for some reason, that photo could never be found.

The room was very clean, but after searching around, he couldn't find anything useful.

He left the room, and after Wang Ma prepared the meal, he ate a little and went upstairs.

He had been on the train for several days, thinking about these things the whole way, and hadn't had a proper rest.

He fell asleep shortly after lying in bed.

I slept until dark, just as Chen Shuling returned.

He came downstairs, and when Wang Ma saw him, she smiled and said, "I was just about to call you down for dinner."

"Um"

Chen Shuling didn't expect Gu Huanian to come back now. Wasn't he supposed to be going to the Northeast?

They only stayed for a few days before coming back?

She asked with a puzzled look, "Huanian, why are you back so quickly this time?"

Gu Huanian smiled and said, "Yes, there are some things I need to take care of when I get back."

Chen Shuling placed a piece of food on his plate and said, "Now that you're back, take some time to finalize your marriage with Lanlan."

Gu Huanian frowned. "Mom, I remember when I was little, you weren't like this. You told me to marry someone I liked, don't you remember?"

Looking into Gu Huanian's deep eyes, Chen Shuling suddenly felt a little panicked. Could it be that Huanian knew something?

Impossible. Chen Shujing probably died on some deserted road.

Gu Huanian could not possibly see her, nor could he possibly know.

“I was just kidding when you were little, but now that you’re all grown up, once you marry Murong Lan, you’ll definitely have a very happy life together.”

"Mom, I'm full. You can continue eating." Gu Huanian said, putting down her chopsticks and going upstairs.

Chen Shuling, who had been having a run of bad luck lately, got angry when she saw him like this and threw down her chopsticks. "Gu Huanian, Lanlan is such a good girl, why are you so blind to this and insist on being with a country girl? I really don't understand. One day you will regret the decision you made today for the rest of your life."

Gu Huanian turned around and looked at Chen Shuling; "Mom, I remember you're from the countryside too. Why can you marry my dad, but I can't marry Su Li? Don't you think you're being ridiculous?"

This was the first time in all these years that Gu Huanian had spoken to her so harshly.

She absolutely cannot let Su Li into the house. If she can make a scene over this woman now, what will happen after she enters the house?

"Hua Nian, you...you're trying to piss me off." She clutched her chest, looking like she was about to run out of breath.

Gu Huanian said calmly, "Mom, don't always do this. You get a heartache whenever things don't go your way. Haven't you had enough of this trick all these years?"

After saying that, Gu Huanian ignored her and went upstairs.

This was the first time in years that Chen Shuling had been so humiliated, and she was so angry that she overturned the dining table.

Wang Ma was heartbroken; these were all delicious dishes that her family couldn't afford to eat all year round.

Although she felt sorry for her, she was just a maid after all, so she didn't dare to say anything, for fear that the other party would get angry and fire her.

I heard that this family had a nanny before she came, who had worked there for many years.

Just because of one sentence, the woman was unhappy and she kicked him out.

"Why aren't you cleaning up the floor? What are you standing there for?" Chen Shuling, having nowhere else to vent her anger, yelled at Wang Ma.

Wang Ma lowered her head and nodded, saying, "Madam, I'll go right away. Please don't be angry, I'll take care of it immediately."

Chen Shuling turned around and went back to her room. Gu Huanian really took after his mother; he was stubborn and headstrong.

If he doesn't want such a good marriage, then he shouldn't blame her for using other methods.

The next morning, after getting up and having breakfast, Gu Huanian pretended to have something to do and went out.

In reality, they found a secluded spot and waited for Chen Shuling to come out.

According to Wang Ma, she has been leaving early and returning late every day these days.

Soon Chen Shuling walked out of the family compound, and Gu Huanian quietly followed behind her.

They followed her to a dilapidated courtyard. She went in first, and soon a fat man also went in.

Gu Huanian leaned against the wall and heard the conversation inside.

"Sister, could you give me some more money?"

Chen Shuling gave him a look of disgust; "When you went back to the Southern Province, were you sure you didn't find that bitch Chen Shujing?"

Chen Dabao nodded; "Second sister, I'm not lying to you. Eldest sister really didn't go back. I've looked all over the village and town, but there's no one there."

"I already gave you fifty yuan last time, and you're asking for money again after only a few days?"

Chen Dabao's eyes flickered; "Sister, I beg you, give me another fifty yuan. I owe someone fifty yuan, and if you don't give it to me, they're going to chop off my fingers."

Chen Shuling's eyes were filled with hatred; "This is the last time. All the money I've saved up here will be spent on you. You must never gamble with those people again."

As she spoke, she handed him another wad of bills.

Chen Dabao snatched the money away; "Sister, I'll do whatever you say."

With the money, Chen Dabao didn't want to stay here any longer. He said with a smile, "Then I'll head back first, Second Sister. You know how anxious Mom and Dad are if they don't see me all the time."

Chen Shuling waved her hand and said, "Go!"

After he left, her eyes were filled with malice; "Go ahead and gamble! I really hope one day you'll gamble away your life, then let's see how those two old hags live without their son?"

Gu Huanian heard someone coming out and quickly hid to the side.

After the fat man left, Gu Huanian waited outside for a while before Chen Shuling came out.

Gu Huanian continued to follow her, wanting to see what she was up to.

This time, she came to a park in Beijing and found a quiet spot to sit down.

Soon a man appeared in a corner of the park.

The man straightened his clothes, put on glasses, and walked towards Chen Shuling.

Gu Huanian frowned. Wasn't this Murong Lan's father? How could they be involved?