The Sun family.

In order to help Jiang Xuan protect the business she had worked so hard to develop, Ma Xiaolan has been doing everything she can since Jiang Xuan left. She sells pancakes in the morning, clothes in the afternoon, and sews clothes at night. She is busy like a spinning top every day.

Moreover, in order to give Jiang Xuan an explanation, she insisted on keeping a daily record of her expenses.

That evening, as she was sitting under the lamp recording the day's accounts, Sun Jianjun came out.

Strangely enough, during this period, Sun Jianjun seemed to have become a different person. He started to care about her and Xiuxiu, and would even pick Xiuxiu up at noon to cook lunch for the family.

This was something that would have been impossible before.

Ma Xiaolan felt quite gratified to have someone supporting her.

Sun Jianjun sat down next to Ma Xiaolan and said gently, "Aren't you asleep yet? It's so late."

"You go to sleep first, I'll sleep after I finish doing the accounts."

"Xiaolan, put down your pen first. I want to discuss something with you."

Ma Xiaolan didn't even look up. "What is it?"

"I want to ask you for some money."

What do you need the money for?

Sun Jianjun concealed his true intention to help his sister's family repair their house, saying, "Our factory isn't doing well, and I want to further improve my skills so I can be transferred to another department. That's why I need to go to another city for a period of time to learn."

Ma Xiaolan didn't care about his work, so she casually asked, "How much do you want to borrow?"

500.

Ma Xiaolan stopped what she was doing and looked at him in surprise. "Are you crazy? Where would I get that much money?"

Sun Jianjun frowned and pointed to the ledger. "You're clearly treating me like an outsider. You're selling breakfast and clothes at the same time, how can you be short of money?"

“Sun Jianjun, you know perfectly well that this money isn’t just mine,” Ma Xiaolan said angrily. “I knew it. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. So that’s what you were up to.”

“You’re such a blockhead,” Sun Jianjun said in a low voice. “Jiang Xuan isn’t here right now, and you’re still diligently keeping track of the accounts. Even if you took all the money, she still wouldn’t know, would she?”

Ma Xiaolan closed the ledger and stood up abruptly: "Sun Jianjun, how could you even think of that? Relationships between people are based on trust. Jiang Xuan has been good to me, and I would never do anything to betray her in my life."

"This is utterly absurd! I'm your husband, the man you're going to spend your life with. Do you really think I'm less important than that guy surnamed Jiang?"

Seeing Sun Jianjun's ferocious expression, Ma Xiaolan sneered, "You're right about that. You really can't compare to Jiang Xuan."

Ma Xiaolan took a few steps closer, staring at him, and said, word by word, "Since I married you, ask yourself honestly, have you ever fulfilled your responsibilities as a husband by protecting me even once? Not even once! Sun Jianjun, if you had done even one thing, I wouldn't hate you this much!"

Thinking of those unbearable past events, Ma Xiaolan closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, "It was Jiang Xuan, it was Jiang Xuan who pulled me out of the mire."

"Alright, alright, that's enough. Just pretend I didn't say anything today."

Sun Jianjun walked angrily toward the bedroom, but after a few steps he turned back and said, "I'll be busy from now on and won't be able to pick up and drop off Xiuxiu. You'll have to figure it out yourself."

Ma Xiaolan sneered a few times: This is the good man she found!

Did he think he could stump her like that?

She, Ma Xiaolan, has come this far, so she is not afraid of any hardship or difficulty.

"You don't need to worry about Xiuxiu's affairs. Instead, take some time to go and get the divorce papers done."

Sun Jianjun stopped and stared coldly at Ma Xiaolan for a long while. "You keep bringing up divorce. Do you really think I can't live without you? Let's get a divorce tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll prepare the documents later, and we'll go to process it tomorrow after Xiuxiu goes to school."

After saying this in a calm tone, Ma Xiaolan returned to the table to continue recording the day's accounts, and then went into the other bedroom to sleep with her daughter.

Sun Jianjun was so angry that he started smashing the wall.

The next morning, after sending her daughter to school, Ma Xiaolan took the documents to the machinery factory to find Sun Jianjun.

Who knew he would suddenly go on a business trip and wouldn't be back for another two weeks.

Ma Xiaolan felt that Sun Jianjun was deliberately stalling for time, but she wasn't in a hurry, since she had already made up her mind to get a divorce.

It was still early, so she went to Xiguan Road.

Because she was worried about her daughter's lunch, she assigned the work to two apprentices just after 11 a.m. and rushed home.

She was stunned as soon as she opened the door.

In the courtyard, Hu Tao and Xiu Xiu were eating noodles.

Ma Xiaolan was so moved that she didn't know what to say.

Hu Tao greeted her with a smile, "Xiaolan is back? I made a lot of noodles today, let's eat together."

As she spoke, Hu Tao got up and prepared to go to the kitchen to serve rice to Ma Xiaolan.

Ma Xiaolan quickly stopped her, "No, Auntie, I already feel bad that Xiuxiu is eating here, how could I trouble you any further?"

Xiuxiu came over with a bowl and said in a low voice, "Mom, I didn't want to eat at Grandma's house, but Grandma insisted that I stay."

“I noticed that Comrade Sun didn’t come back today, and I figured you all must be busy, so I made a bowl for the kids. We’re all neighbors, so this little favor is nothing.”

Ma Xiaolan turned to her daughter: "Did you come back by yourself?"

"Yes. My classmates have been going to and from school by themselves since last year. Mom, don't worry, I'll be careful."

Xiuxiu is actually not young anymore.

But Ma Xiaolan only has one child, so she naturally has to be more careful about safety.

"This can't happen again. I'll find a way to pick you up."

Hu Tao said, "Xiao Lan, if you two are both busy, let Xiu Xiu come to my place for lunch from now on. It's just a matter of adding half a bowl of water."

The two families usually spend a lot of time together.

Ma Xiaolan also knew Hu Tao's character; he wasn't the kind of person who just talked the talk.

So he didn't bother with any pretense of refusal.

She held Hu Tao's hand and said, "Auntie, thank you so much. You've really helped me a lot."

She hurriedly pulled two five-yuan bills from her pocket. "Take this money, consider it Xiuxiu's food expenses."

"Oh, why give me money? How much can a little kid eat? Besides, Dian Dian and Fan Xing won't be back for lunch, and Xiu Xiu will be eating with me, so I'm in a good mood. Put the money away."

"But I really feel bad about it."

She felt she owed their family far too much.

After she lost her job, it was Jiang Xuan who taught her a skill without reservation and helped her earn money.

Now, Hu Tao has to help her cook for the children.

She couldn't help but tear up.

Hu Tao comforted her, "Don't overthink it. We're neighbors and relatives, it's nothing to do with such a small favor."

Ma Xiaolan had no choice but to temporarily put the money away.

She was thinking of buying more nutritional supplements for Hu Tao and the children later.

With these worries gone, Ma Xiaolan can focus more on her business.