Chen Ke, standing behind the door:

I feel like I'm going through the biggest ordeal of my entire long life.

"No, thank you," Song Xiaowen stammered, somewhat embarrassed.

Aunt Liu was a little disappointed. "Why? Do you think my granddaughter isn't good enough for your eldest son?"

"Aunt Liu, of course not. Your granddaughter is such a wonderful girl. It's just that young people these days don't want arranged marriages anymore. They all value free love, so we shouldn't interfere." Most importantly, she wasn't ready to be a grandmother yet.

"It would be good to let them get to know each other first." Aunt Liu still didn't want to give up. One reason was that Chen Ke really caught her eye, and the other was that Song Xiaowen and Zhou Shanhuai were both easy-going people. Her granddaughter would be blessed to marry into their family.

"Mom, where should we put this?" Chen Ke suddenly asked from inside the room.

Song Xiaowen breathed a sigh of relief, turned her head and replied, "I'll be right there."

"Aunt Liu, I was planning to tell you this after I finished packing. We're moving back to our old house, and I'm packing now."

"Huh? You're moving back already? Didn't you say you sold your old house? Are you buying it back now?" Aunt Liu asked, even more surprised.

Song Xiaowen nodded, "It was bought by Chen Zhuo's brother."

"Is that the eldest son from earlier? My goodness, he's so young and he can earn so much money? I heard that your old houses were all those Western-style villas with gardens, they were so beautiful."

"Aunt Liu, after I move back and tidy up, I'd like to invite you over for a visit. I'll show you around then."

"Oh, that's great! Although I'm a little reluctant to part with you as my neighbor, I'm still happy for you that you're back in your own house. Your family doesn't live like people who live in alleyways; you should live in a big house or a small villa."

Aunt Liu stopped mentioning the idea of ​​Chen Ke becoming her grandson-in-law and urged Song Xiaowen, "Xiaowen, hurry up and go inside to pack. If you need any help, just let me know."

Song Xiaowen exchanged a few more pleasantries with Aunt Liu before entering the house. Unexpectedly, Chen Ke was actually helping her pack. Song Xiaowen quickly went over to take the bowls and chopsticks that Chen Ke was carrying and putting into the box, saying, "No, no, let me do it, you don't know how to do these things."

Chen Ke didn't let go, and together with Song Xiaowen, they put the bowl in. "How come I don't know how to do these things anymore? But you, Mom, you never knew how to do these things before."

Song Xiaowen paused for a moment, then finally looked at Chen Ke and asked, "You, why did you suddenly come back?"

Chen Ke paused as he put down his chopsticks. "Mom... I'm sorry."

Song Xiaowen couldn't control her emotions and her eyes reddened instantly. "Why are you apologizing now? How could you do something so selfish back then? Do you know that the three of us had nowhere to live and nothing to eat? If it weren't for your dad finding a job and getting an advance on some of our monthly pay, the three of us would be just like those homeless vagrants."

Chen Ke stepped forward and gently patted Song Xiaowen's trembling shoulder, letting her rest her forehead on his arm. He said with deep remorse, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mom, it's all my fault."

Song Xiaowen wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. "The people you should apologize to are not us, but Chen Zhuo. Do you know how long Chen Zhuo searched for you after he found out you left? He searched almost all over Shanghai, and even risked going into the foreign concessions where you weren't allowed to enter, just in case you didn't leave on your own, but encountered some danger. He only stopped when we told him that you had taken all the family's property with you..."

Chen Ke didn't know about this, but he could imagine Chen Zhuo's mental state at the time. He thought his closest person was in danger and desperately tried to find him, only to find out that he had run off with the money and abandoned him. Anyone would hate him to the core in that situation.

"I will naturally talk to Chen Zhuo about it."

"So why did you do that back then? You said it was for money, but then you transferred the money back and even bought the house back. Chen Ke, can you tell me why? As long as you still consider me your mother, I'm willing to believe whatever you say." Song Xiaowen truly treated the Chen brothers as her own children. If a child makes a mistake, as long as they are willing to repent, what parent would hold a grudge for a lifetime?

In this matter, Chen Ke certainly cannot treat Song Xiaowen the same way he treats Chen Zhuo. Chen Zhuo has already suffered psychological trauma and can only be dealt with using special methods. However, Song Xiaowen is a generous and tolerant mother, and Chen Ke is prepared to tell her the truth.

Before Chen Ke could speak, Song Xiaowen impatiently asked, "Is there some unspeakable reason? Or a reason you can't tell us?"

Chen Ke: "...Why are you suddenly asking that?"

Song Xiaowen stood up straight and looked at Chen Ke, saying seriously, "Just tell me if it's true or not. If it is, I won't ask anymore. I know that some things are better left unsaid."

Chen Ke was caught off guard by Song Xiaowen's sudden change and asked, "What... what does this mean?"

Song Xiaowen sat down on the stool with an air of "I saw right through you." "Hmph, you're still pretending. Your dad and the others might not be able to guess, but I can. You must have joined some organization and are doing something big. Otherwise, why would you suddenly take the money from home, then suddenly transfer it back after a while, and still have enough money to buy back our house? Don't tell me you're doing business. Even selling marijuana wouldn't make you this much money."

Chen Ke was surprised by how things had suddenly turned out this way, and said helplessly, "Mom, you know so much."

Song Xiaowen's gentle and delicate face from the Jiangnan region radiated smugness. Despite being over thirty, she still possessed a youthful charm and playfulness.

Chen Ke sighed. Song Xiaowen and Zhou Shanhuai were married off by their families, but Zhou Shanhuai loved Song Xiaowen very much and protected her well in this chaotic world. Although the years had left their mark on her face, her personality had not changed.

Therefore, marriage has little to do with whether it is arranged by parents or based on free choice; the most important thing is to meet the right person.

Clearly, Song Xiaowen is one of the few women of this era who lives a very happy life.

"Is it because Mom guessed correctly that she's not saying anything?"

"Mom, putting aside the reasons, just look at what I did. Don't you hate me?"

Song Xiaowen's expression darkened, and she sighed, "It was already over, but you still insisted on asking about it. At first, I hated you, how could I not hate you? But I didn't hate you for long because I was busy learning to cook, washing clothes, cleaning... Then, as I got busy, when I thought about it again, I didn't hate you as much anymore."

"Mom, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for making you suffer so much."

Seeing Chen Ke's remorse, Song Xiaowen patted him on the shoulder instead, "Alright, it wasn't your fault that the family went bankrupt, and it wasn't you who made me suffer, it was this world. Besides, what is my little bit of suffering? I've been wealthy for most of my life, and only now do I realize what the real suffering of us women is. Chen Ke, this world is too hard."