Chang Hongbing waved his hand: "You're confused. An'an went to school. Yesterday, everyone in the family who could still move came to celebrate An'an's first day of school!"
Chen Zhaodi exclaimed in surprise, regretting, "So that's why so many people were home yesterday! If I had known, I wouldn't have gone all that way to suffer like this!"
"Looking for trouble?"
Chang Hongbing grasped the key point and frowned: "Who would cause you any suffering? Your daughter-in-law is a kind-hearted person. Even when she's not around, she always remembers to send gifts to the family during holidays, and every single one is carefully selected. Your in-laws raised her to be a good girl, and her character is even better. I'm afraid you're just finding fault with her. It's not like you haven't done this kind of thing before..."
"Shut up!" Chen Zhaodi roared, then stormed back to her room.
Seeing Chen Zhaodi's gloomy back, Chang Hongbing realized he had said the wrong thing.
This involves a painful matter for Chang Hongbing and his wife: their daughter Chang Huaying's marriage.
When Chang Huaying was a junior in college, she fell in love with a professor at the school. The professor was fifteen years older than her, divorced and single, with a daughter, but from a good family. His parents were very easy to get along with, and he was a refined and cultured man with good professional skills.
Chen Zhaodi was old-fashioned and refused to budge no matter how her two children tried to prove it to her. She even threw a tantrum, which ultimately led to the two children going their separate ways.
After graduation, Chang Huaying chose to stay at the school to work. Although she lived not far away, she rarely went home to visit. Whenever asked, she would say she was busy with work. As for finding a partner and getting married, Chang Hongbing and his wife dared not even mention it.
Later, Chen Zhaodi came to terms with it, but it was too late to undo the damage. It is said that the professor had found a partner, gotten married, and his whole family had immigrated abroad.
Chang Huaying's relationship with her parents could not return to what it used to be and remained very cold.
Chen Zhaodi was sulking in her room. After thinking for a while, she decided to go to the store for a walk. Since she had nothing to do anyway, she had to find something to do.
This shop just can't function without her!
Chen Zhaodi rummaged through her bag to find the things she needed to go out. Before she could even change her clothes, she heard Granny Chang's voice from outside.
"Zhaodi, haven't you and Hongbing made up after your fight? I heard you arguing again while I was resting inside!"
Chang Hongbing hurriedly explained, "Mom, I didn't argue with her. You know her temper is getting worse and worse, how could I dare to argue with her..."
Granny Chang angrily hit Hongbing and scolded him: "Hongbing, you've always been an obedient and good boy since you were little. How come you become so unreasonable after getting married? Your new wife has to put up with your bad temper. Are you even human?"
Chang Hongbing was sweating profusely with anxiety. His mother was confused. He was more wronged than Dou E!
Chen Zhaodi came out of the room with a smile, supporting Granny Chang's arm: "Mom, Chang Hongbing just likes to bully people. He's no good!"
"You!" Chang Hongbing was furious. This malicious woman actually spoke ill of him in front of his mother.
Granny Chang spat, "Hongbing, if you don't behave, wait until your father comes back and he'll deal with you!"
Chang Hongbing had a bitter face. He already had a grandson, yet he still had to be disciplined by his father. He wouldn't be able to go out to play chess anymore!
Granny Chang thought for a moment and then changed her words: "Your father is no use either. We'll have to wait for your second brother to come home from school and teach you a lesson!"
Chang Hongbing's expression was complicated; he didn't know whether to cry or laugh. His mother still remembered to seek justice for Chen Zhaodi, but her mind was already muddled. His second brother had already gone to work in another city before he got married.
Chen Zhaodi, holding onto Granny Chang's arm, laughed and said, "Mom, let's ignore that annoying guy for now. I've missed you a lot these past few days. Let's go inside and have a chat!"
After a short while, Chen Zhaodi realized that if the shop couldn't survive without her, then she should quit, break up the business, and go home. She didn't want to support those people like an ancestor!
It's more comfortable to stay at home and chat with the old lady.
Although the old lady was confused, she had become unusually playful. She would often pull Chen Zhaodi into her room to whisper secrets, promising to share her possessions with Chen Zhaodi in the future.
After so many years of getting along, she knew that the old lady didn't have anything at all. If she did, it was something she had in the past, which was long ago, and Chang Lanhua and her sister and Chang Guofu and their heartless friends had taken it all. She, Chen Zhaodi, was not so lucky as to get something for nothing.
Chen Zhaodi just listened to these kinds of things for fun; it was fine if someone was willing to make her happy!
For example, when she traveled a long way to help her son's family, her in-laws wished they could never speak to her again and were not happy for Chen Zhaodi to go there, even though it was her son's home.
Her words were laced with barbs, making Chen Zhaodi so angry she felt her chest tighten and she nearly died from the irritation.
Chen Zhaodi was talking to Granny Chang in the room when a commotion broke out outside the courtyard.
It sounds like the noise is coming from the courtyard across the street.
Granny Chang's eyes lit up instantly: "Zhao Di, is there anything fun happening outside?"
Cough cough!
Chen Zhaodi shook her head helplessly. The old Granny Chang, who used to seem very serious, had become a completely different person after she became confused. She was mischievous, loved to join in the fun, and was like a child.
Before Chen Zhaodi could take Granny Chang out to satisfy her curiosity, Chang Hongbing came in to report the situation.
The filial son knows exactly what's going on with his own mother!
Chang Hongbing told them, "It's still the same. The Liu family in the courtyard across the street is arguing!"
Chen Zhaodi shook her head uninterestedly. Times are moving forward, but some people are stuck in the same place forever. Everyone in the alley is working hard to improve their lives, while the Liu family, who are lazy and only think about relying on others, are getting worse and worse.
A few years ago, Liu Xiaoguai, who couldn't find a partner, brought back a young widow from the countryside. The Liu family was in an uproar. Some objected, some had ill intentions, and in short, they still have a small argument every three days and a big argument every five days. It's very annoying.
Granny Chang still looked curious. She was sometimes confused and sometimes alert. She forgot about the Liu family's affairs in the blink of an eye, which was a new thing for her.
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