Chapter 252 Settling Down
Shen Cuifen didn't say anything more. She knew her mother's temper and knew that saying more at this moment would be of no use.
She picked up the faded canvas bag, zipped it up, turned around, and, supporting her mother, walked out slowly and steadily, step by step.
Her steps were steady, each one firm and solid, as if silently declaring: even if they were driven out of their homes, they would not fall.
Zhou Xiuli stood on the door frame with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on the two women's slowly receding figures.
Her lips couldn't help but curl upwards, and the smile spread from the corners of her eyes to her cheeks, as if she had finally seen the victory she had been waiting for.
She watched the hunched figures of the mother and daughter gradually disappear at the gate of the courtyard, and felt a surge of joy, as if years of repression had finally been completely released.
She turned around and looked back—the room was eerily quiet.
Zhou Nuli had already sat down at the table, his back to the door, head down, and expressionless.
His rough hands picked up the bottle and poured half a glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor), the amber liquid swirling slightly in the glass.
He didn't speak, but just drank slowly, swallowing each sip as if he were swallowing some indescribable emotion.
"Brother, why are you so downcast?"
She walked over, her tone tinged with a hint of confusion and flippancy.
She didn't understand. Victory was already in their hands, so what was there to worry about?
She sat opposite him and reached out to grab Zhou Nuli's hand, her movements so practiced as if she were already used to such intimacy.
Zhou Nuli took a sip of wine, his throat bobbed, and his voice was so low it seemed to rise from the ground, heavy and suppressed: "Zhao Lin left too decisively... Don't you think it's too abnormal?"
His brows furrowed into a deep frown, and a hint of doubt and unease flashed in his eyes.
He always felt that the expulsion went too smoothly, like a carefully planned exit rather than a forced escape.
Zhou Xiuli listened, but didn't care at all.
She sat closer, reached out and took Zhou Nuli's hand in hers; his fingertips were smooth and smelled of face cream.
She smiled and comforted him, "Brother, how can she compare to me? I'm young and good-looking. She's an old auntie; wouldn't she be embarrassing herself if she stayed?"
Her tone was light and casual, as if Shen Cuifen's existence was never worth mentioning.
Zhou Nuli felt that her hands were smooth and greasy, and smelled of face cream, which made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
He instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but couldn't actually break free.
He frowned, stared into her eyes, and asked seriously, "Xiuli, did you really get together with me because you like me?"
There was a hint of probing in his voice, as if he were confirming some deep-seated suspicion.
Zhou Xiuli's eyes flickered, her pupils contracted slightly, and then she smiled, a bright and charming smile.
She snuggled up to his leg, twisting her body and acting coquettishly, "Big brother, I've loved you since we were little!"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice soft and sweet, as if trying to melt away all his doubts with these sweet words.
Zhou has spoiled her since she was a child.
No matter how poor his family was, he always saved the best for her.
When there's meat to eat, he never takes the first bite; when there are toys to play with, he always lets her choose first.
Whenever she asked, no matter how difficult it was, Zhou Nuli never hesitated.
He was her strongest support, and also the one she took for granted.
After he started working, he was the first person to buy her candy and dresses.
Every time he got paid, he would secretly hide a few bills and bring her back a bag of fruit candies or a dress with small flowers printed on it when he went to the market.
She was wearing a new dress and twirling around at the village entrance, smiling like a flower, while he stood beside her, grinning sheepishly, his eyes full of doting affection.
He went to the joint venture factory, and she followed without hesitation.
As soon as his salary arrived, before he could even warm it up, the first thing he did was stuff the money into her hand and tell her to spend it however she wanted and buy whatever she wanted.
He knew she liked pretty little things, loved eating roasted chestnuts from street vendors, and enjoyed picking out cheap yet exquisite hair clips at the market.
So he never asked her for money; instead, he would always secretly give her more.
Of course she liked him.
This affection wasn't a sudden flutter of the heart, but rather a reliance and sense of security built up over time.
Every time she looked down at the red string on her wrist, which he had braided himself—clumsy yet sturdy—a warm feeling would well up inside her.
She liked the way he bent over when he worked, liked the way he always put meat in her bowl when he ate, and even liked the stubbornness in his voice.
She realized that the matchmaker was right—she had no family fortune, no background, and no one had ever stood up for her since she was a child.
In this world, mountains may crumble, and people may run away; only sincerity is the most reliable support.
Since that's the case, why not find someone who truly treats her well and cherishes her deeply?
A person she can trust, rely on, and even be capricious and spoiled by.
This person could only be Zhou Nuli.
The thought of Zhao Lin and Shen Cuifen looking disheveled and miserable when they left made her laugh out loud.
Those two, who were once so arrogant and looked like they were nothing without us, can only slink away now, not daring to look back even once.
For all these years, the one who has been preventing her from associating with Zhou Nuli is Zhao Lin.
Zhao Lin belittled her at every turn, saying she was not good enough for the Zhou family, that she was ill-mannered and unambitious, and forcibly separated them several times.
But what about now?
She not only stood upright beside Zhou Nuli, but also made Zhao Lin and her daughter leave feeling ashamed.
She won; she won this protracted battle that had dragged on for years.
Why shouldn't you laugh?
Why shouldn't we hold our heads high and be proud?
Once on the bus, it bumped and jolted its way towards the county town.
Zhao Lin sat by the window, his back ramrod straight, his face rosy, and his spirits high.
She simply threw her cane away; using it would only make her look old and frail, and she wasn't going to pretend anymore.
She walks with a brisk pace, her steps light as if she were twenty years younger.
Shen Cuifen quickly followed, afraid that she might fall: "Mom, shall we go to the hotel to settle down first? So we can get some rest tonight."
"No rush, no rush."
Zhao Lin waved his hand, a sly glint in his eyes. "Let's find a room by the hour first, then we'll talk after we eat. I'm hungry."
She spoke casually, but her tone carried an undisguised excitement.
It was as if this meal wasn't just about filling one's stomach, but rather the beginning of some kind of ritual.
Shen Cuifen panicked a little, and lowered her voice: "Mom, I secretly took the pension money out and hid it in my underwear..."
But your clothes, medicine bottles, and photo frame are still left at the Zhou family's house.
She bit her lip, her eyes slightly reddening.
She knew her mother had had a hard time these past years. Although those things weren't valuable, each one carried memories.
Zhao Lin waved her hand, her lips curving into a wide smile, like a cat that had just stolen some cream: "Cuifen, silly child, Mom has been prepared for a long time. Have you forgotten Sister Liu? When I was at the Zhou family's, I secretly asked her to pack two suitcases, just waiting for this day!"
As she spoke, she deliberately winked, "You think I've wasted all these years? I've been waiting for my chance."
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