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Ye Wenyu saw all of this and thought painfully, "This is what it's like to be poor!" After her mother remarried, she not only didn't become richer, but became even poorer. She used to indulge in some bourgeois indulgences, like buying perfume or going on sightseeing trips. Now, she devoted herself entirely to her stepfather's new home, completely losing herself for the sake of that house and her two children.
Her heart felt like it was being pierced by needles, and she whispered, "Mom—"
Zhang Susu smiled and replied gratefully, "Thank you so much! I really wanted to thank you in person! Xiaoyu, with this money, your Uncle Wang and I will be much more relaxed. We won't have to worry about what if your Uncle Wang loses his job and we can't afford the mortgage, or the bank takes the house away. You simply can't understand how much confidence and security this 200,000 yuan brings us. Mom is so lucky to have a daughter like you; you are Mom's pride." Zhang Susu was extremely happy, feeling that her nerves, which had been tense for over a year, were finally relaxing. All the muscles in her body that had been sore from the tension were now completely relaxed.
She hadn't felt this relaxed and happy in a long time. No wonder many people say that money brings peace of mind.
Ye Wenyu felt a pang of pain in her heart. Her daughter was a rich man's mistress, and her mother actually said that she was her pride. This really is a society that laughs at poverty but not at prostitution!
She nodded slowly and said softly to Zhang Susu, "Mom, there won't be a next time."
Zhang Susu's smile froze, like a fish frozen in a refrigerator. She didn't say a word. There were still many things to deal with in her future. Her two children were growing up, and university would require a lot of money. Then there was the matter of buying a house, getting married, and starting a family. She couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't continue to ask her daughters for help.
Ye Wenyu continued softly, "Consider this money my way of repaying your kindness in raising me."
Zhang Susu was stunned, then suddenly felt sad and ashamed, her face burning with shame. After a moment, she said, "Okay, I promise you, this is the last time." She looked at Ye Wenyu, her guilt burning like fire.
When a woman has a family, many things change. She knows she has failed her daughter, and from the moment she decides to remarry, she has been very cold and selfish towards her.
The idea of borrowing money wasn't hers; it came from Old Wang and the two children. When Old Wang sighed repeatedly, she decided to step in and borrow the money.
She knew that doing this would be unfair to her daughter, but without lending the money, her new family would feel like a small boat adrift in a storm, with no sense of security whatsoever.
She had been divorced once and didn't want to get divorced again; she had been married twice and didn't want to marry again. Having lived most of her life, she found that most men were pretty much the same.
Women should not place their lifelong happiness on men; they should rely on themselves. From a young age, they should study hard, go to high school, and become excellent, because relying on others is unreliable. Unfortunately, she understood this principle too late; she was already a middle-aged woman, like a salted fish that could not turn over.
Besides, Lao Wang treats her well, so it's worth living together. Life is tough and tiring, but there's also happiness and joy. Although the mortgage is tough, like a heavy burden that makes it hard to breathe, there are still many people in this world who can't afford a house in S City. One should be content and happy, not necessarily better off than others, but better off than those below.
"He rides a fine horse while I ride a donkey. I lower my head and ponder, but I have nothing to lose. I raise my head and see a man pushing a cart. Though I lack something above, I have more than enough below."
Zhang Susu felt a mix of emotions, like a jumbled mess of feelings. She looked at her daughter with guilt and said softly, "Xiaoyu, it's Mom who's sorry."
Ye Wenyu tried to explain, lowering her voice as she said, "Mom, I'm someone who can't be brought into the light. The more I owe him, the less likely I am to be free in the future! You don't want me to live like this forever, do you? You said last time that I would leave after graduation, and that's what I really think. But if you and Uncle Wang keep borrowing money from him, how can I leave?"
Zhang Susu nodded and said to her, "Silly girl, what do you have to feel guilty about? Which family doesn't accept a bride price when their daughter gets married? Consider this 200,000 yuan as his bride price to me. You're right, and don't worry, your mother is a person who cares about her reputation and won't be greedy or upset anyone. So I promise this is the last time. You should study hard, find a good job after graduation, and you can still help your brother. And you'll be able to help him with a clear conscience then!" At the end, Zhang Susu raised her head, looking like she was in the right.
Hearing her mother say this, Ye Wenyu finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with satisfaction.
Her mother did not disappoint her.
Zhang Susu stood up, hurrying to the bank to withdraw money. She said to Ye Wenyu, "Remember what your mother said, you must be independent. Your mother is not capable now, but when she is, she will definitely help you leave."
Ye Wenyu's eyes welled up with tears, and a warm feeling washed over her. She nodded.
Zhang Susu lowered her voice and said to her, "Don't think you're taking too much from him. He's a married man, and with you by his side for several years, it's only right that he makes some sacrifices. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Otherwise, why would a young, innocent girl be willing to be with him? If he didn't give me money, I would have already made a scene at his house! Humph!"
As Zhang Susu finished speaking, her eyes widened, and she rolled up her sleeves, revealing her true nature as a shrewish woman from the streets.
Ye Wenyu waved her hand to appease him and said, "Alright, alright, Mom, you're right. You can go now. I have to go back to school. Goodbye."
Zhang Susu smiled and hurried off to the bank.
Ye Wenyu returned to school and had just finished one class when, during the break, she heard a boy shout at the door, "Ye Wenyu, someone is looking for you."
Confused, she walked out of the classroom and saw a man dressed in white standing in the hallway, his entire body shimmering like the bright, cool moon of autumn. His face was turned outwards, his long hair, reaching his shoulders, fluttering in the wind, casting a majestic silhouette at her. It was as beautiful as a painting, a poem, yet that silhouette felt so familiar, somewhat like—
As Ye Wenyu pondered and guessed, the man not far away seemed to guess that she had already walked behind him, so he turned around and smiled slightly at her.
It really was Lin Tingxuan!
Ye Wenyu was stunned, wondering what Lin Tingxuan wanted to do with her again.
A man with long hair, dressed in spotless white clothes, would seem a bit odd if you encountered him on the street. Such a hairstyle and attire, without exceptional physical attributes and an ethereal air, would only make him a laughingstock. Fortunately, Lin Tingxuan is tall and handsome, with refined and otherworldly qualities, so this outfit only makes him look exceptionally good-looking.
Ye Wenyu stared blankly at Lin Tingxuan, feeling that he was the kind of handsome man who made a deep impression at first glance.
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