(Three hundred and sixty-three)
The room was bustling with activity, laughter nearly lifting the roof. Three women make a drama; Ye Wenyu, as the younger generation, was not talkative, but the two older women chatted and laughed, adding a festive and warm touch to the usually quiet room.
Ye Wenyu looked up at the house and thought to herself, "So this is the house the Lin family provides for their servants."
Fresh flowers were displayed in the living room, and various seasonal fruits were placed in the kitchen. Ye Wenyu reminisced about the Cai family in her childhood. Because everyone was a factory worker, although the Cai family's standard of living was higher than hers, they lived in the same kind of house: a small, old, and dilapidated house, like a matchbox. The rooms were dark and never saw sunlight. The kitchen and bathroom were too small to fit two people at the same time. The walls were peeling all year round, and mushrooms would always grow under the bathroom door during the rainy season.
In comparison, the Cai family is now living in paradise.
Indeed, as the wise saying goes, "In life, choices are often more important than efforts." Back then, if Uncle Cai hadn't chosen to quit his job at the factory and come to the Lin family as a maid, they would probably still be living in the small house assigned to them by the factory.
Previously, when Ye Wenyu saw how content and even somewhat smug Uncle Cai was about his current life, she thought he was too easily satisfied. Now, she realized that if she were to live such a life, she would also treat people kindly and smile broadly.
The Cai family had indeed changed their lives as if they had entered a new social class, experiencing a qualitative leap. Thinking of his own father and mother, who had spent their entire lives struggling in poverty and hardship, his mother's tone was always full of envy.
Ye Wenyu was deep in thought, while Cai Wenchuan's mother would occasionally glance at her with a smile, becoming more and more satisfied with her.
Cai Wenchuan, oh Cai Wenchuan, Ye Wenyu thought to herself, you are truly ungrateful. If you have any complaints about your father's status, you can think about the life you had when you were a child, and you should open your heart.
Zhang Susu continued enviously, "Shufen, this is a villa! And the yard is so big, the scenery is so beautiful. Do you know how small my house in the city is? It's like a matchbox, and it doesn't have a balcony. It doesn't even face south. It's like a concrete box. Looking out from the only window, you can only see the wall of the building across the street! What is mine? It's like a concrete coffin! I'm just existing, but you, this is what living is! You've lived in such a beautiful environment for so many years. It's truly enviable."
Zhang Susu's tone was full of envy.
Cai Wenchuan's mother maintained a slight smile throughout.
Zhang Susu looked around, clicking her tongue in admiration. She said with a touch of sadness, "Everyone's fate is different. Shufen, look how lucky you are! You and Lao Cai have been loving and devoted your whole lives. Now your son is grown up, so handsome and successful. You two are so loving and will grow old together. As for me, I didn't get along with Xiaoyu's father. We divorced when she was young. Now I'm at least remarried. Lao Wang treats me well, but his two children aren't his biological children. You can't judge a book by its cover. You have no idea how hard it is for me. Sigh—"
At this point, Zhang Susu began wiping away tears. She choked out, "Being a stepmother isn't easy. You give them your whole heart, but in their hearts, they can never compare to their own mother—"
Ye Wenyu immediately stepped forward, took Zhang Susu's hand, and Shufen also comforted her. Ye Wenyu then asked the two of them to sit down and talk, and she began to prepare the meal as if they were old friends.
The so-called "preparing the meal" means bringing out all kinds of delicious dishes that have been prepared in the kitchen, setting out bowls and chopsticks for everyone, serving rice, and the Cai family has also prepared wine. Uncle Cai is pouring wine for everyone with a smile. He seems to be in a particularly good mood today.
Before long, a table full of dishes was laid out, and Uncle Cai poured the drinks. The four of them sat down and began to eat.
All the dishes were made by Aunt Shufen, and they were incredibly delicious. Whether it was because she had worked as a maid for the Lin family for many years, or for some other reason, Ye Wenyu recalled the meals she ate at the Cai family's house during her childhood. Now, Aunt Shufen's cooking skills were simply at a chef's level.
The dishes are vibrant in color and delicious in flavor. During the meal, the entire kitchen and dining room are filled with various mouth-watering aromas. Every dish is so delicious that it melts your tongue after just one bite.
During the meal, Uncle Cai asked Ye Wenyu where she studied, and Ye Wenyu replied that it was Q University.
When Uncle Cai heard the answer, he paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He looked excitedly at his wife, and Aunt Cai nodded with a smile. Ye Wenyu could probably guess what they were thinking.
But she had already broken up with Cai Wenchuan, so she could only remain silent.
The situation was becoming increasingly awkward.
Sure enough, Aunt Cai spoke up. She glanced at Ye Wenyu with satisfaction and said to Zhang Susu, "Susu, they say that a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Our two families are the closest neighbors!"
Zhang Susu was eager to curry favor with the Cai family, so when she saw Shufen speaking so affectionately, she naturally replied happily, "Of course, I haven't seen you for more than ten years, but I haven't forgotten you for a single day."
Aunt Cai glanced at Ye Wenyu again and asked her, "Xiaoyu, do you have a boyfriend?"
"They're here!" Ye Wenyu cried out inwardly, thinking that she had indeed guessed right. Life is truly ironic. She had already lost him, and she and Cai Wenchuan had become two parallel lines, yet his parents were so enthusiastically arranging things for the two of them.
Ye Wenyu remained silent, her heart aching as if she had been stung by a wasp.
Seeing Ye Wenyu remain silent, Zhang Susu immediately chimed in with a laugh, "She doesn't have a boyfriend. Our family is so poor, and she's focused solely on her studies."
Aunt Cai and Uncle Cai were even happier, especially Aunt Cai, whose face was almost beaming with joy. She said to Ye Wenyu's mother in a warm tone, "Susu, Xiaoyu is studying at Q University. Did you know that my son teaches at Q University?"
Zhang Susu immediately laughed and said, "Oh dear, I knew it a long time ago, even before you did! When Xiaoyu just got into university, Wenchuan called me to ask about Xiaoyu's situation. Didn't that child tell you?"
"Really?" Upon hearing the news, Aunt Cai was as excited as if she had been given a shot of adrenaline. She glanced happily at her husband, and Uncle Cai nodded as well. His eyes, which were usually dim with age, were now as bright as the stars in the sky.
Aunt Cai looked at Xiaoyu and said happily to her, "Xiaoyu, your brother Wenchuan loved you the most when you were little!" The old woman used serving chopsticks to put food into her bowl, and soon, the dishes in her bowl were as big as a small mountain.
Ye Wenyu nodded and said in a hoarse voice, "That's right, Brother Wen was the best to me when we were little."
Her head grew heavier and heavier, and she felt like a wooden doll. Her parents' meaning seemed clear, but she didn't want to; it was too embarrassing.
Uncle Cai smiled and said happily to Ye Wenyu, "Wenyu, your brother Wen teaches at Q University, and you study at Q University. Don't you think this means you two are destined to be together, that our two families are destined to be together?" The implication was already very clear.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
