(three hundred and ninety-two)
A broken relationship is like a shattered mirror; even if it's mended, cracks will remain. How can she start over with Cai Wenchuan?
Therefore, she mustered up her courage and said to Zhang Susu, "Mom, marriage is not a woman's final destination."
What? Zhang Susu was stunned. What her daughter said sounded like a fantasy. Marriage wasn't a destination, then what was a woman's destination?
After a moment, she realized what was happening and scolded, "Haven't you heard the old saying, 'Marriage is a woman's second chance at life'? It's very important what kind of family a woman marries! Marriage determines a woman's life."
Feeling utterly helpless, Ye Wenyu could only offer an example to illustrate her point: "Mom, look at you, you've been married twice, have you had a good life?" Her parents often argued when she was young, and their divorce somewhat influenced her views on marriage. After her breakup with Cai Wenchuan, she is now very disillusioned with love.
Zhang Susu froze, then her face turned pale, her eyes reddened, and finally she stomped her feet and cursed, "Even you're making fun of me! The reason I'm not doing well is because I married the wrong person! If I had married a man like Cai Wenchuan back then, would I have had to suffer like this in my life?!"
That seems to make sense. Using a bad outcome to conclude that the past was wrong—this kind of outcome-based thinking is hard to refute.
Zhang Susu recalled her life and suddenly burst into tears. She covered her face with her hands and made a "whoosh" sound, which sounded somewhat frightening in the wind and rain.
Ye Wenyu felt a little regretful. Zhang Susu cried more and more sadly. In the end, she pushed Ye Wenyu away, refused to let her hold an umbrella for her, and walked forward alone, crying and getting soaked in the rain.
The autumn rain is getting heavier, and with each layer of rain comes a chill.
Ye Wenyu was extremely frustrated. She stood there, feeling the chill like a net that enveloped her tightly. She was like a small insect trapped in a spider web, realizing that all her struggles were in vain.
Zhang Susu turned around and cried out to her in the dark and heavy twilight, "Aren't you coming up? Are you trying to drive me crazy?!" Crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide are a woman's techniques. They can be used on husbands, and sometimes they can also be very effective on children.
Filled with guilt, Ye Wenyu could only hurriedly follow, holding her umbrella. She thought to herself, "Well, well, since my mother has made an appointment with Cai Wenchuan, I'll just have to bite the bullet and go see him. Once we meet, the old woman will know that Cai Wenchuan isn't interested in her, and then things won't be so complicated anymore."
Therefore, Ye Wenyu smiled considerately and held the umbrella for the old man.
She softened her tone and said gently, "Okay, Mom, I'll listen to you. Honestly, don't you get tired? You have to worry about Uncle Wang and his two kids, and now you have to worry about me too?"
Seeing that her daughter was finally starting to listen, Zhang Susu smiled with relief, and her whole being became happier.
She glared at her daughter and said happily, "Of course I have to worry! You're my child, who else would I love if not you? My biggest wish in this life is for you to have a good life and not follow in my footsteps! I have no money or ability to help you financially, but surely I can help you marry into a good family, based on my failed life experience?!"
The old man's determination to win surprised Ye Wenyu, but also moved her.
The autumn wind was cold, blowing against her like a bucket of cold water, but at this moment, Ye Wenyu felt warm inside. She remembered her childhood, at home, in winter, when snow was falling heavily outside, her mother would light the stove and roast orange peels on it, filling the room with the aroma of oranges. She would be reading picture books, listening to music on the radio, and her mother would be humming songs while doing housework—a warm and comfortable time.
Although she was poor when she was a child, she also had happy times.
The world under the umbrella was small, but bathed in the dim light of the streetlamp, the mother and daughter nestled together, watching the swirling raindrops outside, which shimmered like glass threads under the streetlamp's glow. At that moment, they were truly happy.
Zhang Susu said with emotion, "Xiaoyu, Mom will definitely make sure you marry happily!"
Hearing this, Ye Wenyu suddenly felt a warmth in her heart, her nose tingled, and her eyes reddened. Not wanting the old man to see, she lowered her head.
Her mother loved her, but her abilities were limited.
Once the overwhelming emotion of almost crying had subsided, she raised her head again and said firmly to Zhang Susu, "Mom, I love you, and I will make sure you have a good life from now on!"
She felt heartbroken when she thought of her mother's tragic death in her previous life.
Zhang Susu was also deeply moved. She smiled slightly at her and said softly, "Silly girl, I love you too. As long as you are doing well, don't worry about me." This is the greatest wish of all parents in the world.
Ye Wenyu, her eyes red, stopped talking and simply reached out to embrace her mother's thin, frail shoulders.
Her mother was so thin; her shoulders were like clothes hangers, and she was as light as a child. Ye Wenyu felt a pang of guilt and gratitude. Guilt for not being able to fulfill her filial duties, and gratitude that her mother, despite her hardship, still came to care for her.
Zhang Susu felt happy and gently pushed her daughter, saying in a reproachful tone, "Don't hug me, your makeup is all smudged. I need to touch up my makeup; I'll be seeing Wenchuan soon."
Ye Wenyu was extremely embarrassed, and all her feelings of gratitude vanished. She could only let go of his hand with a slightly flushed face.
Zhang Susu took out her makeup box, pulled out a small mirror, touched up her powder in front of the mirror, and complained to Ye Wenyu, "You made me cry just now, and my makeup is all ruined!"
Ye Wenyu smiled apologetically and coaxed the old woman, "Mom is beautiful even without makeup!"
Zhang Susu felt a warmth in her heart. Daughters are the best; they're a mother's warm little angel. Old Wang's two sons are just like raincoats. Raincoats can only be used on rainy days, just like when she passes away, and they'll probably attend her funeral.
She glanced at her daughter with a smile, but when she saw her daughter's bare face, the smile faded, and she frowned angrily, saying, "A woman comes out without makeup?! Do you think you're naturally beautiful? Do you think men like to see your ugly face? Men like natural beauties? That's all a lie! Good heavens, you're going to drive me crazy!" As she spoke, she moved closer to Ye Wenyu, and without asking any questions or caring that it was raining, she grabbed her cheap powder puff and started puffing it all over Ye Wenyu's delicate face. Then she took out foundation and started smearing it haphazardly. Her angry movements were more like painting a wall than applying makeup. Next came eyebrow pencil, lipstick, eyeliner, and so on.
A mother's love is truly like a mountain, capable of causing the earth to crumble and crack. A mother's love is like a mountain, capable of causing landslides and collapses.
Ye Wenyu kept backing away, trying to persuade her mother not to dress her up, but Zhang Susu wouldn't listen.
In short, after fussing for more than ten minutes, amidst a cloud of smoke from the incense powder, she satisfiedly withdrew all her supernatural powers and smiled triumphantly at Ye Wenyu: "Alright, at least ten times prettier than before!"
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