From Broken Family to Life Winner: A Reborn Mother's Journey

Su Li looked at the welts on her arm from Miao Fenghua’s beating and thought coolly, ’If Miao Fenghua and Su Dan want to keep causing trouble, then a taste of jail is only the beginning.’

The case was straightforward, and Fang Luo handled it with impressive efficiency. The very next day, villagers returning from the county town brought back the latest news about Miao Fenghua and Su Dan.

Although Miao Fenghua and Su Dan repeatedly proclaimed their innocence, the evidence was irrefutable. There was no way they’d be released right away; they were bound to endure some hardship.

Word of their past deeds, along with the statements previously made by Su Li and Fang Luo, had already spread throughout Xinghua Village and even Su Family Village. Everyone was talking. And while opinions differed, on the whole, no one defended Miao Fenghua and Su Dan.

With Mr. Su dead and both Su Xing and Su Li married off, the Su Family was down to just Miao Fenghua and Su Dan. The two were of such poor character that they didn’t have a single true friend between them. This made their situation even worse, as there was no one at all willing to help them or run errands on their behalf.

The detention center was no pleasant place, and the other people inside were a rough crowd. The pair, who had been so arrogant and aggressive on the outside, instantly turned into meek lambs when faced with real wolves.

The New Year was fast approaching, yet they were mired in trouble. In the end, the root of it all was their greed.

It was their greed and wickedness that had brought them to this low point.

For the first time, Miao Fenghua and Su Dan felt true regret and fear.

They languished in the detention center for six whole days, a period that felt like six long centuries, repenting and admitting their wrongdoing every moment. To secure their release and avoid a real prison sentence, they agreed to any and all conditions.

They agreed to return all the assets they had all but stolen from the Tang Family and Su Li, and they promised never to revert to their old ways, even signing a written guarantee.

To ensure they upheld their end of the deal, Su Dan was held at the Public Security Bureau. This forced the hand of Miao Fenghua, who had secretly hoped to wriggle out of the agreement. She had no choice but to rush home, grit her teeth, and fulfill the terms of the guarantee to get Su Dan released.

After an ordeal that felt like being skinned alive, the mother and son were finally free from the terrifying threat of prison just before the New Year.

By the time it was over, Su Dan was nothing but skin and bones, and Miao Fenghua had lost a great deal of weight herself. All their previous arrogance and bluster were gone without a trace.

Su Li had kept a low profile, staying home to nurse her injuries, but she had kept the situation under her control. After the incident, the villagers looked at her differently. Their gazes now held a trace of wariness, and no one dared to spout nonsense in her presence.

Su Li spent several more quiet days recuperating at home. By the time the dust settled on the matter with Miao Fenghua and Su Dan, the Spring Festival was just around the corner.

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Eve.

Although Tang Yuanxiao wouldn’t be returning for the holiday, the New Year’s atmosphere in the Tang household was still thick with excitement. Children always love the New Year best, and influenced by Little Tang Mo’s infectious cheer, even Su Li found herself smiling.

Little Tang Mo dragged her over to help hang New Year’s couplets and ”Fu” characters. The entire village was in the middle of a massive spring cleaning, and after a moment’s thought, Su Li decided to join in. As she cleaned, she also started sorting through her belongings, which served as a head start on packing her bags.

Mrs. Tang had been up since the crack of dawn. New Year’s Eve was the day for the traditional ”sweeping away the old to welcome the new,” and she’d been cleaning and doing laundry from the moment she woke up. When Su Li joined in, Little Tang Mo grew even more excited, trailing after them like a little shadow, happily bustling back and forth.

By afternoon, the house was clean from top to bottom. Taking advantage of the warm sun, Su Li heated water for Little Tang Mo’s bath, then took one herself. Watching them, Mrs. Tang was inspired to do the same. With that, the Tang home—and its inhabitants—was sparkling clean and refreshed for the new year.

”I wonder how our Tangyuan is doing. I hope he’s getting some rest and has something nice to eat... I wonder if that package we sent a few days ago has arrived yet... Aih...”

Mrs. Tang was constantly worrying about her son, her Little Tangyuan, and would mutter about him from time to time. Su Li remained silent throughout.

Getting no response from the quiet Su Li, Mrs. Tang gave up and turned to Little Tang Mo instead. At least he would answer her and react.

”Momo, do you still remember what your papa looks like?”

Little Tang Mo nodded earnestly, but Mrs. Tang pulled him over to look at a photograph of Tang Yuanxiao all the same.

Tang Yuanxiao had taken the picture two years prior at his mother’s request and mailed it home. In the small, three-inch photo, he stood ramrod straight in his work uniform, his expression serious as he gazed forward. His posture was as upright and proud as could be.

This photograph was how Little Tang Mo knew his father. Sometimes, he would even practice standing straight just like him.

”Momo, call for your papa,” Mrs. Tang said, pointing to the picture.

”Papa,” Little Tang Mo replied obediently.

Su Li, who had witnessed the entire exchange: ”...”

The Tang home was filled with a quiet sort of liveliness.

「Meanwhile, at a factory up north」

With the arrival of the Spring Festival, the normally drab factory grounds were decorated with splashes of color. The workers who remained on duty were as diligent as ever, but their faces were brighter with smiles.

A new recruit, his steps light and cheerful, carried a stack of packages just dropped off by the postman, distributing them one by one.

”Captain Tang, you have a package.”

”Bring it in,” Tang Yuanxiao said, his tense brow relaxing.

”Sir!” the recruit replied, energetically heaving the parcel inside.

”Sent from home? It’s almost the New Year, so it’s gotta be food. Hurry and open it, let’s see what you got!”

There was another man in the office, a dark-complexioned young man named Yu Le. He was the vice-captain.

Unlike Tang Yuanxiao’s meticulous attire, Yu Le’s hat sat slightly askew on his head, and his sleeves were rolled up, baring muscular arms. He had a jaunty air about him and was eyeing the package with a look of pure craving.

Tang Yuanxiao shot Yu Le a look and didn’t move. ”Let’s discuss business first.”

”What mood do I have for business right now?” Yu Le urged. ”You got a package from home, aren’t you dying to see what’s inside? C’mon, open it up and let’s see what delicious things they sent!”

Tang Yuanxiao shook his head, at a loss with him. But he, too, was eager to see what his family had sent, so he didn’t argue further and went to open the package.

He worked quickly. With a few swift tears, the contents of the package were revealed.

Cured pork, cured fish, cornmeal, white flour, buckwheat flour, roasted peas, roasted sunflower seeds... It was a hodgepodge of items, all of them food, and every one a symbol of his family’s affection.

Yu Le gasped in delight at the sight, and even Tang Yuanxiao’s typically stern, rigid expression softened, a gentle warmth filling his eyes.

”Look at all this good stuff! We’re rich, we’re rich! Not bad, Captain Tang, not bad at all. It really is different when you’ve got a mother and a wife to dote on you, huh?”

Tang Yuanxiao ignored him. His hands had already found a separate, carefully sealed bag. It felt very soft.

”Oh? What’s that?” Yu Le asked, voicing the very question on Tang Yuanxiao’s mind.

”I don’t know,” Tang Yuanxiao answered offhandedly.

”Well, open it and see,” Yu Le urged, grabbing a handful of roasted peas and crunching on them loudly. He leaned in closer, watching with curiosity.

Tang Yuanxiao would have opened it anyway. In a few quick movements, he tore open the bag, revealing a green bundle inside.

The color was... difficult to describe. Yu Le was so curious he fell silent. Tang Yuanxiao hesitated for a moment before tentatively picking up the object and unfolding it, finally revealing its true form.

It was a green... men’s sweater.

The color might have been a little strange, but it was the kind of sweater you couldn’t help but like at first glance. The style was completely new, and it looked both smart and handsome.