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

Once they were at Grandma Cui’s house, the lessons continued, just woven into daily life.

”Dad, smile.”

”Dad, say thank you.”

”Dad...”

With Teacher Little Tang Mo on the job, Tang Yuanxiao’s performance in front of his former mother-in-law was excellent.

Grandma Cui watched as her usually stoic son-in-law broke character and smiled several times that day. He had become a sweet-talker too. She felt very gratified, thinking it was all because he was happy Little Tang Mo was here.

Grandma Cui absolutely adored Little Tang Mo and couldn’t bear to take her eyes off him all day.

Little Tang Mo was a sensitive boy; he could tell who was kind to him and who wasn’t.

Grandma Cui was good to him, and he liked this grandma too. The two of them got along harmoniously.

Because Grandma Cui was so reluctant to let him go, Little Tang Mo ended up staying the night at Grandma Cui’s house, while Tang Yuanxiao had to rush back to his unit alone.

Tang Yuanxiao rushed back to his unit as dusk fell. When he got home and turned on the lights, he looked at the empty apartment and was suddenly struck by a feeling of loneliness.

He had always been alone before this. Su Li and Little Tang Mo had only stayed for two days, yet it felt as if they had been there for two years.

Without them, the whole place felt empty and desolate.

”Sigh.” Tang Yuanxiao heaved a deep sigh at the thought that this was how it would be from now on.

While Tang Yuanxiao was moping by himself, Su Li’s side was filled with hope.

She hadn’t had a chance to properly tidy up before. After saying goodbye to Wu Sheng and returning home, Su Li ate dinner and immediately started organizing the apartment.

The apartment was a three-bedroom, one-living-room layout. Su Li put away all the toiletries and daily necessities she had bought, and then thoroughly unpacked the luggage she had brought from the county town.

Most of Su Li’s luggage was essential, including a considerable amount of documents from her company.

The largest of the three rooms naturally became her bedroom. Of the two remaining rooms, which were about the same size, Su Li converted one into a studio.

As for the other one, it was, of course, Little Tang Mo’s room.

She was a woman of her word. There would always be a room and a space reserved for Little Tang Mo.

After several hours of busy work, the entire place finally started to look like a proper home.

”Not bad!” Su Li was in a good mood, filled with a sense of hope.

’It’s just... I’m a little dirty.’

It was summer, after all. All that work had left her covered in sweat and dust.

”I’ll find someone to modify the bathroom tomorrow...” Su Li muttered to herself.

The bathroom was small, but there was nothing to be done about it. She would have to renovate it, using a simple water heater and some pipes to create a shower stall.

Su Li boiled some water, gave herself a quick wash with the warm water, and went to bed.

She was exhausted, and the encounter with Yu Zhengqing had drained too much of her mental energy. She was out the moment her head hit the pillow.

This was a stark contrast to Tang Yuanxiao, who was once again tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

The next morning, Su Li got up and went to see the real estate agent she had contacted before.

The agent was both surprised and delighted to see Su Li.

When Su Li had first asked him to keep an eye out for properties for sale, he had felt it was a long shot. She wanted a large number of properties in various locations, and she seemed so young.

But her eloquence, demeanor, and the way she spoke had convinced him. In the end, he had agreed to keep an eye out for her as she’d asked.

He had just been wondering if he should contact her, and then she showed up at his door.

”You’ve come at the perfect time! I was just about to look for you!”

”How did it go?”

”There aren’t many people selling, but who am I? Let me tell you...” The agent was indeed very capable; he had actually managed to find several places.

”I’ve seen the properties, and they’re all pretty good. But I haven’t entered formal negotiations since I hadn’t checked with you...”

Su Li nodded. ”I can go take a look today and have some preliminary talks...”

”You got it.” The agent nodded. ”But I haven’t found that large plot in the suburbs you mentioned yet.”

”Then just keep looking. Take your time. We’ll find one eventually.” Su Li wasn’t surprised.

”Alright, let’s go then.”

Su Li spent the morning running around with the agent. It was a fruitful trip, but they only had preliminary discussions.

Some people who said they wanted to sell were hesitant and reluctant; some properties had unclear ownership titles; and others had deliberately inflated their prices. It was all just an initial contact.

”Buying and selling houses are major decisions. You have to take it slow,” the agent advised, afraid Su Li would be disappointed.

”I know. Thank you.”

Su Li treated the agent to a meal, asking him to keep looking, and then they parted ways.

Su Li didn’t head back until the afternoon, under the scorching sun. When she reached her doorstep, however, she found an unexpected visitor.

Tang Yuanxiao was squatting at her door, holding Little Tang Mo, waiting for her.

”Mommy!” The moment Little Tang Mo saw Su Li, he perked up and ran over to hug her.

”Little Mo, what are you doing here?” Su Li hurriedly picked him up.

”I missed Mommy.” Little Tang Mo gave Su Li a kiss and clung to her without letting go.

Su Li looked at Tang Yuanxiao, who coughed and explained.

”Momo slept at Grandma’s house last night. I went to pick him up this morning, and he kept saying he missed you, so I brought him here...”

Su Li gave Tang Yuanxiao a suspicious look. She was just about to say something when she heard Little Tang Mo say he was thirsty.

”Mommy, hurry and open the door. I’m thirsty.”

”Oh, okay.” Su Li quickly opened the door.

Watching her back, Tang Yuanxiao’s lips curved into a triumphant smile. Wagging his tail like a cunning fox, he brazenly followed Su Li into the apartment.

Su Li gave Little Tang Mo some water. When she turned around and saw Tang Yuanxiao sitting on the simple sofa, her brow furrowed slightly.

’Something doesn’t seem right!’

’I never planned on letting Tang Yuanxiao in!’

Meeting Su Li’s gaze, Tang Yuanxiao put on an innocent, bewildered expression. ”What’s wrong?”

Su Li: ”...”

A flicker of amusement flashed in Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes, but he spoke as if he hadn’t noticed the hostility in her gaze.

”Can I take a look around? At the doors and windows, and all that...” He had wanted to inspect the place for a while but had been holding back, waiting for Su Li’s permission.

Su Li hesitated for a moment, but Tang Yuanxiao had already gotten up and started his inspection.

He didn’t miss the doors, windows, or the kitchen. ”This window isn’t sturdy enough. I’ll fix it up in a bit.”

Tang Yuanxiao flipped on the lights to check. ”Ah, the kitchen light is burned out. I’ll help you change it later...”

Su Li: ”...”

”I can do it myself...” she finally managed to refuse, but Tang Yuanxiao waved her off.

”This is a man’s job. You’re a girl. I’ll go downstairs and buy what we need. You just wait here.”

Without another word, Tang Yuanxiao left.

Su Li: ”...Sigh.”

Little Tang Mo, who had been watching them the whole time, suddenly spoke up.

”Mom, why are you sighing?”

”It’s nothing,” Su Li said, shaking her head.

”Dad’s still pretty useful, isn’t he?” Little Tang Mo asked tentatively.

Su Li gave Little Tang Mo a suspicious look and mumbled a vague ”mhm.”

Little Tang Mo lowered his head and grinned, stifling a laugh.

Tang Yuanxiao was gone for nearly an hour. When he returned, his face was beaded with sweat, and he was laden with a pile of things.

”This goes on the outside of the window, for security... I ran into the guy who was supposed to install your water pipes downstairs. I can install pipes too, so I sent him home.”

Tang Yuanxiao explained nonchalantly as he immediately got to work, his movements quick and deft.

He was used to doing this kind of work.

As he worked, he said to Su Li, ”You’re a girl living here all alone. You shouldn’t let strangers into the house, especially men.”

”The guy who was going to install the pipes was a man. It’s not safe.”

Su Li frowned. ”I know how to be safe. But installing pipes is a job mostly done by men, so there’s not much choice...”

Tang Yuanxiao immediately cut her off. ”Don’t you have me? Just ask me from now on. You won’t even have to pay.”

Tang Yuanxiao didn’t mention that he had nearly interrogated the pipe installer to the point of a mental breakdown downstairs.

He had taken so long because a good fifteen minutes of it was spent interrogating the poor man.

That poor worker. He had only come to help install some pipes, but he was nearly scared to death by Tang Yuanxiao.