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

Of course, while Qin Shanshan may have been a persistent shadow in Tang Yuanxiao’s life, she was hardly one in Su Li’s.

Tang Yuanxiao watched Su Li leave with Little Tang Mo, standing in place for a long while before heading back.

By the time he hurried back, the sky was already growing dark.

As if on cue, lights flickered on across the family compound, the Tang family’s home among them.

Tang Yuanxiao stood at the door for a moment, suppressing his reluctance before going in.

”Mom, I’m back.”

Tang Yuanxiao announced his arrival.

”Why are you only back now? Shanshan made dumplings and has been waiting for you,” Mrs. Tang began to nag the moment she saw him.

”Brother Tang, you’re back. You must be tired.” Qin Shanshan tried to take Tang Yuanxiao’s bag, but he sidestepped her.

A shadow passed through Qin Shanshan’s eyes for an instant. She forced a smile and lowered her head to go cook the dumplings.

”I’m paying you to look after my mother, not to be my part-time maid. You don’t have to wait on me.”

Tang Yuanxiao said indifferently.

Mrs. Tang was displeased. ”What are you talking about? Maid, not a maid... Shanshan worked hard to make these dumplings, so you should just eat them. Aren’t dumplings your favorite?”

”I’ve already eaten.” Tang Yuanxiao remained standing by the entrance, not even taking a seat.

”Mom, if there’s nothing else, I’m going to head out.”

The home he had meticulously decorated was now completely unrecognizable. He didn’t want to stay a moment longer.

”You just got back, why are you leaving? I never see you all day long,” Mrs. Tang immediately retorted.

”Auntie,” Qin Shanshan interjected. ”Since Brother Tang is back and has already eaten, I’ll be going now.”

”Why leave? Just stay the night here,” Mrs. Tang tried to persuade her to stay.

Qin Shanshan smiled. ”Auntie, have you forgotten? I rented a place a couple of days ago. I can’t just let it sit empty.”

She gave a wry smile and looked at Tang Yuanxiao.

”Brother Tang, it was inconsiderate of me before. I won’t stay overnight anymore, so you can come back and live here. You don’t have to avoid me. The duty office can’t be as comfortable as home.”

Although Qin Shanshan said she was leaving, she still washed Mrs. Tang’s face and feet before she actually left.

She took meticulous care of Mrs. Tang. While being pampered, Mrs. Tang couldn’t help but start nagging Tang Yuanxiao, who had finally sat down.

”This is all your fault. If you hadn’t forced her, why would Shanshan have to spend money renting a place? The rent is so high every month...”

She looked at the wide-open front door, thoroughly exasperated.

Whenever Tang Yuanxiao came home now, he left the front door wide open to avoid any suspicion, regardless of whether Qin Shanshan was there. He was doing it now, too.

Anyone passing by the door could look in and see what they were doing.

Tang Yuanxiao met her nagging with silence, ignoring it completely.

After finishing with Mrs. Tang, Qin Shanshan left the Tang family home and exited the family compound.

”Shanshan is such a good girl. Tangyuan, why can’t you see it?” Mrs. Tang made one last effort to persuade Tang Yuanxiao.

”You’ve been promoted now. The only thing our family is missing is a grandson. Why won’t you just listen to me?”

Tang Yuanxiao finally spoke. ”I wouldn’t call it a promotion.”

”If it’s not a promotion, what is it?” Mrs. Tang said dismissively.

When Tang Yuanxiao was promoted, everyone congratulated him. Mrs. Tang was overjoyed and proud, feeling completely vindicated.

After her moment of pride, her thoughts turned back to the matter of a grandson, but Tang Yuanxiao remained as stubborn as ever.

Mrs. Tang looked at her son under the light and realized that words weren’t enough to make him accept the match, so she stopped talking.

”I’m going to sleep,” Mrs. Tang said.

Tang Yuanxiao carried Mrs. Tang to her room, helped her lie down, and tucked her in.

”Call me if you need anything.”

Mrs. Tang needed someone to look after her at night. Since Qin Shanshan was no longer staying over, Tang Yuanxiao had to stay at home.

”I know. You go get some rest, too.”

Mrs. Tang nodded. After Tang Yuanxiao left the room, she slowly felt for something under her pillow.

In the darkness, Mrs. Tang’s eyes were startlingly bright.

After Tang Yuanxiao’s promotion, Mrs. Tang had been sounding out Qin Shanshan, wanting to use certain methods to force them together.

Needless to say, this method was to force a situation that couldn’t be undone.

This time, although Qin Shanshan hadn’t verbally agreed, her attitude had softened. She was no longer as hesitant as before.

Mrs. Tang saw this clearly and knew what was going on.

She believed that Qin Shanshan was well aware of it, too.

They were both of the same mind. There was no need for extra words; in fact, some things were better left unsaid.

Qin Shanshan left the Tang family’s house and headed straight back to her rented place in town.

The house was a reasonable distance from the family compound. It was a new building, constructed only two years ago.

Qin Shanshan had gritted her teeth and rented it. Including today, she had only lived there for two days and wasn’t very familiar with it yet.

Qin Shanshan was well aware of Mrs. Tang’s plan, and it was impossible for her not to be tempted.

She had been hesitant before, but now Tang Yuanxiao had been promoted. From what everyone was saying, it seemed that, barring any accidents, he was guaranteed to have a successful future.

Qin Shanshan already liked Tang Yuanxiao, so of course she was even more tempted now.

She was a smart and decisive person. She had seen Tang Yuanxiao’s attitude clearly over this period. With conventional methods, she feared he would never choose her in his entire life.

With Mrs. Tang on her side, Qin Shanshan decided to take a gamble.

’That bitch, Yang Xiangyun, is still watching like a hungry tiger. If I drag this out any longer, who knows how many more Li Xiangyuns or Bai Xiangyuns will pop up. I can’t just do nothing.’

Having made her decision, Qin Shanshan resolved to move out.

First, it was to avoid suspicion and pretend she didn’t know about Mrs. Tang’s plan. Second, people were gossiping about her behind her back, so she had to move out. And third, she didn’t want whatever Mrs. Tang was plotting to happen in the family compound.

The houses in the family compound were packed close together, and everyone knew each other. There were no secrets. The slightest disturbance would be heard by everyone. She didn’t want to cause a scene. Not only would it be bad for her reputation, but she could end up in an awkward position or face unexpected complications.

The family compound wasn’t suitable, and the dormitory assigned by the school was out of the question, so Qin Shanshan rented her own place.

She really didn’t want to live in that dorm. The conditions were poor, she had to share it with several people, and she hated it more every time she went back.

When she was house-hunting, Qin Shanshan had taken a liking to this place at first sight. The house was nice, but the rent was also expensive, so she had hesitated at first.

But then, she thought of the nice house Su Li lived in and gritted her teeth and rented it.

’Why can Su Li rent such a nice house and not me? Besides, this is just a temporary rental. Soon, I’ll be moving out anyway...’

’It has to be that way.’

Lost in thought, Qin Shanshan arrived home and turned on the lights.

A flicker of pride showed in Qin Shanshan’s eyes as she looked at the house she had decorated, but then she couldn’t help but mutter.

”It’s still not as good as the one she lives in...”

’The town can’t compare to the Imperial City, after all. This house, inside and out, is no match for Su Li’s. But...’

”This is just for now... After a while, in a few years, we’ll see...”

A gleam appeared in Qin Shanshan’s eyes.

She was most envious of the wives in the family compound, like Aunt Chang. Because their husbands were successful, they were respectable too.

’Compared to those illiterate women from the countryside who can’t even read, I’m so much better. In the future, I can be a good wife and a great help to my husband, and I’ll earn much more respect.’

How could Qin Shanshan not notice that Aunt Chang was always indifferent, or even hostile, toward her?

”In the future... you’ll be nothing.”

A mocking sneer touched the corner of Qin Shanshan’s mouth. ’In the future, I’ll crush that Aunt Chang under my heel for daring to look down on me!’