Chapter 121 Qu Suping and Wu Yulian's First Meeting

After bypassing Cuihu Lake, Chen Ang didn't see that little kid along the way, so he laughed mockingly at himself.

After the mother and son entered the new house, Chen Ang said, "Mom, look around carefully and see if there's anything else we need to buy. Write it all down, and I'll arrange for someone to bring it tomorrow."

Qu Suping gave a soft reply and didn't say much, wandering around the house on her own.

Knowing that her son had the ability to provide a safety net, the elegant, pampered air she had in her earlier years returned to her once more.

Chen Ang called out to her once more before heading toward the sales office.

After looking around, Qu Suping walked out the main door and into the yard.

She looked at the recently transplanted sweet osmanthus tree, reaching out to touch the trunk, which left a thin layer of dust on her fingertips.

She looked up toward the northwest. Less than three kilometers away across the northern shore of Cuihu Lake, their former home was located within that villa complex.

Seven years ago, when the court put up the seals, she had stood at the door watching the movers carry their belongings out piece by piece.

After that, she lost her foothold in Bin City.

Now, her eldest son had placed the keys to their new home in her hands—four hundred and sixty square meters with a yard, even larger than their old villa.

She didn't know whether to feel happy or sad; perhaps it was a bit of both.

Standing in the yard for a bit longer, she contemplated planting a row of Chinese roses next to the sweet osmanthus tree when spring arrived, and perhaps putting up a grape trellis.

Then, she could carve out a small vegetable patch along the courtyard wall to grow some green onions and tomatoes. A look of relaxation, which hadn't been seen in a long time, appeared on her face.

"Grandma, this is the grandma I was talking about. She's going to be our neighbor in this neighborhood too."

Qu Suping turned around and saw a little girl standing outside the courtyard wall.

She was wearing a pink down jacket, her hair tied in a ponytail, and was standing on her tiptoes to peer into the yard.

"Hello, little one, we meet again." Qu Suping walked to the courtyard gate, greeting her warmly with a smile.

She then glanced behind the little girl.

Standing there was a middle-aged woman in her fifties, wearing a long teal down jacket. Her hair was styled in neat, short curls, and she was well-preserved, with an aura that didn't look like an ordinary elderly woman at all.

She was carrying a canvas bag and bending over to pick up the small glove that Xu Zhaoli had dropped on the ground.

Seeing Qu Suping look over, she greeted her with a smile, "Hello, my surname is Wu, Wu Yulian. I live in Building Seven to the east. Zhaoli told me you're our new neighbors."

"My surname is Qu, Qu Suping. We just finalized the purchase of this villa." Qu Suping turned around and pointed to the house, replying with a smile, "I met the little girl playing near the flowerbed yesterday, and that's how we met."

She looked down at Xu Zhaoli. The little girl was looking up and smiling at her, the curve of her lips making Qu Suping's heart soften inexplicably.

"This girl, Xiaoli, is so wild and unruly. She's the exact opposite of her quiet older brother," Wu Yulian complained, though her eyes were filled with pure affection.

"I have two boys of my own, an eldest son and a younger son, and they were both incredibly mischievous too," Qu Suping replied with a smile.

Qu Suping smiled as she kept the conversation going.

Once the ice was broken, the two elderly women of similar age began chatting happily.

"What kind of work does your son do? Buying a house here isn't cheap." Wu Yulian reached out to pluck a piece of stray grass from Zhaoli's hair.

"He does some investing on his own, though I don't really understand the details. He's suffered a lot over the past few years, but he's finally made it through."

Qu Suping leaned against the courtyard gate, her tone carrying relief as well as a subtle trace of emotion.

"As parents, don't we all just want our children to do well? It's the same with our family. My daughter works over in Jiangning and only comes back on weekends."

Wu Yulian sighed and complained, "I told her she might as well transfer back to Bin City, but she said things have only just gotten started over there and she can't walk away."

As she spoke, she shook her head with another sigh. Her tone carried the typical complaints of a mother, but beneath the complaints lay an unmistakable pride.

"Your daughter works in Jiangning?" Qu Suping's heart stirred slightly.

"At the Culture and Tourism Bureau, working on some cultural tourism project, though I don't really understand it. She's been strong-willed since she was a child; I can't control her."

Wu Yulian laughed.

"Being independent is a good thing. I have three children. The oldest is just too independent—he carries everything on his own shoulders and never tells us anything. The second one is too honest; he doesn't even say a word when he's bullied at work. The youngest girl takes after me, though; she doesn't have so many schemes."

As Qu Suping spoke, a smile began to appear on her face as well.

"It's the same everywhere. My daughter is good in every way, except..." Wu Yulian paused, her expression turning somber. "Forget it, let's not talk about it. Everyone has their own destiny. As mothers, we can't control too much."

Xu Zhaoli squatted below the low wall near the yard, waving a small twig in her hand.

Hearing her grandmother say she wouldn't manage her mother, she suddenly looked up and chimed in, "Mom doesn't need Grandma to manage her. Mom just needs to manage me, and I'll manage Grandma."

Qu Suping burst out laughing at this, and Wu Yulian chuckled heartily as well.

She reached out and pinched her granddaughter's cheek. "You, manage me? You put away your toys first before trying to manage me. Come on, it's time to go back. Your mom said she wants to video call you tonight, and you haven't done your homework yet."

Reluctantly, Xu Zhaoli threw the twig in her hand to the ground, patted the dust off her skirt, and waved to Qu Suping, saying, "Goodbye, Grandma."

After saying goodbye, she skipped away behind her grandmother, her little leather shoes making a series of crisp clicking sounds on the stone path.

Qu Suping stood in the yard watching for a long time, only withdrawing her gaze once the figures of the elderly woman and the child disappeared down the garden path.

When Chen Ang returned, Qu Suping was sitting on a stone bench in the yard, lost in thought.

He placed the property deed and the keys by her hand, saying that all the paperwork was done and they could move in tonight.

Qu Suping flipped open the deed, looked at it, closed it, and then nodded.

The mother and son walked around the villa twice more. Qu Suping pointed to the south-facing bedroom upstairs and said, "This room is reserved for you to live in later."

Chen Ang smiled and didn't reply, not wanting to bring up the divorce. He simply said, "Let's go, let's head back to the hotel first to pack up."

After sending his mother back to the hotel, Chen Ang called Chen Zhuo, telling him to arrange a truck to move his parents' things over tonight.

Hanging up the phone, he leaned back in the driver's seat and lit a cigarette. Only after finishing it did he start the car and drive toward Qianxi Hotel.

Wen Guodong was hosting a dinner tonight at Qianxi Hotel. Although he said he was treating Chen Ang, the bill would likely be paid by Wen Huilin.

Chen Ang was well aware of this. He was also contemplating how to make Wen Huilin lend out Wen Zhiyong's betrothal gift money tonight no matter what.

When he arrived at Qianxi Hotel, it was not yet four o'clock, so it was still early.

Chen Ang went straight to the presidential suite.

In the living room of the suite, Wen Guodong sat in the host's seat, holding a cup of tea and putting on the airs of the head of the household.

Li Meifeng was watching television with Chen Zetian.

Wen Zhiyong huddled next to Xue Shanshan, watching her play a game.

When Chen Ang entered, Wen Guodong was the first to greet him, warmly inviting Chen Ang to sit beside him.

Wen Zhiyong was also quick-witted enough to help pour tea.

Li Meifeng quickly turned down the volume of the television, fearing she might disturb the men's conversation.

Xue Shanshan stopped playing her game and put away her phone, her eyes occasionally searching for Chen Ang's gaze.

Chen Zetian couldn't take his eyes off the screen; he turned his head to quickly call out "Dad" before continuing to watch his television.

Chen Ang didn't mind at all. After sitting down, he asked, "It's the weekend, so Huilin isn't working. Why hasn't she arrived yet?"