But she was overthinking. Zhang Yanran tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then said, “Uncle, in your situation, don’t rush to marry. Otherwise, you might be accused of having two marriages. Wait until after the New Year to settle your previous marriage and report everything honestly. They should grant the divorce quickly.”

Even if they were separated, it would take more than three years to finalize a divorce. It had only been a year, so Zhang Zhi was still technically married.

Zhang Dong realized that if he didn’t handle it, Ding Yushu would be considered a bad person: “Yes, Yanran is thoughtful, just like a student going to school.”

Zhang Yanran smiled modestly.

Xu Qiu quickly nodded: “Yes, we need to take care of it. Let’s wait until after the New Year. There’s no hurry.”

Zhang Zhi thought about Ding Yushu and sighed heavily: “I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

“It’s okay, I understand,” Xu Qiu smiled and shook her head.

Li Mizhen watched this scene and sighed inwardly. Her own son was such a good man, but that woman didn’t appreciate him. She just hoped he could have a good life.

If Xu Qiu hadn’t been by her side for the past two years, and if she hadn’t appeared honest, diligent, and temperate, she would never have agreed to the marriage.

Having seen much in life, she understood the dynamics of relationships well. 

_

New Year’s Day was a time of joy.

This year, Tian Jiao took Zhang Yanran along to pay New Year’s greetings. It was fun, and they both agreed that it would be their last time doing this together—anything more would feel excessive and even embarrassing.

This time, bringing Zhang Yanran along was easier than before.

The two returned home with their eldest and second children, loaded with food that they wouldn’t be able to finish after a whole day of feasting.

Now that everyone’s lives had improved, the food they enjoyed during the New Year was different.

Xiao He still had a minor presence but spoke well and took the initiative to help out with chores. He usually followed Tian Jiao, assisting her when she drew, washing her brushes, and being an excellent helper. In his spare time, he read the books he had brought back, never wasting a moment.

It wasn’t until the third day of the New Year that the entire family returned from visiting their aunt. At the village intersection, a haggard woman suddenly rushed toward them.

“Ah——” Tian Jiao screamed in fright.

Anyone would be startled to find a disheveled woman in tattered clothes appearing so suddenly beside them. If it had been a man, Tian Jiao would have run away.

Zhang Rui and Zhang Zhi instinctively stepped in front of them, their expressions alert.

The woman cried out, “Zhang Zhi, it’s me!”

“Ding Yushu?!!!” Even though they had been husband and wife in the past, the moment Zhang Zhi heard her name, he recognized her immediately.

Zhang Rui remained confused until Zhang Zhi confirmed her identity.

Tian Jiao and Zhang Yanran shared the same shocked expression.

Everyone was stunned.

Ding Yushu was back?

She had returned in such a wretched state?

Seeing Zhang Zhi recognize her, Ding Yushu nearly cried with relief. “It’s me, Zhang Zhi! I’m so sorry for everything! I know I was wrong, woo woo… It’s terrible outside, it’s so scary. Zhang Zhi, please save me…”

Zhang Zhi instinctively stepped back, wary. “What do you want? We’ll call the police immediately.”

Ding Yushu quickly shook her head. “I didn’t do anything! I just want to hug you, Zhang Zhi! I was wrong. Can you forgive me?”

After a year apart, Zhang Zhi had lost all his feelings for her. How could he care for her again now that he was in a new relationship, especially seeing her in this state?

He shook his head firmly. “It’s over between us, Ding Yushu. Now that you’re back, let’s get a divorce tomorrow.”

“I won’t!” Ding Yushu screamed. “Why do you want a divorce? What will I do if we divorce?”

“You’ve been gone for a year, and you still have the nerve to say this?” Zhang Rui couldn’t hold back anymore. This woman had always been so selfish and unconcerned about others.

Ding Yushu glared angrily. “But I’m back now! I’ve admitted my mistakes! You said you would always love me!” She turned her longing gaze back to Zhang Zhi. “Isn’t that right? Zhang Zhi, you won’t abandon me, will you?”

Zhang Zhi replied coldly, “Let’s get a divorce. If you don’t want to, I’ll cancel the marriage myself.”

“What?” Ding Yushu couldn’t believe it.

At that moment, a soft female voice asked, “Zhang Zhi, what are you doing here? They just said you’re back, and the meal is ready. Come back to eat.”

Ding Yushu turned around to see a beautifully dressed girl in her twenties. When she looked back at Zhang Zhi, his expression softened at the sound of her voice. Her eyes widened in realization. “Zhang Zhi, is it because of her?”

Zhang Zhi was shocked and shook his head instinctively. “No!”

“I don’t believe it!” Ding Yushu yelled, angrily lunging toward Xu Qiu.

Zhang Zhi and Zhang Rui’s faces went pale as they chased after her. Zhang Zhi was furious. “Ding Yushu, how dare you!”

Suddenly, a child’s voice called out, “Mom!”

Ding Yushu froze, looking at the child who was stumbling toward her, led by Dabao. Her eyes turned red as she instinctively reached for the child.

But Dabao stopped her, saying coldly, “Don’t come over!”

Erbao, frightened, began to cry, reaching out to Xu Qiu while Dabao supported him. “Mom! Mom!”

Xu Qiu looked at Ding Yushu, who seemed to have lost control, then turned to Erbao. Unable to bear the sight, she picked up Erbao and comforted him, saying, “Good boy, don’t cry. Mommy is here.”

“Wuwu…” Erbao hugged Xu Qiu tightly, sobbing, “I’m scared…”

Ding Yushu watched the scene, her body tense. She squatted on the ground, crying in grievance. “Wuwu… What are you afraid of? I’m your mother!”

Zhang Zhi observed the entire situation coldly, feeling an ironic mix of emotions. A little baby, cared for for only a month after birth, now a year later, was being called a mother by someone who had abandoned him.

But he kept his thoughts to himself; speaking up would only complicate matters.

“Third brother, you go ahead.” Zhang Zhi said, gesturing for Xu Qiu to leave as well. 

It was best not to stay around this unstable woman.

Tian Jiao watched the entire process, feeling pity for Ding Yushu.

If she had known this would happen, she wouldn’t have agreed to the marriage in the first place.

The outside world seemed lively and full of opportunities to succeed. Even if someone missed the first college entrance examination, there would still be chances in the future. She remembered a news report from her previous life about an elderly grandfather who was still determined to take the college entrance examination.

But Ding Yushu had chosen to steal money from her home, abandoning her husband and child to return a year later, still in a miserable state. It was easy to imagine what her life had been like out there.

…  

Ding Yushu didn’t cause a scene for long before the Ding family from the neighboring village was brought in by the team leader.  

At first, the captain wanted to try to get the two families to agree, thinking it was better to keep a marriage intact than to break it up. However, he knew there were many more marriages ruined for various reasons than temples demolished.  

When the captain saw Ding Yushu’s face, he held back his words of advice and firmly told the Ding family to take their daughter back.  

The Ding family would have to work things out on their own. They planned to divorce after the new year, and if they changed their minds, they could hire a lawyer to file for divorce.  

These days, going to court is a frightening experience.  

Some people are unaware of the law and act without fear, while others are more afraid because they do not know the law. Most people belong to the second group. When the Ding family heard about the lawsuit, they started to fill their daughter’s head with thoughts.  

The Ding family spoiled their daughter. The two older members of the family were weak and pampered her a lot. So even when she did something wrong, they still provided her with everything: “Second girl, why are you being so foolish? Look at how well the Zhang family is doing now!”  

When Ding Yushu heard this, she grabbed onto a glimmer of hope and shook her head frantically: “Mom, I don’t want a divorce. No divorce. Zhang Zhi is soft-hearted. Even if I say no, he won’t really divorce me. He just wants to scare me.”  

Mother Ding sighed sadly: “Do you really think he is that soft-hearted? He only cares because you are beautiful and his wife. If you weren’t his wife, do you think he would be soft-hearted? No one who can achieve great things is really soft-hearted!”  

Ding Yushu’s tears were nearly gone. She said sadly, “My little sister tricked me. She told me it was easy to make money there and that there were many rich families. I don’t want to live in the countryside. It’s too dirty here!”  

When Mother Ding mentioned her youngest daughter, her anger grew: “You believe everything your little sister says. How old are you? She’s not at home now. Have you ever seen her outside?”  

Ding Yushu instinctively wanted to nod. She had seen her sister, and it was her who caused her to lose her love again. But she didn’t dare say it because she wanted to get back at her sister. So at that moment, she could only mumble, “No.”  

Mother Ding believed her without doubt and could only beat her chest: “Erniu, you need to get a divorce. Zhang Zhi no longer has feelings for you.”  

Ding Yushu gritted her teeth and said, “I won’t!”  

Only after experiencing darkness does one realize how happy life was before.  

Ding Yushu thought she would marry a rich and handsome man, but she was actually sold into a terrible place.  

The money she had was stolen long ago, and she was almost killed. If she hadn’t been aware of her situation, she might have died.  

Then one day, she met her younger sister, who told her how good life was there. Her sister was doing well, being cared for by someone and having nice clothes and food. When she saw her sister, her first reaction was to run away.  

At that time, she pretended not to care and charmed the man, but later he got back at her in the same way.

She pushed herself into hell, so Ding Yushu was determined not to let her sister live in comfort while she suffered.  

Later, while she was being tortured, she escaped. Afraid of being caught, Ding Yushu pretended to be a crazy beggar all the way and got her money back this way.  

It was easy to avoid buying a train ticket at that time. She hid in the bathroom to evade the ticket check, and then she returned home.  

Not to mention the hardships she faced on the road, it completely destroyed her dreams of a better life. At that moment, Zhang Zhi became her security for the future, and she couldn’t just divorce him.  

She shook her head eagerly, refusing to get a divorce.  

Mother Ding complained: “If you don’t want a divorce, then stop running away! Zhang Zhi will definitely not want you like this. You better behave. If we really have to go to court…”  

Ding Yushu shook her head: “No, no!”  

She didn’t believe that Zhang Zhi could be so cruel.  

She stood up and said, “Mom, I need to dress up and look prettier. Then he won’t act like this.”  

Mother Ding wanted to say that no matter how beautiful her daughter was, she was not as pretty as the woman next to Zhang Zhi.  

But her daughter seemed determined to follow her own path.  

Zhang Zhi was even harsher than they expected. The first time he asked Ding Yushu to come with him for a divorce, she refused. The second time, he had his lawyer send a formal notice.

This shocked the entire Ding family and several nearby villages.  

Ding Yushu no longer dared to cause trouble and agreed to the divorce. She even left her husband and two sons behind, leaving the house with nothing.  

****  

After sorting out Zhang Zhi’s marriage issue, he began to think about his wedding with Xu Qiu.  

Of course, they wouldn’t have a wedding banquet right away, because Zhang Rui and his friends were going to Kyoto again.  

This time, they will return in the summer vacation.  

If they wanted to invite Zhang Rui, Tian Jiao, and their families to the wedding banquet, they would have to wait until summer vacation, but they could get the marriage certificate first.  

During Tian Jiao’s sophomore year, Zhang Rui’s first restaurant was finally running well. He found several chefs and had them sign contracts and various confidentiality agreements. This year, with help from Xiao He, the second and third stores opened in different parts of Kyoto.  

At this time, Zhang Rui had already started a company.  

Although the gap in earnings was still large, the catering industry was profitable.  

When people have extra money, they often want to enjoy themselves, and good food and drink are the best choices.  

So the hot pot restaurants, skewer restaurants, barbecue places, and milk tea shops that Zhang Rui, Zhang Yanran, and Xiao He invested in together were all successful. After the first few months, profits steadily increased.  

After the Chinese New Year, Tian Jiao turned thirteen, Xiao He was fourteen, and Zhang Yanran was fifteen. The three of them seemed much older, especially Zhang Yanran. The fifteen-year-old girl had become beautiful and had a nice figure. Even though she was still young, many boys in school liked her.  

As for Tian Jiao, both boys and girls liked her, but they treated her like a younger sister. When she walked around the campus, people sometimes pointed at her, not because of her looks, but because she was the youngest student in the school, and everyone was curious.

Xiao He did not go to school. When Li Mu’s teaching was almost done, Song Zhen helped him get a student card so he could take classes in his favorite major. He was just like the other students, except that he had to pay a little more.

Xiao He was very smart and loved to study. Under Li Mu’s guidance, he had already learned a lot, but it still wasn’t enough. He was too young. If he hadn’t followed Zhang Rui, Li Mu wouldn’t have let him take action. At least until he turned eighteen, she wanted him to keep studying.

So, Xiao He could attend school with Tian Jiao.

Because of this, Xiao He was no longer upset about Li Mu’s request that he not run a business on his own.

Before they knew it, another year had passed. It was summer vacation. Due to various events, they returned to the village a bit late, and then they received a call from the team leader.

The caller was not the captain but a member of the Zhang family.

Zhang Dong’s steady voice came through: “Xiao He’s mother, Xu, is back. She brought a man with her and wants to take Xiao He away.”

When Zhang Rui answered the phone, he thought he had misunderstood: “Did you make a mistake? Xu? Didn’t she go crazy and disappear a long time ago?”

It had been so many years.

Xu disappeared when Xiao He was six years old. Now he is almost sixteen. After ten years, she really came back?

Zhang Dong replied calmly, “You heard right. She is back and wants Xiao He to return to deal with things. Since he is not yet an adult, Xu’s request is not unreasonable.”

When Tian Jiao heard the news, she immediately thought of the original novel’s plot that she had almost forgotten.

This book was told from the perspective of the heroine. After she arrived in Lanshan Village and saved Xiao He, the autistic boy began to cling to her. However, she was so outstanding and busy that she didn’t pay much attention to him. She felt sorry but didn’t reject him.

Sometimes, he could be seen standing at the gate of Zhang’s yard, staring eagerly at what was happening inside.

But there was a time when Xiao He disappeared.

He didn’t come back until his senior year in college.

According to the timeline, this was when Zhang Yanran hadn’t skipped a grade in the original novel. It was exactly when the villain gained enough power.