Chapter 046

After leaving her office, Gu Huijuan went to ask the school director for a leave of absence.

It just so happened that she had no more classes for the rest of the day, and leaving the school wouldn’t cause any trouble.

After finishing her leave request, she returned to the office, picked up her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and tucked it under her arm. She said to Teacher Wen, “Teacher Wen, I need to step out for a while. If there’s anything with the students, could you please handle it for me temporarily?”

Colleagues helping each other out was always a small effort.

Teacher Wen nodded at her. “Are you going to see your daughter, Teacher Gu?”

Gu Huijuan smiled. “Yes, I’m going to check on her.”

Teacher Wen unexpectedly added, “Well, after all, you’re mother and daughter. Blood is thicker than water.”

Gu Huijuan felt a sense of relief after hearing those words. As she was about to leave, she called out one last time, “I’m heading out now.”

With that, she left the office, and as she stepped down the stairs, the sunlight hit her face.

This elementary school wasn’t very big, with only a few rows of classrooms, all in old single-story buildings.

After exiting the school gate, Gu Huijuan first went to a store to buy some fruit and snacks. Once she had everything, she headed to the bus stop.

She took the bus to the employees’ building of Meng Xucheng’s workplace. After a few inquiries, she found the building number and floor where he lived.

Once she arrived outside the door, she cleared her throat a few times before finally raising her hand to knock.

She knocked for about two minutes before someone inside opened the door.

As the door swung open, Meng Li stood there with her hair disheveled, clearly having just woken up.

Having been a soldier for two years, waking up early had become a habit for Meng Li.

The reason she had slept in today was because of a late-night celebration for passing the university entrance exam, where she had dined with Meng Xucheng’s colleagues and stayed out too late.

The drowsiness still lingered in her eyes, and when she saw Gu Huijuan standing there, she instinctively froze for a moment.

It was Gu Huijuan who spoke first, smiling as she said, “Li’er, Mom came to see you.”

Meng Li quickly snapped out of her daze, thinking, Where did this ‘Li’er’ and ‘Mom’ come from? What kind of act is this woman putting on today?

She furrowed her brows slightly and said nothing. Gu Huijuan gently added, “Let Mom in, okay?”

When Gu Huijuan softened her tone, it was truly soft, because she had a naturally gentle demeanor.

But Meng Li didn’t open the door, instead blocking it and directly saying, “If you have something to say, just say it right here.”

Gu Huijuan’s smile was as warm as the breeze. She lifted the fruit and snacks in her hand. “There’s nothing urgent. I just came to check on you.”

Meng Li lowered her gaze to the object in Gu Huijuan’s hands, then looked up at her face. “Don’t you find this awkward?”

Gu Huijuan hesitated for a moment. In the past, she would have lost her temper immediately, but today, she held her composure, letting down her usual defenses.

Still smiling, she said, “The bond between a mother and child has been nurtured for thousands of years—it’s a blessing from heaven. Family shouldn’t hold onto grudges.”

Meng Li almost laughed but quickly suppressed it. “I used to think you were just harsh and cruel. But now, I see you’re also shameless.” She met Gu Huijuan’s gaze without flinching. “You never liked me as a child. And when I was with the Cheng family, what I went through could almost be called abuse. Have you forgotten all of that?”

Gu Huijuan’s face flushed, then turned pale, but her smile remained intact. “That was in the past, wasn’t it? The past is the past, and now is now.”

Meng Li hadn’t expected Gu Huijuan to be so adaptable. The woman who once treated her with nothing but coldness and cruelty, who trampled her into the mud without a second thought, could now change her attitude in an instant—all because she had gotten into a good university with a promising future.

What did she take her for?

When she was of no use, she had been cast aside without hesitation, as if Gu Huijuan couldn’t wait to be rid of her.

And now, just because she was worth something, did Gu Huijuan think a few kind words and some snacks would be enough to win her back?

Meng Li’s expression darkened, her gaze locked onto Gu Huijuan. “I don’t have the energy to argue with you,” she said coldly. “Listen carefully—ever since I was injured before the Spring Festival in 1976, your daughter has been dead. I am not your daughter. If you have nothing else to say, you can leave.”

To Gu Huijuan, it sounded like Meng Li was simply severing ties. But to Meng Li, it was a truth she had long accepted.

Naturally, Gu Huijuan refused to accept that. Seeing Meng Li trying to close the door, she quickly shoved it open, blocking the way with her hand. She fixed her gaze on Meng Li and said firmly, “You are my daughter—born of me, raised by me. Whether you acknowledge it or not isn’t something you can decide with just one sentence.”

Meng Li exhaled sharply, irritation creeping into her expression. Pressing her hand against the door, she met Gu Huijuan’s eyes and said, “Comrade Gu Huijuan, can you at least have some dignity? You’re over forty—don’t you feel embarrassed? No shame, no self-respect… Where was all that when it actually mattered?”

Gu Huijuan refused to back down, and the two remained locked in a tense standoff at the door.

Meng Li was so furious she nearly raised her foot to kick Gu Huijuan out. But just then, Meng Xucheng returned home.

Hearing the commotion at the door, he called out, “Who’s there?” Then, stepping forward, he caught sight of Gu Huijuan—and instantly, he didn’t need Meng Li to answer.

Years had passed since their last meeting, and time had inevitably left its mark. But compared to Meng Xucheng, Gu Huijuan still looked much younger.

For a moment, Meng Xucheng simply stared at her before forcing a polite smile. “Hello.”

Gu Huijuan, no longer trying to push her way inside, smoothed the wrinkles on her short-sleeve jacket and turned to face him. “Long time no see.”

Meng Xucheng seemed a bit awkward, unsure of what to say to her. He turned to Meng Li and said, “I’ve already prepared your meal. I waited for you for quite a while, but since you didn’t come, I had to bring it back for you.”

Meng Li peeked outside and noticed that it was already noon.

The cafeteria at Meng Xucheng’s workplace served lunch early, so it was indeed time for lunch by now.

Meng Li ran a hand through her hair and said, “I’ll go wash up first.”

With that, she turned and went into the room, not bothering with the situation outside.

Meng Xucheng and Gu Huijuan had once been deeply familiar with each other. Though they were now divorced, traces of that familiarity still lingered.

Out of courtesy, Meng Xucheng invited her in, set the lunchbox down, and poured her a cup of hot water.

Gu Huijuan sat on the sofa, watching him as she spoke. “I came to see Li’er.”

Meng Xucheng smiled. “She got into Beijing University. You’ve heard, haven’t you?”

Gu Huijuan glanced toward the bathroom, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I never thought I’d be capable of raising someone so talented.”

Meng Xucheng sat down on a single wooden armchair nearby. “Li’er is promising.”

Gu Huijuan picked up the cup on the coffee table and took a sip of water, thinking about how Meng Li clearly didn’t want her around. Maybe I should start with Meng Xucheng?

After putting the cup down, she turned her gaze to Meng Xucheng, her tone nostalgic yet gentle. “All these years… have you been doing well?”

Meng Xucheng only smiled politely. “It’s been tough and tiring, but I’ve made it through. Things are better now.”

Because of his capabilities, his job remained secure, and now his daughter had also gotten into a prestigious university that everyone admired.

Gu Huijuan lowered her head slightly, her voice softer than before. “At that time, when I chose to divorce you, it wasn’t out of choice. If I had stayed with you and brought Li’er along, I don’t know if we would have made it to today.”

Meng Xucheng understood, nodding in agreement. “I didn’t want you and Li’er to suffer with me.”

Though he said this and rationally agreed with it, in reality, when he saw others who were sent to do hard labor but had their wives and children by their side, still unwavering and loyal, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.

In such a desolate place, he had to endure everything on his own.

There were times when he longed for his wife and daughter to be there with him, yet at other times, he wished they could stay far away and not be burdened by him.

And sometimes, he would feel like he was completely worthless.

In the span of a single night, he lost everything. His wife and daughter left him.

The divorce came, and not long after, he heard that his wife had remarried.

How much of a failure was he, that after the incident, his wife had already made up her mind to abandon him?

He had never expected Gu Huijuan to endure hardships by his side, but what truly caught him off guard was how swiftly she had severed all ties with him. When trouble first struck, a part of him had hoped—perhaps foolishly—that she would stay, that she would wait for him.

But that was all in the past now. There was no point in dwelling on it any longer.

Now, they both had their own families and lives. It was best to just live their own lives well.

Time had passed, and even catching up felt unnecessary.

Gu Huijuan took a deep breath, her voice growing even softer. “Xucheng, please don’t blame me. I did it all for Li’er.”

Meng Xucheng nodded at her. “I understand. You don’t need to blame yourself.”

Gu Huijuan gently steered the conversation. “Li’er seems to have some misunderstandings about me. Sometimes, I can be like that—emotionally unstable, and when I’m in a bad mood, my words can be harsh. I have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. You know that.”

Meng Xucheng was unsure what she meant, as Meng Li had hardly ever spoken to him about Gu Huijuan.

Every time the Cheng family was mentioned, she would brush it off with a few words, as if she didn’t want to talk about it.

Meng Xucheng looked at Gu Huijuan and asked, “Li’er is quite sensible. She has a misunderstanding with you?”

Gu Huijuan nodded, her voice tinged with grievance. “She doesn’t want to acknowledge me anymore.”

Meng Xucheng lowered his head, thinking for a moment. Before he could speak, he suddenly heard a voice from the direction of the bathroom.

“You better clear things up in front of my dad today. What exactly have I misunderstood? You don’t deserve my attention, but here you are, coming to me. How pathetic.”

Hearing those words, both Meng Xucheng and Gu Huijuan’s expressions changed.

Since returning, Meng Xucheng had never heard Meng Li speak so harshly to anyone. Her words were so sharp they almost stung. He lowered his voice, “Li’er, why are you speaking to your mother like that?”

Meng Li gave a cold laugh. She walked over to the sofa, sat down, and opened two aluminum lunch boxes with chopsticks.

She took a bite, then looked at Meng Xucheng. “She’s not your wife anymore, and she’s not my mom either.”

Gu Huijuan’s face darkened, but she tried her best to compose herself.

Meng Li finished speaking to Meng Xucheng, then turned to Gu Huijuan. “Stop pretending. If I hadn’t gotten into university, you wouldn’t have even stepped through this door. Think about how you’ve treated me all these years—you should explain that to my dad.”

Gu Huijuan, still trying to defend herself, replied, “How have I treated you? I gave you food, I gave you clothes. What more do you want?”

Meng Li scoffed but didn’t bother responding, continuing to eat.

Gu Huijuan turned to Meng Xucheng and continued, “She’s the rebellious one. She never listens to anyone. She ran around with a bunch of thugs, staying out all night. I wanted to discipline her, but I couldn’t control her. Can you really blame me for that?”

Hearing this, Meng Xucheng’s expression changed again, and he looked at Meng Li. “You’re hanging out with thugs?”

Meng Li kept her head down, silently shoveling a few more mouthfuls of food, chewing and swallowing.

Then, with a loud clack, she slammed her chopsticks onto the table. “You’re not going to say anything? Fine, I will.”

Her voice was sharp with anger. “Let’s talk about what really happened after I went to the Cheng family. You gave me the worst, coarsest bread—I never even got to taste good rice. Most of the time, I was still hungry. You wouldn’t even let me have a bite of pork. I didn’t even know what it smelled like. There were three families in that courtyard, and every single one of you—including your neighbors—treated me with contempt. You were the ones who pushed me to leave and live like this!”

Meng Xucheng furrowed his brow upon hearing this.

Meng Li took a sip of water and continued, “When I went out on my own, those guys treated me well. We had food, drinks, and fun. It was better than staying in the house, being mistreated! You cursed me for being useless, a bastard, saying that I’d end up lowborn. You’ve forgotten, haven’t you? You said I was neither human nor ghost, neither man nor woman, and that I was bad luck! You were just waiting for me to turn eighteen so you could send me to the countryside to settle down and live out my life!”

With a cold sneer, Meng Li looked at Gu Huijuan. “Yes, you never laid a hand on me, because you knew I was tough, that I had a bad reputation. You were afraid I’d stab you and your husband to death, so you didn’t dare!”

“Everyone in Zhima Hutong knows that I, Meng Li, was a burden. I was disliked by everyone. So for those years, I rarely went back to your house. I found it disgusting. Tell me, how many meals did I have at your place? How much money did I spend there? Do you think you’re worthy of being my mother?!”

Meng Xucheng sat on the sofa, his expression growing darker, while Gu Huijuan’s face turned ashen.

After hearing everything, he remained silent for a while, his anger steadily rising. Once he had calmed down a little, he turned to Gu Huijuan, his face grim and his voice low. “Is this how you treat my daughter? Isn’t she your own flesh and blood?”

Gu Huijuan’s face paled further, and her voice turned frantic. “Do you believe everything she says?”

Meng Xucheng glared at her, his expression cold and unforgiving. “Why wouldn’t I believe her? Ever since I came back, she hasn’t mentioned you once. I didn’t think much of it before, but now I finally understand—you’re even more venomous than a stepmother!”

Gu Huijuan was completely panicked, and she faced off with Meng Xucheng. “Meng Xucheng, who are you calling venomous?!”

Meng Li sneered from the side. “I’m talking about you. Selfish, cruel, with no compassion at all. If I were you, I’d pack my things and leave quickly before making a fool of myself here.”

Meng Xucheng, who had initially been polite, was now completely indifferent. He didn’t even bother to look at Gu Huijuan and turned his head away, saying, “Now that everything’s clear, please leave. The Meng family doesn’t welcome you.”

Gu Huijuan was about to say something in her panic, but before she could, Meng Li added, “Exactly. You’re now a member of the Cheng family. Tang Yuan’er and Cheng Chen are your children now. You’ve got a precious son at such an old age— focus on raising him properly. Don’t mess him up.”

Meng Xucheng cut her off, standing up and grabbing the snacks and fruits Gu Huijuan had placed on the coffee table when she arrived. He handed them to her. “Take your things and leave. Don’t come back here again, or else people will start gossiping.”

Gu Huijuan was utterly speechless. She gritted her teeth, snatched the items from his hands, and turned to leave without another word.

After taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and glared at Meng Xucheng and Meng Li. “Ungrateful little things!”

With that, she spun around and walked out, never looking back.

When she reached the door, she tripped slightly, almost stumbling outside.

Once Gu Huijuan left, Meng Li picked up her chopsticks and continued eating as if nothing had happened.

Meng Xucheng sat on the sofa, watching her. His tone was much softer now. “Is what you said true?”

Meng Li kept her head down, focusing on her meal. “I only said a little—it was nothing compared to how much worse it actually was. You have no idea what I went through during those years, how miserable it was. I never told you because I didn’t want you to feel guilty. But today, I just couldn’t hold it in.”

Yet, guilt weighed heavily on Meng Xucheng’s heart. If it hadn’t been for his accident, his daughter wouldn’t have suffered so much.

Before the accident, he had been somewhat of a daughter slave, never even considering the idea of having a son.

Seeing the guilt on Meng Xucheng’s face, Meng Li quickly spoke up, “Oh, Dad, don’t be like this. It wasn’t your fault. The hardships I’ve gone through are nothing compared to what you’ve faced. Everything is better now, so let’s not dwell on the past.”

Meng Xucheng nodded quickly. “Alright.”

The father and daughter continued talking heart-to-heart for a while, discussing the matter further.

Meng Xucheng repeatedly promised that he would be a good father from now on and make up for the years he had missed.

Once everything had been said and understood, their relationship grew even closer.

As for Gu Huijuan, both of them agreed not to have any further contact with her.