Chapter 3: I Don’t Mind If You Remarry

“Yes! We’ll sell tea eggs! Dad’s tea eggs are the best!” Cheng Yuan’s mouth watered just thinking about them. The more she spoke, the more animated she became. “The cost of tea eggs is low. You don’t make much from each one, but with volume, the profits add up quickly. It’s surprisingly lucrative.”

This was a side of Cheng Yuan that Cheng Huaien had never seen before. When she smiled, her peach blossom eyes—so much like her mother’s—seemed to shimmer with vitality. The confidence and brightness in her gaze were mesmerizing, making it hard to look away.

“Alright, tea eggs it is,” Cheng Huaien agreed. In his heart, he silently vowed: No matter what it takes, I’ll keep this smile on her face forever.

Three days later, Cheng Yuan returned to the small, flat-roofed house she hadn’t seen in over a decade—the house she had once desperately wanted to escape, only to later long for with all her heart.

The house, one of the oldest in Yicheng County, had a tiny courtyard, two cramped rooms just large enough for beds, and a living room where a single table left little space to move around. The kitchen was even smaller and more crowded.

After days of neglect while they were at the hospital, the place was dirty and disordered.

Cheng Yuan rolled up her sleeves, gathered the pile of dirty clothes, and brought out a foot basin and washboard to squat in the courtyard and wash them.

“Yuan, leave those. I’ll do them later,” Cheng Huaien called as he came out of the kitchen, busy with lunch preparations. Hearing her movements, he frowned with concern. “Your injury is still healing.”

“It’s fine,” Cheng Yuan replied without looking up. She was no longer that helpless, naive girl who could do nothing but throw tantrums.

Knock knock.

The sound of knocking startled her for a moment. Then, an unfamiliar yet strangely familiar female voice called from outside:

“Old Cheng, I made some bone soup. Please take it to the hospital later for Yuan Yuan to nourish her body.”

It was Aunt Yu from next door.

Cheng Yuan’s memories flooded back. Yu Qing, Aunt Yu’s son, had been her schoolmate at First High School. While her own grades were poor, Yu Qing consistently ranked among the top ten students.

At first, Yu Qing had even helped tutor her. But…

Cheng Yuan winced inwardly, remembering the foolish things she’d done. Back then, she’d mistakenly believed Aunt Yu had designs on her father. In her ignorance, she mocked Yu Qing, sneering, “Are you sucking up to me so your mom can marry my dad?”

And what else had she said?

She must have been furious because she’d even declared, “No matter how much you flatter me, I won’t let your mom marry my dad. You can forget about it.”

From then on, her relationship with Yu Qing had become colder than that of strangers.

Yet when her father was later sentenced to prison for accidentally injuring Li Liang, leaving her to fend for herself in this small house, it was Aunt Yu who had quietly stepped in to help her—despite everything.

Only then did she realize Aunt Yu had been truly kind. Unfortunately, she fell seriously ill not long after and passed away before her father’s release. Yu Qing also disappeared from her life.

“No need,” Cheng Huaien called outside, abandoning the pot on the stove to hurry to the door. He explained to Cheng Yuan, “Aunt Yu heard you were hospitalized, so she…”

Aunt Yu stood there, a worried smile on her face, holding a meal box.

“Yuan Yuan, you’re already discharged?” she asked awkwardly. “This soup is fresh—good for your recovery.”

Clearly embarrassed, Aunt Yu quickly shoved the meal box into Cheng Huaien’s hands and turned to leave.

“Thank you, Aunt Yu,” Cheng Yuan suddenly called out.

Aunt Yu turned, surprised.

Cheng Yuan straightened her back and bowed deeply. Her voice was steady as she said, “I was immature before. I’m sorry, Aunt Yu.”

Cheng Huaien blinked in confusion. Hadn’t his daughter always been distant toward Aunt Yu? Why the sudden apology?

“No need, no need,” Aunt Yu said hastily, flustered, as she helped Cheng Yuan up. “The past is the past. There’s no need to apologize. We’re neighbors—helping each other is only natural.”

Knowing Cheng Yuan disliked others touching her clothes, she released her immediately and took a step back. “Rest well now that you’re home. I’ll be going.”

With that, Aunt Yu hurried away.

“Dad, is something burning?” Cheng Yuan sniffed suspiciously, her gaze darting toward the kitchen.

Cheng Huaien let out a yelp and bolted back inside.

By the time he returned, the egg drop soup he’d been preparing was ruined. The broth had completely evaporated, leaving behind nothing but a charred mess of blackened eggs.

“It’s fine. Didn’t Aunt Yu just bring us soup?” Cheng Yuan said with a laugh as she sat back down and continued washing clothes.

Lunch was simple: pepper-fried pork, stir-fried pea shoots, and the bone soup Aunt Yu had brought—two dishes and one soup.

Despite the humble ingredients, Cheng Huaien’s cooking skills were superb. Even the simplest pea shoots tasted better than any she’d had before.

As she sipped the bone soup, Cheng Yuan asked, “Dad, has Aunt Yu been bringing us food these past few days?”

Cheng Huaien hesitated before answering, “Yesterday’s corn and bone stew was also made by Aunt Yu.”

He quickly added, “She meant well. She noticed you hadn’t been around and got worried.”

“Aunt Yu is a good person,” Cheng Yuan said thoughtfully. The soup’s familiar taste tugged at her heart. In her past life, Aunt Yu had died because they couldn’t afford proper treatment. If they’d had more money, maybe she would have lived longer.

“Yuan Yuan…” Cheng Huaien looked at his daughter in amazement. She had changed so much.

Wasn’t she the one who used to dislike Aunt Yu the most?

“I’ve grown up,” Cheng Yuan said softly. After a pause, she added, “I don’t mind if you remarry, Dad. If you like Aunt Yu, I’ll support you wholeheartedly.”

If Cheng Huaien had been drinking soup, he would have spat it everywhere.

“Yuan Yuan, when did I ever say anything about remarrying?” he said, flustered. “Kids shouldn’t worry about adult matters.”

“Father,” Cheng Yuan said seriously, “Mom left so many years ago without a word. If she never comes back, will you wait for her forever?”

In her past life, her mother never returned—not even when her father passed away from stomach cancer. Perhaps… her mother had long since stopped caring about them.

Her father was such a good man. Why should he spend his life alone for someone like that?

“I haven’t thought about remarrying,” Cheng Huaien said, setting down his chopsticks. His gaze dropped. “Your mother will come back. I believe it.”

He said it with complete conviction—as if saying it would make it true.

“What if she never does?” Cheng Yuan pressed.

When she was five, her mother left. And in all the years that followed, not once did she return.

“Then I’ll never marry,” Cheng Huaien said without hesitation. His voice was firm. “Yuan Yuan, in my heart, your mother will always be your mother. No one can replace her. Aunt Yu is a kind person—and that’s exactly why I can’t hurt her by giving her false hope.”