Chapter 13

Han Zecheng’s expression turned even colder.

His monthly allowance was over 130 yuan, so sending 40 yuan home each month wasn’t really a problem.

But he didn’t want to indulge his mother into thinking she could make endless demands on him.

He wasn’t the type to beat around the bush. Frowning, he was just thinking about how to put things in the simplest words to stop his mother’s unreasonable behavior.

But before he could speak, Su Ruo, who had been silent until now, opened her mouth first.

She said, “Mom, didn’t I hand over ten yuan every month because Guoguo and I were living at home and had to pay for food? Though I’ve never really understood how eating plain porridge and coarse flour buns every day could cost ten yuan.”

Wu Guizhi’s expression changed drastically.

But Su Ruo wasn’t finished yet.

She looked at Wu Guizhi and smiled, “Mom, just now you said there are so many people in the family who need to eat and wear clothes, so many children who need to go to school… That’s strange. Apart from you and Uncle, whom Zecheng should indeed support in your old age, are you saying that all the others in the family—those who eat, wear clothes, and go to school—are also Zecheng’s responsibility?”

“But isn’t Eldest Brother and Third Brother already married? Don’t their wives work? Don’t they earn labor points just like everyone else? I’ve seen them working to support their families. Their kids can be supported by the labor points their parents earn, right? So how come, from your words, it sounds like all the kids in this household are waiting for Zecheng’s money to be raised?”

“And mom, you know that from now on, I won’t be working. Guoguo and I will rely entirely on Zecheng. We may even have more children in the future, and they will also rely on Zecheng. If you want Zecheng to send all his money to you, to raise your other sons and grandkids, then what are we supposed to live on?”

“Besides, if we really couldn’t survive here, that would be one thing. But look around the village—who lives better than us? And as for Third Brother, he’s now working at the school as a janitor, so he gets paid. I used to hand over ten yuan a month, now that I’m leaving, let him pay instead. Or are you saying, Mom, that only Zecheng’s money is to be squeezed, and the others not only don’t support you in old age, but live off the money you get from Zecheng?”

She’d just woken up, and Wu Guizhi had accused her of “sucking Zecheng’s blood.”

But who was really leeching off whom?

Yesterday, she hadn’t fully understood the situation and didn’t really argue back when she got scolded… well, that couldn’t even be called arguing back.

Now that they were about to leave, she had to make things clear… As for whether Han Zecheng might be upset that she talked to his mother like this, so be it—she wasn’t going to hold it in.

Han Zecheng was a man of few words.

Wu Guizhi had thrown tantrums for decades, and after doing it so long, she even believed her own delusions. She’d never had anyone expose her like this.

She was so furious her whole body shook. She grabbed a bowl from the table and threw it at Su Ruo, shouting, “How dare you! Who do you think you are, you capitalist running dog! Should never have let you through our door! You deserve to be doused—”

Clang!

The bowl smashed to pieces on the ground, cutting off Wu Guizhi’s foul language.

Of course, the bowl didn’t hit Su Ruo.

Han Zecheng had raised his hand to block it—it only hit the floor.

Wu Guizhi collapsed onto a stool, wailing, “This is a curse! How could our Han family end up with such a daughter-in-law…”

Han Zecheng’s face was dark as iron.

He truly hated this scene… He’d seen it often as a child. Ever since he learned that his biological father was still alive, whenever he didn’t obey his mother’s will, this was what she did.

In the past, he would simply walk away.

But this time, he wasn’t just going to walk away—he was going to make things clear before leaving.

He cut her off coldly and said, “Mom, I’m definitely taking A’Ruo and Guoguo with me today. If you won’t give me the household registration book, I’ll go to the commune myself and get it done. But from now on, I won’t care about this household anymore. Handle it however you like.”

“I’ll get it.”

At this point, Han Heping, who had been standing silently at the side, finally spoke. He looked upset as he apologized to Han Zecheng, “Zecheng, you know your mom can’t bear to let you go, can’t bear to part with Guoguo. She’s just upset—don’t take it to heart.”

He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and continued, “You know, once you leave today, it’ll be hard for her to ever see you or Guoguo again.”

Then he reached to pull Wu Guizhi up, glaring at her and using force in his grip as he said, “Guizhi, this isn’t the way to express your reluctance. Zecheng and his wife being separated for so long isn’t ideal. Now that they can finally live together, it’s a good thing. Stop causing a scene and come with me to get the registration book.”

With a mix of coaxing and dragging, he pulled Wu Guizhi back into the room.

The rest of the Han family remained in the main hall.

Each of them was either awkward or upset by what Su Ruo had just said.

The first branch of the family looked embarrassed.

The third branch looked annoyed and displeased.

Because Su Ruo hadn’t just criticized Wu Guizhi—she’d dragged them all into her rebuke.

But whether embarrassed or upset, none of them could argue back—because what Su Ruo said was the truth.

The Han family was able to live in the only blue-brick tile-roofed house in the village. Han Jialin and Wu Jiaoyan frequently skipped work or chose only the easy jobs. Yet no one in the Han family ever went hungry and they ate meat regularly—and it was all thanks to Han Zecheng’s subsidies.

Of course, if Han Zecheng weren’t standing right there, Han Jialin or Wu Jiaoyan might have snapped back a few words, like: “Second Sister-in-law, that’s not fair. Second Brother giving money to Mom is an act of filial piety. We haven’t split the family, so any son’s income should go to the parents, right?”

But with Han Zecheng right in front of them, and since they were still benefiting from his support, even the thickest-skinned among them didn’t dare speak.

Eldest brother Han Jiasong sighed and greeted Han Zecheng, saying, “Second brother, I’ll head to work first. If you need any help, just let me know.”

Once Han Jiasong made the first move, the rest of the Han family followed suit—those going to work went to work, students went off to school, others washed dishes. In no time, everyone had dispersed.

“How’s your hand?”

Back in the room, Su Ruo looked at Han Zecheng’s hand, feeling a bit guilty. “Let me take a look.”

As she spoke, she reached out to take his hand.

It was just a bowl after all, so of course, his hand was fine. But he didn’t refuse her.

Her hand was delicate and fair, small enough that she needed both hands to wrap around his.

His hands, after years of military training, were dark and rough with some old scars. From the earlier incident, not even a hint of redness showed.

Su Ruo didn’t think too much about it. She took his hand and examined it carefully, only relaxing once she was sure he wasn’t hurt.

But then she noticed—there was a stark contrast in temperature between their hands. His was warm and rough, hers cold and soft.

The difference in color and texture was also obvious—his dark and calloused, hers pale and tender.

After confirming he was unhurt, Su Ruo became belatedly aware of these differences. Her face grew a little hot, and she quickly let go of his hand, trying to mask her discomfort as she apologized, “Sorry. I spoke out of turn just now.”

After all, that was his mother. As an outsider, she shouldn’t have intervened. But having grown up arguing with Lin Wanhua and Su Jia, she was not one to endure things silently. She got angry and the words just spilled out.

She’d ended up scolding not just Wu Guizhi but the whole Han family.

She wasn’t afraid of offending them.

Still, she vaguely sensed that while she owed Wu Guizhi nothing, she probably did owe something to the man in front of her.

And the issue of sending money was his to handle. Since he had said it was fine, her speaking up really had been overstepping.

It made her seem petty and ungracious.

She usually didn’t care about that—her family had called her petty and ungracious since she was young. But why should she be generous to Lin Wanhua or Su Jia?

However, when facing him now, she felt oddly unsure of herself.

He looked at her carefully, then suddenly asked something completely unrelated, “Do you think we might have another child in the future?”

His voice was calm, like it was just a passing remark, but his tone was focused, making it feel surprisingly serious.

Su Ruo froze. Then she realized—that was something she had said earlier when arguing with his mother.

“Um…”

She wanted to explain it had just slipped out, but when the words reached her lips, she hesitated. She glanced at him secretly.

Though she’d never dated, she had been engaged once. Yuan Chengyang had treated her very well, and she understood the difference between kindness from a man who liked her and kindness from friends or relatives.

Since she woke up, this man had been distant on the surface, but his actions were always thoughtful and attentive.

And the way he looked at her—even when pretending to be indifferent—there was always a gentle, focused gaze in his eyes.

She could tell his kindness wasn’t just because she was his son’s mother or out of responsibility.

He must like her.

And that made her feel she shouldn’t just blurt out a denial.

But she didn’t dare to say anything rash either.

She was afraid to make a promise she might not be able to keep in the future.

Forget it.

She lowered her head and stayed silent.

Seeing her lower her head and her ears gradually turning red, Han Zecheng’s heart softened. He didn’t press her further. Instead, he returned to the earlier topic and said, “It’s nothing. I’m happy you said that.”

He actually didn’t feel much emotional attachment to his mother.

He had lived with his grandmother until he was three. After she passed and he moved in with his mother, she never treated him well. At most, she just gave him two extra bowls of porridge each day.

Later, when he found out his biological father was still alive and wanted to take him away, he had refused—not because of any deep affection for his mother, but because he didn’t want to call someone else “Dad” or let someone else control his life.

And he had always believed that was a wise decision.

After a brief pause, he added, “You pack up things at home first. I’ll go to the commune to move your household registration. Then I’ll stop by the school to handle matters for you and Jia Lin. In the afternoon, we’ll visit a few uncles to say goodbye.”

Su Ruo immediately nodded in agreement.

But then she thought—since they were leaving, it was fine to move her household registration, but she really should visit the school personally. Even if she didn’t know anyone, going with him and muddling through things together would help her get a better grasp of the situation. So she said, “Can I come with you to the school?”

Han Zecheng looked at her. “Are you up for it physically? Also, you don’t remember anything right now. If you run into someone, how will you greet them? I might not even know all the teachers at the school, let alone the students.”

“I think I’m fine now. It’s just the school—it’s not too much. As for not recognizing people…”

Su Ruo frowned, then suddenly had an idea and said, “I just won’t talk. I was sick, right? I’ll say my throat hurts and I can’t speak. That should be fine, right?”

Han Zecheng: ……

“Alright,” he said.

Since they were leaving anyway, it would be better to say goodbye in person.