Chapter 26: The Annoying Villain

As they watched Su Luyun walk away with her puppy, everyone started chattering.

“Poor thing, she still thinks Changdong can recover.”

“Exactly, I didn’t even know she had such deep feelings for Changdong!”

“Actually, it makes sense. She loves money and good looks. Changdong is so handsome, right? Young girls always fall for good-looking guys.”

“That’s true!”

“It’s just so pitiful. If she finds out Changdong won’t wake up, how badly is she going to cry?”

“Crying’s not the worst. I’m afraid she might just down a bottle of rat poison and follow Changdong!”

“Don’t say that, you’re going to make me cry!”

“…”

Su Luyun had barely walked out when the aunties and grannies had already scripted her entire tragic drama.

And somehow, in such a short moment, the plot even escalated to rat poison!

Su Luyun, walking her clearly fond-of-strolling puppy Yuanbao, went to find Zhao Yuzhu.

Zhao Yuzhu had just finished making some snacks. When she saw Su Luyun arrive, she was briefly stunned. “Cousin, what brings you here?”

“I’m just taking Yuanbao out for a walk and thought I’d drop by for a chat. What’re you making? Smells pretty good.” Su Luyun said with a smile.

Zhao Yuzhu tugged at the corner of her lips. “Oh, nothing much, just some rice cakes.”

“Not a holiday or anything—why’re you steaming rice cakes?”

Though she said that, she actually knew perfectly well why Zhao Yuzhu was making rice cakes. It was to sell them at the factory gate.

This was the early phase of Zhao Yuzhu’s business venture. Don’t underestimate those little rice cakes—they were incredibly profitable!

The reason she was able to move out and save up a hundred yuan in just three months to repay her? Those rice cakes were it. If she relied solely on the allowance Li Wenchuan gave her, she wouldn’t have been able to save much at all.

No one knew Zhao Yuzhu was doing this.

After all, being self-employed at that time was still looked down upon.

But these clueless people had no idea how lucrative it could be. She just went to sell rice cakes outside the factory for an hour a day, and it didn’t interfere at all with picking up her child from kindergarten or coming home to cook for Li Wenchuan.

After a month, the money she earned was already way more than most people’s salaries!

With such a profitable side hustle, there was no way she’d let Su Luyun find out. Otherwise, she really would treat her like a walking wallet!

“I just had some free time and thought I’d make some to eat.” Zhao Yuzhu replied, forcing a smile.

“You made this much just to eat?”

Zhao Yuzhu had no choice but to say: “I planned to share some with the workers under Wenchuan.”

That was also what she told her neighbors.

She claimed she was bringing them to the construction site, so no one knew she was actually biking to a farther spot to sell them as a self-employed vendor.

Not wanting to entertain Su Luyun any longer, she wrapped two pieces in oiled paper and said: “Cousin, take some home. I have to go deliver these now, so I won’t keep chatting.”

“I really like your rice cakes.” Su Luyun said, still standing there, her eyes locked on the cakes.

Zhao Yuzhu clenched her teeth and ended up giving her two more!

They were steamed in small bowls, so each piece was bowl-sized. Four pieces were just barely acceptable.

Su Luyun smiled: “Then I won’t be polite.”

She took the rice cakes and left.

Zhao Yuzhu shot a glare at her back—truly someone impossible to like!

Suddenly, Su Luyun turned around. Zhao Yuzhu nearly choked on her own saliva but still forced out a smile!

“Cousin, what’s wrong?”

Facing Su Luyun’s cheerful, squinty-eyed smile, Zhao Yuzhu felt mentally and physically drained. She was convinced Su Luyun was here just to mess with her!

Spending a few minutes with her was more exhausting than spending a whole day with anyone else. She waved her hand and said: “Nothing.”

She kept trying to comfort herself—forget it, forget it. Making money was more important. She really couldn’t waste her time getting entangled with Su Luyun over meaningless things!

But why hadn’t that gambling addict Sun Congxing come looking for her?!

No, once she was done with her errands, she’d definitely go ask!

Su Luyun, on the other hand, didn’t care about her at all. She went home in a rather good mood.

She didn’t hesitate to sample her cousin’s rice cakes either—they were quite good, actually.

And she didn’t feel the slightest bit embarrassed about it.

Because compared to how the Original Owner had treated Zhao Yuzhu, her cousin, what were a few rice cakes, really?

Not to mention how the Original Owner had looked after her cousin when they were young—after both women had married into this area, the Original Owner had stood up for Zhao Yuzhu numerous times when she was treated unfairly.

She had even once gone to the old Li family’s home to fight a big battle with Li Wenchuan’s eldest sister-in-law, all for Zhao Yuzhu.

And back then, Zhao Yuzhu had only known how to hide behind her like a sweet and obedient housewife, making the already ill-reputed Original Owner look like a full-on tigress by contrast.

Whenever the Original Owner went out to eat something good, she always brought a portion back for her.

When she bought cloth to make clothes, she didn’t forget to give Zhao Yuzhu some either.

And under Zhao Yuzhu’s subtle hints, she had also made several outfits for her son—she even went back to her mother’s home to ask for help making them!

That one hundred yuan she made Zhao Yuzhu return yesterday? That was only the money loaned on the surface. The behind-the-scenes giving had been far, far more!

But how did Zhao Yuzhu treat her in return? Each and every act—none of it looked like something a close cousin should do.

She was a pure white-eyed wolf!

Su Luyun wasn’t someone to hold grudges over every little thing. If Zhao Yuzhu was willing to get along peacefully, she wouldn’t tear things apart. But if Zhao Yuzhu dared to keep playing dirty tricks—

She wouldn’t mind letting Zhao Yuzhu lift a stone only to smash her own foot!

After all, her character setting was exactly that of a disliked villain.

And this role was tailor-made for her—playing it came so naturally, it didn’t even take effort.

—

Around 5:30 p.m., her in-laws arrived.

Su Luyun said: “Dad, Mom, you’re here. Just a moment, I just finished feeding Changdong. I’ll go cook the noodles now.”

Chen Aihong smiled. “Want Mom to help?”

“No need, it’s not much work. Oh right, Mom, can you help me bring this bowl of chicken soup over to Aunt Qian?”

“Sure.” Chen Aihong took the bowl of chicken soup, which still had several pieces of chicken in it.

Five minutes later, she returned and went with Zhou Quansheng into the room to check on the third son.

His face had not a trace of stubble—it had all been carefully shaved by Su Luyun. His whole person looked clean and tidy, with no hint of odor.

To the elderly couple, he just looked like their youngest son sleeping peacefully, as if nothing were wrong. Their hearts couldn’t help but feel emotional.

They sincerely hoped that one day, their youngest son could wake up again.

Of course, Zhou Changdong could feel his parents’ emotions: 【Dad, Mom, I’ll definitely get better!】

It was just a pity that the only one who could hear his heart was his wife.

Not long after, Su Luyun brought the table and chairs into the room. “Dad, Mom, let’s eat in here and keep Changdong company.”

“Okay.” Neither Zhou Quansheng nor Chen Aihong had any objections.

They also helped bring the three bowls of noodles into the room. The noodles were served in large soup bowls, filled generously with noodles and chicken.

“You didn’t have to put in so much meat.” Chen Aihong said.

“It’s not that much. I still have plenty left for tomorrow.” Su Luyun replied as she scooped out two-thirds and saved the remaining third for the next day.

Although it was hot, soaking it in cold water overnight would keep it from spoiling.

“Let’s eat.” said Zhou Quansheng.

Only then did Chen Aihong nod.

The noodles were incredibly chewy, and the chicken was especially fragrant—the taste was absolutely delicious.

“I didn’t know Yun Yun had such good cooking skills.” Chen Aihong praised.