Chapter 41

“It seems he can live independently now, supporting himself without any problem. We should stick with Mom; she’s the one who needs our care.”

The two sisters immediately caught on and started devouring their buns enthusiastically.
“Yes, yes, so delicious! Absolutely delicious!”

Cheng Yue: …

Do I look that easy to fool?!

Su Qianqian almost burst out laughing. She had no idea Erbao could be so cheeky!

The three kids were simply too adorable.

But to Cheng Yue, the three kids were utterly exasperating!

However, when he took a bite himself, he had to admit it wasn’t very tasty—nothing compared to Su Qianqian’s cooking. He had only gotten up to make breakfast today because he thought Su Qianqian had been working hard recently, always cooking and taking care of Daya.

Sigh! Should I go get that application form back after all?

Meanwhile, Su Qianqian had been observing Cheng Yue’s gait all day. She couldn’t detect any problems, and she figured they might be able to leave the compound and return to the Tianshui Village in about a week.

Since Cheng Yue was mobile again, he had already returned to work.

“Kids, remember how Mom promised to take you to the department store? How about we go today?”

As soon as they heard about the trip, the three kids’ eyes lit up with excitement.

“Erbao, you and Sanya sit on the back seat, and Daya will sit on the crossbar. Are you scared?”

Though the three kids had never ridden on a bicycle and were naturally a bit nervous, they still shook their heads firmly. “Not scared!”

They were more curious about the experience of sitting on a bicycle than afraid of falling.

In the Tianshui Village, there were a few bicycles. Every time the kids saw someone riding one, they were filled with envy. Now they finally had the chance to ride their family’s bike.

Su Qianqian lifted Sanya onto the seat first, then Erbao.
“Take care of your sister and watch your feet, so they don’t get caught in the bike spokes. It’ll hurt if they do. If anything happens, just call Mom—don’t try to tough it out.”

“Got it, Mom!” Erbao responded loudly, his excitement evident.

After seating Daya sideways on the crossbar, Su Qianqian set off with her three kids.

The roads weren’t crowded with cars back then, making it much less dangerous, though the uneven surfaces meant a bumpier ride. She pedaled slowly to keep things steady.

“Are you scared?” Su Qianqian asked.

“Not scared! Mom, it feels like flying!” Erbao exclaimed, secretly spreading his arms before quickly hugging Sanya during a jolt. Sanya, on the other hand, clung tightly to Su Qianqian’s clothes.

“When you’re a bit older, Mom will take you on an airplane. It flies even higher.”

Sanya asked curiously, “Mom, what’s an airplane?”

“It’s something that flies in the sky. You’ll find out later.”

When they arrived at the department store, Su Qianqian parked and locked the bike before leading the kids inside.

The children were awestruck by the wide variety of goods. They’d only ever seen the supply and marketing cooperative before, where buying anything was already a luxury. Now, standing in a department store, they felt like they were dreaming.

Mom is the best mom in the world!

After browsing, they bought quite a few things—food, daily necessities, and clothes—which made the kids incredibly happy.

“Let’s get something for Brother Chuanchuan too. He’ll like it,” Erbao suggested. “Mom, when can we go back to the Tianshui Village?”

“In a little while, once your dad’s leg is fully healed.”

“If Mom and Dad get divorced, can we still live at Grandma’s house?”

“Probably not. By then, Mom will find us a new place to live. Unless you want to stay at Grandma’s house?”

“We want to stay with Mom! Wherever Mom is, we’ll be there!”

How heartwarming!

Su Qianqian spent over 200 yuan on a watch so she could keep track of time more conveniently without having to guess. It would make getting things done much easier.

This trip had taken a significant chunk out of her savings. She planned to sell the items she’d prepared before leaving, which should bring in a decent income.

Back at home, she had a lot to prepare, so she let the kids play downstairs. Daya’s injury, thanks to the spiritual water’s effects, didn’t hurt as much anymore, so playing downstairs was fine.

About an hour later, the kids came upstairs.
“Mom, someone’s here to see you.”

“Who is it?”

“Comrade Su, we’re from the Women’s Federation. We’d like to discuss a few matters with you.”

“What matters?”

Su Qianqian took off her apron, poured three cups of water for the kids, and another two for the Federation representatives.

“Regarding your divorce with Comrade Cheng Yue, are you truly willing to go through with it?”

The two Women’s Federation representatives had done some research beforehand, mostly about Su Qianqian’s deeds in the Tianshui Village. From what they observed now, she didn’t seem problematic—she appeared polite and composed, and her three children got along well with her.

“I’m willing,” Su Qianqian nodded.

“What’s the reason? You already have three children together. Must you really divorce? Children need to grow up in a complete family—it’s better for them.”

Su Qianqian smiled faintly. “If the parents love each other, then yes, it’s beneficial for their growth. But if the parents don’t love each other and are constantly fighting, it’s worse for their growth. Growing up in a household filled with arguments and indifference will make them fear marriage and starting a family of their own.”

The two representatives were stunned and momentarily at a loss for words.

“So, are you saying you and Comrade Cheng are always arguing? What do you argue about? Are there issues that can’t be resolved? We can help mediate.”

Su Qianqian sighed internally. Divorce really wasn’t a simple matter.

“Not exactly arguments. As you probably know, I was the one who persistently pursued Cheng Yue back then and married him. He got the short end of the stick. Now that he’s becoming more successful, I’ve reflected on myself and realized I can’t keep holding him back.”

The two representatives exchanged glances and asked, “So, is it that he’s grown to resent you? That he feels you’re not a good match for him anymore?”

Uh…

Is that how they’re interpreting it?

“Not exactly. It’s just that two people without feelings for each other shouldn’t keep torturing themselves by staying together. It’ll only make life miserable.”

“Feelings can be nurtured. You’re already married, so why dwell on why you got married in the first place? You have children now—just focus on building a good life together. Why get divorced? In this day and age, if you divorce, people will gossip, and it’ll be much harder to remarry.”

They spent a long time trying to persuade Su Qianqian. She felt a headache coming on but didn’t lose her temper. However, she remained firm in her decision to divorce. In the end, they had no choice but to leave for now.

The news of Su Qianqian and Cheng Yue’s impending divorce spread quickly in the compound. After all, investigating their situation required asking questions, and the more people knew, the faster word got around.

Su Qianqian didn’t mind. She focused on earning money and monitoring Cheng Yue’s recovery.

“Come on, let’s visit Aunt Xuemei.” Su Qianqian took her three children to see Lin Xuemei.

“Come in, come in!” Lin Xuemei, who was off work that day, greeted them warmly. “Wow, you brought so many goodies!”

Su Qianqian set down the items.

“Sister Xuemei, you’ve probably heard by now. Cheng Yue and I are divorcing, so I’ll likely be leaving the compound soon. I brought these things for you to pick out first. Take what you want, and I’ll sell the rest to others.”

Lin Xuemei was reluctant to hear Su Qianqian was leaving. She liked her a lot—not just for her great food but also because she was so easy to get along with.

“What’s wrong with Cheng Yue? How could he divorce such a good wife!” She held Su Qianqian’s hand tightly. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll think of you when I get good things and send them your way, okay?”

Lin Xuemei’s eyes lit up. “Great, great! If you want to stay here, I’ll help you find a place.”

It was like a pillow appearing just when you’re drowsy.

“I’ll go back to Tianshui Village first. If I decide to settle here, I’ll count on you to help me find a house.”

“Absolutely! Leave it to me,” Lin Xuemei agreed without hesitation, her local connections giving her an advantage.

She prepared candy, snacks, and fruit for the three children, who politely took just a little and didn’t greedily stuff their pockets. This impressed Lin Xuemei even more, making her think Su Qianqian was well-mannered and nothing like the rumors suggested. Anyone who could raise such well-behaved children couldn’t be a bad person.

“I made fermented tofu, stewed beef, marinated pork, pickled garlic, chili peppers, and cucumbers,” Lin Xuemei said, laying out the items. “That’s all for now. Pick what you want, and I’ll give you a discount later.”

“No discount. Just think of me when you have new things in the future,” Lin Xuemei said. She worried about Su Qianqian managing alone after the divorce and didn’t want her to struggle financially.

Lin Xuemei’s financial situation was comfortable, and she valued Su Qianqian’s friendship more than saving a few coins.

Vanishing cream was the highlight for Lin Xuemei—she couldn’t live without it now. Seeing her smooth, radiant skin, she felt every penny spent on it was worth it.

“I’ll take all five jars of Vanishing cream and these foods,” Lin Xuemei said, selecting something from each category. “Here’s 300 yuan and some vouchers.”

“Sister Xuemei, that’s too much,” Su Qianqian protested.

“Don’t be shy. Take it. I believe in you—you’re going to do great things. Think of this as me investing in a friend. Trust me—I have a keen eye!”

Su Qianqian chuckled and accepted it. Whether in the Tianshui Village or here, she was lucky to meet kind-hearted people.

She promised herself she would repay their kindness someday.

Later, Su Qianqian sold the rest of the items and felt elated counting her earnings.

When Cheng Yue came home from work, his face was dark.

“Captain Cheng, did I offend you again?” Based on past experience, Su Qianqian guessed his mood was related to her.

“Did you tell people I’m divorcing you because I’ve become successful and now look down on you?”