Chapter 254: Different paths do not conspire.

Yang Xiaomei looked at Wei Lanlan, who seemed even more confused than she was, and exclaimed, “Doesn’t Chen Xiangdong’s family have a courtyard?

His sister-in-law probably doesn’t want to live with you all either. When the time comes, you can sell your share to their family. With that money, you can buy another place!”

Wei Lanlan’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. Yes, why hadn’t she thought of that?

That courtyard didn’t belong solely to his brother’s family; Chen Xiangdong also had a share. Why shouldn’t they divide it?

No wonder her mother-in-law wanted to give Chen Xiangdong her job the last time they visited. His sister-in-law was so unreasonable, treating her as if she could be easily bullied.

She decided to discuss this with Chen Xiangdong when she returned, planning to split the household once they got back to Zhejiang Province.

Xu Ning and Yang Xiaomei were unaware that their conversation had prompted Wei Lanlan to confront Chen Xiangdong’s sister-in-law as soon as she returned to Zhejiang Province.

Wei Lanlan was used to hard work in the countryside, while Chen Xiangdong’s sister-in-law worked in the city, making her no match for Wei Lanlan.

She recalled how she had been belittled by Chen Xiangdong’s sister-in-law during her last visit and decided to give her a good beating.

Chen Xiangdong’s sister-in-law realized that Wei Lanlan was not someone to be trifled with. She saw her as a rough peasant woman who cared little for appearances and was quick to resort to violence.

Ultimately, she proposed dividing the household, offering to compensate them so that Wei Lanlan’s family could move out.

When Wei Lanlan heard her suggestion to split the household, she took the opportunity to ask for a substantial sum of money. With her share, she purchased a sizable courtyard.

…

The three of them were sitting on the kang chatting when someone knocked on the front door.

Xu Ning was about to go open it, but Xiao An called out from outside, “Sister, I’ll open the door; you don’t need to come out.”

When Xiao An brought Chunhua and Jiaohua in, Xu Ning was taken aback. Chunhua was visibly pregnant, appearing to be five or six months along.

Since Chunhua got married, they hadn’t seen each other, nor had they had any interaction, so Xu Ning was unsure why they had come.

With a gentle smile, Xu Ning invited them to sit on the kang and asked Xiao An to bring over two cups of water.

She didn’t inquire about their visit; instead, they began to chat casually about various topics.

Chunhua looked at Xu Ning sitting across from her. With her shoulder-length hair, porcelain-white skin, and eyes as sparkling as jewels, it seemed as if they could draw someone in.

Despite already being a mother of three, her expression still resembled that of a young girl.

She wore a red, thin cotton jacket that was tailored to accentuate her waist, giving her a slender and proportionate figure. It was hard to believe she had ever given birth.

In contrast, Chunhua herself had a larger frame, and after having children, she appeared even sturdier.

Having spent all year working in the fields, her skin was rough; although she was in her twenties, she looked as if she were in her thirties.

The thought of her own husband not being considerate added a pang of bitterness to her heart.

Xu Ning noticed Chunhua examining her and smiled slightly.

Jiaohua, sitting beside her, broke the silence and asked with a smile, “Xu Zhiqing, Chunhua and I came today to borrow some review materials.

Since you all got into university, you probably don’t need them anymore. Could you lend them to us to take a look?”

From the hesitant expressions on their faces since they arrived, Xu Ning had guessed that this was the reason for their visit.

She replied with a smile, “I’m afraid that’s unfortunate. All those materials have been taken by a few young men in the village who are preparing for the exams. Right now, we don’t even have a single book at home.”

Jiaohua asked in disappointment, “All of them are gone? Not a single one left?”

Xu Ning’s smile faded a bit. “We’ve already finished the college entrance examination, so what do we need those materials for? Since they need them, we gave them away. After all, it’s said that if you give someone a rose, the fragrance remains on your hand.”

She paused for a moment before smiling again, “Besides, the villagers have taken good care of us siblings over the years. Giving them some used materials is the least we can do, don’t you think?”

Chunhua felt a bit awkward, while Jiaohua sat there, sighing in disappointment.

They had first gone to the educated youth compound, but there were a few who hadn’t passed the exam, and they needed the materials too. Jiaohua had pleaded with them for quite a while, but none of the male educated youths lent her anything.

Chunhua said that since both Xu Ning and Xu An had been accepted into university, they surely no longer needed the review materials. That was why they had come over, but who knew they had still arrived a step too late.

After they left, Wei Lanlan pouted and remarked, “I really didn’t expect those two to have such thick skin.”

Yang Xiaomei responded, “When life is tough for too long, you become less concerned about appearances. Just look at how much older Chunhua looks now; she seems like she’s in her thirties or forties, and she doesn’t have that lively spirit anymore.”

Xu Ning listened to them with a smile. She didn’t want to comment on those two; after all, they were not on the same path, and any opinion would be superfluous. Different paths do not conspire.