Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the 1990s.

Several years had passed since Ning Shi’s unfortunate departure.

During these years, Ning Shu’s life had been smooth and prosperous.

First, Lin Guodong’s career soared, especially since his second son, Er Bao, went from being the champion of the World Middle School Sports Games to becoming an Olympic champion.

This achievement greatly helped Lin Guodong’s career, making him virtually unbeatable in his field.

Yes, Er Bao had grown up, leaving the world of middle school sports behind to step onto the stage of adults—the Olympic Games.

As for the first son, Yi Bao, he had accomplished the very thing that Er Bao had once dreamed of, he went into scientific research.

San Bao, the third son, was the most carefree among the siblings.

He studied fine arts in college and had already gone abroad to further his education.

It had to be said that pursuing art was more suited for her abroad than at home.

With the man working and the children all pursuing their respective passions, Ning Shu continued to thrive in the group-buying business.

She introduced the concept of group-buying to millions of households and opened many chain stores across the capital, named “Common People’s Food Supermarket.”

Ning Shu was now very focused on making money because Yi Bao’s research required financial support.

Given the country’s limited economic resources, and other institutions’ funding for Yi Bao’s research also being limited, Ning Shu worked hard to earn money to support her son financially.

As a result, Ning Shu was praised.

Newspapers and TV stations called her a conscientious entrepreneur.

Ning Shu thought that her life would continue peacefully, waiting for her sons and daughters-in-law to return as she grew older, and then she would pass on her love for her three sons to her grandchildren.

But before that could happen, Lin Guodong received a call from Zhang Xian.

This news came when Lin Guodong got home from work.

“Zhang Xian said his mother-in-law is about to pass away. Since he couldn’t reach you, he got my number from the old unit’s political commissar. He asked if you want to go and see his mother-in-law one last time,” Lin Guodong said.

Ning Shu was surprised that Ning Mu was dying, but she felt no emotional disturbance.

Having been born with memories of her past lives, her emotional ties in this life were weak, and even in her second life, though she had longed for family connections, she realized shortly after birth that she would never experience familial bonds.

So, she didn’t have any expectations and thus wouldn’t be disappointed.

That’s why she had no feelings for the Ning family.

As for going to see Ning Mu one last time, Ning Shu didn’t want to.

She had severed ties with the Ning family and didn’t want to appear before them or have them appear before her.

It would be best if they never saw each other again.

However, one couldn’t live entirely by their own principles.

She could disregard others, but since Zhang Xian had called Lin Guodong, if she didn’t go to see Ning Mu one last time, people might mock Lin Guodong for marrying an ungrateful wife.

They might even say things about the mother of the three brothers.

So, going to see her wasn’t out of the question.

“Okay, I’ll go,” Ning Shu didn’t refuse.

Lin Guodong replied, “I’ll go with you.”

“No need,” Ning Shu said. “The secretary will drive me there. She doesn’t deserve you to take time off to accompany her.”

Lin Guodong explained, “I’m taking time off to accompany you, not her.”

Ning Shu paused for a moment and then smiled slightly.

Lin Guodong occasionally said romantic things.

At the hospital, Ning Mu’s body had become as thin as a bamboo stick.

The doctor said she couldn’t last much longer, just a couple of days.

Ning Qin and her husband had also returned with their child.

“I don’t know how many days Mom can hold on. Do you think Ning Shu will come back?” Ning Qin whispered to Zhang Xian while Ning Mu was asleep.

Zhang Xian replied, “I don’t know either.”

In his heart, no matter what kind of conflicts there were between parents and children, it was hard to accept that someone wouldn’t come even in their final days. “I told Lin Shizhang about Mom’s hospital room, but whether she comes or not, we can’t decide.”

“Lin… Shizhang?” Ning Qin was taken aback. “He’s a Shizhang now? A full Commander?” When they moved away in 1978, he was still a full regiment commander.

That was 12 years ago.

In the military, promotions were evaluated every three years, but it didn’t mean you were guaranteed a promotion after three years.

It meant after three years, you could apply for one, or if you had the qualifications, the higher-ups might promote you.

But very few people rise through the ranks every three years.

From what Zhang Xian said, Lin Guodong has indeed been promoted every three years to reach the position of “Shi Zheng Shi” now.

But how old is Lin Guodong?

Only in his forties, not even fifty yet.

And Ning Shu?

She’s younger than him, only forty now, and she’s already the wife of a commander.

Doesn’t that mean at fifty, she could be the wife of a general?

Moreover, Ning Shu wasn’t just the wife of an outstanding man, she had been featured in the media multiple times and was praised by both newspapers and TV.

Ning Qin used to think that Ning Shu’s fame was just due to her husband’s achievements, but now, seeing people who once had stable jobs losing them while those in private businesses were making money rapidly, she began to understand.

As a woman, it doesn’t matter how well one lives before marriage; it’s all about how one fares after marriage.

Ning Qin thought for a moment, hoping that in the future, Zhang Qian would marry well and be able to help her son.

She treat Zhang Qian particularly well, but she still maintained a superficial relationship with her.

Zhang Xian was hard to fool, and he doted on his daughter.

If she dared to do anything to Zhang Qian, Zhang Xian would certainly make her pay.

Ning Qin had originally thought she could manipulate Zhang Qian, but she hadn’t realized that even if she did, it wouldn’t matter because she couldn’t manipulate Zhang Xian.

Since Zhang Xian had learned about the events that happened with Ning Shu and the Ning family, he had always been cautious around Ning Qin.

Even though they had children now, he still maintained a certain distance.

The Ning family, or rather Ning Qin’s attitude toward her younger sister Ning Shu, had never been friendly, so how could he expect her to be kind to her stepdaughter?

So, he quietly observed her.

In fact, he had noticed everything, but since Ning Qin had never bullied Zhang Qian, their relationship remained harmonious.

“Zheng Shi,” Zhang Xian said with a respectful tone.

His words reflected the attitude of a subordinate towards a superior.

Zhang Xian had always admired Lin Guodong, and this was a height he would never reach.

Ning Qin’s eyes flashed with envy.

How did such a man end up marrying Ning Shu?

“By the way, if my mom… will Xiao Qian come back?” Ning Qin brought up her stepdaughter.

Zhang Qian had been admitted to a university in the capital and had been working there since graduation.

“She’s not coming, I told her not to,” Zhang Xian replied. “She’s not really a proper grandmother.”

“What do you mean by that?” Ning Qin was somewhat displeased. “In the past, when my mother was well, Xiao Qian would come to the Ning family for New Year’s, and my mother would always give her red envelopes.”

“Your sister also used to trick her when she was young,” Zhang Xian replied.

Speaking of which, it was quite a joke.

After Ning Shi came back to the countryside in disgrace, she divorced the man from the village.

The man wasn’t unreasonable, and seeing Ning Shi’s determination, he agreed to the divorce, but the child stayed with the father.

Ning Shi, of course, didn’t want the child.

After the divorce, she went to Ning Qin, asking her to introduce a soldier as a potential partner.

It’s true that Ning Qin did introduce one — one of Zhang Xian’s subordinates.

But the problem arose.

During Ning Shi’s political review, issues were uncovered.

It wasn’t the divorce that was problematic, but the fact that she had been to the police station several times in the capital.

The reasons were many, and there were suspicions that she was involved with special agents, etc.

The authorities reported this to Zhang Xian’s subordinate, who immediately brought it to Zhang Xian’s attention.

Zhang Xian’s expression at the time was priceless.

He didn’t even bother to go to his office, immediately returning home to find Ning Qin.

When Ning Qin learned about the situation, she felt incredibly ashamed.

She and her husband went to ask Ning Shi and soon discovered that the problem with the political background check was related to Ning Shu.

This matter, which indirectly involved Ning Qin and Zhang Xian, was also tied to Zhang Qian.

Speaking of Ning Shi’s past, Ning Qin had no way to defend it, because it was indeed an embarrassing matter.

As the couple sat in silence, there was a knock on the door. “Is anyone here?”

Hearing someone, Zhang Xian, who was closer to the door, went to open it.

When he saw who it was, he was momentarily stunned before quickly saying, “Commander Lin, Comrade Ning, you’re here.”

Ning Qin turned around and looked.

She hadn’t expected Ning Shu to really come.

Ning Shu said, “Comrade Zhang, thank you for informing us.”

Zhang Xian replied, “You’re welcome.”

Ning Shu and Lin Guodong walked into the hospital room.

Originally, Ning Shu had expected to encounter quite a few people here, but to her surprise, only Ning Qin and her husband were present.

“Mom is asleep,” Ning Qin said, unsure of what to say. “Should I wake her up?”

“No need,” Ning Shu replied. “I just came to see her one last time. Now that I’ve seen her, that’s enough.”

“You…” Ning Qin didn’t expect Ning Shu to be so blunt, but she still didn’t say anything. “The doctor says she won’t last more than a couple of days. She knows. As for her affairs after she passes, do you have any thoughts?”

“No, it’s none of my business,” Ning Shu said. “I just came to see the person who once chased after me, trying to kill me. Now, I just wanted to see if she could still do it. Once I’ve seen her, that’s all. We’ll leave now.”

As Ning Shu turned to leave, Ning Qin hurriedly asked, “Can’t you wait a few more days? It really will only be these few days.”

Ning Shu responded, “I’ll wait a few more days. We’ll stay at the guesthouse. When she passes, I’ll send her off one last time.”

After speaking, the couple left.

Once they were gone, Ning Mu, lying on the bed, opened her eyes.

“Mom, you…” Ning Qin wanted to ask, “Did you hear that?”

Ning Mu was weak, unable to even muster the strength to speak.

Her eyes were confused and unfocused.

She had hoped to be cared for by her sons in her old age, so she didn’t regret how she had treated Ning Shu.

Now that Ning Shu had become successful, she hadn’t gone to find her.

She said to Ning Qin, “I raised four… four children, and only you have a bit of conscience.” She referred to her four daughters but didn’t count Ning Shu among them.

She knew she hadn’t raised Ning Shu, but she still hoped for Ning Shu’s conscience.

As for the other two sets of twins, she had genuinely felt sorry for them.

Now, in her sickly state, Ning Qin was the only one by her bedside.

Ning Qin didn’t know what to say.

She wasn’t exactly a conscientious person herself—she was selfish.

But Ning Mu had indeed been good to her, and after all, she was her own mother.

She couldn’t ignore her.

Ning Qin told her father about Ning Shu’s visit that same day.

Her father didn’t say much. “When your mother passes, you can ask her to come and send her off.”

He shared the same perspective as Ning Mu: once a daughter was married off, she was like water poured out.

They had no expectations from Ning Shu, just as they hadn’t raised her well in the first place.