I would never harm you. 

This sentence always came up whenever Lu Nan had a disagreement with her mother. 

Lu Nan had heard it countless times in her past life. 

There were also similar phrases, like “I’m doing this for your own good.” 

In the past, Lu Nan had sometimes rebelled and sometimes compromised. Eventually, as she gained more life experience, she gradually came to understand that, from a subjective perspective, her mother truly had no intention of harming her. However, the words she spoke and the actions she took could still have a harmful impact on her. 

Lu Nan, who had long since learned how to “deal with” her mother, did not argue with her and instead talked about her salary and benefits: 

“…The salary and allowances add up to about nine thousand per month. Also, this year, I will receive a bonus of no less than forty thousand. This is just my first year’s income. If I get promoted to city manager, my base salary and allowances will be between two hundred and three hundred thousand per year, excluding bonuses.” 

For a recent university graduate, this was undoubtedly a high-paying job. 

However, Mother Lu said, “This kind of money isn’t easy to earn. They’ll make you drink! Are you some kind of hostess?” 

Lu Nan let out a deep sigh. She wanted to have a rational conversation with her mother, but clearly, that was difficult. She had sharper words she could say, but… she held back. 

Her mother has taken in too much information today, so it would be best to give her some time to process it. 

And so, the conversation ended without resolution. 

… 

The next day, Lu Nan drove her mother and younger brother to their grandmother’s house. 

Her grandmother lived in the countryside, which required driving over a winding mountain road. 

In the back seat, Mother Lu was on edge the entire way, constantly reminding her: “Drive slower, honk when turning, brake when going downhill…” She then turned to Lu Yang, “I told you to sit in the back, but you refused. You really trust your sister’s driving, huh?” Her tone carried a hint of sarcasm. 

Lu Nan and Lu Yang had long since mastered the skill of tuning out things they didn’t want to hear. 

When Lu Nan smoothly parked the car outside her grandmother’s yard, Mother Lu got out to open the gate. She ran into an old neighbor next door, who asked if it was her daughter’s car. Her tone instantly changed: 

“Yes, she just graduated from university this year and already bought a car. Said she wanted to come back and visit her grandmother. At least she has a conscience…” 

Her tone was unmistakably a modern-day version of humblebragging. 

Lu Nan and Lu Yang exchanged a helpless smile. 

After parking inside the yard, Lu Nan opened the trunk. “Hey, little brother, come help me carry the stuff.” 

Lu Yang obediently followed behind his sister, instinctively taking the heavier bags. 

Lu Nan had bought their grandmother breakfast milk and senior formula milk powder, knowing she had low blood sugar and didn’t like plain milk, saying it was too bland. 

Besides that, she also brought crispy biscuits, soft fruit candies that wouldn’t stick to teeth, and a bunch of small snacks. None were expensive, but they were all things her grandmother loved. 

Lu Nan’s eldest aunt, who lived next door, heard the commotion and came out. Seeing Lu Nan’s new car, she clicked her tongue in admiration. She didn’t know the exact price, but she recognized the Mercedes-Benz logo—it definitely wasn’t cheap. Then, noticing the things the siblings were carrying, she turned to their mother with a hint of envy. 

“Look at that, Nan Nan was raised by her grandmother when she was little, and she’s still the closest to her.” 

At this moment, Mother Lu looked rather proud. But she deliberately said the opposite of what she wants to say: 

“Of course. She only thinks about her grandmother. She came back last night and didn’t even bring me a single piece of candy.” 

Eldest Aunt definitely wouldn’t go along with Mother Lu criticizing Lu Nan. “You’re doing well too! Your daughter is so capable, your son is so obedient, and they’re both on the same page as you. What more could you want?” 

Mother Lu glanced at her daughter, who was chatting with her grandmother, then at her son, who was lounging on the sofa playing with a Rubik’s cube. She pulled her elder sister outside to speak in private. “It’s not about what I want. It’s Lu Nan! You have no idea, this time when she came back, she nearly scared me to death.” 

“What happened? Is she dating someone?” After all, Nan Nan was undeniably good-looking. She had been receiving love letters since elementary school. 

Could she be getting married right after graduating from college? That was the only possibility she could think of. 

Mother Lu shook her head. “No, no.” 

She didn’t even know how to bring it up, it might even sound like she was showing off. 

So she decided to leave out some key details, especially the exact amount Lu Nan had earned from the stock market. Instead, she simply said that her daughter had made a small profit. “She quit her job and switched to a new one without telling me. And yesterday, she drove back alone on the highway—can you believe how bold she is? She came all this way just to tell me to move to Hailin. It’s completely out of the blue!” 

“Nan Nan has always been sensible. She probably didn’t tell you about changing jobs because she didn’t want you to worry. And if she drove back on the highway, you can rest assured—she’s always been steady and careful. She wouldn’t take any risks. If she made some money and wants you to visit, that’s a good thing! You should go—after all, Lu Yang stays at school most of the time anyway.” 

Mother Lu wasn’t surprised that her elder sister was defending her daughter. 

“She’s not asking me to visit—she’s telling me to move there permanently, saying I should change my living environment. But I think my current environment is just fine! Why would I move to a place where I don’t know anyone?” Mother Lu emphasized. “I think she’s grown wings and now wants to make decisions for me. Not only does she want me to find a job in Hailin, but she also said that if I’m worried about Lu Yang, she’ll help transfer him to a school there. Can you believe that? That’s how a daughter talks to her mother?” 

But her sister saw things differently. She sighed, “Nan Nan is thinking about you. Unlike my children—once they left, they belonged to someone else’s family. I think if she’s saying this, she must have some money saved up. You could go stay in Hailin City for a while, find a job, and try a new environment, it might be a good change. As for Lu Yang, you can come back during holidays or have him visit us for meals…” 

Her words were almost identical to what Lu Nan had suggested the night before. 

If Lu Nan’s suggestion last night had been dismissed outright simply because she was a daughter and a junior, then hearing the same idea from her elder sister today made Mother Lu waver just a little—do I really need a change of environment? 

But as soon as the thought surfaced, she firmly rejected it. No way. Lu Yang is in his teenage years. He hasn’t hit his rebellious phase yet, but what if he goes astray because I’m not around? No, no, I can’t leave. 

*** 

Inside the house, Lu Nan hugged her grandmother, rubbing her face against her and holding her hands. 

The elderly woman sighed helplessly and turned to the only other person in the room, Lu Yang. “Oh dear, look at your sister. She’s already an adult, yet she’s still like this—just like when she was little.” 

“If I were still like when I was little, I’d want Grandma to hold me. But now that I’m older, I’ll hold Grandma instead.” Lu Nan continued to snuggle her affectionately. 

Grandma was getting old. 

Elderly people always carried a certain… scent of aging wood. 

Lu Nan had a sense of smell as sharp as a dog’s, but when facing Grandma, all she could sense was warmth. 

To be honest, compared to her mother, she wanted to take Grandma to Hailin City even more. 

But Grandma would never want to leave the small courtyard filled with old neighbors and familiar faces. 

Besides, Lu Nan was still living in a dormitory and couldn’t take Grandma to stay for long. 

I still need to keep making money. 

But in the past year or two, I really don’t remember Uncle ever mentioning any miracle stocks. 

Writing could be a path, but I can’t rely on it completely. After all, without selling rights and only earning from subscriptions, there are still many unstable factors. For example, after finishing an old book and before monetizing a new one, the half-month to one-month gap is basically a low-income period. 

Later, Grandma went to cook for them, and Lu Nan squeezed over, saying, “I’ll help Grandma add salt.” 

It was a “game” she used to play as a child. 

When she was little, Lu Nan was raised by her grandmother. She was well-behaved most of the time—give her some paper, and she would draw on her own, or she would grab some shoes and play house by herself. But whenever her grandma was cooking, she always wanted to be held. So her grandma had no choice but to carry her with one arm while stirring the food with the other. In the middle of cooking, she would let little Lu Nan sprinkle the salt, then have her taste it, and praise her for helping a lot. 

So when Lu Nan said that, Grandma smiled. 

She thought back to the tiny girl from twenty years ago, then looked at the tall, beautiful young woman standing before her now. 

While cooking today, Grandma still let Lu Nan add salt. Afterward, she lifted a small amount with the spatula and let her granddaughter taste it. 

Lu Nan took a bite and gave a thumbs-up. “Just right.” 

Grandma smiled again. 

Lu Nan’s mother and her aunt talked outside for over half an hour before coming inside. 

“Where’s your sister?” her mother asked. 

“She’s in the kitchen helping Grandma,” Lu Yang replied. 

Mother Lu muttered, “She never takes the initiative to help me in the kitchen when she’s home.” 

Lu Yang glanced at his mother but said nothing. His sister had actually tried cooking once or twice, but every time, their mother found fault with her. Peeling garlic? Too slow. Washing dishes? Slacking off. Sweeping? Just pretending. Mopping? Making a mess. In the end, she always got chased out, and their mother still did everything herself. 

During dinner, their aunt and uncle came over as well. 

While sipping her soup, Lu Nan’s eldest aunt said, “Nan Nan, it’s a good thing that you’re thinking about bringing your mother to Hailin City. But right now, your brother still needs someone around, and besides… a big city like Hailin has high living costs. If your mother moves there, wouldn’t that just add to your burden? It’s enough that you have this thought. I’ll make sure to visit her more often and talk to her. The past few years, Yang Yang was young, so it was inconvenient for your mother to go out and work. But now that he’s in his first year of middle school, she can start considering it. I’ll help her find a job or something. I understand what you’re thinking—your mother should be working. It’s good for her to interact more with people.” 

Lu Nan just smiled without saying anything. So this was the outcome of their conversation earlier. 

Her aunt would indeed introduce her mother to work, but whether her mother would adapt was another matter. Lu Nan wasn’t in a rush, she already knew she wouldn’t be able to convince her mother to leave this time. 

This trip was about laying everything on the table, showing the house and car, revealing her capabilities. That was already half the battle won. 

Convincing her mother to leave here would take time. 

But there was no rush. 

After having lunch at Grandma’s house, in the afternoon, Lu Nan accompanied her to the bamboo grove to dig for winter bamboo shoots. 

Grandma told Lu Nan to stand aside and hold the bamboo sieve. “The bamboo grove is dirty, don’t step in.” 

But Lu Nan didn’t listen. She immediately stepped in. “Grandma, you shouldn’t come digging for bamboo shoots alone. Call Aunt or Uncle to come with you.” 

“I know, I know,” Grandma agreed absentmindedly while using a small hoe to dig up a bamboo shoot less than twenty centimeters long. “This one’s good.” 

Lu Nan followed the direction of the bamboo rhizomes and found a tiny shoot tip poking one or two centimeters above the ground. She started digging downward, but since she wasn’t skilled, she accidentally broke it. 

Grandma comforted her. “The shoots are too tender this season. I sometimes break them too.” 

So it wasn’t her technique—it was just that the shoots were too delicate. 

Lu Nan nodded firmly. She loved how her grandmother always defended and doted on her for no reason. 

There weren’t many winter bamboo shoots this early in November, so Grandma carefully searched the grove and managed to fill up the bamboo sieve. “Leave a few for your mother. She lives alone and doesn’t eat much. The rest, you take with you. Can you cook where you live?” 

Lu Nan rarely cooked in the dorm, but she nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I can. Grandma, pack me some of your pickled mustard greens too.” 

“Alright, I’ll find a clean glass jar for you.” 

Afterward, Grandma wanted them to stay overnight. But Lu Nan thought about it—if they stayed just one night, Grandma would have to prepare bedding, wash sheets, and air out blankets. It would be too much trouble. So she held Grandma’s hand and said, “Grandma, come stay at my house and sleep with me. I’ll bring you back tomorrow at noon.” 

Grandma couldn’t resist when her granddaughter acted spoiled, so she agreed in the end. 

Mother Lu, however, couldn’t help but make her usual sarcastic remark. “None of us can persuade her, but Lu Nan can. She’s the only one Grandma listens to.” 

Of course, there was no malice in her words. Grandma knew it, and so did Lu Nan. 

When Grandma went to fetch her socks and towel, she whispered to Lu Nan, “Your mom’s only flaw is her mouth. She actually has a good heart. That’s something she takes after your grandpa, not me.” She shook her head regretfully. 

Lu Nan nodded vigorously, and the two of them secretly laughed together. 

When her mother came in to hurry them, she looked at one, then the other, and asked suspiciously, “What are you two laughing about?” 

“Secret.” Lu Nan said. 

“Hurry up and get ready. Leave early instead of driving on the mountain road after dark. I wouldn’t dare to ride in your car then.” Lu Nan’s sharp-tongued mother continued. 

On the way home, Lu Nan drove steadily and asked Grandma, “Are you feeling okay?” 

Grandma replied proudly, “I never get carsick.” 

Lu Nan’s mother and Lu Nan: Oh. 

When they arrived at Lu Nan’s house, her mother initially planned to cook, but Grandma quickly shooed her away. 

That evening, Grandma made a dish of pickled mustard greens stir-fried with winter bamboo shoots and pork loin—a perfect meal combination. 

Lu Nan ate a whole bowl of rice with it. 

Her low-sugar diet and calorie control simply didn’t exist in her Grandma’s presence.