Free Web NovelChapter 237: Chapter 237: Lifesaver
It was impossible for Mrs. Tang not to start scheming.
Before her trip to the Imperial City, she might not have had so many plans in mind. But after this visit, she saw everything clearly.
Her dissatisfaction and distrust of Su Li, among other reasons, stemmed from a deep-seated anxiety.
She could see it plainly: in Su Li’s eyes, there was no room for her or for Tangyuan.
This was what Mrs. Tang feared most.
Tangyuan was utterly captivated by Su Li, but Su Li didn’t seem to have him in her heart at all.
’If she doesn’t care about Tangyuan, then she’ll just go out and flirt with other men!’
’How could Mrs. Tang ever be at ease with a daughter-in-law like that? How could she possibly accept her!’
The difference wasn’t obvious without a comparison. But with Qin Shanshan in the picture, Su Li’s attitude became glaringly clear.
Qin Shanshan genuinely had feelings for Tang Yuanxiao. She didn’t even mind that he had a son, Little Tang Mo, or that he had been married twice. How could Mrs. Tang remain unmoved by such deep affection!
Mrs. Tang started to hatch a plan, but she was still wary of Qin Shanshan because of the trouble she had caused in the past.
But Qin Shanshan had been sharp since childhood; how could she fail to understand what was on Mrs. Tang’s mind?
In the end, that problem... was resolved perfectly.
How was it resolved?
It was solved using the simplest, most primitive method.
To seize this perfect—and final—opportunity that had fallen into her lap, Qin Shanshan decided to risk it all.
In the end, Mrs. Tang personally inspected Qin Shanshan.
After personally confirming with her own eyes that Qin Shanshan had been wrongly accused and was, in fact, still a virgin, she became determined to make her her daughter-in-law.
’She had watched Qin Shanshan grow up; she knew her through and through. Compared to Su Li, she was better in every conceivable way!’
Of course, Mrs. Tang couldn’t tell Tang Yuanxiao any of this. She only told him about how she had fallen gravely ill after returning home and how Qin Shanshan had saved her.
"...If it weren’t for Shanshan, you would never have seen your mother again."
Mrs. Tang wasn’t entirely lying. Recalling the incident filled her with genuine sadness and lingering fear.
Tang Yuanxiao felt a surge of fear as well. "Thank goodness... Mom, you can’t ever do something like that again."
"Shanshan is my savior, Tangyuan. You have to thank her properly." Mrs. Tang took a couple of deep breaths to compose herself and pulled Qin Shanshan, who she had brought with her, forward.
Tang Yuanxiao’s expression froze for a moment before he lowered his head and thanked Qin Shanshan sincerely.
"Caihua... thank you."
"You don’t have to thank me, Brother Tangyuan... Brother Tang." Qin Shanshan quickly waved her hands in dismissal.
Wiping her tears, Mrs. Tang took Qin Shanshan’s hand. "Come in, come in and sit down."
She led Qin Shanshan into the apartment and had her sit down, then turned to Tang Yuanxiao to ask about Little Tang Mo. "Where’s Momo?"
"He’s out playing." Tang Yuanxiao’s gaze fell on Qin Shanshan’s luggage, and a strange light flickered in his eyes. "Caihua, did you come to the Imperial City for a visit, or...?"
Mrs. Tang jumped in. "Of course she’s not just here for a visit. Tangyuan, Shanshan saved my life. You have to repay her properly."
Tang Yuanxiao paused for a moment and asked, "How should I repay her?"
He lowered his eyes, concealing all the emotions within them.
Mrs. Tang replied, "First, find a job for Shanshan. She graduated from high school and she’s smart, a fast learner. You can arrange something for her."
Tang Yuanxiao was silent for a long time.
He was doing well for himself, better than many his age, but he wasn’t so successful that he could just snap his fingers and arrange a job for someone.
When he didn’t answer, Mrs. Tang thought for a moment and added, "A teaching job would work. The elementary school Momo attends isn’t bad, even if it is a little small."
She patted the back of Qin Shanshan’s hand. "I asked last time I dropped Momo off at school. Some of the substitute teachers there only have high school diplomas, so Shanshan is just as qualified as they are."
Su Li’s experience as a substitute teacher back in the village had given Mrs. Tang the idea.
Tang Yuanxiao heard his mother’s words but still said nothing.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Just as Mrs. Tang was about to speak, Qin Shanshan gently pressed her hand and spoke up with a smile.
"Brother Tangyuan, if it’s too much trouble, please don’t feel pressured. I can go out and look for myself."
Qin Shanshan had lost a lot of weight, and the childishness in her face had faded. She looked much more striking, more beautiful than before.
Her voice was as gentle and reasonable as ever.
Before she had even finished her considerate words, Mrs. Tang shook her head. "How can a young woman like you look for a job all by yourself? It’s not safe. Let Tangyuan find one for you."
Qin Shanshan shot Mrs. Tang a grateful glance, then turned back to Tang Yuanxiao and added apologetically.
"I’m sorry to trouble you, Brother Tangyuan. If it’s really too much to ask, please don’t worry about it."
She bit her lip and lowered her head slightly. "I came so suddenly... I must be bothering you."
"Bothering me? Nonsense! You saved my life. No repayment would ever be enough. You just settle in and don’t you worry."
Mrs. Tang immediately objected. She paused, then pointed to Little Tang Mo’s room. "You’ll stay in this room with me. It’s Momo’s room, we’ll have him sleep with his father."
With that, Mrs. Tang led Qin Shanshan into the second bedroom, carrying her luggage inside as well.
Tang Yuanxiao frowned, about to say something, but his mother completely ignored him.
"Where’s Momo? I miss him. Tangyuan, hurry and bring him back."
And that was how Little Tang Mo was brought home by Tang Yuanxiao.
He also lost any chance to contact Su Li.
By the time Tang Yuanxiao brought him back, his room was already completely unrecognizable.
The joyful smile that lit up Little Tang Mo’s face upon seeing his grandmother was instantly extinguished the moment he saw Qin Shanshan.
With no time to feel happy, Little Tang Mo quickly gathered his belongings and moved them into the master bedroom.
"Oh, my precious little sweetheart, you’ve gotten so thin again."
After the brief flurry of activity, Mrs. Tang finally had a chance to hug Little Tang Mo and fuss over him.
"He was sick before," Tang Yuanxiao explained.
"How did he get sick?" Mrs. Tang’s face was filled with distress.
Little Tang Mo shook his head forcefully, trying not to think about the image of his grandmother hanging herself. "I’m okay now, but Dad’s hand still isn’t healed."
He turned to Tang Yuanxiao. "Dad, don’t you need to put medicine on your hand?"
Mrs. Tang was shocked again. "Tangyuan, you’re injured!" fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Qin Shanshan’s expression changed drastically. "Where are you injured?"
"It’s nothing, just a small injury on my hand. It’s almost better. It’ll be fully healed in a couple of days," Tang Yuanxiao said nonchalantly.
"Let me see." Mrs. Tang insisted, worried, but Tang Yuanxiao, conscious of Qin Shanshan’s presence, wouldn’t let her. freeweɓnovel.cøm
Since Qin Shanshan was staying over, Tang Yuanxiao didn’t sleep at home that night.
"I won’t be sleeping here tonight. Caihua is an unmarried woman, so it would be improper for me to stay. I’ll just go to the on-call room at work."
No matter how his mother tried to stop him, Tang Yuanxiao left anyway.
Because of his mother’s insistence, and to repay the debt of Qin Shanshan saving her life, Tang Yuanxiao eventually did as she asked. He tried to get her a job as a substitute teacher at the elementary school.
Qin Shanshan had her high school diploma and was a good candidate in many respects. Since it was rare for Tang Yuanxiao to ask for a favor, the school eventually, if reluctantly, accepted her.
The school had a dormitory, and though Mrs. Tang was against it, Qin Shanshan eventually moved in.
There was no other choice. For the couple of days that Qin Shanshan had stayed with them, Tang Yuanxiao hadn’t slept at home once, opting for his office instead.
Everyone in the family residential compound was completely bewildered.
Mrs. Tang had shown up unexpectedly, created a scene with a suicide attempt, and then left. Now, a month later, she was back with a young woman she claimed was her savior.
Meanwhile, the daughter-in-law, Su Li, had completely vanished.
Even though Su Li was gone, many people in the compound remembered the credit she had earned last time. They couldn’t help but try to probe for information.
Mrs. Tang had already decided she no longer wanted Su Li as her daughter-in-law. Whenever anyone asked about Su Li, she refused to answer. But if they asked about Qin Shanshan, she would call her a savior and sing her praises.
Mrs. Tang wasn’t causing a scene like last time. She wasn’t badmouthing Su Li, asking Tang Yuanxiao about her, or looking for trouble. She just constantly invited Qin Shanshan over to their home.
