Free Web NovelChapter 238: Chapter 238: The Eve of the Storm
Su Li was oblivious to the high drama unfolding in the family compound.
She was even more unaware that Mrs. Tang and Qin Shanshan had arrived on her birthday, of all days, during her happiest moments.
She hadn’t heard any news from the compound, and Tang Yuanxiao hadn’t made a point of telling her, so she was completely in the dark about everything.
She continued to live her full and busy life.
Just as Wu Sheng himself had said, he made an exception for her birthday but otherwise kept his word and didn’t come looking for Su Li again.
In between her classes, Su Li helped out at the bookstore and had another meeting with the factory owner about buying the factory.
She kept her head down and stayed busy, waiting for the notice of Tang Yuanxiao’s promotion.
But she didn’t know that a storm was quietly brewing, ready to break.
As November began, the weather grew cooler, and Su Li started wearing the sweater Su Xing had sent her.
Since Su Li had taught her about the yarn business, the diligent Su Xing and Brother-in-law Su were already living a relatively comfortable life from it.
Su Xing was clever with her hands. In addition to what Su Li taught her, she also did her own research.
According to her latest letter to Su Li, business had been even better recently.
They were able to sell the sweaters themselves and no longer needed to sell them through the factory for a commission.
Grateful to Su Li, Su Xing wrote to her and also sent her things she had knitted herself.
Sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, and even socks—a huge package filled to the brim, containing all the heartfelt sentiment she could offer. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Besides the gifts for Su Li, there were also some for Little Tang Mo, just not as many.
When Su Li received the sweater from Su Xing, she was filled with a mix of emotions.
She picked up Little Tang Mo’s portion, touched it, and gave a bitter smile before putting it all away in the wardrobe in Little Tang Mo’s room.
She had prepared a room for Little Tang Mo, but in reality, he had only slept in it for a few nights.
’From now on... there will be even fewer chances.’
Early in November, Su Li met with the factory owner again. They had essentially reached an agreement and were just waiting for the final transaction when news finally came from Tang Yuanxiao’s side.
Tang Yuanxiao contacted Su Li personally, calling her on the phone.
He told Su Li that he would soon be entering a closed selection and training program.
Not to be selected, but to select others.
The research team needed to recruit new members, and as the captain, Tang Yuanxiao was naturally responsible for the selection process.
It would last for half a month and be completely closed off.
He contacted Su Li simply to inform her of this fact.
"...During this half-month, or by the end of it at the latest, the official notice for my promotion will be issued."
Su Li hummed in acknowledgment. "I understand. I’ll wait for your news."
Tang Yuanxiao paused before saying, "You don’t have to worry about Momo. My mom came a few days ago. She’ll take care of him."
Hearing that Mrs. Tang had arrived, Su Li said nothing.
There was nothing for her to say.
Hearing the silence on Su Li’s end, Tang Yuanxiao spoke with difficulty.
"Su Li, don’t worry. I’ll tell her not to go looking for you. If she gives you trouble again, just tell her we’re already divorced. You don’t have to worry about my feelings this time."
He paused. "She hasn’t mentioned you at all these past two days... she probably won’t bother you again."
Su Li finally spoke. "I understand. Since you brought it up, I’ll tell you this."
"If she comes to cause trouble again, I won’t be so polite this time."
Tang Yuanxiao gave a low sound of agreement from his end.
Su Li had nothing more to say, so she said goodbye and hung up.
After that, Su Li’s days continued as usual, without much change.
She didn’t dwell on Mrs. Tang’s arrival. It was perfectly normal for her to come.
It would be for the best if she didn’t cause trouble until she found out about their divorce.
If she dared to make a scene, Su Li wouldn’t hold back.
The day after contacting Su Li, Tang Yuanxiao set off for a distant training and selection base.
"All right, Mom, don’t see me off any further. Take care of yourself, and take care of Momo."
"Okay, you be careful," Mrs. Tang rambled on.
"Brother Tang, you must be careful," Qin Shanshan added from the side.
To an outsider, the scene looked like a harmonious family of three generations, and they might even mistake Qin Shanshan for Tang Yuanxiao’s wife.
"Okay, there’s no more time. I’m leaving." Tang Yuanxiao didn’t respond to Qin Shanshan, glancing at his watch before speaking directly.
"Momo, I’m going now. Be a good boy and listen to your grandma," Tang Yuanxiao said, giving Little Tang Mo one last instruction.
He even squatted down and whispered to Little Tang Mo, telling him not to mention wanting to find Su Li.
He had told Mrs. Tang about this before—that Su Li was busy with classes and wouldn’t be coming to the family compound, and that Mrs. Tang shouldn’t go looking for her either.
Mrs. Tang’s expression was terribly sour, but she didn’t argue.
He only gave this special instruction because he remembered how Little Tang Mo had cried and made a fuss about finding Su Li before.
"I know," Little Tang Mo promised in a low voice.
After seeing Tang Yuanxiao off, the smile on Little Tang Mo’s face vanished.
His grandmother had come, so he should have been happy.
But he couldn’t feel happy at all.
Because Mrs. Tang constantly had Qin Shanshan over. Qin Shanshan didn’t sleep there, but she joined them for every meal.
Little Tang Mo already disliked Qin Shanshan, and he liked her even less this time.
But there was nothing Little Tang Mo could do.
Now that Tang Yuanxiao was gone too, how could Little Tang Mo possibly smile?
"Come on, Momo, Shanshan, have a steamed bun. It’s time for school," Mrs. Tang called to Little Tang Mo and Qin Shanshan.
After eating their buns, Qin Shanshan and Little Tang Mo went to school together.
"Auntie, you don’t have to walk Momo to school. He can just go with me."
"Alright. Momo, listen to your Auntie Shanshan and go to school together," Mrs. Tang agreed with a broad smile.
Little Tang Mo had never been close to Qin Shanshan, so Mrs. Tang wanted them to spend more time together and get familiar with each other.
"I’m leaving, Grandma." Little Tang Mo kept his head down and started walking toward the school, pulling his hand away when Qin Shanshan tried to take it.
A flash of annoyance and impatience crossed Qin Shanshan’s eyes, but her face showed a helpless smile.
Two days after Tang Yuanxiao left, Qin Shanshan had completely moved into the Tang Family home and stopped going back to her dorm.
Although she wasn’t sleeping in the master bedroom yet, she came and went without any sense of being an outsider.
Little Tang Mo’s laughter grew rarer, and he spoke less and less. freewebnσvel.cѳm
「Three days passed just like that, until the weekend.」
Qin Shanshan actually didn’t stay at the Tangs’ place that day; she went shopping for clothes.
She felt the clothes she had brought weren’t nice enough compared to what others in the family compound wore, so she went to buy more.
Mrs. Tang was reluctant to spend money and also had to look after Little Tang Mo, so she didn’t go with her.
With Qin Shanshan gone, Little Tang Mo’s spirits lifted a little. After his afternoon nap, he went out to play with some new friends.
Mrs. Tang joined the other women in the compound, chatting idly while making shoe insoles.
It wasn’t until dinnertime that Mrs. Tang pulled Little Tang Mo back home.
Just as they were about to reach their front door, they ran into a few people.
The man in the lead was an elderly man with graying temples. He was tall and thin but in good spirits, with bright eyes.
He was accompanied by two other elderly men of about the same age, as well as two aides wearing glasses.
"My, my, it hasn’t changed. Not one bit..."
This was a former leader who had come to visit his old stomping grounds before retiring.
He looked around the family compound, overwhelmed with emotion, and his gaze shifted until it suddenly landed on Little Tang Mo.
His eyes fixed on him for two seconds, then he suddenly broke into a smile. "This must be Little Mo’s son, right?"
He sighed. "It’s so wonderful he left a child behind after he passed. I always remembered that clever little devil."
The people behind him exchanged glances and were about to speak, but the old leader had already turned to Mrs. Tang.
"You must be the mother of Little Mo—Mo Jianjun, right? This boy looks just like him. I could tell at a glance."
