Free Web NovelChapter 316: Chapter 316: Celebrating the New Year
After Wu Sheng left that last time, he didn’t come home.
And it was certain he wouldn’t be coming home for the New Year.
Because... the selection had begun.
This closed-door selection was for none other than the "devil training" that Tang Yuanxiao had previously signed up for.
Besides Tang Yuanxiao, there were hundreds of colleagues from all over Huaguo.
They were among the best and the brightest, yet upon arriving here, they all had to start from scratch.
The selection training lasted for one month, and its harshness and cruelty could only be described as hellish.
Over a hundred people faced elimination at any moment throughout the process, with only the ten who endured to the very end remaining.
If more than ten people made it to the end, the selection would be run all over again.
If no one made it to the end, then everyone would be eliminated.
This closed-door selection officially began on the first day of the Lunar New Year and lasted for a month. Those who passed would then participate in the devil training in March.
Thus, this selection was also known as the pre-devil training.
Wu Sheng was the one in charge.
He had been in charge for two years. The program was becoming more refined and more perfect, and also more ruthless.
This was part of the reason why Wu Sheng was known as "the Devil" behind his back.
Wu Sheng had unleashed his demonic side and plunged into his work, fated to miss the New Year’s celebration.
This had happened many times in previous years, so Wu Qihua was used to it.
Her parents had already passed away, and relatives and friends had grown distant because of what happened back then. Plus, Grandma Wu’s hometown was too far to visit every year.
Previously, whenever Wu Sheng was away for the New Year, she would have to figure out somewhere to go, or at least how to not look so pitiful, just to keep the neighbors from worrying.
In any case, it was always quite lonely and frustrating.
But this year, Wu Qihua didn’t have to worry anymore, because she now had a future daughter-in-law!
They weren’t formally engaged yet, but it was only a matter of time.
With Wu Sheng away, it was the perfect chance for them to get together so neither would be lonely.
With that in mind, Wu Qihua took it upon herself to go find Su Li on New Year’s Eve.
She didn’t call beforehand; she just showed up directly.
Hearing the knock, Su Li first asked who it was, as she always did.
"It’s me, Su Li. Wu Sheng’s mother."
Hearing Wu Qihua’s voice, Su Li froze for a second before scrambling to open the door, a look of disbelief on her face.
"Auntie, please, come in."
A slight panic flickered across Su Li’s face. "Did something happen?"
Wu Qihua shook her head. "No, nothing’s wrong. It’s just New Year’s... New Year’s Eve. I came to spend it with you."
Su Li was completely flabbergasted. ’Spend it with me?!’
"I should have called you first. I must have startled you, didn’t I?" Wu Qihua said, a little embarrassed.
She had asked Su Li for her address last time and confirmed it with Wu Sheng, so she came right over.
"Not at all, not at all! Please, come in." Su Li hurriedly ushered her inside. "Please have a seat. I haven’t really tidied up."
She generally kept the house clean, but without a special effort to tidy up, it could still look a little messy.
"It’s not messy at all! It’s very neat," Wu Qihua said, looking around. She liked it a lot.
’It’s so cozy and clean.’
"Have some water." Su Li quickly poured her a glass.
Just as Su Li finished pouring the water, the door to Little Tang Mo’s room opened, and he appeared at the doorway with a puzzled expression.
Su Li glanced back and quickly beckoned to him. "Little Mo, come say hello to... to Grandma Wu."
’Oh my, Wu Qihua looks so young! She doesn’t look like a grandmother at all!’
But to avoid messing up the generational titles, she had no choice.
"Auntie, this is Tang Mo. I call him Little Mo."
Little Tang Mo walked over and gave Wu Qihua a small bow. "Grandma Wu."
"Oh, what a good boy." Wu Qihua’s eyes lit up when she saw Little Tang Mo. She nodded with a smile. "He’s adorable."
As she spoke, her fingers began to rub together unconsciously.
’Oh, whenever I see pudgy little cheeks like these, I just want to give them a pinch! He’s too cute!’
Afraid she would scare Little Tang Mo on their first meeting, Wu Qihua barely managed to control herself.
"Little Mo, I’m your Uncle Wu Sheng’s mother. I’m here to spend the New Year with you two."
Little Tang Mo nodded. "Okay, Grandma Wu."
Wu Qihua had come to Su Li’s home to sincerely invite her to celebrate the New Year together. Su Li had two choices:
One was to celebrate with the Wu Family, the other was to celebrate with the Su Family.
As for Wu Qihua, she was fine celebrating anywhere, as long as they were together and she could eat Su Li’s cooking.
Of course, Wu Qihua wouldn’t admit that half the reason she was so enthusiastic was that she was craving Su Li’s food.
With a future mother-in-law like Wu Qihua personally coming to claim her, even Ling Zhen had to beat a hasty retreat and step aside.
Wu Qihua’s invitation was so sincere and heartfelt that in the end, Su Li and Little Tang Mo agreed to spend the New Year with her.
On New Year’s Eve, they ultimately decided to go to the Wu Family’s home.
This was because Wu Qihua had to make offerings to her late parents. If they celebrated at Su Li’s place, she would have to go home and start cooking all over again.
Wu Qihua was a terrible cook by nature, but she always insisted on personally preparing the offerings for the ancestors herself.
They might not look perfect, and they might not taste very good, but she made every single one with her own hands.
Wu Qihua was an easy-going person, so after having lunch at Su Li’s house, they all went back to the Wu residence together.
This time, on their way back, Wu Qihua made quite a scene, holding her head up high as if to let all the neighbors in the alley see that she wasn’t pitiful this year—she had her future daughter-in-law with her!
Little Tang Mo went with them. When people asked, Wu Qihua explained that he was adopted by Su Li.
The neighbors didn’t know the whole story, but seeing how fond Wu Qihua was of Little Tang Mo, they didn’t say much or gossip about it.
These were matters that everyone would naturally find out about later, if and when the Wu Family decided to talk about them.
Wu Qihua had already bought all the food for the New Year’s celebration long ago, so the afternoon passed with idle chatter and food preparation.
The next-door neighbors dropped by to visit and chat. The friendly and close-knit neighborhood atmosphere was a rare thing.
Ever since witnessing Su Li’s culinary skills, Wu Qihua didn’t dare try to show off her meager talents in front of a master. She obediently and consciously acted as Su Li’s assistant.
After that, she would just play with Little Tang Mo.
Wu Qihua had grown very fond of Little Tang Mo, but the feeling wasn’t exactly mutual for him.
In just half a day, he got a small taste of the helplessness Wu Sheng must have felt all those years ago.
The New Year’s Eve dinner had to be a feast, so Su Li spent a rather long time in the kitchen. When she finally came out and saw Little Tang Mo, she burst out laughing.
"Mom!" Little Tang Mo, who now had two small pigtails tied in his hair, exclaimed speechlessly.
Little Tang Mo’s hair was short, so the two pigtails stuck out like two little horns, making him reach a whole new level of adorable.
"Isn’t it cute? Isn’t it cute, Su Li?" Wu Qihua asked eagerly from the side.
Alright, so after holding back all afternoon, she finally couldn’t resist and unleashed her mischievous hands.
Su Li had never thought of putting Little Tang Mo’s hair in pigtails before. Seeing it now, she was almost overwhelmed by the cuteness.
She nodded vigorously. "It’s adorable! So adorable! We should take a picture to remember this."
Su Li started patting herself down, trying to find her phone, but alas... she didn’t have one.
"I really need to buy a camera, and maybe keep it with me at all times," Su Li said, slapping her forehead with infinite regret.
"I have a camera!" Wu Qihua immediately stood up to go get it.
Little Tang Mo: "..."
’Why does my future suddenly seem so bleak?’
’Mom, you’ve changed! You weren’t this kind of mom before!’
