Chapter 169: The Warmth of Family
Chapter 169: Chapter 169: The Warmth of Family
The happy moments always pass by too quickly. Just after acknowledging the Chen Family relatives, Fu Xiaoxiao had to get ready to head back with Lu Lin and Lu Chen.
"Are you leaving? Could you not go..."
"Big Sis, what will we do without you..."
"I’ll miss you guys, you must remember us forever..."
"Wah, I’ll miss you too, make sure to write to us..."
Fu Xiaoxiao looked at the three little ones hugging and crying together. Although Lu Lin was also being held, at least he controlled his expression and didn’t cry as messily as the other three.
To the unknowing eye, it might seem like they were singing a farewell song of life and death!
Fu Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh and suddenly felt like she was the wicked witch tearing them apart, forcing them to separate.
"Xiaoxiao, once you return, make sure to write to us!" The Chen Family looked at Fu Xiaoxiao. Though the time together wasn’t long, they really liked her.
"Mm, I will." Fu Xiaoxiao nodded with a smile.
"Where’s Mom?" Chen Hao had borrowed a donkey cart to send Fu Xiaoxiao and the others to the town, but upon returning, he didn’t see Li Yanan.
"Mom just disappeared somewhere." Chen Xiu looked around. Li Yanan was here just moments ago, but now she was nowhere to be found.
"Xiaoxiao and the others are leaving soon, where could Mom have gone?" Chen Hao was puzzled as he helped Fu Xiaoxiao lift Lu Lin and Lu Chen onto the cart.
Fu Xiaoxiao got onto the cart and sat down. Chen Xiu held Fu Xiaoxiao’s hand, reluctant to let go. "You must write to me when you get back! If you are wronged, don’t be like me and keep silent; if anything happens, we’ll back you up!"
"Okay." Fu Xiaoxiao nodded with a smile.
"Dad, where’s Mom?" Everyone looked at Chen Chuan, as Fu Xiaoxiao was already seated, and if Li Yanan didn’t return soon, they would have to leave.
"Wait." Chen Chuan glanced at Fu Xiaoxiao, knowing that Li Yanan must have gone off for something, hoping she could wait a bit.
Fu Xiaoxiao nodded, deciding to wait for Li Yanan.
The family stayed with Fu Xiaoxiao, waiting for Li Yanan, and before long, an out-of-breath Li Yanan came running back.
"Oh, thank goodness I made it back in time." Li Yanan was carrying a big bag, panting heavily.
"Mom, where did you go? A bit later, Xiao Xiao would have left." Chen Hao looked at the bag behind Li Yanan and stepped forward to help her take it down.
"Xiaoxiao, our village doesn’t have anything valuable, these are just some mountain goods for you to take back to the army to eat." Li Yanan stepped forward and said to Fu Xiaoxiao.
"Godmother, I can’t accept this. You’ve already spent so much today." Fu Xiaoxiao knew that today’s acknowledgment feast, inviting the villagers to share a meal, must have cost a lot.
"Silly girl, these are just some mountain goods, not worth much! Alright, you know I don’t like to nag, take it!" Li Yanan shoved them directly into Fu Xiaoxiao’s hands, not allowing her to refuse.
"Once you finish eating them, write to us and let me know, I’ll send you more." Li Yanan smiled at Fu Xiaoxiao.
Looking at the bag full of items, tears welled up in Fu Xiaoxiao’s eyes. "Thank you all."
"Silly sister, why are you crying again? We’re all family, no tears now." Chen Shi smiled at Fu Xiaoxiao. "When Xiu’er went to the army back then, Mom prepared four or five bags! Yours must be because Mom didn’t have enough time to gather more."
Truly, no one knows a mother like her daughter! Chen Shi was right; Li Yanan indeed went to gather goods.
Fu Xiaoxiao got off the cart and hugged them all goodbye.
"Then I won’t say thank you." Fu Xiaoxiao smiled at them.
"Let’s go! If we delay any further, we’ll miss the train!" Chen Xiu, despite her reluctance, knew time was running out, fearing Fu Xiaoxiao would miss it.
"Missing it might mean you’ll have to come back right away." Li Yanan looked at Fu Xiaoxiao; this poor girl just experienced family unity and now had to leave again.
Fu Xiaoxiao chuckled and sat back on the donkey cart. Chen Hao checked the time. "Hold on tight! Let’s go!"
"You brat, slow down a bit, don’t jostle Xiaoxiao." Watching the donkey cart depart, Li Yanan shouted.
"Goodbye~" Lu Lin and Lu Chen stood and waved desperately. Fu Xiaoxiao shielded them and also stretched out a hand to wave goodbye.
The Chen Family stood at the door, watching them until they vanished around the bend.
"Mom, from which family did you borrow from? In the morning we already borrowed as much as we can." Chen Ze looked at Li Yanan and asked.
"The Wu Family." Li Yanan glanced at Chen Ze and said softly.
Chen Xiu was taken aback.
Li Yanan glanced at Chen Xiu and pursed her lips. "I heard the sound of a child crying at their house. Last time, Xiaoxiao asked me and mentioned some things about the Wu Family..."
"Mom, hasn’t he already married? Are you still thinking of introducing him to Xiu’er?" Chen Shi looked at Li Yanan. He did have feelings for Chen Xiu in the past, but now isn’t he already married?
"His wife passed away, leaving behind a child. The other side doesn’t want them." Li Yanan replied.
"I wasn’t planning to introduce him to Xiu’er, rather, it was my misunderstanding of that young man back then. I thought the kid lacked ambition, but it turns out I misjudged. The one I thought unworthy was actually working hard for Xiu’er..." Li Yanan sighed. At the time, she misunderstood the young man from the Wu Family due to some events.
Otherwise, given his devotion to Xiu’er, he would never let Xiu’er be wronged.
She meticulously picked Li Si, causing her daughter to endure years of emotional abuse from Li Si. She wanted to make amends.
"Mom, don’t blame yourself. Without Li Si, there could have been other men. It’s already a missed chance, and I don’t want to get married again." Chen Xiu understood her mother was blaming herself for marrying her off to Li Si, not expecting Li Si to be the type of man he turned out to be.
"I discussed it with Xiaoxiao last night as well. It’s enough for me to live my life raising two kids! Bringing them up is my wish." Unlike Li Yanan, Chen Xiu, once she moved on, never thought about going back to being with Li Si. She previously wanted to return because of the two kids.
Now that the kids are with her, she decided to raise them well, providing them a safe haven, and that will be enough.
"Mom, I also support Xiu’er not remarrying. She’s raising two kids; no man would want to help raise them, and do you want to send them back to the Li Family?" Chen Ya hugged Chen Xiu and said to Li Yanan.
"Alright." Seeing everyone agree, Li Yanan decided not to dwell on it further.
As everyone dispersed, Chen Xiu went back to her room and suddenly came running out with something.
"Mom, it seems this is what Xiaoxiao left behind." Chen Xiu came out holding a letter, and Li Yanan took it.
"This silly girl left us money, she said it’s for our retirement and that we can’t refuse it." Li Yanan looked at the money that fell out from the envelope, feeling helpless.
Seeing that Fu Xiaoxiao left more money than they gave, the Chen Family exchanged glances and joked.
"Mom, your old fox is no match for the little fox..."
"...Who knew the little fox was so endearing."
Looking at the money in her hand, Li Yanan truly felt helpless, and thinking of Fu Xiaoxiao’s background, she felt that such a good girl was truly not appreciated by the Fu Family, who failed to cherish her.