In the end, with a significant debt, years would go by with no choice but to live in a world where one is constantly pursued by creditors.
It was a world where one shouldn’t expect to see the sunlight, nor live under it.
Gu Nuan watched as Mrs. Zhao tightly gripped her husband’s hand, holding on firmly.
This grip, more than grasping at a lifeline, was like an elder leading a younger by the hand—with worry, concern, anxiety, unease—fearful of the child straying far.
Mrs. Zhao was very fond of Yebai.
Her husband seemed to be a child with a somewhat solitary and quirky nature, but he was to the taste of certain people. Googlᴇ search 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵
"Your mom—" Mrs. Zhao spoke to Yebai as if to an old friend she had not seen in a long time, rambling on, "has always been generous, preferring to pay people upfront for their services. As a result, many say your mom is a fool. However, no matter what, the facts have proven your mom is right. Out of all the people who had business partnerships with your mom during her career, 99.9% say the most trustworthy person in their life is your mom, the first choice for a business partner, with no other selection than Miss Ruan Ruzhen of the Ruan Family."
Uncharacteristically, Xiao Yebai was extremely reverent, listening intently to Mrs. Zhao’s words. Regarding the anecdotes of his mother’s past, aside from Mrs. Zhao, it was rare for Xiao Jianming at home to discuss them with him. As for Grandmother Xiao, she fundamentally ignored her daughter-in-law, so she could hardly be said to understand her.
"Auntie Zhao—" Xiao Yebai drew his wife’s hand towards him and said, "This is my wife, Gu Nuan."
Gu Nuan didn’t think Mrs. Zhao was unaware of her, not to mention the special relationship between the Xiao and Zhao families. The Zhao family would pay attention to the Xiao family’s every move, and just by how much Mrs. Zhao liked her husband, she would definitely be informed about her husband taking a wife.
Sure enough, when Mrs. Zhao’s gaze fell upon her face, a soft smile appeared on her lips as she said, "I know, I know."
The repetition of the word "know" carried a deep significance.
Gu Nuan couldn’t help but feel a shiver of awe and respect.
"Let’s go inside and talk," Mrs. Zhao said, turning to lead them into the hotel. "You must be exhausted from your long journey here. Zirong and his father left early this morning, and they are unaware you would arrive today; they might not return until this evening. You two should rest up, and we can talk about everything tonight."
Xiao Yebai hurriedly stopped her and said, "Mengjin is also here, in the car behind us; she should be arriving soon."
Hearing her eldest granddaughter had come, Mrs. Zhao was taken aback.
Xiao Yebai felt compelled to offer some explanation: "The plan was to wait until her illness improved before coming, but she was eager to see her family, and I just so happened to have a doctor who could accompany her."
Mrs. Zhao was at a loss for words, not knowing how to react.
Perhaps, Zhao Mengjin herself believed it was all her fault for not having been able to stop her mother from traveling, ultimately leading to such consequences. However, the elders like Mrs. Zhao certainly didn’t see it that way. Zhao Mengjin was just a child; what fault could she have?
If there were any mistakes, they were surely first and foremost the fault of the incompetent parents who had failed to protect their child from being impacted during tough times.
"Her two younger brothers are in the United States," Mrs. Zhao said, her tone ambiguous.
"Does Auntie Zhao think it would have been better for her to go back to the United States?" Xiao Yebai asked.
Finally, Mrs. Zhao uttered a candid response, "I don’t know what to say to that child. I can tell her brothers that a man should not lightly shed tears."