But Wu Yanyun was unlike any of them.
Wu Dalong and Wu Erlong were a bit shy, hiding behind Wu Yanyun, afraid to address anyone, and quietly sizing up Ni Yang.
"This sister is so pretty, even prettier than our own older sister!"
Ni Yang then said, "Yanyun, my home is nearby. Why don’t you bring your two brothers over to play?" Every time she saw Wu Yanyun, she felt a sense of affection, which is why she invited Wu Yanyun to visit her home.
Moreover, Wu Yanyun didn’t resemble her parents, while one brother resembled their father and the other resembled their mother. Given that Wu Yanyun’s parents were also from Haicheng City, Ni Yang even now harbored a bold suspicion!
Wu Yanyun was worried about her family, "I can’t today, my mom is waiting for the soy sauce and salt I need to bring back for cooking."
Ni Yang took Wu Yanyun’s wrist directly, "Come on, come on. My mother and I have only been in Beijing for two years and don’t have many friends. Your brothers and you visiting us would certainly make my parents and my grandparents very happy. It’s just after three now, still early for cooking."
Ni Yang’s enthusiasm made it hard for Wu Yanyun to refuse.
The Zheng family’s place wasn’t far; it was a mere five-minute walk away.
Standing in front of the glittering and splendid villa, Wu Yanyun was extremely shocked.
She had passed by this villa every day on her way to school but had never thought that Ni Yang actually lived here.
Wu Dalong and Wu Erlong were also very surprised, tugging at Wu Yanyun’s sleeve quietly, "Big sister, this place is so beautiful."
The villa had servants, and the décor was luxurious, which made Wu Yanyun feel somewhat restrained. Although she wasn’t dirty, she was wearing patched clothes, even the servants of the Zheng family wore better than her.
Fortunately, the Zheng family’s servants were all well-mannered, without any hint of a strange look, and Ni Yang didn’t look down on her, keeping her arm linked with Wu Yanyun’s the whole walk over.
The butler brought over several plates of exquisite pastries and beverages.
Ni Yang asked, "Where’s my mom?"
"Madam is upstairs," the butler replied.
"Oh." Ni Yang nodded and then encouraged Wu Yanyun and her two brothers to eat the snacks and drink the beverages.
Wu Yanyun still restrained herself, while her two brothers were happily eating.
"Yanyun, no need to be so tense, make yourself at home here. Actually, we’ve only just moved into this place ourselves. A year ago, it wasn’t even our house," Ni Yang started the conversation willingly.
"Ah? Why?" Wu Yanyun was curious.
Picking up two pastries, one for herself and passing one to Wu Yanyun, Ni Yang began to tell Wu Yanyun about Ni Cuihua’s background.
Wu Yanyun listened in amazement, "Oh my! I feel like I’m reading one of Aunty Jingyao’s novels!"
Aunty Jingyao’s tragic novels were very popular during that time, and Wu Yanyun had read them too.
Ni Yang said, "Life is not like a novel. My mother and I only started to have better days in the past two years. Before that, we were living in Dam Village. Our grandmother valued boys over girls. Right after my mother had a few sisters, she was thrown behind the mountain to feed the wolves. We decided to come to Beijing only when we couldn’t go on living like that. Thinking back on that life now, it feels like a dream."
Ni Yang wasn’t someone who talked incessantly, and she rarely mentioned her past to others. She did so this time because she had her doubts.
Besides, these things weren’t secrets. Even if things weren’t as she thought, it wouldn’t matter if Wu Yanyun came to know them.
Wu Yanyun listened in amazement, "How could your grandmother do such a thing?"
Although Grandma Wu didn’t like her very much, Wu Yanyun had never entertained the idea of being discarded by her.
That was too horrifying!
Who does such a thing to their own granddaughter?
Ni Yang smiled bitterly and shook her head, "There was nothing I could do about having such a grandmother. I was young at the time, and my mother had just given birth; we had no way to stand up to her. I don’t even know if those sisters of mine are dead or alive now."
Wu Yanyun sighed, "Yangyang, don’t worry, maybe your sisters are fortunate and still alive." As she spoke these words, Wu Yanyun herself lacked confidence; newborn babies had no capability to survive, and having been thrown so far away, the likelihood of living was slim.
Just then, Ni Cuihua came downstairs, "Yangyang, do we have visitors?"
"Mom," Ni Yang stood up quickly to introduce Wu Yanyun.
"Hello Aunty," Wu Yanyun was a polite and well-mannered child as well.
Ni Cuihua smiled and said, "Please sit, don’t be formal here. Just treat it like your own home."