Chapter 607 - 606: A Formidable Partner?

In this era, it was customary for the bride’s side to prepare a dowry.

These preparations should have been handled by Miao Fenghua, but it was completely impossible to count on her.

Last time, after Zhao Wenming’s report, he had morally blackmailed Su Li into signing a support agreement. However, due to Su Dan’s actions, the support payments had now been stopped.

Having grown accustomed to receiving money every month, she found it utterly unacceptable that the payments had suddenly stopped.

But no matter how much of a scene Miao Fenghua and Su Dan made, the support payments remained suspended. They no longer held the moral high ground, and if they dared to cause trouble, they would be met with Police Fang’s stern face.

During this time, Miao Fenghua hated Su Li to the bone, wishing she could just strangle this "ungrateful wretch." Expecting her to prepare a dowry for Su Li would be like waiting for the sun to rise in the west.

When Su Li first married Tang Yuanxiao, Miao Fenghua hadn’t prepared any dowry either. If Mr. Su hadn’t prepared some things for Su Li in advance, Miao Fenghua would have loved nothing more than to pocket the betrothal gift and send Su Li to the Tang Family empty-handed.

Miao Fenghua was unwilling to spend a single cent on Su Li. Even if Su Li gave her money to prepare the dowry, she would have just pocketed it.

Ultimately, Miao Fenghua only doted on Su Dan, even when he beat her so badly that her bruises hadn’t yet faded.

For Su Li, to put it bluntly, having a mother like that was worse than having no mother at all.

Wu Qihua and Wu Sheng were well aware of Su Li’s situation, and Grandma Wu and his younger aunt knew a fair bit as well. So, knowing that no one was helping Su Li prepare her dowry, they stepped in to help.

Their thinking was simple: Su Li was one of them now. In the future, they would be her in-laws, but they would also be her maternal family.

Their affection for Wu Sheng naturally extended to Su Li, whom they were already fond of. But after what happened with Wu Xia, Grandma Wu and his younger aunt were especially grateful to her.

Wu Xia was the most grateful of all, and she threw herself into the preparations, working harder than anyone.

Yes, Wu Xia had also returned home for the New Year.

In the past, a woman who had "married" but then returned home—especially without an official marriage certificate, meaning it wasn’t a legal marriage—would have been the subject of gossip, particularly when the Zou Family remained completely silent on the matter.

Whatever the reason, this sort of thing would have been even worse for Wu Xia, who already carried the stigma of being a "husband-jinx."

In such circumstances, the old Wu Xia would never have returned home, or at least would have stayed away for a couple of years.

But this time, Wu Xia came back anyway.

She had completely transformed. Her character had matured and strengthened, and she gradually stopped caring what outsiders said.

Su Li and her classmates were about to graduate, so Chang E and the other part-time student workers had to leave one by one. The Love Reading Bookstore’s tradition of hiring work-study students remained, but now, the main Love Reading store and its first branch were both managed by Wu Xia.

She managed everything in perfect order and was already preparing to open a second branch...

In short, the once gentle and shy Wu Xia had become a budding elite out in the world.

Back home, however, while her demeanor had changed, she reverted to the quiet, shy, and diligent Wu Xia of old. It didn’t seem the least bit strange to see her with her head bowed, focused on her needlework.

Grandma Wu, the younger aunt, and Wu Xia were as busy as bees with their needlework, chatting and laughing all the while.

Su Li, on the other hand, was completely flustered.

She was so moved, yet so flustered and shy.

"...We aren’t really sure what’s popular in the city or what patterns you like, but Wu Xia knows a little, so we had her help pick them out."

The younger aunt and Grandma Wu chatted away with Su Li, their hands never ceasing their work. Soon, just like old times, they began to gossip idly.

Su Li listened with a faint blush, the corners of her mouth twitching into a smile.

It had been a long time since she’d last visited, but upon her return, though the season had changed, that feeling of serene, quiet days remained the same.

With a wonderful feeling in her heart, Su Li stayed in Wu Family Village for five days—not too long, not too short, about the same as her visit last summer.

After being brought along, Tang Mo, just like last time, followed Wu Sheng and the other village kids and got a rare chance to be mischievous.

By the time Su Li was ready to leave, besides the new cotton quilts they were making, Grandma Wu and the others were also talking about duck-down duvets and wool blankets. She heard they were planning to prepare at least two of each for her...

’Just look at all this,’ she thought. ’It feels like enough bedding to last twenty years, no problem.’

For the next few days, the number "twenty" was stuck in Su Li’s head. Later, a song uncontrollably popped into her mind.

During her last two days there, she couldn’t help but hum a line from it whenever she had a free moment.

"I really can live for another five hundred years..."

Singing was one thing, but Su Li’s heart was truly warm.

She had felt this warmth for the few days she’d been back; it was a wonderfully comforting feeling.

’How should I put it?’ she mused. ’Every time I come back to Wu Family Village, I experience a new kind of warmth.’

As Su Li began her journey back, her heart filled with these complex emotions, she was so reluctant to leave that she kept looking back. Wu Sheng couldn’t help but laugh at her.

"Look at you. You’re acting more like a daughter of the Wu Family than an actual one." He added, "Even Wu Xia isn’t this reluctant to go."

Su Li shot Wu Sheng a glare, feeling a twinge of playful envy.

’He’s so lucky,’ she thought, ’to have such a wonderful family.’

You always cherish what you lack the most. Since Su Li had never had a warm family like Grandma Wu’s, she treasured it dearly.

She had never been lucky with relatives, especially not with her mother, but fate had finally compensated her by letting her meet Wu Sheng.

Meeting Wu Sheng, Wu Qihua, Grandma Wu, and his younger aunt—her in-laws who stepped up to be her maternal family and prepare her dowry—was the best compensation she could have asked for.

’A family like this... is really wonderful.’

As this thought crossed Su Li’s mind, she couldn’t help but say, "I’m so glad I met you."

’Even if it weren’t for Wu Sheng himself, I’d be happy to love him just for his family,’ she thought.

’And besides, Wu Sheng himself is... also pretty great.’

Lost in these thoughts, Su Li returned to the Imperial City in a wonderful mood.

Back in the Imperial City, Su Li took a day off before returning to work.

Wu Sheng, of course, didn’t even take a break and dove straight back into his work.

After returning from the New Year holiday, everyone was in high spirits. At the TV station, they all threw themselves back into their work with renewed vigor.

Li Anna seemed to have come into some good fortune, as she was looking particularly radiant. She even brought gifts for everyone at work, including Su Li. When she gave Su Li her gift, she offered a rare, unprecedented smile.

Su Li was almost hesitant to accept it. Her colleagues, of course, also found it extremely strange.

Li Anna couldn’t stand Su Li. Whatever the truth behind their previous conflict, the whole affair had been ugly.

These days, Su Li was flourishing as a reporter, while Li Anna was also enjoying great success as a host. They should have been able to stay in their own lanes.

But everyone knew the two didn’t get along. Li Anna suddenly smiling was far more terrifying than her usual cold indifference.

"What’s going on?"

"Did something good happen to her, or is she plotting something wicked?"

Anyone with half a brain could see Li Anna was scheming. Within the circle of reporters, who were closer to Su Li, everyone started guessing.

"I don’t know what’s up, but Su Li, you should be careful."

"I heard Li Anna met someone influential, or maybe she got an impressive boyfriend. In any case, it seems like something good for her."

Su Li listened to the gossip but didn’t imagine it had anything to do with her.