Tian Sangsang thought, she needed to find a place to settle Grandma and Second Aunt.
Passing by the cultural palace, a group of kids learning various arts were pouring out, and Tian Sangsang spotted her son among the crowd.
She could spot him instantly, the best-looking one.
"Wow! Mommy!" The little one was thrilled, hugging her leg tightly.
She picked him up, "Today Mommy’s here to pick you up."
The little guy was delighted.
Not long after, Uncle Wang, the driver, ca with the car, and Tian Sangsang conveniently rode ho.
**
Jiang Jinghuai saw the contents of the trash can in the kitchen as Tian Sangsang happened to enter to start cooking. The two ran into each other. Recently, Jiang Jinghuai and his family had been eating out; Aunt Zhang had been busy making food for Ye Binyi. Tian Sangsang hadn’t been to the shop these days because of poor appetite. When Aunt Zhang cooked, she wouldn’t want to eat, and when she wanted to eat, the food would already be cold, leaving her to cook for herself often—just like now.
"You threw this away?"
Knowing what he was referring to, she replied indifferently, "Yes, it was the food ant for your mom. Since she already ate, I could only toss it out."
She tried to move past him to grab the ingredients, but he gently held her hand: "What did you want to tell this afternoon?"
The spot his hand touched felt like a current had passed through. An unfamiliar touch in a heartbreakingly familiar mont. Finally, he had taken the initiative to ask. Tian Sangsang struggled to hold back tears; it would be too humiliating to shed them now.
Past experience had taught her not to act impulsively, not to let montary emotion drag them both into tornt. She turned her head; he was standing right there. She should tell him, but she couldn’t.
"Nothing." She pulled her hand away and said indifferently, "Right now, nothing is more important than your mom’s wellbeing." Returning his words to him. When I wanted to tell you, you didn’t want to listen. Now that you’re asking, I refuse to say it. Back when you unfairly condemned her without reason, giving her no chance, yes, it was then that you denied your own child.
"Your mom," those three words.
Jiang Jinghuai’s gaze suddenly darkened to sothing terrifying, his icy stare landing on her face: "Do you want to drive my mom to death just to satisfy you, Tian Sangsang?"
"Think whatever you want to accuse of." She sneered coldly, "I’m hungry and need to cook. If you don’t mind the grease and smoke, feel free to stay here."
He stared at her for a mont, then turned and left the kitchen.
**
Grandma Tian stayed in the hospital for three days before her legs could walk as usual.
Tian Sangsang had been unusually sleepy these past days. She found it odd; before she knew she was pregnant, she hadn’t felt tired at all. But ever since learning about the pregnancy, she had started feeling drowsy—was it psychological or subconscious laziness? Though waking up late, she still made daily trips to the hospital to visit Grandma and Second Aunt.
She even secretly went to the fourth floor to see Ye Binyi, but since Hua Jun was with her and Jiang Jinghuai was there too, she imdiately lost the urge to visit. After all, given her mother-in-law’s current condition following the accident, seeing her might provoke an episode. If that led to health complications, she would be blad again.
On the day of discharge, Grandma Tian and Second Aunt, unwilling to trouble Tian Sangsang further, suggested returning to East Sea. The surgical costs, als, hospital stay—all paid for by Tian Sangsang. And it was a luxury ward too; they didn’t dare stay longer nor could they figure out how to repay her, even though she assured them repaynt wasn’t necessary.
Tian Sangsang wasn’t too concerned about money. Her grandmother had fallen ill, and as a granddaughter, if she lacked the ability, that would be one thing; but now that she had the ans, she had to step in—it wasn’t as if she was short on money.
She readily offered, "Second Aunt, although the doctor said Grandma has regained normal movent, she still needs another week of recuperation. After that, make sure to take care every day. Don’t rush to leave just yet. I have a place you can stay for now. Leave after the week is up. If you rush things and there’s a relapse, that money will have been spent in vain."
Hearing about wasted money, Grandma Tian and Second Aunt couldn’t afford to be careless anymore. Moreover, they were curious to et Jiang Jinghuai and assess the man for her, so they agreed.
Tian Sangsang took them to her shop.
The third floor was a storage area, but it didn’t hold much. There were two empty rooms that could accommodate people.
Just standing on the first floor left Grandma Tian stunned, as if her eyes had been dazzled. The items displayed on the shelves were all glittering brightly.
Second Aunt had been gawking around since entering, marveling, "Sangsang, is this the shop you ntioned? It’s so grand! What do you sell here?"
Tian Sangsang understood her personality and didn’t mind her wandering about.
"I sell skincare products. If you want to try them, take a set for yourself. Skincare is the one thing I have in abundance here."
Second Aunt didn’t understand much and fixed her gaze on the label of one small bottle.
She took a sharp intake of breath, "Is this little bottle really fifty-two bucks? What kind of item is worth that much? No way, no way—I won’t waste it!" She waved her hands repeatedly.
In their family, Tian Sangsang was undeniably the most capable. Grandma Tian sighed, "They say Beijing is a great place; I’ve seen it with my own eyes now—it’s nothing like back ho."
"Don’t say that, Grandma." Tian Sangsang helped her up, "In the future, as the economy develops, things will take off everywhere. The country aims to narrow the wealth gap so everyone can live better lives. Our hotown will thrive too."
Grandma Tian knew she wouldn’t live to see that day.
"You’re doing well, unlike Tian Tian. A life of wrongdoing only leads to deserved retribution."
Tian Sangsang hadn’t heard Tian Tian’s na in a long ti. Second Aunt leaned in with gossip: "That girl Tian Tian got pregnant with Chen Ming’s child. At nine months, she went to his house, and his wife was so shocked she had a premature delivery on the spot. They say it nearly turned into disaster—there was so much blood lost—but she managed to survive, giving birth to a feeble child. Chen Ming refused to acknowledge Tian Tian. It’s fortunate Tian Tian didn’t keep bothering him. She said she’d raise the baby on her own, and no one knows where she’s gone since then."
Tian Sangsang listened, feeling mixed emotions.
Tian Sangsang ca back with groceries, and Second Aunt eagerly took them from her. "You go sit down; I’ll cook instead. These last few days doing nothing, I’m nearly bored sick."
"Let help, Second Aunt."
"No need, no need." Second Aunt took it upon herself to handle everything. Since they were staying under soone else’s roof, her conscience wouldn’t allow her to relax. How could she let Tian Sangsang cook? She practically treated her like a princess.
Second Aunt cooked a table full of dishes, stead rice, and enthusiastically served it up: "Sangsang, eat lunch here today. My cooking isn’t anything special—just make do."
Eating food prepared by Second Aunt, Tian Sangsang felt happy. She ended up eating two bowls of rice, so of the dishes, and even finished a bowl of pork rib soup. Second Aunt was startled, watching her eat as if she hadn’t had a proper al in a long ti.
She cautiously remarked, "Sangsang, why are you eating so fast? Slow down."
Tian Sangsang laughed, "It’s been so long since I’ve had ho-style cooking here, and I missed it too much. I couldn’t help but eat more than usual."
Both Second Aunt and Grandma Tian breathed a sigh of relief—it was just nostalgia. They’d worried she wasn’t faring well at her in-laws’ place.
While eating the ribs, Tian Sangsang suddenly felt nauseous and retched a few tis. She put down her bowl and chopsticks, losing her appetite.
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