Sheng Shiwu had planned to join Gu Jiaojiao for dinner at the Su family’s house, but after overhearing the local gossip, he hastily said his goodbyes and headed home.

After Sheng Shiwu was out of earshot, Gu Jiaojiao asked quizzically, "Su Shuochi, since when have Sheng Yueyue and Sheng Shiwen gotten so close?"

"What do you mean, darling? Haven’t those two always been close?"

"They’re usually close, but not *this* close. Didn’t you hear what everyone was saying? Sheng Yueyue threatened to jump off a building just to force her dad to make me visit Sheng Shiwen in the hospital."

"It’s obvious. She’s definitely plotting some new way to torment you. This has nothing to do with her being close to Sheng Shiwen!"

"You’re right! Su Shuochi, you’re so sharp. You figured it out just like that."

"Don’t doubt it, darling. There’s something wrong with that Sheng Yueyue. She has to compete with you for everything and absolutely can’t stand to see you doing better than her."

"That’s pretty normal, isn’t it? Most people want their friends and family to do well.

But very few hope the people they know do *better* than them. Most are just too concerned with appearances to be as obvious about it as Sheng Yueyue."

"Really? I want everyone around me to do well," Su Shuochi said, turning to look at Gu Jiaojiao.

"I said ’most people,’ and you’re not most people. Besides, is there anyone around you right now who’s doing better than you are?~"

"Truly, no one can compare to my Jiaojiao. Having you by my side makes me feel so happy. When you put it that way, what you said does make some sense, darling."

The couple chatted all the way to their doorstep, not paying much mind to the gossip.

After all, the drama surrounding Sheng Yueyue was the same old story every day. She acted as if she was special because she was "reborn" and looked down on everyone.

’She offends people without even realizing it, and probably even feels smug about it!’

"Jiaojiao, Chi, you’re back! Your mother has dinner ready. I just pumped some water, so hurry up, wash your hands, and eat."

"Thanks, Dad. Why don’t you take that water inside for Mom? We can pump our own."

"Alright, I’ll head in then," Mr. Su said, carrying a bucket of water inside.

"Jiaojiao, come wash your hands. I’ll pump the water for you."

"Thanks~"

After washing their hands, the couple went inside and saw the table laden with several dishes, nearly all of which were Gu Jiaojiao’s favorites.

"Dad, Mom, I’ll call Gao Xiangming later to take you to the new house to sleep."

"Chi, we’ve moved back in. Besides, Chun Ni is starting school soon anyway."

"That works too. We can all celebrate the New Year together at the new house," Gu Jiaojiao said as she started clearing the table.

"Sister-in-law, let me get that. Why don’t you go have some tea with Mom and Dad?"

"Qin Chun, you’re so thoughtful. Not only are you pretty, but you’re also so hardworking. Have you earned enough for your tuition lately?"

Gu Jiaojiao genuinely disliked washing dishes, so her praise for Su Qinchun was sincere.

"More than enough. I’ve even saved two hundred yuan. It’s all thanks to you, Sister-in-law."

Su Qinchun beamed. She was saving money to buy clothes for her future little nephew or niece.

Last month, she and her mother had bought several outfits and mailed them back to their hometown for her older sister and her children.

’I wonder if my sister has received them yet, and if she’ll be happy. She should be, right? After all, the clothes were beautiful and weren’t cheap.’

Gu Jiaojiao was about to offer a few more polite words when the phone in the living room rang. Mr. Su, sitting nearby, casually picked it up.

"Hello, who is this for?"

"Dad, it’s Dongcao! Are you doing so well now that you can’t even recognize your own daughter’s voice?"

"Dongcao! Do you need something?"

Mr. Su was puzzled. ’How was I supposed to recognize her voice when she hadn’t even said anything when I first asked who was calling?’

"Dad, why would you ask that? Can’t I call just because? I just got back from work and haven’t even eaten yet. I came straight to the brigade headquarters to call Mom."

"Then you can talk to your mother."

Sensing a certain excitement in his eldest daughter Su Dongcao’s voice, Mr. Su didn’t overthink it and quickly handed the phone to his wife. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Dongni, did you get the clothes and money Mom sent? Do you like the outfits?"

"Mom, why on earth did you buy clothes? You should have just sent the money instead. There’s no way I can wear that dress out!"

Su’s mother was speechless.

"Mom, is my brother better now? You said in your letter that some Divine Doctor could cure him. So where’s this Divine Doctor? Can you get him to come to our home and treat my father-in-law’s eyes and my mother-in-law’s back...?"

"Dongni, the Divine Doctor probably doesn’t have time to travel to our old hometown, and your brother hasn’t had his surgery yet."

"How could the Divine Doctor not have time? We don’t have time right now either. We just finished the summer harvest rush, and there’s still so much farm work to do. How about this: after the autumn harvest, I’ll bring my father-in-law and mother-in-law to visit you."

Su’s mother was speechless again.

"Mom, don’t buy clothes next time, just send me the money directly. And you can send more malted milk powder, too. My mother-in-law really likes it..."

Again, Su’s mother was left speechless.

"Mom, did you get all that? This phone call is expensive, so I’ll hang up. Just send me two hundred yuan tomorrow. And two more jars of malted milk powder... no, make it three... four jars."

Su’s mother clutched the receiver, her whole body trembling with anger. She had only managed to say two sentences before the line went dead.

From start to finish, her daughter hadn’t asked a single question about how they were doing. Instead, she had just rattled off a long list of demands.

She looked awkwardly at her son and daughter-in-law, not knowing how to explain Dongni’s call.

Su Dongcao’s voice was so loud that even without speakerphone, Su Shuochi and Gu Jiaojiao had heard every single word.

Just moments before, Gu Jiaojiao had been feeling touched by Su Qinchun’s diligence and maturity, and by the kindness of Mr. Su and Su’s mother.

Now, here was a prime example of a bizarrely selfish person. It’s understandable for a married daughter to be devoted to her husband’s family.

But for someone like Su Dongcao to completely disregard her own family—to the point where she apparently didn’t even give a single cent as a gift for her own brother’s wedding—was truly going too far.

And now, to open her mouth and just make a string of demands, without even caring if her mother agreed, was more than just excessive.

But Gu Jiaojiao said nothing. She just continued cracking melon seeds, wanting to see how Su’s mother would react.

’Any kind of extreme personality can ruin a person,’ she thought, ’even someone from a prominent family like Sheng Yueyue.’

’She’s just arrogant, but her status allows for it. Yet even at her most arrogant, Sheng Yueyue wouldn’t dare to just go around hitting people.’

"Chi, Jiaojiao, that was our second daughter on the phone, your sister, Su Dongcao."

"Last month, I bought her a few new outfits, and sent them along with one hundred yuan and two jars of malted milk powder."

"Who knew that instead of being grateful, she’d just make such outrageous demands? It makes me not even want to have her as a daughter anymore... WAHHH..."

It was the first time Su’s mother had ever broken down and sobbed in front of her son and daughter-in-law. Even when her son had no hope of ever walking again, she had remained strong and never cried.

"Mom, you mentioned this on the phone before, and I didn’t have any objections then. Don’t blame yourself or be upset. Since she doesn’t appreciate it, just give her the cold shoulder for a while. Ignore her."