(Word Count: 5283)
Hu Xialan had been married to the Han family for more than ten years, and her life had been smooth sailing. The original owner loved her and put her first in everything. Even Han Feiyu and Han Shutao were squeezed out by her. He had hardly asked about them for more than ten years, and only two children, Liu Mingda and Liu Mingkai, were left in the family.
Without the “eye-sore” people, she didn’t have to go to work. She only needed to buy groceries every day, cook a table of delicious food in the evening, and wait for her husband and children to return. The family was happy and harmonious. Over time, she was able to play the role of a gentle and virtuous wife, as if she was really virtuous and gentle.
Hu Xialan thought that even if the gentleness and virtue were fake, after more than ten years of emotional accumulation, it was just a quarrel with the auntie he hired. Han Ze might have some ideas, but the two had an emotional foundation. He would be angry for a few days at most, and she could just coax him.
She never dreamed that Lao Han would move away just because of this. This hit Hu Xialan and she was completely depressed.
Liu Mingda and Wang Peining were also shocked, but they had to go to work, so they could only comfort Hu Xialan casually, leaving the distraught Hu Xialan behind, and hurried to the company worriedly.
All the people in the room had left. The room was terribly quiet. Facing the emptiness in the room, Hu Xialan thought of the sense of dependence when Han Ze was at home. At that time, she had never felt that the house was so empty. He had just moved out, but she felt boundless loneliness. If he didn’t move back, would this still be a home?
She sat alone for a while, picked up the key silently, and walked out of the house. Old Han moved away, but he would always come back. Mingda and Peining were coming back for dinner in the evening, so she had to go out to buy food.
When she got downstairs, she met Sister Liu who had just returned from sending her grandson to kindergarten. Sister Liu saw that Hu Xialan looked listless, so she asked, “I met your old Han yesterday, and he said you were sick. Are you not well yet? Why do you look so listless?”
Hu Xialan curled her lips, feeling cared for, as if she had found someone to complain to. She didn’t even ask how her relationship with this person was, and said dejectedly, “Old Han moved away.”
Sister Liu asked, “Where did he move to? Didn’t you say a few days ago that your old Han’s original son and daughter moved in?”
Hu Xialan sighed and said, “The two children have different habits from us. They don’t like the food I cook. Every time they come, they come to eat they make a fuss at mealtime, and just this morning they called for a car to move back home. Old Han might feel that the children were wronged by us, so he moved with them.”
Sister Liu disapproved, “Old Han’s two children are about the same age as your Mingda, right? Are they still so spoiled?”
Hu Xialan smiled bitterly, her tone extremely helpless, “They grew up with their grandparents since they were young. Their mother is gone, and the two old people felt sorry for the children, so they spoiled them and gave them whatever they wanted. Over time, they developed a stubborn character. Unfortunately, my old Han felt that he had treated them unfairly, and bought his daughter a car worth more than 400,000 yuan a few days ago.”
Sister Liu was very surprised, and she asked, “A car worth more than 400,000 yuan? Did you agree to this?”
Hu Xialan lifted her hair and said softly, “Why not? The money in the family is all earned by Lao Han. He just bought a car for the child, which is nothing. I just feel sorry for Lao Han. He is so old, but he still has to earn money to buy a car for his child. It’s really unbearable.”
Sister Liu looked at her and sighed. She asked, “Since Lao Han bought a car for his own child, your Mingda is getting married. Has he bought a house?”
Hu Xialan shook her head and said, “You also know that my Mingda is hardworking and thrifty. He earns more than 10,000 yuan a month. Lao Han meant that boys should be allowed to work hard and save money to buy a house. Otherwise, how can he bring his girlfriend back every day for food and accommodation. Boya New Garden is so far away from their company. It takes nearly 40 minutes by taxi.”
Sister Liu clicked her tongue a few times and couldn’t help saying, “Are you willing to do this too?”
Hu Xialan looked like an old woman . She looked honest and said, “I have nothing to be unwilling about. I am very satisfied that Old Han helped me raise Mingda and Mingkai. I don’t want to think about other things. Let the children work hard on their own. They can’t rely on their parents for everything, otherwise they will develop a lazy and idle character.”
Sister Liu shook her head and sighed, “You are really good-tempered. If it were me, I would never be able to tolerate it. But you are right. Your Mingda is promising and can buy a house by his own efforts. If he didn’t have a girlfriend, I would want to introduce him to a girlfriend.”
Hu Xialan smiled unnaturally and said, “Although his girlfriend has a little temper, my Mingda likes her, so I like her. I won’t be a mother-in-law who breaks up a couple.”
Sister Liu looked at her and praised again, “You are really good-tempered.”
Hu Xialan smiled and said nothing.
…
After Han Ze moved to the two children’s place, he temporarily put aside Hu Xialan’s affairs and focused all his attention on the procedures for transferring the property rights of the house. Hu Xialan insisted on calling Han Ze every day, begging him to move back, but Han Ze just said, “Let’s talk about it later.”
Hu Xialan was unwilling, but she had no choice. She couldn’t just live in the house of the two kids. The house was given to them by their grandparents. She didn’t think the two kids would be willing to let her live in.
Han Ze worked with Han Feiyu and Han Shutao for a while, and finally transferred all the property rights of the house to the two children. Han Ze didn’t feel anything, but Han Feiyu and Han Shutao looked at the property certificate in their hands, but they were a little stunned. They couldn’t believe that their old man, after ignoring them for more than ten years, actually gave them the house readily. This made them feel like pie fell from the sky.
Even so, Han Shutao still couldn’t help asking, “Dad, you won’t regret it and want the house back, right?”
Han Ze said unhappily, “Your name is on the property certificate, how can I get it back? Even if I change my mind, are you two stupid enough to give me the house?”
Han Shutao snorted, “Once it’s in my hands, it’s mine. Don’t even think about it if you want it back.”
Han Ze glanced at her, “That’s it.”
Han Feiyu smiled and tested him, “Dad, Shutao means that we have four houses, and we should at least leave one for Mingda and Mingkai. If we give them all to us, will Aunt Hu have any ideas?”
Han Ze smiled and said, “You two are just overthinking. What can your Aunt Hu think? She is so virtuous and reasonable. She never covets things that don’t belong to her.”
The brother and sister turned their heads away, not wanting to pay attention to him.
Han Ze didn’t care about their attitudes and continued, “Your Aunt Hu doesn’t have so many calculations, don’t think too badly of her. Mingda and Mingkai have been smart and sensible since they were young, and I originally wanted to give each of them a house in the family.”
At this time, the original body really wanted to give one of the houses in the family to Liu Mingda, and he did give it to him.
The house in Boya New Garden is the largest of the several houses, and he gave it directly to Liu Mingda. This house was allocated after the original body and his ex-wife’s wedding house was demolished. Han Feiyu and his sister had already given up on him as a father. He gave the house allocated after the demolition of their mother’s wedding house to his stepson, and the two children hated him directly.
Han Shutao secretly thought it was a close call, fortunately she thought it through, otherwise wouldn’t the house be given to Liu Mingda and his brother? Now that the house has been in her and her brother’s hands, she is in a very good mood and said with a smile: “Then why did you give us the house?”
Han Ze exclaimed: “But your Aunt Hu always told me that Mingda is very strong. After graduating from college and working, he began to save money to buy a house. I thought, Mingda is so capable, maybe he can really buy a house with his own ability. After all, their father is not doing a good job, and they always want to show that they are different from their biological father. They have such a strong self-esteem. If I don’t agree, wouldn’t it be looking down on them… In the first two years, I was still worried that he couldn’t do it. As his salary increased year by year, his salary has increased to more than 10,000 in recent years, and I was completely relieved. I can give the house to you with peace of mind… So, I said that your aunt didn’t want these things. Although your aunt is not well educated, she is self-reliant.”
Han Shutao: “…”
Her silly old man is really a silly old man. Does he really think that Liu Mingda doesn’t want his house?
Han Feiyu suppressed his laughter and asked the question in Han Shutao’s mind: “Dad, do you really think Liu Mingda is very capable? Is his self-esteem really so strong that he doesn’t want your house?”
Han Ze frowned and said, “If he doesn’t want to buy a house through his own efforts, why is he so frugal? Look at which young people nowadays don’t take their friends out for dates and meals? Who is like the two of them, who always choose family members for dates? You two are not enterprising, and you love leisure and hate work. You just think that other people are the same as you, that is, in our family, Mingda and Mingkai don’t compete with you. If you change to another family, do you think they will compete with you for things?”
God, his old man actually thought so.
Han Feiyu covered his eyes, then let go of his hand unwillingly, staring at his father, wanting to see what he really thought in his heart. After examining for a long time, he found with frustration that his old man really thought Liu Mingda was capable, had no calculations, and was even more unwilling to have the house.
Han Shutao said: “Dad, don’t you think Aunt Hu has changed?”
Han Ze looked at her in confusion: “Yes, that’s why I can’t understand, your Aunt Hu was such a gentle woman, why did she change so quickly?”
Han Feiyu said coldly beside him: “Maybe it’s menopause.”
Han Ze frowned: “Don’t talk nonsense, she is your aunt, you have to respect her.”
Han Shutao hurriedly said: “We definitely respect her. But, Dad, you have moved here for so long, and you just left Aunt Hu alone? What are you planning to do?”
Han Ze said unhappily: “What do you mean by what are you planning to do? Do you still want me to divorce her? Young people’s ideas are really dangerous, they get divorced at every turn.”
Han Feiyu said casually: “Dad, actually what you are doing now is quite dangerous. People who don’t know will think that you want to divorce Aunt Hu.”
Han Ze looked at him with relief: “After all, you have grown up and know how to consider the thoughts of people around you. You are right, although your Aunt Hu has changed, I still go back to see her. Mingda and Peining have salaries, but your aunt doesn’t. I will go back to give her some living expenses. ”
Han Feiyu thought to himself, you really can’t help being excited, but you can’t help it after just two sentences.
Han Ze went back to his room, changed his clothes, walked out with his bag, looked at Han Shutao and said, “Give me the key to the SUV, I’ll drive over.”
Han Shutao gave him the key, watched him leave, turned around and glared at Han Feiyu, “Look at what you’ve done.”
Han Feiyu shrugged indifferently, “Do you think that everything will be fine if the old man lives with us? It’s not that simple. His marriage with that woman is not resolved. It’s not a good idea to drag it on like this.”
Han Shutao frowned and said distressedly, “I think it’s very risky to let the old man divorce that woman. Didn’t you see that the old man’s words and deeds show his protection of that woman and her child?”
Han Feiyu drooped his shoulders and then cheered up, “If you think about it this way, the old man at least gave us the house, at least that woman can’t have ideas about our house anymore.”
Speaking of this, Han Shutao’s embroidered brows relaxed, and she said happily, “I think we should thank Hu Xialan and her son.”
Han Feiyu looked at her, and she said, “If they weren’t so good at acting, they wouldn’t be able to… The impression in the old man’s heart is too stubborn, and it can’t be broken even if you beat him. How could the old man think that they don’t want anything and just want to buy a house and a car with their own ability? How could the old man think of buying a car for me and give us the house instead? So I say we have to thank them, mother and son. ”
Han Feiyu’s smile deepened, and he said, “I think they didn’t expect things to develop in this direction. If they knew, I don’t know if they would act like this. ”
Han Shutao smiled and said, “Even if they knew, I think they would do it, after all, they want to please the old man. If they didn’t please the old man, how can the old man spend money to train them brothers? With their father in prison, without the support of the old man, can they go to college and get such a high salary? And go to graduate school? It’s wishful thinking. ”
Han Feiyu’s eyes were raised, and his smile was wanton, “This incident tells us that we can’t do anything too much, otherwise there is a risk of somersaults. ”
Han Shutao agreed deeply.
…
Han Ze drove to Boya New Garden. As soon as he parked the car, he heard someone calling him. Han Ze turned around and saw that it was Sister Liu. He stopped.
Sister Liu saw Han Ze’s back from a distance and suspected that she had seen it wrongly. After all, Han Ze moved to his children’s place and had not been back for a long time. When she got closer and saw that it was really Han Ze, she couldn’t help but call him.
“Sister Liu.” Han Ze said with a smile.
Sister Liu was carrying a basket full of vegetables. She squinted her eyes and asked, “Old Han, are you planning to move back?”
Han Ze smiled and said nothing.
Sister Liu jokingly tested, “Old Han, your Hu Xialan has a good temper. She hasn’t made a fuss with you since you moved out for so long?”
Han Ze frowned and asked, “Sister Liu, how did you know I moved out?”
Although he asked this, he knew that it must have been Hu Xialan who spread the news. After all, she has always liked to talk about family matters in front of neighbors intentionally or unintentionally, letting outsiders know about Feiyu and Shutao’s eccentricities and the difficulties she faces as a stepmother. Otherwise, others would not know that she is a good stepmother.
Besides, he didn’t tell anyone else about this. Sister Liu doesn’t live in the same building as them. He didn’t meet any acquaintances on the day he moved out. Liu Mingda and Wang Peining were not that familiar with the people in the community and would not say anything. There was no one else except Hu Xialan.
Sister Liu looked at him and said, “Of course it was your Xialan who told me.”
Han Ze was stunned. He asked in disbelief, “Did Xialan tell you that I moved out?”
Sister Liu nodded and looked at him meaningfully, “Yes, I said that your Xialan has a good temper. You must cherish her and don’t spoil your child.”
After that, Sister Liu left with the basket.
Han Ze looked at her from behind, turned around and walked a few steps before meeting Aunt Qu from the community. Han Ze knew that Aunt Qu and Hu Xialan didn’t get along very well.
Of course, Aunt Qu also saw Han Ze. She rolled her eyes and thought of the recent rumors in the community. She walked up to Han Ze with a smile on her face and said, “Xiao Han, did you move back from your son and daughter’s house?”
Han Ze smiled and said, “No, I came back to give Xia Lan living expenses and visit her by the way.”
Aunt Qu looked at him and said meaningfully, “Xiao Han, I heard that your two children are too picky and can’t get used to Hu Xialan’s cooking. After moving back for a few days, they make a scene at every meal, complaining that Hu Xialan’s cooking is not delicious, and saying that you gave all the money in the family to buy a car for your children. Liu Mingda also wants to buy his own wedding house?”
She didn’t have a good relationship with Hu Xialan, so she didn’t care whether she should ask this question or not. Anyway, she was happy.
Han Ze frowned, and he immediately retorted: “Who is spreading rumors?”
Aunt Qu smiled, “It’s all over the neighborhood.”
Han Ze said unhappily: “Xialan cooks well, Feiyu and Shutao just can’t eat spicy food, they are not very picky, they get along very well. The two children also took the initiative to offer to share the living expenses. Later, Xialan fell ill from exhaustion, and even asked an Auntie to help Xialan share the housework. How could they dislike Xialan? It’s nonsense.”
Aunt Qu secretly mocked in her heart. She knew that Hu Xia Lan didn’t act so kind. She asked: “You really didn’t buy a house for Liu Mingda? Hu Xialan didn’t make trouble with you?”
Han Ze was a little impatient: “This is my family’s business.”
Aunt Qu said embarrassedly: “This, isn’t it because everyone in the community is talking about your family’s affairs, saying that you are harsh to your stepson, and you only spend the money you earn on your own son, and your stepson gets nothing. I heard it, and I met you again, so I naturally couldn’t help but tell you, so that your family won’t be laughed at by others.”
Han Ze said angrily: “Bullshit, it’s a rumor.”
Aunt Qu’s eyes lit up, she knew there was an inside story, she said: “I want to tell you, find out clearly, and then tell everyone the truth, so that people won’t spread rumors and wrongly accuse you and the children.”
Han Ze said angrily: “The reason why I didn’t give Liu Mingda money to buy a house is because he can earn money and buy a house with his own ability.”
Aunt Qu curled her lips. She knew in her heart that Liu Mingda’s unit was indeed good. She said with a smile: “There is a ready-made house. Who is willing to work hard to buy it by themselves? The mortgage has to be paid for so many years.”
Han Ze frowned and said: “Aunt Qu, I know you don’t like Xialan, but you can’t say nonsense. Xialan is very reasonable. She knows that all the houses in my family were allocated after the demolition. The old houses that were demolished were the houses of Feiyu’s grandfather, Feiyu’s mother and I when we got married. She didn’t want to take advantage of me. After Mingda started working, he saved money to buy a house. He lived and ate at home. The money he saved over the years was more than enough to pay the down payment for the house. ”
Aunt Qu heard the key to the matter. She hurriedly asked: “Do you mean that the houses in your family were all owned before you and Hu Xialan got married?”
Hu Xialan was indeed hypocritical. She said that other people’s houses before marriage were owned after marriage. The people in the community who were deceived said that Han Ze was wrong.
Han Ze nodded and said with a smile: “I was going to give Mingda and Mingkai a house each, but they are so strong and proud that they don’t want to take advantage of the family, so I can only give in to them.”
Who doesn’t want a house? Aunt Qu seemed to have heard a big joke, but she didn’t show it. She wanted to know more about Hu Xialan, to see if she dared to look down on her. She asked again: “Then your Hu Xialan is really good. The house was owned before marriage, and your money is considered as property after marriage, right? You bought such an expensive car for your daughter, and she didn’t say anything.”
Thinking about it this way, Hu Xialan is really not too bad. If it were her, she would not agree.
Han Ze smiled and explained, “Xialan is indeed very good. But the money to buy a car for my daughter was the remaining proceeds from the sale of my father’s land. It is not considered marital property, and it is not even my property. After all, before my father left, he made it clear that the money from the sale of the land and the house would be given to his grandchildren.”
Aunt Qu said, “So your father had already agreed to leave the money and the house to the two children. I was wondering why Xialan didn’t say anything. After all, the things didn’t belong to her in the first place. If it was your marital property, with Hu Xialan’s temper, she would have made a fuss long ago.”
Han Ze patiently explained, “Aunt Qu, you misunderstood Xialan. She never wanted these things, otherwise she wouldn’t have let Mingda save money. She is very good to the two children and is a good stepmother.”
Aunt Qu curled her lips and said, “Come on, come on. How many good stepmothers are there in the world? Who do you think spreads the rumors in the community?”
Han Ze looked at her with a frown.
Aunt Qu looked at him like a fool: “That’s your family affair. If Hu Xialan didn’t say it, who do you think we would know? Isn’t it because she spread it everywhere that your two children have bad personalities and dislike her cooking? They want you to move out with them, and also said that you only bought a house and a car for your own children with the money you earned, and her son has nothing.”
Han Ze pursed his lips and said angrily: “Impossible. Xialan, Xialan can’t do this.”
Aunt Qu glanced at her: “Xiao Han, you can’t be so confused. Think about it yourself, if it wasn’t Hu Xialan who said it, who else could have spread it?”
Han Ze looked at her: “You and Xialan are not on good terms, you must be trying to sow discord.”
Aunt Qu felt that this man was a blockhead and a big fool. She was too lazy to tell him. Anyway, she would be happy to see the joke if the provocation succeeded, and she would not lose anything if it failed.
Han Ze raised his eyebrows and returned to his home in Boya New Garden. At this moment, Hu Xialan had not returned from buying vegetables, and he was sitting on the sofa waiting.
Hu Xialan was carrying the vegetables she had bought. When she opened the door, she saw Han Ze sitting on the sofa. She was surprised and said, “Old Han, you are back?”
Han Ze looked at her steadily and said, “I heard some rumors in the community.”
Hu Xialan was stunned and asked, “What rumors?”
Han Ze said, “They said that Feiyu and Shutao are overbearing and eccentric, and they dislike you as a stepmother. Feiyu and Shutao were disobedient when they were young, but they are older and more sensible. They even hired a nanny for you so that you wouldn’t be tired. How could they dislike you? They also said that I left all the money I earned for my own children and didn’t leave anything for my stepson. It’s simply nonsense. I basically paid Mingda and Mingkai’s tuition and for Feiyu and Shutao, I didn’t spend much. The money I used to buy Shutao a car is the money I got when i sold the land.”
Hu Xialan panicked. How could Old Han hear these rumors? She only complained about this to Sister Liu. She had a good relationship with Sister Liu, and Sister Liu would not tell Han Ze.
Sister Liu would not tell Han Ze, but she could not keep it to herself. When she met someone she knew, she could not help but talk about it. This caused all the uncles and aunts in the community to know about it.
She said angrily, “Who is so wicked? Don’t they know that some things should not be said casually? It ruins people’s reputation.”
Han Ze looked at her with scrutiny, “They said you said this.”
Hu Xialan panicked even more. She hurriedly said, “I know that the land belongs to my parents-in-law. You said that the money was for Feiyu and his sister. I never thought of taking the money for myself, so how could I say such things? Those people must have seen you buy a car for Shutao and made wild guesses. ”
Han Ze looked at her disappointedly: “Aunt Qu said that the news spread from you. Xia Lan, did you really not say it? If you didn’t say it, how would they know what happened in our family?”
Hu Xialan’s panic could not be stopped, and she hurriedly said: “Old Han, you have to believe me, I really didn’t say that.”
Han Ze smiled bitterly: “It doesn’t matter whether I said it or not. I gave all the house, stocks, and the remaining money from selling the land to my two children. My retirement salary is not high. For so many years, Mingkai’s tuition has been paid from the money from selling the land. You used to live in the countryside and there was no pension insurance. My salary was not enough for our living expenses. Fortunately, Mingkai graduated and no longer has to pay tuition…”
Hu Xialan took a step back, her face pale. She steadied herself and asked with wide eyes: “You, what did you say?”
Han Ze looked at her: “I said that all the things at home were given to the two children. In the future, I really have to rely on my salary to make a living. But fortunately, the children are filial and will provide for us in our old age.”
Although the stocks and the cash in the original body have not been given to the two children, since he has said it, Hu Xialan should not think about them anymore.
Hu Xialan looked at him sadly: “Why didn’t you tell me…”
She has paid for so many years, doesn’t she deserve this respect?
Han Ze smiled and said: “I know you won’t care about these, and I know you have never thought about these things, so I didn’t tell you. Besides, it doesn’t make any difference whether I give them early or late. We are getting older day by day, and we don’t know when we can’t get up, so just give them all. ”
She doesn’t care about these? How could she not care? Mingkai hasn’t graduated yet and hasn’t found a job. Old Han’s pension is not high. What do they expect to live in the future? Do they really have to rely on Mingda and Han Feiyu’s siblings for living expenses? Not to mention that Han Feiyu’s siblings are unwilling, even if Mingda is asked to support his brother, he might not be willing.
Hu Xialan felt aggrieved again, and at the same time she hated Aunt Qu. Why did she say those words to Han Ze? Is her joke so good? Old Han didn’t say anything, but he must have doubted her in his heart.
Han Ze glanced at her and took out the money: “Here is one thousand yuan for living expenses, which should be enough for you for half a month.”
Hu Xialan was stunned and took the money: “Old Han, prices are high now, and money can’t be stopped. One thousand yuan for half a month is definitely not enough.”
Han Ze frowned: “I’ll pay for the water and electricity bills at home. You can use it sparingly. It’s not enough for one person, but it won’t make much difference. My retirement salary is only more than four thousand yuan, and I’ll give you two thousand every month. I have to pay the remaining water and electricity bills…”
Hu Xialan was shocked: “My living expenses, what about you? Don’t you plan to move back? Mingda and Peining also live and eat here, what about their living expenses?”
Han Ze smiled and said, “Didn’t we agree on it originally? They will pay for their living expenses themselves? You just like to worry.”
Hu Xialan stammered, “Okay.” Then she said, “What about you? It’s time to move back, right?”
Han Ze picked up the bag and said, “I’ll go back to my two children.”
Hu Xialan’s eyes were red: “You still don’t plan to move back?”
Han Ze looked at her deeply: “When the rumors in the community change, I will move back. ”
After saying that, he opened the door and strode away.
Hu Xialan slumped down on the sofa. The rumors in the community had changed. How could they change? Could she take back what she had said? Even if she could take it back, what price would she have to pay? By then, would their rumors turn out to be that she was actually a vicious, calculating woman?
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1