Chapter 8: Who Meets Whom is Unfortunate (I)

The surgery was still accompanied by Tu Ran, while Su Mo chose to undergo a medical abortion. After taking the medication, she experienced severe reactions, with her abdomen feeling as if it were being stirred by a knife, enduring excruciating pain akin to tumultuous waves, cold sweat pouring down, and lacking even the strength to cry, curling up on the hospital bed like a shrimp, trembling uncontrollably.

The woman pursed her lips, and when she smiled, she appeared very refined

Tu Ran and her competition: "I don't care whether he is truly foolish or pretending to be, as long as the outcome is what I desire. Their family 'Marry me' has spent nothing but that little bit of cash gift and a ring that looks like a keychain."

Tu Ran sat there in a daze for most of the day, until the afterglow outside the window gradually dimmed at the horizon. She glanced at the time; it was still noon on Lu Chengyu's side. After picking up the phone and contemplating for a moment, she finally dialed out.

The conversation came to an abrupt halt here, due to the mistress of the house next door coming to knock on the door. It turned out that the young couple had just finished making dumplings and, seeing Zhou Xiaoqian at home, brought over a plate. Zhou Xiaoqian is someone who is never short of friends wherever she goes; anyone who resonates with her is soon won over within a few days.

Tu Ran smiled and said: "This world is truly small, how come you are here? Didn't you go back to your hometown? Oh, right, I heard from Zhou Xiaquan that her new neighbors are a young couple. Is it you and that person? Is it?"

Su Mo's face flushed slightly: "Wait a moment, I will go call Tong Ruian, he will surely be astonished." Tong Ruian is her newlywed husband and was also their university alumnus.

Tu Ran nodded repeatedly upon hearing this: "Speaking of my husband, there is one thing that is truly commendable; he is genuinely indifferent to money and material possessions. In this day and age, with housing prices so high, it is quite rare to find a man who does not keep a close account. In a household, if both individuals are overly calculating, it is bound to lead to conflicts."

Tu Ran sighed and said, "Mom, having a child also requires money. The things needed for children are so expensive now, I must have some savings, right? Moreover, Tu Luan won't be back for the next two years. Can we discuss the house issue later?"

Relatives and friends were subtly inquiring in her ear: "Your father-in-law certainly looks like a wealthy man, driving luxury cars and associating with prominent figures, either in business or government. Why hasn't he bought a house for the young couple? If there is no house, he should at least provide a good car. If it's because the son is going abroad for further studies and there wasn't enough time to make arrangements, he should at least bring the new daughter-in-law back home to stay for a while. The family has a nanny, and even if the business people are busy, the nanny can take care of them. Moreover, as long as there is money, there is no shortage of labor, not to mention that a grandchild is on the way..."

Tu Ran let out a soft "mm".

Tu Jia has indeed moved into a larger house, returning to the community where she once lived. Although it is still a second-hand property, it has been well maintained, with a favorable orientation and floor level, and it was only minimally renovated two years ago, appearing clean and elegant. It is somewhat fortunate to acquire such a house, as the owner was eager to sell in order to fund their child's study abroad. Otherwise, in the current climate of rising housing prices, no one would want to part with multiple properties they own. Tu Ran was among the first to view the house, competing fiercely with several others who came along, and even offered to pay a bit more. The owner noticed her adeptness in handling the situation and recognized her as a former neighbor. During the process, she even feigned a fall to gain an advantage, which led the owner to worry about her, a pregnant woman, potentially facing complications, and thus decided to sell the house to her.

At that moment, Tu Ran's heart sank, and amidst her sadness and anxiety, she couldn't help but exclaim: "What excuse are you still looking for for such a person? Don't pay attention to him, don't see him again"

Su Mo's eyes were swollen from crying. After a long silence, she finally said: "I plan to go back to my hometown to look for a job"

Zhou Xiaquan snorted and couldn't help but say: "Only you are like this, even after getting married, still calculating things. Take a lesson from the young couple living across from my house; they are newlyweds and very affectionate. However, they don't have a house, they rent, and their family doesn't have the troubles that your family has. Their little life is quite comfortable. Your mindset and perspective are quite wrong."

After listening to Tu Ran, Zhou Xiaoqian felt a deep sense of disdain: "For this matter, you even scheme against your own husband. However, Lu Chengyu is not necessarily truly foolish; I actually think you are quite foolish."

Tu Ran fell into a daze once again before saying: "You have no siblings, you wouldn't understand. By the time he returns, who knows what the housing prices will have skyrocketed to? Forget it, I won't say anymore, this is just the last time."

The seemingly casual inquiries from others struck at the heart of Wang Weili with every word. On the surface, she smiled and made excuses, but deep down, she was furious that her daughter’s marriage had brought shame and embarrassment to the family. As a result, her feelings of frustration grew, and she constantly clung to these issues in front of Tu Ran. Each time, she would nag, saying: "Who told you to rush into marriage like this, making a fool of yourself? The family you are offering yourself to certainly does not value you. The other side hasn’t even prepared a down payment for a new house, and they expect a heavily pregnant daughter-in-law to return to her parents' home. Aside from that insignificant sister-in-law who often comes to visit, no one else takes you seriously..."

Until one time, Su Mo cried and told her that she was pregnant. Tu Ran was immediately flustered; they had just started their sophomore year, graduation seemed far away, and marriage was as elusive as the moon in the water. Tu Ran accompanied Su Mo quietly to the hospital for the procedure, but Tong Ruian did not come. Of course, Tu Ran had to ask Su Mo, and after a moment of silence, Su Mo spoke: "He is too shy and doesn't want to come." Tu Ran looked at her friend in surprise, but then heard her say: "Actually... if he came, I would feel even more uncomfortable. What would others think?" Tu Ran of course had to ask Su Mo, and after a moment of silence, Su Mo spoke: "He is too shy and doesn't want to come." Tu Ran looked at her friend in surprise, but then heard her say: "Actually... if he came, I would feel even more uncomfortable. What would others think?"

Tu Ran also said: "Since you returned, you have been busy with work, and the dormitory has long been returned. It is inevitable that you, the children, and the elderly in our family will have to squeeze together for a transitional period. With only two rooms, how cramped it will be.

Regarding this matter, Zhou Xiaoqian asked her: "Did you discuss with Lu Chengyu about spending that money?"

Tu Ran was at a loss, having never before felt such intense hatred for someone. It was a true, gritting-teeth kind of hatred and disdain. She said to Su Mo: "Su Mo, do not forget your situation today. Promise me, the sooner you leave him, the better."

The second time, during the senior year farewell dinner, Su Mo pulled Tu Ran to a corner of the restaurant. She said: "He is unwilling to get married so early; he said the timing is not yet mature. We have just graduated, and we should at least wait until we have a stable career foundation before considering these issues. He does not want to meet each other's parents right now; he asked me to undergo surgery..." She said: "He is unwilling to get married so early; he said the timing is not yet mature. We have just graduated, and we should at least wait until we have a stable career foundation before considering these issues. He does not want to meet each other's parents right now; he asked me to undergo surgery..."

Afterward, Su Mo returned to her hometown alone, while everyone else went their separate ways, and the contact between Tu Ran and her gradually faded.

Tu Ran laughed heartily and quickly introduced the two to each other: "Su Mo, my college classmate, good sister, we used to live in the same dormitory. Zhou Xiaoqian, my middle school classmate, a mischievous friend"

Upon hearing this, Wang Weili's heart immediately sank. After a moment of thought, he quickly asked, "Did you not say that the old master of his family gave you the banquet gift money? It should be over 100,000, right?"

Indeed, she did not lie at all; she just played a little trick in this matter. She took the opportunity to make an international call while he was resting, starting with some casual chatter, and then when the conversation turned to when he would return, she said: "When you come back, we should have a child; it's always inconvenient to live with the elderly... How about using the gift money from your father to make a down payment? I can handle the monthly payments for the rest, what do you think?" She did not mention at all that she had already set her sights on a house.

Lu Chengyu thought for a moment and said, "The house is a bit small. Why not sell your current house and use that money to buy a bigger one?" The two discussed it for a while and ultimately settled on this plan, without him even mentioning whose name would be on the property certificate.

Tu Ran saw her already protruding belly, held her hand and said: "Congratulations"

Tu Ran knew that her mother was always impatient and could not hold back even the slightest matter in her heart. Therefore, she was not angry upon hearing this; she simply replied with a single sentence: "Relying on the old man to get rich is truly harder than ascending to the heavens. Why? Lu Chengyu and his father fell out many years ago, and they hardly say a word to each other. Holding a wedding is merely to cover up the facade behind peace and prosperity."

Zhou Xiaoqian shook his head repeatedly: "If I say you are foolish, you really take yourself for a pig. Your mother has truly been fair in her treatment; with someone as capable as Tu Luan in your family, returning to the country as a sea turtle, can't he buy a house for himself? Why must he use your money? Do you think your money is easy to earn?"

Tu Ran sighed and said, "Of course there is."

Young love is always inseparable from infatuation, and the outcome is, of course, contrary to her suggestion

Su Mo smiled with her lips pressed together, her eyes bright. Tu Ran looked at her and said: "Su Mo, you haven't changed at all, except for your belly"

Lu Chengyu said: "How can you afford two houses on your own? Let's discuss this matter again when I return"

Tu Ran felt that the woman's voice sounded familiar. After seeing her appearance clearly, she suddenly stood up from the sofa and jumped to the door, exclaiming loudly: "Su Mo, Su Mo, it really is you"

Zhou Xiaoqian cast a sidelong glance at her: "You speak coarsely and love to scheme, yet you manage to conceal it from others. Lu Chengyu is indeed unfortunate to have gotten involved with you"

There is only one thing that has not changed; for Tu Ran, the love in Su Mo's eyes is comparable to a dance on a tightrope. The dancer has yet to take her final bow, yet the spectators are already weary and fatigued. This is because her heart has long been wrapped in layers of worldly reality, making it impossible for her to appreciate such purity and devotion.

Tu Ran let out a sound of "cut": "Marriage is mostly like donkey dung eggs, shiny on the surface, but who really knows what's inside?"

The third time is this moment of unexpected reunion. The youthful edges have long been subjected to numerous磨砺, and the once unquenchable sympathy and heartache, along with various intense emotions of righteous indignation, have been replaced by too many unspoken thoughts. Now, she simply holds Su Mo's hand and calmly utters a "Congratulations".

Wang Weili clapped his hands and said, "That's perfect. Let's sell this house now and use the money to buy a bigger one. After all, you and the child are living here. Moreover, your younger brother is not small anymore; in a few years, he will also need to get married. We should prepare something for him. Nowadays, young girls are quite selective; without a house, they won't even look at you.

Wang Weili, seeing her like this, hurried to comfort her: "Don't worry, I will help take care of the child in the future, and I won't ask you for a single extra cent. Just consider it as hiring a free nanny; I will work for you without charge. It seems that you cannot rely on your in-laws. Ranzhan, there are some things you need to think clearly about. You only have one younger brother, and when I am gone in the future, you two siblings, you and Tu Luan, will have to depend on each other. Those outsiders, whether men or women, are always unreliable. You need to consider these matters carefully. Also, the old lady doesn't have much time left; don't you want her to live a little more comfortably? Right now, downstairs there are hardware stores and a vegetable market, making noise every day starting from four or five in the morning. How can the elderly rest well..."

As soon as Tu Ran returned home, Wang Weili began to express her reservations about this marriage proposal

Tu Ran and Su Mo were classmates for four years, having once been so close that they shared everything. From the moment Su Mo first met Tong Ruixin, her heart raced like a startled deer, to their acquaintance blossoming into love, holding hands, sharing their first kiss, and even experiencing the shyness and awkwardness of their first time, Su Mo always enjoyed recounting every detail to her friend. In those youthful and naive days, they often explored and yearned for all the mysterious and intriguing things together. It was during that time, listening to Su Mo's stories and witnessing her unmistakable happiness, that Tu Ran came to believe that love was indeed this pure and beautiful.

Zhou Xiaoqian, feeling hungry, embraced the female neighbor and repeatedly said: "Good person, come here for a kiss"

Su Mo nodded with a smile: "Yes"

Zhou Xiaoqian suddenly exclaimed: "What are you doing? The revolution is successfully converging."

Tu Ran, unable to contain her anger for a moment, was about to confront Tong Ruian, but was firmly held back by Su Mo. Afterward, they drank some alcohol, and under the influence of the drink, the two of them cried uncontrollably. Tu Ran asked Su Mo: "Are you still going to give him another chance?"

Su Mo then realized and opened her mouth, but first she smiled happily: "Tu Ran? You haven't changed at all," she looked her up and down, "No, you've become more and more beautiful, and you know how to dress up now"