Chapter 350: The Best Way to Enlighten

Chapter 350: Chapter 350: The Best Way to Enlighten

Yang Zhigang’s eyes lit up at her words. He had seen for himself how well Wu Jiao and Wu Yao cared for Pingping and An’an, and he wholeheartedly approved.

"Wu Jiao, you’re a hardworking girl, and a good person too. I’m sure anyone you recommend would be very reliable."

"Can you tell me more about her? If possible, she can come over right away. Cuicui can’t handle two children by herself, and I can’t stand to see her so exhausted."

Wu Jiao smiled and replied, "She’s my aunt. She was widowed at a young age. After the college entrance exams were reinstated, my cousin got into a technical school and was later assigned a job in the county. Last year, my cousin married a girl from the city."

"His wife is an only child, so her parents helped with everything, from the birth to raising the baby."

"Although my cousin’s wife never openly said she disliked my aunt, the fact that she wouldn’t let my aunt hold the baby or stay overnight at their house is proof enough."

"My cousin got angry and fought with his wife about it a couple of times, but my aunt didn’t want to be the cause of marital strife."

"My aunt came to terms with it and went back to her old home. It’s just that the farm work is heavy, and she can’t manage it alone. When I went home for the New Year, she asked me if big cities were looking for nannies."

"My aunt is only forty-two this year. She’s a tidy person and very hardworking. She’s great with kids and will definitely take good care of Shunshun and Lili."

Yang Zhigang nodded eagerly. "It’s better that she has no attachments holding her back. Tell her to come right away! She can quit farming!"

"I’ll pay her one hundred and fifty a month, with room and board included, plus an allowance for clothes. Her salary will go up every year, and if she does a good job, there’ll be a generous bonus."

Hearing this, Wu Jiao smiled. "Alright, I’ll send a telegram to my aunt right now. She can come over with Wu Yao."

On Sunday night, Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng returned with Pingping and An’an, stopping by Wu Cuicui’s place to see the children she had taken in.

Wu Cuicui was clearly quite haggard. Luckily, her mother, Aunt Wu, was there helping out.

Although Aunt Wu was resentful, she knew the responsibility couldn’t be pushed onto anyone else.

Zhang Xiufang was partially paralyzed and could only limp around with a cane, so in the end, the burden fell upon her own daughter.

’It was better to accept the situation gracefully than to grumble, annoy everyone, and get no thanks for her hard work.’

Fortunately, Yang Zhigang’s family had money and had hired help for the laundry and cooking.

Once Wu Jiao’s aunt arrived, things at home would be much easier.

"This baby is mixed-race. Her features are certainly more defined than ours," Han Xiaorui remarked. The baby’s naturally curly hair was very coarse.

Wu Cuicui gave a bitter smile. "A pretty face is the only thing Yang Jianming gave these children! This baby seems to know she’s been abandoned. She only cries a little when she’s hungry, thirsty, or needs her diaper changed."

It was as if she was afraid she’d be abandoned again if she cried too much.

Han Xiaorui nodded. "As long as she’s easy to care for! Where’s Uncle Yang?"

Wu Cuicui replied, "Second Uncle just finished writing a letter, completely laying into Yang Jianming. He filled ten whole pages. If Jianguo hadn’t stopped him, he probably would have filled twenty."

"He deserves every bit of it. That man is absolute trash—the kind of bastard who fathers children but won’t raise them," Han Xiaorui cursed. You couldn’t even sue him for something like this; he was all the way in the United States.

Wu Cuicui shook her head and sighed. "Second Uncle has even more white hair now. I don’t mind being tired, I’m just worried he won’t be able to take it and will collapse."

Han Xiaorui nodded. "Sister Cuicui, you should take Uncle Yang to the hospital another day and have Brother Jianguo give him a full physical. He’s not young anymore. Getting regular check-ups means you can treat any illness you find, or prevent them if there are none."

Wu Cuicui agreed. "Jianguo said so too. He’s planning to take Second Uncle for a check-up when he’s in a better mood. We can get Shunshun and Lili checked out at the same time. By the way, guess who came by today?"

Han Xiaorui was taken aback. "Who?"

Wu Cuicui answered, "Zhang Lili."

"Why was she here? Did she change her mind and want to take the child back? Could you bear to let her go?" Han Xiaorui asked, stunned. Wu Cuicui had been caring for the children since they left the hospital.

Wu Cuicui shook her head. "She didn’t change her mind; she’s getting remarried. She came to see the child and left me two hundred yuan for some new clothes for her. I didn’t want to take it at first, but I know that Zhang Lili is Shunshun’s biological mother, after all."

"If she doesn’t visit, fine. But if she does, I can’t stop her or turn her away. As for the future, I’ll teach the child to distinguish right from wrong and to know a good person from a bad one."

Admiration filled Han Xiaorui’s eyes. "Sister Cuicui, you’re truly a good person. For Shunshun and Lili to be raised by you is a blessing in their misfortune."

Wu Cuicui shook her head and sighed. "They’re our family’s children; I can’t just throw them out. If it were just Yang Jianming, he could have a hundred kids and I wouldn’t get involved. I’m only doing this for Second Uncle and Jianguo."

"It’s good this way. Now I have three daughters. It’s tiring now, but when I’m old, I’ll be able to relax and enjoy life, with three daughters who care about me."

Han Xiaorui was moved by Wu Cuicui’s kindness, but still reminded her, "Sister Cuicui, you have to take care of these two little ones, but don’t neglect Minmin. Minmin is sensible, but she still needs care and attention from you and Brother Jianguo."

Wu Cuicui nodded. "My parents reminded me, too. I talk with Minmin every day now, asking her how things are at school, if she needs my help with anything, or if anyone is bullying her."

"Minmin is very cheerful. She tells me a lot about school, her friendships with classmates, and what the teachers talk about in class. Of course I won’t neglect my own daughter. I went through hell to give birth to her."

Seeing that both Wu Cuicui and Yang Jianguo were aware of this, Han Xiaorui felt relieved.

Yang Jianming’s actions had become a huge joke in Jinshan Bay.

While sympathizing with Yang Zhigang, everyone cursed Yang Jianming for being a good-for-nothing.

These past few days, Yang Zhigang’s spirits had been low, and he seemed somewhat dazed.

It seemed he was hit hard by what Yang Jianming had done. Anyone in his shoes would find it unbearable; he could only adjust slowly over time.

Yang Jianguo even handed over management of the breeding farm to Liu Xiangnan. He followed his second uncle around constantly, terrified that something might happen to him.

Sometimes, Ye Feng would also keep Yang Zhigang company.

When Pingping and An’an heard someone selling cotton candy outside, they each tugged on one of Yang Zhigang’s arms. "Grandpa, cotton candy! Buy cotton candy!"

Han Xiaorui started to stop them, but Ye Feng caught her eye and shook his head.

"Let’s go. Grandpa will take you to buy cotton candy." With a child on each side, Yang Zhigang managed a hint of a smile.

After they left, Ye Feng explained, "None of our attempts to console him will work right now. It has to be his granddaughters! Playing with the children might help him come to terms with it."

And it was true.

The two granddaughters, each with a white, cloud-like cotton candy, chattered endlessly around their grandfather.

Sure enough, after they returned, Yang Zhigang’s spirits were restored.

He had channeled all his anger towards his son into love for his granddaughters, which gave him the strength to face life with a positive attitude.