Chapter 351: Ungrateful

Chapter 351: Chapter 351: Ungrateful

When Zhang Xiufang learned she had another granddaughter, she struggled to go and see her.

The caretaker had no choice but to accompany her over to Wu Cuicui’s place.

When Wu Cuicui saw Zhang Xiufang arrive, she was displeased. But being kind and respectful of her elders, she couldn’t bring herself to turn one away, especially when the woman had trouble walking.

"Cuicui, the baby’s back, but where’s Jianming? Why didn’t he come back?" Zhang Xiufang asked anxiously. At home, every time she asked Yang Zhigang, he would just get angry and ignore her.

Wu Cuicui’s expression was cold. "He didn’t come back. He had someone bring the baby over."

Zhang Xiufang grew frantic and took out her wallet. "Cuicui, please give this money to Jianguo and have him send it to Jianming. He must be having a hard time over there, unable to support the baby. That must be why he sent her back."

Hearing this, Wu Cuicui couldn’t hold back her scorn. "Aunt, you’re thinking too much. Uncle asked the woman who brought the baby to the airport. She said Jianming was already appointed as a professor over there. He broke up with his last girlfriend, found a new one who wouldn’t accept the baby, so he had someone send her back."

"He’s living in a big house but won’t even raise his own child. Uncle Zhigang was the one who had to pay the one thousand yuan fee to have her brought back. A man that irresponsible... I’d like to see him come to a good end."

Zhang Xiufang was dumbfounded. "No, that’s impossible! My son would never do that! You must be lying to me."

Wu Cuicui shook her head. "You know very well whether I’m lying or not. Do I really need to remind you what a piece of work your son is?"

"Nonsense! My son wouldn’t do that! He said he was going to bring me abroad for medical treatment, to live a life of luxury!" Zhang Xiufang shook her head. "You’re lying to me, you’re lying..."

Wu Cuicui sneered. "Fine, have it your way. I’m lying. You just wait, then. I’d love to see when your son is coming to take you to the United States. You think America is some kind of paradise? You’re just lucky you married my uncle. He’s a kind and decent man. He still works hard to take care of you, even with you being sick."

"But you? You never appreciate anything he does, and you’ve never been good to him. In any other family, a woman like you would’ve been gone in two or three years. Who else would make sure you got such good medical care? Aunt, people need to have a conscience. Those who don’t will not come to a good end."

"You... Wu Cuicui, you bitch! What right do you have to talk to me like that?" Zhang Xiufang yelled, pointing a finger at Wu Cuicui. "You’re only sucking up to our family because we have money, aren’t you? Don’t pretend you’re so noble. You’re just a gold-digger, a good-for-nothing!"

In the past, Zhang Xiufang’s words would have made Wu Cuicui flush with anger and rush to defend herself. But ever since Yang Jianguo got his profit-sharing bonus last year, she had the confidence to stand her ground.

"Money is the only thing that matters in your eyes. That’s why you raised Yang Jianming to be so heartless—it’s your sin. I’m not going to argue with you. I’ll just wait and see if your precious son really comes back for you."

Zhang Xiufang wanted to keep arguing, but Sister Feng stopped her. "Xiufang, stop fighting. If you get worked up and pass out, you’ll be the one to suffer. I’ve heard that with strokes, each one is worse than the last. If you don’t want to end up bedridden, you’d better behave. Go home and rest, or get some exercise."

Upon hearing this, the furious Zhang Xiufang trembled with fear.

’If I end up bedridden, it’s really over for me.’

Zhang Xiufang left resentfully, her eyes full of venom. She felt no gratitude at all toward Wu Cuicui for taking care of her two granddaughters.

In Zhang Xiufang’s mind, her son was so exceptional that there would be plenty of grandsons in the future. ’What’s a granddaughter, anyway?’

Watching Zhang Xiufang leave, Wu Cuicui could no longer hold back her tears.

Han Xiaorui, who had brought Pingping and An’an over to play, saw Wu Cuicui secretly wiping away tears.

"Sister Cuicui, what’s wrong?" Han Xiaorui asked. She was used to seeing Wu Cuicui smiling from ear to ear, but lately, every time she saw her, she was either looking miserable or crying softly.

’I hope she’s not getting depressed!’

When Wu Cuicui saw Han Xiaorui, her tears flowed even faster. "Xiao Rui, Zhang Xiufang nearly drove me mad today..."

She couldn’t talk about these things with anyone else besides Han Xiaorui.

Her husband, Yang Jianguo, worked hard all day to make a living and was exhausted when he came home at night.

Even if she told Yang Jianguo about these domestic problems, it wouldn’t help. Zhang Xiufang was sick, and he couldn’t just go and agitate her further.

As for Uncle Zhigang... sigh, he was a pitiful man himself.

It was pitiful enough that he was stuck with such a wife. If she complained, even if he scolded Zhang Xiufang, his wife would just throw a hysterical fit, and he would be the one to suffer for it.

She couldn’t tell her own parents either; they were getting older and weren’t in good health.

And as for her younger sister, Wu Lingling, she had such a fiery temper she’d just start yelling, which wouldn’t solve anything.

Han Xiaorui figured that since Wu Cuicui could still talk about it and cry to let it all out, she probably wasn’t clinically depressed yet.

After Wu Cuicui finished her story, Han Xiaorui finally understood. "So that’s what happened. Sister Cuicui, just think of her as a dog barking nonsense. So she said you’re after Uncle Zhigang’s money? Are you? Of course not! Brother Jianguo’s profit-sharing from the ornamental fish farm is huge."

Wu Cuicui nodded. "Exactly. Zhang Xiufang used to say the same things about me and Jianguo. We’re honest people; how could we stand accusations like that? To be fair, while we weren’t poor back then, we certainly couldn’t compare to Uncle Zhigang. And he really did help us out, both openly and behind the scenes."

"So back then, when Zhang Xiufang said those things, I couldn’t really argue. But it’s different now. I’m raising two of their children, and all the money from Uncle Zhigang is spent on the kids. I haven’t taken a cent. I even keep a record of everything that’s left over."

Han Xiaorui smiled. "Our consciences are clear. Now that you’ve had a good cry and let it out, try not to dwell on it."

While Han Xiaorui was chatting with Wu Cuicui, Pingping and An’an were standing by the crib, watching the little baby. Sometimes, when their mom and Aunt Cuicui weren’t looking, they would poke the infant’s cheek with a finger.

Ever since they first saw the baby, they had been clamoring to come and see her again.

After talking with Han Xiaorui, Wu Cuicui’s mood improved greatly. She didn’t feel so upset anymore.

Just then, Wu Lingling arrived, carrying two big bags. "Sis! Sister Xiao Rui! You’re both here! Come on, I bought some clothes and shoes for the kids. Let’s have them try everything on."

Wu Cuicui saw the bags and said, "The kids have more clothes than they can wear. You don’t have to buy them any more."

Wu Lingling waved her off. "Kids grow every year, of course they need new clothes. Hey, Sis, it’s only been a week since I last saw you. Where’d you get a baby?"

One bag was filled with clothes for Pingping and An’an: pretty dresses, shoes, pants, and other things.

The other bag was for Yang Minmin and Yang Shunshun.

Wu Lingling hadn’t expected to find an infant in the house.

Wu Cuicui rolled her eyes. "It’s Yang Jianming’s... born in the United States."

Wu Lingling was shocked. She leaned in closer and saw that the baby indeed didn’t look like a typical Asian child; she was mixed-race. "Sis, I have a bad feeling about this."