Muchuan And Xiang Wan

The few of them left from another exit of the airport terminal. Xiang Wan left the airport through the main hall by herself.

It was Uncle Zhao who came to pick her up; he waved at her happily.

Uncle Zhao and his wife were employed by Bai Muchuan. His children were studying in another city so they also lived in the mansion as helpers to take care of Xiang Wan"s mom, as well as doing the housework. Bai Muchuan was a generous person as he gave them higher wages than the market rate. Both Uncle Zhao and his wife were hardworking and efficient. Most importantly, they got along well with Xiang Wan"s mom.

While on the way back, Xiang Wan asked Uncle Zhao about how her mom was doing during her absence.

Uncle Zhao was a smart person, so he was very careful with his words.

Xiang Wan looked at the scenery of Jin City. She smiled and she actually felt anxious to return home as soon as possible.

The sky was wet and cold, and the smell of hotpot was as though floating in the air.

Xiang Wan took a deep breath.

When she reached the mansion, Tan Yunchun was waiting eagerly at the entrance.

When she saw Xiang Wan, she broke into a smile. "Aren"t you a little later than usual? Why did you only arrive now?"

Xiang Wan: "…"

As she dragged along the luggage, she winked at her mom.

"I"m not late, you"re obviously missing me a lot so you felt that the time was especially long. Come, mom, give me a hug!"

"You la.s.s!" Tan Yunchun laughed and she wanted to help pull her luggage. "Let"s go in, Yuanyuan and your eldest aunt is inside."

"Orh~!" Xiang Wan didn"t manage to hug her mom but she was unwilling to give up.

She hugged her mom"s arm instead and pressed her face on hers. "Mom, I missed you."

"…"

Life had been too tough for Xiang Wan"s mom.

Even when facing her own daughter, it was hard for Tan Yunchun to express her love for Xiang Wan like a normal mother.

What Xiang Wan had heard the most, was her mom"s grumbles and complains. She hardly talked about how much she loved her daughter. It was the same for Xiang Wan as well. They also hardly hugged each other affectionately…

Tan Yunchun was stiff for a moment when her daughter hugged her. She let out a sigh and patted Xiang Wan"s hand.

"Let"s go in, mom will cook your favorite dishes today."

"Yes! I"m so craving for your cooking."

Xiang Wan"s eyes were smiling, she took a quick glance at her mom and her footsteps were light.

How many years has it been that she ever felt like this?

It seemed that she could spend the Lunar New Year with her mom!

In the past, she did not seem to have a place she could call home.

All these years, she would have her Reunion Dinner at her youngest aunt"s place. Although her youngest aunt would give them a big red packet and treat them nicely, she felt that she had enough of Xing Feifei"s cold shoulder and youngest uncle-in-law"s indifference…

It seemed that for that year, she could finally have her Reunion Dinner with her mom, as well as Bai Muchuan!

Xiang Wan was so elated that she nearly b.u.mped into Fang Yuanyuan!

"What"s with the rush?"

"Ah ha, sweetie!" Fang Yuanyuan was walking towards the door. She calmed down then gave Xiang Wan a hug. "You"re finally back, my darling precious!"

"What? Who"s your darling precious? Don"t be shameless."

"Yes, yes, you"re Captain Bai"s darling precious," said Fang Yuanyuan who took a glance behind Xiang Wan. "Didn"t you say that both of you are coming back together? Where is he?"

"He needs to settle something." Xiang Wan couldn"t and shouldn"t reveal too much about what Bai Muchuan was doing. So she pulled Fang Yuanyuan to sit with her on the sofa.

Eldest aunt Tan Xichun was a quiet woman. She started to get plump in her forties and by now, she was even heavier than Fang Yuanyuan. She was also very easy-going and kind-hearted.

When she saw that the two young woman started bantering with each other, she was grinning from ear to ear.

"Okay, okay, the two of you, stop for a moment! Wanwan, I need to tell you something." She said that when Xiang Wan"s mom was out of sight.

Xiang Wan turned to her, still smiling. "What is it, eldest aunt?"

Tan Xichuan was a little hesitant. "It"s about the Reunion Dinner. Your youngest aunt wanted everyone to go to her place for dinner…"

This was the first time that eldest aunt did something like this. They always had their Reunion Dinner at youngest aunt"s house, but for eldest aunt to tell her directly about this, this sure was abnormal.

Xiang Wan observed eldest aunt"s expression and suddenly let out a chuckle. "Is it because youngest aunt only invited your family to go for the Reunion Dinner but not us?"

Tan Xichuan"s face dimmed in a second. "You la.s.s, what are you talking about? Do you really think youngest aunt is such a person?"

Indeed, her youngest aunt would not do something like this.

But that day at the lunch banquet, youngest uncle-in-law left in a huff, there was also Xing Feifei"s unhappiness. It was inevitable that more or less their relations.h.i.+p with youngest aunt would change somewhat. Hence, she had thought that youngest aunt might have felt that it would be awkward to get them to join for Reunion Dinner.

Xiang Wan asked after a brief pause, "Youngest aunt really did invite us too?"

Tan Xichun puffed a sigh. "No matter what happens, the three of us are sisters. We only have each other ever since our parents left us. Youngest aunt may have a strong character but she really doted on you two girls…"

Xiang Wan nodded her head.

Youngest aunt was good to them, no doubt about it.

"I never thought bad about youngest aunt. I was just worried that Xing Feifei might create some unhappiness that upset everyone instead. Youngest aunt would then be in a spot…"

This was because, in that family, youngest aunt was not the one who make all the decisions.

Although Xing Yuanhang might seem to be magnanimous, it was just that he was unwilling to fuss over trifles.

But the moment he bothered to do so, things would be very different.

In her impression, Xiang Wan always felt that this youngest uncle-in-law of hers was definitely not amongst the ranks of the good.

"I know what you mean, but the situation this year is rather special…" Tan Xichuan looked at her then looked at her daughter who was craning her neck to listen. "Your youngest aunt has been having a hard time all this while."

"Mm?" Xiang Wan raised her eyebrows. "What happened?"

"Ever since the lunch banquet, your youngest aunt and uncle-in-law have been locked in conflict…"

The mention of the lunch banquet was just to add weight as to what she was about to say.

Xiang Wan glanced at eldest aunt seriously and continued to listen.

Tan Xichuan continued, "She suspected that your uncle-in-law is keeping a mistress outside."

For this matter, Xiang Wan had heard this from Fang Yuanyuan and she even teased that there was no end in getting rid of women who circled around youngest uncle-in-law. However, they were just bantering. Youngest aunt was suspicious but never once confirmed that her husband really someone outside. Now that both of them heard it personally from Tan Xichuan"s mouth, they felt that this matter could really have been cast in stone.

"But they have been husband and wife for so many years. Youngest uncle-in-law has always been good to youngest aunt."

"Aye!" Tan Xichuan puffed a sigh. "Exactly, I don"t understand why your youngest aunt has to behave this way."

"…" Does that mean youngest uncle-in-law is innocent? she thought.

Xiang Wan frowned in thought and was waiting for eldest aunt to continue.

"Don"t you think that it"s normal for a man like your youngest uncle-in-law, with such background and social status, to have a "close female friend" outside? I thought that she had prepared herself for that and I"ve persuaded her about it. As long as your youngest uncle-in-law doesn"t bring the woman back home, treat her still as good and let her manage the finances, that"s already good enough." Tan Xichuan then shook her head. "Your youngest aunt is too headstrong and couldn"t tolerate this. Does she think that she is still young and wanted to put up a fight against her man? Men nowadays, are all the same!"

Xiang Wan"s heart sank.

She took a glance at Tan Xichuan but remained quiet.

Eldest aunt and youngest aunt were completely polar opposites of each other.

Youngest aunt was never meek. She was shrewd, dominant and wanted to be in control of her life.

As for eldest aunt, Tan Xichuan, although she was able to control her own husband, her mindset was still very old-fas.h.i.+oned that a husband was a woman"s everything…

Xiang Wan kept quiet since their values regarding this were very different.

Pffft! Fang Yuanyuan chuckled. "Mom, don"t forget that my dad isn"t like this!"

"Your dad?" Tan Xichuan snorted. "That"s purely because your dad"s not wealthy and not capable enough to have women circling him."

"You seemed to suggest that if he had money, he would certainly have a "close female friend" outside." Fang Yuanyuan giggled away.

Tan Xichun sent Fang Yuanyuan a glare then she ignored her daughter.

In her eyes, Xiang Wan was more mature and sensible than Fang Yuanyuan.

"Little Wan ah, this is a sensitive period for youngest aunt. She needs our support. But your mom is sometimes a very stubborn woman. Sisters shouldn"t bear a grudge against each other. Let bygones be bygones."

So something happened between her mom and youngest aunt?

Let bygones be bygones?

Xiang Wan suddenly furrowed her eyebrows. "Eldest aunt, what happened exactly? What made the two of them fell out with each other?"