A reluctant marriage is like a thorn, and entering into one blindly only sows the seeds of future regret.
Gui Xiang had come to terms with it and even tried to console Mother Liu in turn.
Upon realizing that the other family truly had no intention of clinging to the Lius' status, nor had they pestered their daughter, Mother Liu left, feeling disheartened and melancholic.
Watching her daughter standing by the window, lost in thought, Mother Liu’s heart ached.
"Mom, did you go to Ershun’s house?" Liu Ping suddenly spoke up. She had always been a clever girl, and over time, she had come to understand her parents' feelings toward her.
"Pingping..."
"Mom, I’m not as upset as I used to be. I liked Ershun at first because he saved my life, and I even coaxed him into it. He didn’t understand any of it. Deep down, I knew you and Dad wouldn’t approve—I was just too infatuated back then, so I stubbornly wanted to have my way."
Liu Ping spoke slowly, her voice steady.
"Ershun sees me as a friend, as a little sister. His whole family is wonderful. Mom, my teacher said my paintings are really good. If I can study abroad, I might achieve even greater things in the future."
She abruptly changed the subject, leaving Mother Liu at a loss. Her daughter had never mentioned studying abroad before—why now?
"I’ve been working on a few paintings lately. My teacher reviewed them and submitted them to a competition. The chances of winning are high, and if I do, the prize money would be enough to support me studying art overseas."
"Pingping, if you really like him—"
"Mom, don’t force it. A melon won’t be sweet if you twist it off the vine."
Liu Ping cut her mother off, her eyes resolute. Her decision to go abroad hadn’t been made on a whim.
Liu Ping began eating properly again. When the news of her award arrived, she took out her favorite dress from the wardrobe and wore it to visit Ershun in the countryside once more.
"Ershun, I never got around to bringing you the pea cakes I promised. Here they are."
"Pingping, you look really pretty today. Thanks for the cakes. Too bad the watermelons aren’t ripe yet, or I’d treat you to some."
Ershun grinned as he accepted the pea cakes, wondering what he could give her in return.
"Ershun, thank you."
"You’re the one giving me gifts, yet you’re thanking me? Want to see the pigs I raise? They’re cute and clean."
Ershun invited her, and Liu Ping nodded.
The plump pigs had been scrubbed clean by Ershun. He hopped into the pen, picked up the smallest one, and held it out to Liu Ping.
"Want to try holding it? It doesn’t bite."
Liu Ping took the hefty little pig into her arms. It oinked softly, docile and harmless.
"Ershun, the pigs you raise are just as likable as you are."
She stroked the piglet gently, not the least bit repulsed, though her arms soon tired from its weight.
Ershun took the pig back, returned it to the pen, and added some feed for the animals.
"Ershun, I’m going abroad. I don’t know when we’ll see each other again. Will you take a photo with me?"
"Do we need to go to a studio?"
Ershun knew where photos were usually taken.
"No, I brought a camera. I also got you a shirt—just put it on, and we can take the picture here."
Liu Ping handed him the shirt. Ershun changed into it, and with the melon field and blue sky as their backdrop, Liu Ping set the timer and hurried to his side. The camera clicked.
She checked the photo—one was enough.
"Ershun, I’m leaving. I hope you find someone you love."
"And I hope you find someone you love too, and become a great, famous artist."
Ershun saw her off. Once she was far away, he suddenly remembered the shirt and quickly took it off, chasing after her.
"Pingping! You forgot the shirt!"
But Liu Ping was already on the bus.
"Ershun, it’s a gift. Keep it."
She forced a smile, blinking back the sting in her eyes as the bus pulled away, blurring her vision.
Mother Liu watched her daughter return home, seemingly composed, and quietly sighed in relief.
If she had truly moved on, it was for the best. Being a stepmother was never easy.
Ershun saved the pea cakes to share with Qingqing after school. It was then that Qingqing learned Liu Ping was leaving.
"Dad, don’t you like Auntie Liu? She’s going abroad—it might be years before she comes back."
"But I like Qingqing, Mom, and Dad more. I don’t want to live with another family, and I don’t want to go abroad. Are the cakes good?"
Ershun wasn’t foolish. Qingqing’s heart warmed at his words.
"Dad, you’re the best. I love you the most too. I’ll be the most filial daughter, taking care of you and Grandpa and Grandma when you’re old."
She split the last pea cake in two, giving Ershun the larger half. He happily popped it into his mouth.
Before, she had only dreamed of being a teacher, educating others. But after spending so much time with Jiabao, she thought being a businesswoman might be good too. She didn’t want to be a rich second-generation heiress—she wanted to build her own fortune.
Hmm, Jiabao’s grades were still a bit lacking. If things stayed this way, they wouldn’t end up at the same school. There was so much she still needed to learn from Jiabao—she’d have to help improve those grades.
Meanwhile, Qian Jiabao, blissfully unaware, was proudly showing off her much-improved test scores to her father.
"Great! Tell me what you want—it’s yours."
"Anything?"
Jiabao tilted her head, eyeing her dad.
"Of course."
"Then I’ll have to think carefully."
She turned and saw Lian Xiang smiling at her.
"Auntie Lian, can you take me and Qingqing shopping tomorrow? We’ve never gone together."
"Sure. I was planning to buy you new clothes anyway—you’ve grown so much this year."
Lian Xiang agreed without hesitation.
After listening to her husband and opening Lian Xiang’s Bakery, she had been swamped at first. But under his guidance, she found reliable people to delegate tasks to, keeping only the crucial recipes under her control. The workload eased, but she didn’t slow down—instead, she developed new treats, making the bakery even more popular and satisfying more customers’ cravings.
Remarrying into this family, her husband had never restricted her ambitions. Her stepdaughter never gave her trouble—in fact, she was incredibly thoughtful.
"Dad, I know what I want! Tomorrow, Auntie Lian’s taking me and Qingqing shopping—and you’re paying!"
"Deal. You haven’t bought clothes for yourself in ages. And don’t forget Auntie Gui and the others—they’ve helped us a lot. Pick some gifts for them too."
"Okay."
Lian Xiang earned her own money now and never hesitated to spend on Jiabao or Qingqing. But she was frugal by habit and rarely splurged on herself.
"I have money."
She looked at the 2,000 yuan her husband handed her—far more than she could possibly spend.
