By the time the matters for Big Sister had settled, half a month had gone by and it was already end of December. Shu Jianyang was getting married on January 1 and Shu Yan needed to head back a day or two earlier. She thought about it some and decided against bringing the kids with her this time. She had no idea if her parents would try anything. Then there were Tianbao’s grandparents. All in all, she will leave them behind to save all the hassles.
JingJing didn’t care much that Shu Yan wouldn’t be bringing that with. She didn’t have any good memories from City Xi. She hated her days there, even. She was happy not have to go. Tianbao, however, was different. He didn’t say he wanted to go look for grandma and grandpa this year but he still missed his days back in City Xi. Truth was, he didn’t remember much of it but he remembered that he was a local emperor back home and could have his ways.
“Mom, I will be a good boy. Let me go with you?” said Tianbao coquettishly.
“You are already not being a good boy now.” Shu Yan drummed on this forehead. “Mom will be back in 2 ~ 3 days. You will have Aunty and your big sister to keep you company at home. If you are really bored, you can go stay for a few days at your godmother’s and had you take you to ride the miniature horses. Isn’t that more fun than going back home?”
Tianbao was energized when he heard about horse-riding. He urged Shu Yan to give Hu Ruixue a call right away.
Hu Ruixue might always look like a career woman but, when compared to Shu Yan, she was a loving mother through and through. Any requests raised by the children, as long as it was within her power, she would do her best to make them happen.
“Will you be able going home?” Hu Ruixue was a little worried for Shu Yan.
“It will be fine. My Third Brother is having his banquet in the city. Even if they are having it in the village, it will be fine. I will be bringing Feng Zeyu with. All of them together still might not be able to take him. Besides, I have donated a road to the village. The old Party Secretary will be on my side.”
***
Shu Yan didn’t take the train this time but opted for the plane. The trip took only three hours.
After Shu Yan and Feng Zeyu had gotten off the plane and walked out of the gate, they already saw Shu Jianyang waiting there, holding up a sigh.
Shu Jianyang never even looked over Shu Yan and Feng Zeyu. He kept looking toward the inside and grumbling to himself, “Why aren’t they out yet?”
“Third Brother, Third Brother……” Shu Yan called him a few times and he never responded to her. She walked all the way up to him, tapped him on his shoulder and said, “Third Brother, I am right here!”
Shu Jianyang looked at Shu Yan in disbelief. “Shu Yan?”
Shu Yan cocked her head a little and gave him an interesting look. She nodded and said, “Mmhmm. It hadn’t been that long since we’ve last met and you have forgotten about me already? Third Brother, you are breaking my heart.”
“You really are Shu Yan?” Shu Jianyang still had a hard time believing her. He looked closely at her and she did look a little like Second Uncle but he still had a hard time accepting that this was Shu Yan. “You’ve changed so much. Like a completely different person.”
Even though she was his sister, Shu Jianyang still couldn’t lie and said that Shu Yan was a pretty one. Her best strength was hard-working and virtuous. It had only been a year since her divorce and her change was drastic.
She had become skinnier, lighter skinned, and prettier. Mainly it was the change in her temperament. She had been a wronged little wife in the past but now she was poised, confident, and noble. They were not the same person.
