A Lil surprise for everyone!💕💕

...

Chapter 161: Changing Helmets

The rural man was holding on to her foot so intimately in front of everyone. Men considered a woman's feet as an intimate part; it was believed to be a "third sexual organ." Gong Zhan felt that Gu Zi and the man were shameless! Unable to bear it any longer, Gong Zhan left, leaving Lin Miao behind. Lin Miao's face darkened, but she had to follow him. She regretted coming along. Seeing Gong Zhan leave, Su Shen revealed a hint of victorious delight in his eyes. At that moment, he seemed like a dazed teenager, prompting a smile from Gu Zi.

At that moment, Uncle Li brought some medicated oil over and asked Su Shen to apply it. Su Shen quickly covered Gu Zi's feet with a piece of cloth. It wasn't because of old traditions that he did this, but out of consideration for Gu Zi's feelings. After all, many women were sensitive about their feet, feeling uncomfortable when too many people stared at them. Of course, he also had his own reasons; he didn't want anyone to see her beautiful feet.

"I'll apply it for you. It might sting a bit, but you'll be able to walk soon after." Su Shen held her ankle, deftly applying the medicated oil.

During his military days, he handled minor injuries on his own without the need for a military doctor. So, this wasn't a big problem for him now. He was just afraid of causing her pain with his rough touch.

"I'm not afraid. It feels nice when you press it." She closed her eyes, letting him massage her feet, while also recalling Gong Zhan's expression earlier.

She found it strange. Didn't Gong Zhan dislike the original host? Why did he just now act jealous and leave his fiancee, Lin Miao, behind? Lin Miao was even more puzzling. Why did she follow them? It seemed like she did everything and yet did nothing. Regardless, those two nuisances had left, and Gu Zi felt much more at ease.

In the end, Gu Zi settled on the white wedding gown for the wedding day; the pink one was beautiful, but she didn't want it.

For the toast gown, she let Su Shen choose. She wanted to see what kind of clothes a straight man would pick.

She didn't expect the result to be quite good. He picked a dark red cheongsam for her. The style was fine, but the color could make her look older. Gu Zi was glad that she had the original host's figure and appearance, so the dress didn't make her look old; it even had a bewitching feeling.

After paying a large sum, Su Shen left the wedding dress and other items in the bridal shop for pick-up. He and Gu Zi went to the jewelry shop and bought a pearl necklace and pearl earrings to match the wedding dress.

Finally, Su Shen took her to the motorcycle shop downstairs in the department store. "Is your foot still hurting?" Gu Zi sat behind him and replied honestly, "It's still a bit numb."

"Okay, I'll carry you." The man got off the motorcycle, wrapped his arm around her waist, and before she could react, he picked her up.

It was only then that Gu Zi realized that foot pain came with this kind of special treatment!

There was a single guy in the store who felt hurt. He walked towards the two and said to Su Shen, "Brother Shen, you're also keeping up with the times in love now? Where did you find such a beautiful girlfriend?"

The man was chubby, his face round like a bun, with a very genial expression. His gaze swept across Gu Zi's body for a moment before he reluctantly retracted it. He was quite righteous.

Gu Zi felt that this fatty knew his limits, so she smiled at him to express her greeting. He happily nodded back. Su Shen tossed the helmets from the motorcycle to him.

He caught both helmets, then heard Su Shen sternly correcting him, "This is my wife, Gu Zi. Call her sister-in-law."

Fatty's eyes widened. Brother Shen got married again? Jin long was not a good friend. He did not tell him about such a big thing!

He was depressed about his lack of information but politely greeted her as sister-in-law, then led the two into the store. When Su Shen mentioned that this person was the owner of the shop, Gu Zi was surprised.

No wonder he looked so well-off! Fatty examined the helmets from all angles but couldn't detect any issues with it.

"Gu Zi doesn't like this color. Change it," Su Shen said. He didn't like it anymore.

Gu Zi looked up. She thought that he did not take the story she had told him just now to heart. She did not expect him to be so sincere and want to change the color so quickly.

If the motorcycle were green, would he have changed the entire vehicle?

The plump shopkeeper grinned knowingly. "Ah, Brother Shen is quite thoughtful and meticulous. I'll get to it right away."

...

Chapter 162: Mom

Gu Zi looked at Su Shen and then at the size of the shop. It was quite large.

The fact that the owner of such a big shop addressed Su Shen as "Brother" indicated that Su Shen was truly enigmatic!

However, what surprised Gu Zi even more was yet to come. After they got new helmets and paid the bill, they were about to leave when the fat shop owner called out to them.

He handed a red envelope to Gu Zi, saying, "This is my gift to my sister-in-law, wishing you both a happy marriage!"

When she opened it and saw the 250 yuan gift money inside, she did not know what to do.

Although she was happy to receive the money, wasn't 250 yuan too much as a token of blessing?

Su Shen saw that she was a little uneasy and said, "Since he gave it to you, just accept it. Don't worry about it."

Gu Zi nodded and kept the money. Then, the two of them went to the department store to buy some things before returning to Little Lin Village together.

At the Lin family's house, Li Hua was making pancakes for the three children in the kitchen.

When the pancakes were ready, Mrs. Lin brought them out to the dining room. At that moment, Su Shen and Gu Zi returned.

Su Bing and Su Li, upon seeing them carrying so many bags, quickly set down the pancakes and rushed over to help. Even little Lele scrambled to run to them.

Gu Zi picked up Su Le and sat down, while Su Shen placed the items he was carrying down. They were a bit hungry and joined the children to eat the pancakes.

The pancakes had some chopped green onions and minced meat, blended with the fragrance of the flour, making them quite delicious.

After everyone finished eating, Su Shen told Mrs. Lin that he would bring Gu Zi back to the Su family residence. Mrs. Lin didn't insist on them staying as she had long seen that Gu Zi's heart was already with the Su family.

When two people's hearts were connected, that was what made them a family. As long as they could visit frequently, Mrs. Lin would be content.

Su Shen first took the two sons and the belongings back to the Su family's house and then returned to pick up Gu Zi and Su Le.

As soon as Gu Zi returned home, she began busying herself with preparing dinner, and Su Shen came over to help.

Gu Zi asked him, "Have you noticed that Su Li hasn't been acting right today?"

Su Li was usually quite talkative, but today he hadn't said more than three sentences in total and seemed rather listless.

After Gu Zi brought this to Su Shen's attention, he pushed her out, saying, "You go ask, leave the dinner to me."

Gu Zi glanced back at him; she figured that big straight guys weren't really good at communicating with kids.

She went to the brothers. Su Bing was taking care of Lele, while Su Li was lying on the sofa, half asleep.

She gently woke Su Li up, "Su Li, are you not feeling well?"

The woman's voice was very gentle. Su Li sat up quickly and said, "I'm... I'm tired, and my throat hurts."

Gu Zi furrowed her brows slightly. He really seemed unwell. She touched Su Li's forehead and said, "Next time, if you're not feeling well, tell Su Bing or me, or even your dad."

Su Li nodded reluctantly. He used to get better on his own when he was unwell and didn't think to inform his family.

Gu Zi's heart ached when she saw this. She understood why Su Li wouldn't speak up; he didn't know that a sick child would normally be given extra care by his family.

Gu Zi held back her tears and went upstairs to get some anti-inflammatory medicine for him to eat. Sh said to him, "Su Li, I don't blame you for not telling us about it. If you still don't feel better tomorrow after taking the medicine, we'll go to the hospital.'

Su Li had been poisoned before and hadn't fully recovered. If he wasn't feeling well, it was best to go to the hospital.

Su Bing watched silently, his eyes softened. Their mother was truly kind.

At that moment, Gu Zi's gentle gaze fell on Su Bing. He felt flustered and lowered his head.

Gu Zi said to him, "Su Bing, if you notice Su Li isn't feeling well in future, make sure to tell me, alright? You shouldn't bear it alone, understood?"

Su Bing said, "I understand."

However, he did not dare to say, 'Mom.'

At night, Gu Zi was worried about Su Li and went to his room to check on him.

He rolled around on the bed, looking very uncomfortable. Gu Zi went over and touched his forehead. It was burning hot.

He was tossing and turning in bed, looking very uncomfortable.

Gu Zi went downstairs, heated water, and soaked a towel to wipe his body. Once the child's temperature dropped a little, she called out to him.

"Su Li, come on. Get up and take the fever medicine. Wake up!"

Su Li, in a daze from the fever, struggled to open his eyes. He saw a gentle and beautiful woman sitting by his bedside.

She was looking at him with concern, her face full of worry. For some reason, at that moment, his feverish eyes filled with tears.

He sat up and hugged her, bursting into tears and sobbing, "Mom, Mom!" Gu Zi was stunned for a moment. Was he calling her Mom?

Then, the corners of her lips curled up slightly. She hugged Su Li and stroked his black hair. She replied, "Yes, Su Li. Mom's here for you.."

...

Chapter 163: Sacrifice

When Su Li heard Gu Zi's response, he couldn't believe it.

'Mom, Brother and I always thought that you would be angry if we called you mom, just like how Sister calls you."

They had long wanted to call her "Mom". They also wanted a mother.

Gu Zi patted his back soothingly, feeling secretly moved herself.

Originally, she just wanted to be a little nicer to the kids because they had indeed suffered too much in the past.

Moreover, they were a family now, and she didn't want these two children to live in darkness their whole lives.

She had never expected the children to want to call her "Mom."

She said, "I won't be angry. Mommy is also very happy to get your approval. Now, be good, take the medicine first."

Gu Zi touched his forehead; the temperature was still very high. Although it wasn't as hot as initially, it still needed attention.

Tears shimmered in Su Li's eyes, a smile playing on his lips. He obediently took the fever medicine, holding his mom's hand, and drifted into a deep sleep.

Seeing him asleep, Gu Zi got up and went back to her room to check on Lele. Then she grabbed a book and stayed by Su Li's bedside.

Outside the room, Su Shen was still awake. When he heard movement outside, he woke up and witnessed Gu Zi taking care of the children through the whole process.

He really wanted to go in and take care of the children together, but he didn't dare to enter.

He felt like no matter how much he did to help out, it seemed like he couldn't make up for her losses.

As Uncle Li had said, time had no price. He could buy back the flower girl dress from her childhood, but he couldn't buy back her lost youth.

At this moment, she was inside reading. Su Shen knew from the foreign language content that it was probably related to overseas studies content.

Even though she said she was willing to marry him, the fact remained that she had sacrificed a lot by staying here.

In recent years, the country needed various highly skilled talents for social development, and the government highly encouraged young people with talent and knowledge to study Western science and culture abroad.

A smart and knowledgeable woman like Gu Zi was exactly the high-end talent suitable for studying abroad.

If she hadn't come to the countryside to marry him, if she hadn't had to take care of Lele, she would probably be fighting for her study abroad dreams in a bright and hopeful classroom, enjoying her own youth.

It was not the first time Su Shen had noticed her reading foreign language books; he just always listened and watched secretly.

He used to think about letting her go, but now he didn't want to let go because he knew that by losing Gu Zi, he would miss out on the most beautiful thing in this world.

Ultimately, the man still didn't push open the partially open door. He walked to the balcony, lit a cigarette.

Outside, it was pitch black, and the drizzle that had started turned into a heavy rain.

By now, the sky was beginning to lighten. Gu Zi suddenly woke up as she heard the rain.

She remembered there were clothes still hanging on the balcony, and with such heavy rain, they would surely get wet.

She tucked Su Li in and headed out to the large balcony on the second floor, where she saw a tall figure.

The man leaned against the edge of the balcony, letting the cool breeze move his clothes. He held a cigarette in one hand, the faint blue smoke swirling around him, appearing cold, noble, and a bit melancholic.

Behind him, the rain formed a curtain, adding a touch of melancholy to his handsome features.

Gu Zi continued to approach, and the man noticed her. He extinguished the faintly lit cigarette with his fingers.

"Why are you out here? It's chilly; go inside quickly."

The man's voice was husky, full of male charm, and his deep eyes stared at her. Gu Zi's heart couldn't help but beat faster. She scanned the balcony, finding it empty.

She asked him, "Did you take in the clothes? Why are you still not asleep? Do you have a habit of smoking in the early morning?

She didn't immediately go inside; this man seemed off today.

Su Shen was afraid that she hated the smell of cigarettes, so he explained, "Actually, I don't smoke often. Only when I'm in a particularly bad mood or need to vent excitement. If you don't like it, I won't smoke again."

Gu Zi felt that he probably wasn't in an excited state now; perhaps, his mood wasn't great.

She didn't mind a man occasionally smoking; she just didn't like men who smoked a lot and ended up with yellow teeth.

It she minded even this, it would be too unreasonable..

...

Chapter 164: Will You Help Me?

Gu Zi could tell that he seemed afraid she might dislike him smoking. She shook her head and said, "How could that be? I find my boyfriend smoking very classy, very manly."

She said this while locking her gaze onto his thin lips, which appeared cold but always turned fervent whenever he kissed her.

That scene just now was full of undeniable sexual tension! There was still a faint smell of tobacco lingering on his body, but it was not unpleasant at all.

She wondered if a man's lips tinged with the smell of smoke would make someone even more intrigued and captivated.

The man squinted slightly and confirmed, "Do you really think so?" This woman always had such unique thoughts. He really wished she wasn't so unique. Maybe then he wouldn't be so greedy and eager to claim her for himself.

Gu Zi asserted, "Of course, my boyfriend is neat and clean, doesn't have any other vices, what's wrong with smoking a little? People need a place to release emotions, after all."

"Yeah, Gu Zi, I want..." He moved towards her, pulling her into an embrace. Gu Zi looked up at him, feeling a tremor in her heart, and softly asked, "What?"

He whispered in her ear, "I've come up with a new way to release emotions. Can you help me?" His warm breath against her ear sent tingles down her spine.

Gu Zi felt coaxed into something, her body responding to an indescribable surge of emotions.

"If I can help..." Her words weren't finished before the man sealed her lips with his.

A faint smile crossed the man's lips; a hint of wickedness appeared in his eyes. Seeing her startled and wide-eyed, he felt satisfied, like he had successfully captured his prey.

He continued kissing her, his tongue skillfully seeking hers, teasing and entwining with it. His hands roamed, landing on her breasts, caressing them sensually.

His play was surprisingly skilled; his rough thumb gently pressed on her nipple, sending a jolt of electricity down, creating a tingling sensation in her lower abdomen.

"Mmm..." She couldn't help but let out a quivering moan. Her supple body twisted under his touch, the scene becoming sensual.

At this moment, Gu Zi couldn't afford to feel shy. Her breath was filled with the scent of tobacco from the man, and the kiss was intense and passionate. It seemed that this man was quite talented in this regard, always knowing how to unleash a woman's charm.

Gu Zi hadn't expected things to progress this far with him, but being intimate like this with him seemed quite fulfilling. 

She had even wanted to teach him card games; it seemed he had been diligently learning on his own.

Indeed, as the saying goes, "A willing learner will learn without being taught, an unwilling one will not learn even if taught."

This man knew how to earn monev. sDend it on his wife, and Dlease his wife: she couldn't be happier.

"Little Zi, when Lele grows up a bit, you can do what you want. I won't stop you." He restrained his desire to go further and pulled the woman into his arms.

Gu Zi opened her eyes, finally understanding the source of his worry.

No wonder he kissed and touched her so domineeringly. She thought that the man was finally going to take action.

After all, that feeling just now made her feel like Su Shen might devour her whole.

She didn't know how to tell him, nor did she say anything, just nestled in his embrace for a long time.

For the first time, she experienced this kind of happiness of hugging and snuggling. Even if she did not do anything, she was very fulfilled.

Gu Zi always believed that people shouldn't be too greedy. In her previous life, she had enjoyed many moments of solitary living.

Although she had worked hard in school and experienced a lot of youthful joy, now that she had encountered Su Shen, choosing him and slowing down for two years for him and Lele didn't seem that bad.

When Lele could go to school, she could still pursue her dreams. She didn't want to live like in her previous life; she just wanted to take life a little easier now, and that was fine.

The next morning, Su Li's fever had subsided, but his throat was still dry and sore. He barely ate any breakfast before falling asleep on the table. Su Shen laid the second son comfortably on the couch, and Gu Zi fetched a blanket to cover him.

Su Bing was doing homework nearby. He knew he wasn't needed to constantly watch over his younger brother now; he could put more focus on his own tasks.

Gu Zi said to Su Shen, "Are you busy with the pig farm today? If not, can you go to the village clinic and get some medicine? I'll write the prescription down for you."

Su Shen said he wasn't busy. After Gu Zi wrote the prescription, Su Shen took it and rode his motorcycle to the clinic..

...

Chapter 165: Taking Care of Him

Gu Zi took some bean jelly grass to make the grass jelly, and soon Su Shen came back with the medicine.

Taking the medicine package, she said to Su Shen, "Can you help me take out two snow pears from the fridge?"

She poured the medicine into a pot with water. Then, she cut the snow pears that Su Shen brought into small slices.

After the sea coconut in the pot was boiled for half an hour, she added other Chinese herbs, the pear slices, and rock sugar into the pot.

The resulting broth displayed a clear light brown color. She quickly brought a bowl to the living room.

"Su Li, get up and drink this. It's particularly good for your throat," she urged.

Su Bing couldn't help but look over when he heard that. It looked very delicious.

Su Le also waved her hand and walked over to Gu Zi, her eyes shining as she looked at the bowl of sweetened drinks.

Su Bing stood up and immediately took Lele to the kitchen.

Gu Zi, seeing how obedient the future bigshot Su Bing was, couldn't help feeling a sense of pride.

Gu Zi woke Su Li up and fed him spoonful by spoonful. He found it extremely comforting to drink and his throat wasn't as dry anymore.

"Mom, Mom, what is this? It feels so refreshing," Su Li now seemed to want to call 'Mom' at every opportunity, as if he wanted to make up for all the years he hadn't called her.

Gu Zi said, "This is sea coconut with snow pear syrup. It moisturizes the lungs and throat. You'll feel better after drinking it."

Su Shen also drank a bowl and felt his entire body feel much more refreshed. Seeing a few beads of sweat on Gu Zi's forehead, he took a tissue and wiped them away for her.

Gu Zi felt his proximity and seemed to be used to it by now. She let him touch her without worry.

"Thank you, Mr. Su!" She turned around and thanked Su Shen with a smile.

"You're welcome," Su Shen said. "If anyone needs thanking, I should thank you for taking such good care of the child."

Gu Zi went to put the bowl away and seeing Su Bing and the others almost done, she called them to the living room.

Her gaze fell on Su Bing and then on Su Li. The two boys blushed and sat up straight.

"Su Bing, Su Li, is there something you haven't told Dad and me?" Gu Zi took the initiative to ask.

Su Shen's gaze also fell on the two children. His slender fingers clenched tightly, and a sense of guilt slowly rose in his heart.

If Gu Zi hadn't noticed that Su Li wasn't feeling well, he might have been like before, waiting for the illness to go away on its own.

Due to his previous neglect, the two children had developed a habit of keeping everything to themselves. It would take time to change that. Su Shen remembered his own childhood. He had grown up in similar conditions, maybe even tougher than Su Bing and Su Li. When he was sick, he relied on his body to recover on its own. When the weather was cold, he relied on his body to endure it. When he was hungry and tired, he relied on sleep to survive. At that time, he felt that perhaps the poor should live like this. Only the strong could survive.

Su Shen didn't feel life was bitter back then, nor did he feel the need for someone to take care of him. He was a lone wolf and was supposed to grow naturally.

However, Gu Zi's arrival made him understand that a child should not live such a dull life.

Children needed love and care, and even more so, they needed their parents to teach them by example. Not everyone was like him, capable of being a lone wolf, even in the wilderness, growing wildly under the sun.

Su Bing and Su Li shook their heads. They didn't think of anything to say.

Gu Zi said, "Since you can't think of anything, let me tell you. Last night, while taking care of your younger brother, I found a school invitation letter near your pillow. Can you tell us what that's about?"

She accidentally saw the envelope and knew it was a school invitation for parents to attend some event. But she didn't read its contents because it involved the children's privacy, and she wouldn't actively read it.

Su Li's hand grasped his pant leg, seeking help from Su Bing.

Su Bing calmly said, "The school is hosting a parent-child reading event next Tuesday. We weren't planning to go, so we didn't say anything."

In the past, when his father was very busy, that vicious stepmother would always promise to attend the parent-teacher conference or other school activities. But in reality, she never did, and gradually, whenever such events came up, he and his younger brother wouldn't participate.

Therefore, they did not tell their parents about the invitation this time..

...

Chapter 166: Picking Mushrooms

In the present moment, it wasn't so much a worry that Gu Zi might not be willing to go; rather, they simply felt it wasn't necessary to bother her. On top of taking care of Lele and managing the household meals, they worried that they would burden her even more.

Gu Zi and Su Shen exchanged a glance, their silence speaking volumes. "Do you not want to go?" Su Shen asked. "Or do you think it's inconvenient?"

Psychology books mentioned that children at Su Bing and Su Li's age are generally sociable and willing to engage in activities. It wasn't likely that they didn't want to attend the school event; there probably was another reason.

Su Bing wanted to say they didn't want to go. However, looking at the anticipation in his younger brother's eyes, the words failed to escape his lips.

He didn't really mind going or not; it didn't matter to him. Yet, he understood his brother's strong desire to attend. His brother longed for more friends, for communication with others.

Now that their mother had finally discovered the invitation, the younger brother must be hoping for their mother to attend.

Su Bing said, "Dad, you're too busy with work, and Mom has to take care of our sister. We think it's okay not to go."

When he called her "Mom," he felt relieved. It didn't seem as difficult to say as he thought.

Gu Zi's lips curled into a smile upon hearing this. She gently patted Su Bing's head and said, "So you both want to go, right? Then let's go."

Su Bing felt somewhat immobilized as Gu Zi's hand rested on his head. He felt like a pet being stroked. It was a strange sensation, magical but not quite as reassuring as he thought a mother's touch would be.

Upon hearing Gu Zi's agreement, Su Li, excitedly stood up. "Really? Mom, you'll come, right?"

Gu Zi smiled and expressed that she was very happy to participate.

Su Li felt the weight lift off his chest, the cloud in his mind dissipating. He joyfully ran around the living room before rushing to the yard to share the news with their dog, Big Yellow. "Big Yellow! Mom is taking us to the parent-child activity!"

Big Yellow lay still, gazing with melancholic triangular eyes, seemingly saying, "What's it got to do with me? Mom never takes me along. All the happiness is yours, I'm just here guarding the house."

After lunch, Su Shen headed out. It rained heavily the previous night, so he needed to check on the pig farm.

Once Lele fell asleep, Gu Zi also left, heading to the cooperative to buy some soy sauce and vinegar, among other seasonings.

Before leaving, she instructed the two brothers to take good care of their sister and prepare her formula when she woke up.

Gu Zi's eyes sparkled with delight as she briskly approached these white objects. Squatting down for a closer look confirmed her suspicions – they were the much sought-after mushrooms.

These mushrooms, known as "cow dung mushrooms, " grew in grassy fields. Their current whiteness and tender texture meant they were fresh and edible.

Without hesitation, she joyfully began picking the mushrooms. She remembered her previous life where there were many parks around her residence. During seasons of ample rain, as soon as the weather cleared, she and the neighbor's kids would head to the lawns to gather these mushrooms.

They would compete to see who could collect the most. The one gathering the most mushrooms was hailed as the "Mushroom-Picking Champion," although there were no actual rewards. Still, it was a happy memory of childhood.

They would take the mushrooms home for the adults to cook. While not ideal for stir-frying, these mushrooms were perfect for making soup and exceptionally flavorful. Gu Zi always finished every drop of soup in her bowl.

"Gu Zi? It's really you!" A familiar voice sounded behind her. Gu Zi, upon turning around, saw Gong Xin.

Gu Zi felt as though she were hallucinating from mushroom picking. How could Gong Xin be here?

However, as Gong Xin approached her, she confirmed it wasn't a hallucination.

Putting the mushrooms in the basket, Gu Zi wiped off some sweat and asked, "Gong Xin, what brings you here?"

Looking at her sweating profusely, hands full, Gong Xin felt a pang of pity. Gu Zi was leading such a hard life. Her husband clearly didn't know how to take care of a woman!

Despite the Su family's wealth, they made Gu Zi work. It was simply unfair! She pulled Gu Zi out of the field and said angrily, "I'm here to rescue you, Gu Zi. Don't serve that older man here. I'll take you to find my brother."

Gu Zi widened her eyes in confusion, not understanding what was happening..

She reached out and touched Gong Xin's forehead, "Are you running a fever?"

...

Chapter 167: Stubborn

Gu Zi felt she wasn't experiencing an illusion; it was Gong Xin who seemed to be in a daze.

Gong Xin waved away Gu Zi's hand and said, "It's a long story. Hurry, take me to your place for a drink, and we can talk slowly."

She didn't want to admit she got lost on her way to find Gu Zi; that would be embarrassing. Nonetheless, her body did crave hydration at the moment.

Gu Zi observed Gong Xin's parched lips and felt a touch of helplessness. How did Gong Xin, the pampered Miss, get herself into such a state? Gong Xin seemed to have come here specifically to look for her. Could she have gotten lost?

Without mocking her, Gu Zi led her home, and Gong Xin stood in astonishment before the two-story building. She knew the man Gu Zi was to marry was a pig farmer, and he likely had some money, but she never expected such luxurious living conditions—a two-story house with a front yard.

No wonder Gu Zi was willing to marry and become a stepmother to three kids in the countryside. Even city dwellers couldn't match these living conditions.

It seemed Gu Zi had tamed both humans and animals here!

"Have some water; I'll prepare some dessert for you," Gu Zi offered, handing her a glass of water before heading inside.

Gong Xin gulped down the water, simultaneously scanning her surroundings with wide eyes, remaining in a perpetual state of surprise, unable to articulate her thoughts.

The living room was spacious and bright, adorned with imported tiles that reflected clear images. It was furnished with a television stand, sofas, wooden tables, and chairs—a complete set of furniture. Various modern appliances adorned the space as well.

There were not many people in the city who could meet this condition. She did not expect the Su family in the countryside to be so ahead of times. They must be extremely wealthy!

Suddenly, Gong Xin felt her meager gift seemed inadequate. Seeing Gu Zi approaching with something, she was unsure whether to present it.

Gu Zi placed the grass jelly dessert she had prepared in front of her, explaining it was a cooling and thirst-quenching dessert.

Gong Xin had not completely quenched her thirst after drinking the water. When she heard Gu Zi say this, she immediately picked it up and ate it.

Su Li, who was doing his homework nearby, watched her with surprise. Were city folks this greedy?

Su Bing reminded him in a hushed tone not to get distracted from his homework, so Su Li continued writing.

Seeing Gong Xin enjoy the food, Gu Zi felt genuinely content.

How should she put it? Although Gong Xin had never been on good terms with the original owner since she was young, she never harbored any ill intentions.

Especially after Gu Zi sold her job to Gong Xin, their relationship seemed to have naturally become harmonious.

Gu Zi hadn't expected Gong Xin to visit her in the countryside.

After finishing the dessert, Gong Xin sighed, "I feel so good after eating this. My parched throat finally feels relieved."

"Why didn't you bring a bottle of water with you?" Gu Zi was a little speechless.

Gong Xin pouted. "Do you know how hard it is to find your place?"

She had arrived around noon and intended to have lunch here, but she couldn't find the location. She had even run out of water.

Gu Zi then remembered that Gong Xin was terrible with directions. She had gotten lost many times in the city during her childhood.

Teasing her, Gu Zi said, "Missy, you're quite something. Not recognizing the way yet daring to come to the countryside alone. What brings you to find me?"

Gong Xin Imew she had let slip, fearing the woman's mocking gaze, which made her blush slightly. But knowing her purpose here was serious, she refrained from engaging in verbal banter.

"I was serious just now. You're not married yet, so it's not too late. Come back and be my sister-in-law. I mean it. I can tell my brother acts tough, but he cares about you."

Gong Xin acknowledged the older man's wealth but felt he was too old! And being a pig farmer— who knows how intimidating he might look!

Her once arch-nemesis, this flower-like beauty, couldn't possibly bow down to wealth alone. She felt that although Gu Zi might have given up on Gong Zhan, having liked him for so long, if she knew he truly cared, she might reconsider.

Gu Zi's lips curved into a faint smile, her eyes slightly narrowed. "My dear, did you come all this way just to say that?"

Gong Xin felt a chill run down her spine for some unknown reason. Holding her arms, she said, "Yes, I think you and my brother are well-matched. As for the old man from the Su family, he's wealthy but not a suitable match.."

...

Chapter 168: The Old Man Is Blessed

Gong Xin finished speaking but still felt a chill down her spine. She glanced over and met a pair of gloomy eyes. Unwilling to linger, she quickly looked away.

That seemed to be the eldest boy from the Su family. He had greeted them when he entered just now.

Why was he staring like that? Gong Xin felt a sense of terror in a child's expression for the first time.

She found it too stifling. If the Su family's kids were like this, it indicated the father was even more difficult to deal with.

No wonder even a greedy person like Lin Miao would give up the rich life here and go to live in a shabby house in the city. Life might not be so good even with all the money!

Gu Zi didn't know what she was thinking, but she was clear that she felt nothing for Gong Zhan, the original host's first love.

As for Su Shen, she initially had a superficial interest, but now, she might genuinely be in love.

"Nonsense. I think he's great, just the type I like right now," said Gu Zi.

Gong Xin, still reluctant, asked, "Can you really let go of my brother, even if he likes you?"

Gu Zi bluntly responded, "Of course. Whatever happened between Gong Zhan and I are in the past. People need to focus on the present. Their father is the present that I need to focus on."

As she spoke, she looked at Su Le with a doting face. Gu Zi knew these people here wouldn't understand the joy of being a mom without having to go through childbirth.

The two brothers doing homework behind them felt relieved after hearing this conversation.

Su Li looked at Gong Xin unhappily. He didn't understand why this bad auntie wanted to snatch their mother away from them. This was the good mother they had waited so long for.

Su Bing's face remained grim. That woman actually said their dad wasn't a match for their mom and called him an old man! Apparently, not all city women had good taste as their mom did.

Gong Xin was a little disappointed. It seemed that there was no hope of Gu Zi being her sister-in-law. She reckoned Gu Zi might have been dazzled by the old man's wealth! But indeed, a wealthy man was a good condition.

She wasn't one to deceive herself. Since the other party had made her intentions clear, she wouldn't insist.

"Well, since you've made up your mind, I can only say the old man is lucky," she said.

That idiot Gong Zhan was still there admiring himself. Gu Zi's thoughts were no longer focused on him, and it served him right.

Gu Zi breathed a sigh of relief when Gong Xin finally stopped urging her to be her sister-in-law. She elegantly started savoring her grass jelly dessert.

She noticed the bag next to Gong Xin and Gong Xin also noticed her gaze. So, she generously took out the bag and placed it on the table.

"This is a little snack I brought for your kids. I'm not trying to please you, but to thank you for selling me the job," Gong Xin stated.

Gu Zi knew she had always been a bit of a spoiled child, so she said, "Then I'll thank Aunt Gong Xin on behalf of the kids."

Gong Xin, a little pouty, said, "Why call me 'Aunt'? It should be 'Big Sister'! Oh, and I have something to tell you: you shouldn't have contact with the Gu family and other people from our Gong family for the foreseeable future, and it's better not to return to the quad."

Gong Xin's tone became serious as she spoke. She had overheard the conversation between her parents and the Gu couple last night. Now, they all thought that Gu Zi was behind it and that Gu Zi was causing trouble behind the scenes, making things difficult for both families.

After accepting the snacks and putting them aside, Gu Zi asked, 'What's going Yesterday, when they were selecting wedding dresses, Lin Miao and Gong Zhan also tagged along." For some reason, those two seemed to have had an unpleasant altercation.

It seemed Gong Zhan left early without selecting the wedding dress. Gu Zi wondered if they would once again blame her for these matters. Thinking this, she listened as Gong Xin explained the situation, confirming her suspicions. She felt that Lin Miao was very strange. It seemed that Lin Miao was always in a hurry to target her.

Having been targeted several times, she seemed to understand Lin Miao's mindset, but she couldn't figure out what she had done to offend her. Was it because their identities had been swapped, and Lin Miao felt she had stolen her luxurious life? Lin Miao was a very vain person, so that might be the case.

Gong Xin continued, "Lin Miao said it was you who incited your brother to ruin her reputation. She thinks you hold a grudge and are intent on ruining her relationship with my brother. As a result, my brother left her behind on the day of the wedding dress selection. I think they're going to settle the score with you. You should be cautious." Gong Xin didn't trust Lin Miao at all..

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Chapter 169: The Proud Gong Xin

Initially, Gong Xin's parents were already suspicious of Lin Miao. However, last night, Lin Miao came in crying and acting pitiful, which made everyone side with her.

It wasn't just the Gu family and their Gong family; even other people in the quad knew about Lin Miao being slandered by Gu Zi.

Now, everyone accused Gu Zi of not appreciating the Gu family's upbringing, repaying kindness with enmity. The rumors had solidified Gu Zi's "crime".

However, Gong Zhan was determined to ignore Lin Miao this time. When Lin Miao came to their house last night, he didn't even step out of his room.

Gong Xin's resolve to come to the countryside to find Gu Zi strengthened upon seeing Gong Zhan's attitude.

Originally, she thought that if Gu Zi still had feelings for her brother, she could play the role of mediator to reconcile her with Gong Zhan and jointly deal with Lin Miao.

Now that she knew Gu Zi had no intention of reuniting with Gong Zhan, she was willing to inform Gu Zi of the true situation so that she could be on guard.

Gu Zi listened with a furrowed brow and then smiled in relief, "Do I look like that kind of jealous woman?"

Gong Xin shook her head and couldn't help but boast a bit, "Of course not. That's why I'm here. If those people in the quad saw your current flourishing life, they'd probably be sour. After all, not everyone has my level of tolerance." She felt a bit sour herself, but now she believed that Gu Zi was destined to have a blessed life.

A woman like Gu Zi would not have a bad life no matter where she went. Why should she be sour about it? It did not benefit her to be sour about the situation.

Just as Gong Xin was thinking about this, her stomach suddenly rumbled. She awkwardly raised her brows, "It's not that I'm hungry. It's just my stomach hasn't been feeling well lately, so you don't have to give me anything to eat."

Watching Gong Xin's proud expression, Gu Zi felt a little happy. Why hadn't the original owner found Gong Xin interesting before?

Gu Zi thought if Gong Xin were a man, it might have been more reasonable for the original owner to like her.

Why did the original owner like Gong Zhan, that arrogant and conceited person? After all, being young meant lacking foresight!

Standing up, Gu Zi said, "I'm going to make some mushroom soup now. Could you help taste it?"

Gong Xin hadn't eaten lunch, and her stomach had been empty for a while. So, when Gu Zi extended this offer, she eagerly nodded.

It had been a long time since she last ate Gu Zi's cooking and she missed it!

Gu Zi handed Su Le over to Gong Xin, "Help me take care of Lele," and then went into the kitchen.

Gong Xin watched the smiling little girl in her arms and felt her heart melting. How come she found the little girl even cuter than the first time she saw her? It made her feel like she wanted a daughter herself.

However, without a suitable partner in sight, she felt thinking about this issue was a bit too far off.

She began to size up the Su family residence again. There was another floor up the stairs, and it looked very big.

Gu Zi, oh, Gu Zi, she had the fate of a rich woman. Even if she had married someone from the countryside, she still married the richest person there.

She teased Lele. "Although I don't really want to admit it, when your mother was in the quad, she was indeed the most beautiful and outstanding one in the quad. If your father wasn't rich, he would never have married such a beautiful wife. "

Su Li snorted coldly by the side and muttered stubbornly, "Even if Dad doesn't have money, he's still the best Dad. Mommy will still fall in love with Dad."

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Gu Zi washed the mushrooms and cut them into small pieces. She peeled garlic cloves and added them to the pot before pouring in water to bring it to a boil.

After adding the mushroom chunks to the simmering broth, she took some sweet potato starch and coated the meat slices before delicately placing them into the soup to simmer and set.

In less than fifteen minutes, a pot of fragrant and delicious fresh mushroom and meat soup was ready, tantalizing with its aroma.

Gong Xin entered the dining room, holding Su Le in her arms. She gulped and remarked, "How is your cooking getting better and better?"

Gu Zi served her a bowl of rice, then asked her to sit and eat. Then, she went to call the two children to taste the mushroom soup. The kids settled across from Gong Xin.

Gong Xin sensed an eerie atmosphere from the children, but preoccupied with tending to her own appetite, she paid little attention to it.

In no time, she devoured a bowl of rice, relishing the tender meat slices and the delightful flavor of the mushrooms. It was so delicious it was almost heavenly!

Glancing up, she noticed Gu Zi preparing to leave with a thermos. "Where are you off to?" she asked.

Gu Zi instructed Su Bing and Su Li to take care of their younger sister and mentioned she was heading to the pig farm to let Su Shen taste something new. Su Shen had mentioned earlier that he might not return tonight, so she decided to take a trip there..

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