When it came to her hometown, Qi Fenglian felt a bit uneasy. In fact, her mother kept asking her if Cheng Su eventually lent the money or not. She was so annoyed and regretful that she decided not to mention anything casually to her mom in the future.
"Everythingās the same as always. Mom and Dad are in good health. Jianguo and Fengping have taken the college entrance exams, so weāll see if they can get into university. Itās busy farming season now, and everyone is helping out at home, but that lazy girl Fengping always avoids work," Qi Fenglian said with a faint smile.
Cheng Su laughed and said, "Thatās good!"
Qi Fenglian seemed hesitant, so Cheng Su asked, "Is there anything else?"
"About last time, the borrowing money thing, Iām sorry. I was just surprised and panicked, didnāt think much, and told Mom. Iāve caused you so much trouble!" Qi Fenglian said awkwardly.
Cheng Su replied, "Itās fine, itās all in the past!"
"Every time Iāve gone back, Mom always asks me if you lent the money or not. How would I know? Iām terrified of her questions!" Qi Fenglian said again, testing the waters.
Cheng Su lowered her gaze and didnāt say whether she had lent the money or not, and said, "Just tell her you donāt know."
"Thatās what I said, but Iām so tired of being asked!" Qi Fenglian laughed awkwardly.
Cheng Su didnāt engage with that topic and said, "Whether I did or didnāt lend the money, it is what it is. If I did, itās my business, and Iāll repay it in the future." Then she changed the subject: "Letās not talk about that, tell me, has Zhang Jisheng stopped bothering you?"
Qi Fenglianās smile faded, and she looked a bit unhappy, "Of course not, he showed up just a few days ago!"
Cheng Suās eyes widened, "He still has the nerve to come? Didnāt you mention his situation?"
"I did. You know what, right after our divorce, he went on a matchmaking date after New Yearās. His mother arranged it," Qi Fenglian said mockingly. "Itās funny he came over pretending to reconcile with me."
Cheng Su was a bit gossipy, asking, "What kind of person is she? She doesnāt seem kind, quite fierce actually!"
"She remarried after divorcing her previous husband, bringing a daughter with her. The matchmaker praised her, saying she was virtuous, diligent, and good at bearing children. She even had a son with her former family. At first meeting, she seemed diligent, very friendly with the Zhang family, sweet-talking them, and stayed shortly after," Qi Fenglian said. Talking to her sister-in-law about this made her a bit embarrassed, but she didnāt have many close friends, and Cheng Su knew her situation anyway, so there was no harm in talking.
"So once she settled in, her behavior changed?" Cheng Su asked.
Qi Fenglian nodded, "Zhang Jisheng himself said she was pretending, a phony with a bad temper, only there to deceive the Zhang family and him! He said he knows heās made a mistake, regrets it, and wants to live with me again!"
Cheng Su snorted, rolling her eyes dramatically, "He says things like that without feeling ashamed? Iām embarrassed just hearing it!"
"Does he have any face left? Heās long past caring about face!" Qi Fenglian said sarcastically, "He still thinks Iām the same fool as before. But Iām not stupid. Just perfect, a shrew with a lazy man, theyāre made for each other. Let the Zhangs have their chaos!"
Cheng Su could hear the resentment in her voice and said, "Alright, itās good you see things clearly, no need to get involved in this mess. If he comes again, just kick him out!"
Qi Fenglian nodded, "Iāll just raise my two kids, forget about men; theyāre all like this!"
Cheng Su sighed slightly, "Youāre still young. If a good man comes along, you can give it another try!"
Qi Fenglian chuckled bitterly, "Once bitten, twice shy, right? Weāll see!"
Before Cheng Su could continue to persuade her, two kids came running out energetically, so she dropped the subject.