Chapter 552: Chapter 543: The Stepmother Who Refused to Be a Stepping Stone 31 (Bonus Chapter for 250 Monthly Tickets)
Anning hurriedly left the village with Liu Ming and Liu Yuzhen.
Liu Ming knew what was going on, but Liu Yuzhen did not.
She looked up and asked Anning, "Mom, where are we going? Is brother crying? Are we not taking him with us?"
Anning smiled, "How about mom takes you to the Provincial City? I didnāt say weāre abandoning your brother. Itās just that his birth mother is back. Your brother and your sister need to stay with their birth mother for a while. Weāll live in the Provincial City for a few years and then come back to pick up your brother, how does that sound?"
Liu Yuzhen thought for a moment, "Alright then."
Anning felt a lot more relieved. When they reached the entrance of the village, they coincidentally found a tractor heading to town to buy goods, so Anning waved it down and took the children on the tractor.
In this way, they arrived at the county town unsteadily. Anning then hurriedly bought bus tickets to the city, arriving there with the children by early evening.
She took the children to the house she had purchased years ago. As they entered, they saw Liu Qi hugging his backpack and munching on a bun.
"Mom, youāre finally here. I was so worried."
Ever since Liu Qi arrived in the city, he hardly dared to step outside.
The items in his backpack were too important; he was very fearful of being robbed.
If those items were lost, how would their family get by in the future?
Anning called Liu Qi over to put down his backpack, and then asked him to go out and buy some food.
The area where they were staying had developed quite rapidly over the years, with many small restaurants opening not far away.
Liu Qi took some money and went out, returning with a good amount of food.
Liu Ming and Liu Yuzhen were both very hungry, and upon seeing the food, they started eating without consideration for anything else.
After eating a little, Anning gave some money to Liu Qi and asked him and Liu Ming to return to the county town early to continue their schooling, as the middle school exams were approaching. Their studies could not be delayed.
She also instructed Liu Qi, "If you see Jingyu and Jing Yan, tell them Iāve gone to the Provincial City. Tell them to study hard and not to fall behind in their schoolwork. Donāt hold any grudges against them or become estranged."
Liu Qi responded, "I know, they are my sisters, I canāt become estranged from them."
Anning patted his head, "Also, aside from your Uncle Zhifang, the Li family hasnāt wronged us. In the future, if you meet your older uncles and they treat you the same as before, remember to greet them. If you have any questions, you can also call your third uncle. Your mom and Uncle Zhifang are divorced, but we cannot break our ties with the Li family."
Liu Qi knew all of this.
Over the years he spent with the Li family, those uncles really treated him well, completely as if he were Li Zhifangās eldest son, no different from their own children.
"Mom, I am old enough now, I know what I should and shouldnāt do. Donāt worry, even if I meet Uncle Zhifang, I wonāt resent him, I will address him as I should."
Only then did Anning smile.
No matter what issues exist between the adults, it shouldnāt affect the children.
She didnāt want her three children to become narrow-minded and full of resentment; she hoped they could live in the light and maintain a positive and forward-looking attitude.
After dinner, Anning tidied up the house and spent a messy night sleeping with the three children. Early the next morning, after sending off Liu Qi and Liu Ming, Anning called Liu Ru.
Liu Ru also found out about Anningās divorce from Li Zhifang.
Yesterday, Zhang Fengfeng called Li Zhicheng. Li Zhicheng took leave and went back to the village. Before leaving, he also talked to Liu Ru about this matter.
Therefore, when Liu Ru heard Anningās voice, she took a big sigh of relief: "You finally called. You donāt know how worried we were, afraid that you would be too distressed."
Anning smiled: "I still have three children to raise, I canāt be too distressed. Donāt worry, Iām fine. I understand everything, Iāve never blamed anyone, I just canāt bear parting with the three Jingyu."
Liu Ru also couldnāt bear to part with Anning: "Donāt mention being unable to part with the children, we canāt bear to part with you either. Mother called last night and told me that itās true you and Lao Si are divorced, but you are still a part of our family. Please donāt become estranged from us, just talk to us if thereās anything, just like before. Donāt be stubborn and struggle on your own, understand?"
Anning nodded: "I know, I wonāt become estranged from you. Donāt hide anything from me in the future, like the children getting married and having kids. I am their aunt, I definitely have to contribute. You have to tell me about this, otherwise I will be upset too."
Anning and Liu Ru chatted and laughed for a while, then she told her: "Give mother a call and tell her, Iām taking the kids to the Provincial City. I will also transfer our household registration there, once I settle in I will tell you the phone number, so you can talk to me about anything."
Liu Ru listening to Anning really felt she harbored no resentment, sense her mood was quite good, and responded with a smile.
After hanging up the phone, Anning took Liu Yuzhen by car to the Provincial City.
Their apartment there was already furnished, Anning didnāt need to do much arranging, just bought some daily necessities and settled down.
Liu Qi and Liu Ming are both in the ninth grade, and their academic performances are very good, thereās no problem with them getting into high schools in the Provincial City, Anning could transfer their registrations after they get accepted into high schools.
But Liu Yuzhen needed to study in the Provincial City, her household registration and school records needed to be transferred.
It took Anning and Liu Yuzhen several days to finally get her registration and school records transferred to a nearby primary school.
After Liu Yuzhen started school, Anning then took those gold bars and exchanged them for money.
As for those gemstones and one or two antiques, it took Anning a month to sell them. She deposited half of the money in the bank and kept the other half at home.
Only when Liu Qi and Liu Ming both got admitted into high schools in the region, and all three kids were on summer vacation, coincidentally Li Zhicheng and Liu Ru also got transferred to the Provincial City. The entire family moved over, and Anning asked Liu Ru to help look after the kids while she took some money and left on a long trip.
Anningās trip took more than a month, and when she returned, she brought back a large sum of money.
Of course, thatās a story for later.
Letās talk about the situation at Li family after Anning left.
The moment Anning left, the other five sons of the Li family all came back.
They didnāt go to Li Zhifangās place, but all gathered around Zhang Fengfeng.
As soon as Li Zhiyuan entered the door, he hurriedly asked Zhang Fengfeng: "Mom, whatās happening at home?"
Zhang Fengfeng asked them all to sit down, and only after they were seated did she say: "Lao Si and Anning got divorced."
"What?"
Li Zhipeng suddenly stood up: "What did Lao Si do to wrong sister-in-law? Iāll break his legs."
Zhang Fengfeng held Li Zhipeng back: "Sit down first, sit and listen to me."
Li Zhipeng sat down angrily, and Zhang Fengfeng then explained the whole story to the five sons: "Anning didnāt want to put Lao Si in a difficult position, she didnāt tell me and your dad, we only found out after they divorced. Anning left without taking anything, she didnāt fight or ask for anything from Lao Si. This child, always swallowing her own hardships, always thinks for others, never thinking of herself. How can she get by in the future as a woman with three children?"