Chapter 714: Since My Mother Shields the Daughter of Our Enemy, There's No Need for Me to Go Currying for Her Dislike Anymore

It took Liu's mother a long while to recover; with tearful eyes she looked at Dujuan: "Your father, he...."

Zhao Dujuan glanced at Liu Chuxue, then began to recount the story in detail.

After hearing it, Liu's mother was so angry she was trembling: "How dare she?"

Saying so, she looked at Liu Chuxue and Fu Yan Cheng: "This can't just be left at that. My eldest brother was a martyr; we can't let him die with his grievance unaddressed."

Fu Yan Cheng took up the thread: "Don't worry, Auntie. I've already had someone report the matter upward. The unit where Great-Uncle served will step in; it won't be long before there's a result."

Liu's mother nodded lightly, finally letting out a breath of relief.

She turned her gaze back to her niece: "Where's your second uncle? Do you have any news of him?"

Dujuan shook her head: "I don't know where Second Uncle is."

Disappointment flashed across Liu's mother's face, but she adjusted quickly: "Where are you living now?"

Dujuan quickly told her current situation to Liu's mother: "Auntie, I have a job now and can support myself. Since my mother doesn't like me, I won't go looking for her again. Now that I've found you, Auntie, I have family too. I'll work hard to live my own life well."

Liu's mother patted her niece's shoulder lightly: "Now you can finally say the hardship is over and the sweetness has come."

Dujuan nodded heavily: "Even though being hit and scolded at my foster mother's was an everyday thing since I was little, she cared about face. I took advantage of that to finish high school — otherwise I probably wouldn't have gotten this job either."

Liu Chuxue, however, cut in: "I guess her caring about face was one thing, but she was even more afraid of what she'd done being exposed, so she compromised."

After chatting a few more lines, Liu's mother's emotions finally settled completely: "What are you thinking?"

Dujuan sighed: "Auntie, since my mother shields the daughter of our enemy, there's no need for me to go currying for her dislike anymore. From now on, having you, Auntie, as my family is enough."

Hearing these words, Liu's mother's tears fell again of their own accord: "Good. Your mother won't love you, but your auntie will protect you."

Seeing they wouldn't be done talking for a while yet, Fu Yan Cheng looked up at Liu's father and gestured for him to step out to the yard.

Liu's father carried bedding over from the kang and propped Liu's mother against it: "You all chat. Call me if you need anything."

The future father-in-law and son-in-law walked out of the room, one behind the other.

Fu Yan Cheng looked toward the kitchen: "Uncle, it's getting late. I brought some meat over. They'll probably still be talking for a while — let me show you my cooking tonight."

Truth be told, Liu's father was a little surprised: "You...."

Fu Yan Cheng knew what he wanted to ask: "I spent quite a bit of time in the cookhouse lately."

He didn't say more — after all, learning to cook had meant plenty of haggling with the fellows in the cookhouse.

That evening he made rice cooked with millet, soaked dried long beans to stir-fry with meat, and stewed the remaining meat with radish. Done.

Liu's father played assistant, and seeing him cook so properly, he couldn't help but be even more satisfied with him.

Just as their dishes came out of the pot over here, the conversation over there was wrapping up too.

The smell of food reminded Liu's mother she should have been cooking, and she slapped her own forehead: "Pregnancy really does make you stupid for three years — I forgot the important things."

Only then did Liu Chuxue remember: "Why hasn't Chunxiao come back yet?"

Liu's mother looked outside: "Should be soon. Lately she's been staying at a classmate's to finish her homework before coming home."

Liu Chuxue kept feeling something was off, but couldn't put a finger on it, so she set it aside for the moment.

Liu's father walked in just then: "Food's ready. Let's eat first."

Liu's mother pulled Dujuan over: "This is your uncle by marriage."

Dujuan looked at Liu's father: "Hello, Uncle. I'm Dujuan."

Liu's father grinned good-naturedly: "Good, good. From now on, treat this place as your own home."