Chapter 137: If My Own Sister Were Su Ruan

In this era, spending so much money to buy a few dilapidated houses is hard for anyone to understand.

Su Ruan withdrew her gaze, turned to look at him, and the sunlight outside the window cast soft shadows on her face.

She cannot tell Jiang Ran the exact news about the demolition, she can only give him confidence.

"Jiang Ran, do you believe me?" she asked softly.

"Believe! Of course I believe!" Jiang Ran answered without hesitation, "I believe whatever my daughter‑in‑law says!"

Su Ruan smiled, her smile carrying certainty and anticipation: "That's enough, believe me, it won't be long before these houses bring us unexpected surprises."

She looked out the window again, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edges of the few stiff property deeds inside the cloth bag.

One month… according to her vague memory, about a month later the demolition rumors would surface, and the official notice wouldn't be far off.

Demolition households…

The term sounded subtly different in her previous life, but at this moment it signified tangible wealth and opportunity.

That would be a huge Startup Capital, enough to let her and Jiang Ran expand "Chongsu" further, perhaps even venture into other fields, laying a sturdier foundation for their and their children's future.

Su Yanhua stepped out and wandered aimlessly down the street.

She didn't understand, truly didn't understand.

Why? She was clearly a Rebirth of a Lifetime person, she knew the general future trajectory, she should have seized the advantage, trampled Su Ruan beneath her feet, and reclaimed all the glory and wealth that should have belonged to her!

But why did things turn out like this?

In this life, everything has been reversed!

Su Ruan married that notorious playboy Jiang Ran from her previous life, yet he turned over a new leaf, becoming capable and devoted!

The couple were affectionate, their business thriving, and they even gave birth to Dragon-Phoenix Twins in one go, basking in limitless glory!

Meanwhile, she snatched Liu Wenbin, only to end up with miscarriage, loss of uterus, abandonment, and even the silver pot was imprisoned!

The huge disparity and resentment gnawed at her heart like a poisonous snake.

Where exactly did she go wrong?

Is a Rebirth merely to make her more profoundly experience this unattainable longing and the pain of falling into a valley?

Just as her mind drifted, a low rumble of a car engine rose from afar and drew near.

These days, a compact car is an absolute rarity.

Su Yanhua instinctively looked up.

A brand‑new silver‑gray compact car rolled smoothly along the not‑wide street, its body gleaming and polished.

The window was rolled down halfway, clearly revealing the handsome man with a smiling mouth in the driver's seat—Jiang Ran!

In the passenger seat, a woman dressed in lotus‑pink attire, with a gentle face and radiant complexion, was not Su Ruan—who else could it be?

They… they even drove a compact car?!

Su Yanhua's steps froze instantly, her blood seeming to solidify at that moment.

She watched the wealth‑and‑status‑symbolic compact car drift slowly past her, saw Jiang Ran turn his head and say something to Su Ruan, and Su Ruan turned her head and gave him a gentle smile.

The scene was harmonious, blissful, and blindingly dazzling!

The car did not stop, perhaps not even noticing the beggar‑like figure by the roadside, and drove straight toward Guihua Alley, leaving a faint trail of exhaust and a crowd of envious onlookers discussing.

"Did you see? It's the son of Factory Director Jiang who bought it!"

"Tsk tsk, how lavish! What a beautiful car!"

"That young couple is so capable, opening a shop and making big money!"

"Su Ruan really has great luck…"

Those murmuring comments buzzed into Su Yanhua's ears, each word feeling like a slap.

She stared fixedly at the receding car silhouette until it vanished around the corner.

Why… on what grounds…

She lived a Rebirth of a Lifetime, scheming step by step, yet met this fate.

And Su Ruan, the sister who died tragically in the previous life, now effortlessly possesses everything!

Why is this happening?

Is Su Yanhua destined to be Su Ruan's stepping stone!

A sour‑sweet taste rose in her throat; she coughed violently, a heart‑rending cough that forced tears out.

But aside from impotent rage and bone‑deep jealousy, she could do nothing.

Reality was like a bucket of ice water, dousing the last of her unrealistic fantasies.

Now, even standing before Su Ruan, she seemed so laughable and humble.

With nowhere to go, she could only return to the natal home she never wanted to revisit.

She pushed open the slightly dilapidated wooden door; in the courtyard, Da Zhuang was hunched, smoking a dry pipe, and Wang Juhua was scrubbing clothes by the well, the atmosphere heavy.

Seeing her enter, Wang Juhua merely lifted her eyelids and huffed disapprovingly, "Came out? Still remember how to come back?"

Her tone held little concern, more complaint and disdain.

Their daughter caused such a huge scandal, almost becoming a murderer, making the old Su family unable to lift its head in this area; it's no wonder her heart can't be at ease.

Da Zhuang didn't even lift his head, just let out a heavy sigh, the smoke swirling and obscuring his gloomy face.

Su Yanhua felt a pang inside, yet had no way to argue, and could only call softly, "Dad, Mom…"

"Sister? Why did you come back?"

When the inner door curtain was pulled aside, Su Yaozu rubbed his sleepy eyes and stepped out, clearly just awakened.

He saw Su Yanhua, froze for a moment, then his face showed unabashed disdain and displeasure, pursing his lips as he said, "Didn't you marry into the Liu family as a Young Mistress? So the Liu family rejected you, and you decided to come back to our shabby nest?"

His words cut like a knife, leaving Su Yanhua with no skin unscathed.

"Yaozu! How can you speak to your sister like that!" Wang Juhua scolded, but her voice lacked force.

Su Yaozu brazenly walked to the table, sat down, crossed his legs, and sized up Su Yanhua's disheveled look, sneering, "Did I say it wrong? Mom, look at her like that—she looks like a refugee."

"If I'd known you were this useless, couldn't even keep a man, and dragged yourself into the jail, I'd have been better off flattering Sister Su Ruan more!"

He said it as if it were obvious, with the shrewdness and coldness of a city merchant.

"Look at what Sister Su Ruan is living now: driving a little car, living in a big house, Jiang Ran's brother‑in‑law can both earn money and dote on her! Even a drop leaking from the crevice of his fingertips would be enough for me to be carefree for a while!"

He glanced contemptuously at Su Yanhua, "Unlike you, you haven't even gotten any profit, yet you keep causing trouble for the family! Truly unlucky!"

"Su Yaozu! Shut up!" Su Yanhua trembled all over, shouting in a sharp voice.

Being ridiculed and trampled by one's own younger brother was harder to endure than being pointed at by outsiders.

"Me shut up? I'm stating the facts!" Su Yaozu stuck his neck out, "You have no ability yourself, who can you blame? If I had a sister like Su Ruan, I'd already be eating fine and drinking spicy! Who would still be holed up in this broken place?"