CHAPTER 313: CHAPTER 310: CINDERELLA’S COMEBACK 55

Zhu Xiumei and Liu Yu didn’t stay at the Gu Family home for very long. They just showed some concern for Anning and chatted briefly with Mrs. Gu about family matters before leaving.

No sooner had they left than Mrs. Gu pursed her lips and said to Anning, "People really are such that when you’re poor and in a bustling market, no one notices you, but if you’re wealthy in the mountains, distant relatives show up. Look at your Aunt and her husband. If our family were still really poor and you weren’t doing well in your studies, do you think they would ever come by our place?"

Anning just laughed: "It’s human nature. Since they came, we should treat them as we would any ordinary relatives. We can’t exactly send them away when they come to us with smiles—that would look terrible. No matter what is said, she’s still your sister and my aunt, and although Aunt has grown distant from our family in recent years, I still remember how much she doted on me when I was little."

Indeed, that’s true.

Zhu Xiumei is younger than Mrs. Gu. When Anning was born, Zhu Xiumei had not yet had Liu Lingling. She was fond of children and really showed a lot of love for Anning, often helping Zhu Xiumei take care of the child and even buying clothes for Anning. It was only after having Liu Lingling, influenced by the Liu Family, that she changed.

Additionally, years ago, Zhu Xiumei had helped Mrs. Gu scold Grandma Gu.

Mrs. Gu had also shared these incidents with Anning. During Mrs. Gu’s postpartum period, Grandma Gu came to make trouble and not only neglected to help Mrs. Gu, but also demanded Mrs. Gu to get up and serve her.

Mrs. Gu is good-natured and not good at arguing, so back then, she could only cry.

Later, it was during a visit from Zhu Xiumei that she saw this and had a big argument with Grandma Gu. For the most part, it was Zhu Xiumei who took care of Mrs. Gu during her postpartum period.

It could be said that Zhu Xiumei was somewhat good to Mrs. Gu.

Thinking about the earlier years, Mrs. Gu felt somewhat softhearted: "You have a point. Your aunt might have done many wrong things, but considering that she was good to us back then, I owe it to her to give her some face."

Upon mentioning Zhu Xiumei, Mrs. Gu thought of Grandma Gu.

She glared fiercely at Mr. Gu: "No matter what the intentions behind your niece’s visit are, at least they showed up with gifts, signaling a wish to reconcile with us. But your family? Your mom, your brother, your sister—they haven’t even made a phone call, let alone a visit. You say your mom is old and doesn’t follow the news, but what about your brother and sister? And Ankang? They must be aware of the news, they must know that Ningning won the first prize. Did they show any reaction?"

Mrs. Gu grew increasingly angry as she spoke: "Xiumei and her husband came because of me, but aren’t your brother and sister your blood relatives too? How can they not even give a word? After such a big event, their silence is like cutting ties, isn’t it?"

Mr. Gu was quiet and did not dare to speak.

He also felt guilt.

No matter what the intentions of Zhu Xiumei and her husband were, they at least showed a good attitude, especially Liu Yu, who did not utter a single unpleasant word since arriving, always smiling and showing genuine care when talking to Anning.

But what about his side of the family?

Mr. Gu felt increasingly disheartened.

"Alright, I understand. From now on, we won’t bother with them either, just as if we had no such relatives."

Mr. Gu carefully tried to appease Mrs. Gu.

Anning also tried to console Mrs. Gu: "If they don’t visit us, won’t we live more peacefully? If Grandma and the others had come, who knows what kind of trouble they would stir up."

Mrs. Gu knew this was true, but still felt unbearably stifled.

After some time consoling Mrs. Gu, Anning left the house.

With Zhu Xiumei and her husband visiting today, Anning could no longer treat Zhu Xiumei coldly like she did before.

She would treat their family as proper relatives.

This wasn’t to say that Anning wasn’t vengeful nor was it a testament to her broad-mindedness.

Originally, things between her family and Grandma Gu’s side were very strained. Given the Gu Family’s nature, there might be more disputes in the future.

Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu are rather soft-spoken and not very good at speaking; they are utterly helpless when Grandma Gu stirs up trouble.

Zhu Xiumei and her husband, however, are eloquent and quite formidable; they also have the guts.

Anning wants to give them some benefits, so that when Grandma Gu causes trouble in the future, Zhu Xiumei and her husband can step up since Zhu Xiumei is Mrs. Gu’s younger sister, and it’s only right for her to help her own sister.

Moreover, Anning also needs to consider the fear of public opinion.

One does not live in this world, staying uninvolved and independent.

Anning knows that there is no chance for reconciliation between Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, and Grandma Gu. If they stop talking to Zhu Xiumei and her husband as well, people won’t blame the relatives but will instead say that Mrs. Gu is not a good person; otherwise, why would the in-laws fight like enemies, and even her maternal sister wouldn’t speak up?

Anning is also considering Mrs. Gu’s reputation, which is why she had Mr. Gu give Zhu Xiumei and her husband a way out.

After Zhu Xiumei and her husband returned home, Zhu Xiumei’s expression was not very pleasant.

"I said not to go, but you insisted on going. Look at the things my sister and Anning said, where do I even put my face now?"

Liu Yu quickly tried to console her, "Alright, don’t complain, we did this for Lingling, just think of it as enduring hardship for our daughter."

Zhu Xiumei’s expression softened slightly: "I never expected Anning to be so capable; I have watched this girl grow up, how could I never have seen her potential before?"

"What could you see?"

Liu Yu poured himself a glass of water and drank it: "I’ve told you before not to make things so stiff with your sister, but you wouldn’t listen."

Zhu Xiumei glared at him: "Is this my fault? She is my sister, you think I want it this way? It all started because of your mother stirring things up, looking down on my sister’s family’s poverty, forbidding me from visiting my sister, fearing I would help her out. Plus, my brother-in-law used to be too filially pious, spending all his earnings on sending money back home. I was also afraid that regardless of how much I gave, my sister wouldn’t benefit, and it would just end up filling the bottomless pit of the Gu Family."

Liu Yu actually knew about these things.

He also knew that Zhu Xiumei used to be kind, but the provocations from the Liu Family made her increasingly harsh and opportunistic.

"From now on, we can’t keep doing this. You must remember, don’t take advantage of your sister anymore. Let’s get our relationship back on good terms; so long as Ningning is willing to lend Lingling a helping hand at critical times, I would be extremely grateful."

Ultimately, Liu Yu, despite being very shrewd, was truly a loving father; his whole heart was set on thinking for his daughter.

Zhu Xiumei also clearly understood: "I know, from now on, I will definitely sweet-talk my sister. I see that Anning isn’t the type to hold grudges without gratitude. She surely still remembers the affection when I took care of her as a child, she won’t neglect our daughter in the future."

On the Liu Family’s side, although the couple had their little schemes, they were not ill-intentioned.

But back in Anning’s hometown, the situation with the Gu Family was different.

Uncle Gu went to Grandma Gu’s place, holding a newspaper to show her

"Ningning is incredibly successful now; she won four national first prizes in the Olympiad, how can this girl be so capable?"

Grandma Gu glanced at it: "No matter how capable she is, she will have to marry sooner or later, and eventually, she will belong to another family. What does it have to do with our Gu Family? Ankang is the root of our family."

Uncle Gu thought the same.

Still, he asked Grandma Gu, "Mom, should we go and see the second brother’s family? It’s a big deal; we ought to make some gestures, right?"

"Don’t go," Grandma Gu said coldly: "They don’t even come back for New Year’s, yet they expect me to visit them? They are dreaming. Besides, what does it matter if she did well in exams? It still costs money, and in the future, it might cost even more. What if he asks you for money when you visit?"

With one sentence, Uncle Gu’s thoughts were completely dismissed.