Retreat to Advance

Su Bing was just ten years old himself. He felt a bit relieved when he saw that Gu Zi had already eaten some of the noodles and vegetables. He then picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

The first bite of noodles aroused his appetite. He wasn't typically a picky eater, but this food was irresistible. Mixing the vegetables with the noodles made it even more delicious.

In no time, Su Bing had finished his meal. He heard Su Li say with a happy smile, "Big brother, I told you her cooking is amazing! This is the best meal I've ever had!"

Su Bing remained silent as he cleaned up the dishes.

...

Aunt Chu went home in a huff. She pushed open the door and walked straight to her room.

Aunt Chu's daughter, Chu Tian, was washing clothes in the courtyard. When she saw her mother return empty-handed, she quickly washed her hands and walked toward Aunt Chu's room.

Chu Tian saw her mother sitting by the bed sulking. She asked in puzzlement, "Mom, why didn't you bring anything back? Did you forget? You said we were having meat today, and it would have been perfect for us..."

"Eating, eating, all you ever think about is eating!" Aunt Chu snapped, her face turning ugly. She glared at Chu Tian and continued, "You see, I'm getting old, and I have to take care of those three little brats. If you set your sights on Su Shen, that's your business, but why should I be the one doing all the hard work?"

"And now, look at you. You've gained so much weight in recent years, and on top of that, you never clean yourself up. Your face is dirty, and your hands are covered in grime. How can you compare to Gu Zi?" Aunt Chu muttered a string of complaints, her expression growing increasingly gloomy as she pursed her lips.

Chu Tian had been slim and attractive in her younger years, but now she was carrying extra weight. What bothered Aunt Chu even more was her daughter's lack of hygiene. She was covered in dirt, both on her face and hands.

Gu Zi, on the other hand, was stunningly beautiful with fair skin. She appeared to be a well-bred young lady.

She only had one daughter, and she wanted to find a better family for her daughter.

Previously, he had introduced a family to Chu Tian. The man from that family had been assigned to a poorer place because of his poor family background.

Chu Tian had broken things off with him, and while it wasn't her fault, the villagers believed she brought bad luck to her potential in-laws.

As a result, Chu Tian was now twenty-six years old. Aunt Chu had taken good care of her in the past, but now her daughter's standards were high. She aimed to marry someone from the city.

However, in the countryside, no one wanted to marry her, and the city was even less likely to have a place for someone like her.

When Chu Tian found out that Su Shen had divorced, she couldn't wait to be with him. She was eager to assist him with anything, and was daydreaming about it every day.

Aunt Chu had initially believed that by helping Su Shen, her daughter Chu Tian could get closer to him and win his heart. Little did she know that Gu Zi would suddenly appear in the picture.

When Aunt Chu mentioned Su Shen's potential wife, Chu Tian's eyes showed a hint of surprise. She smiled and said, "Mom, you're getting worked up over this?"

Aunt Chu frowned.

Chu Tian continued with a smile, "Haven't you heard that Lin Miao has found her biological parents and wants to annul her marriage? Could it be that Lin Miao has returned?"

Before Aunt Chu could respond, Chu Tian added, "Mom, you're making a fuss over nothing. Even if Lin Miao came back, Su Shen definitely wouldn't be interested in her anymore."

Although Su Shen's family was wealthy, people nowadays preferred those with stable jobs. After all, job security was the most desirable quality.

Someone like Su Shen, who was a self-employed individual, couldn't compare.

"It's not Lin Miao; it's Gu Zi," Aunt Chu gritted her teeth.

"Gu Zi?" Chu Tian's eyes widened with confusion. She asked, "Who's Gu Zi?"

"The Lin family's real daughter, Gu Zi. She said she's here to fulfill the marriage contract. You..." Aunt Chu's words were interrupted by Chu Tian's laughter.

"Are you talking about that girl who refused to leave the Gu family because she thought the Lin family was too poor?" Chu Tian chuckled. "That's impossible, Mom. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Aunt Chu rolled her eyes and said irritably, "She's already living in the Su family residence now."

"What?" Chu Tian was anxious now. She grabbed Aunt Chu's arm and said, "Mom, why didn't you chase her out? If she marries Su Shen, what will I do? Su Shen won't agree to marry her, right?"

"Su Shen agreed!" Aunt Chu nodded seriously.

Chu Tian was so frightened that she sat down abruptly on the ground, her face pale.