Nothing eventful happened during their train journey this time, and they arrived in Rongcheng smoothly.
By the way, Song Wei’s cheap father and his family also lived here.
After arriving, Song Wei and Lin Zhen each carried a child and lugged their large and small bags to the guesthouse first.
It was already late, and they would need to take a bus to get to her uncle’s house.
However, this place wasn’t far from the home of Song Wei’s scumbag father.
Lin Ping’an and the twin brothers were very curious about the new city, looking around everywhere.
They bought some snacks to satisfy the children’s cravings and spent the night at the guesthouse.
Early the next morning, Song Wei and Lin Zhen took the three children to a state-run restaurant.
Rongcheng was, after all, a big city, with a wider variety of dishes at its restaurants and plenty of people.
The only thing was that Lin Zhen found the food a bit hard to get used to—it was quite spicy here.
So, he bought more steamed buns and buns, opting for wheat-based foods.
The children sat obediently nearby. They had been raised well by Song Wei and Lin Zhen. Even though they were naturally mischievous, they knew when to be playful and when to be polite and quiet—like during meals.
When eating out, the three children never made loud noises; even Xiao Nan behaved well.
Making too much noise at the table could easily lead to food being spit everywhere, which was not allowed.
Xiao Nan was a foodie and never hesitated to stuff his mouth.
“Song Wei?”
Hearing someone call her name suddenly, especially in her original hometown, it was undoubtedly someone who knew her.
She turned to look and, sure enough—it was someone she knew, and not just casually.
Indeed, she had the misfortune of running into Song Tian, the daughter brought by her stepmother.
Song Tian was holding a man’s arm and sizing up Song Wei.
“I didn’t expect it to really be you. Weren’t you sent to the countryside? How come you’re back?”
Song Tian looked at Song Wei’s beautiful face, envy flashing in her eyes.
But then, as if remembering something, she became smug.
“No matter why you’re back, you should go see Dad. He’s almost been driven to his grave by you and your brother.”
People around them pricked up their ears.
Hearing Song Tian’s insinuating words, they would likely think Song Wei was an unfilial daughter.
Well, heck, she really was unfilial—by their standards.
Song Wei rolled her eyes dramatically. “Who are you calling siblings? You, my brother, and I share no blood relation. What, is your family so poor you can’t even put food on the table without my brother’s support? You and your mom stole my job, and you’re still not satisfied? You’re like leeches, clinging to us and sucking our blood to survive. Disgusting.”
“You!”
Song Tian never expected her to say something so harsh in public.
“What ‘you’? You and my vicious stepmother stole my job and signed me up for rural labor without my consent. My brother sent his allowance to support me, but you drove me to the countryside and still expected him to send money to feed you ingrates? If he doesn’t give you money, he’s unfilial? Where do you get the nerve!”
Hearing Song Wei’s words, the people around immediately looked at her with sympathy.
To have her job stolen by her stepmother and her stepmother’s daughter, and then be forced to go to the countryside—how tragic.
The onlookers’ gazes toward Song Tian were filled with utter disdain.
Song Tian’s face flushed red with anger. “Dad was the one who decided to give the job to me!”
Song Wei sneered. “That job was left to me by my mother—what right did he have to decide? Ever since you and your mother came into our home, you took over my room, stole my clothes, and even stole my father. Now you’ve taken the job my mother worked so hard to secure for me. You’re nothing but a family of greedy, insatiable leeches.”
Song Tian never expected Song Wei to be so sharp-tongued upon seeing her again.
The man beside Song Tian, furious, shook off her hand.
“Can’t we just eat without causing a scene?”
Feeling implicated and subjected to the judgmental stares around them, he was utterly embarrassed.
Song Tian quickly grabbed his hand. “Zhang Peng, don’t believe her! She’s slandering me! She’s just jealous because my life is better than hers!”
Her meek and pitiful act made Song Wei roll her eyes.
This was certainly not the face she showed at home.
“Song Wei, I know you’re upset, but Dad really did give the job to me because I was more suitable for it than you. As for being sent to the countryside, it’s the rule—those without jobs have to go.”
Her eyes then shifted to the children and Lin Zhen beside Song Wei, and she feigned shock, covering her mouth with exaggerated delicacy.
“Oh my, did you get married in the countryside? We had no idea! Sister, how could you be so shortsighted? Dad was planning to introduce you to some outstanding young men when you returned! Oh, I almost forgot to introduce you—this is my husband, Zhang Peng. He’s the son of the director of the rubber shoe factory.”
The comparison was blatantly obvious.
Zhang Peng puffed out his chest proudly, clearly basking in the glory of his status.
Lin Zhen stood up and stepped in front of Song Wei, his gaze cold as he stared at Song Tian.
“Do you have a problem with that?”
Both Song Tian and her man, Zhang Peng, took a step back in fear.
Lin Zhen was tall, like many northern men, and Zhang Peng stood a full head shorter next to him.
Not only was there no comparison in height, but Zhang Peng was also completely outmatched in looks and physique—he was downright pudgy.
Thanks to his family’s comfortable lifestyle, he had grown quite overweight, and it was the kind of greasy, unappealing plumpness.
Song Tian glanced at Lin Zhen, and her envy only grew with the comparison.
She could only console herself by repeating that her man was wealthy and well-connected—Song Wei’s husband couldn’t possibly compare!
Song Wei put down her bowl and chopsticks—she had finished eating.
“We’re in public. Stop causing trouble, or I’ll slap you.”
If they weren’t in a hurry to get to her uncle’s house and didn’t have time to deal with Song Tian, Song Wei would have gladly given her a couple of slaps.
The twins also put down their bowls and chopsticks and walked over to their parents.
Their big eyes fixed on the two as they spoke with childish innocence.
Xiao Bei, who had a slightly mischievous streak, said, “Old Auntie, your husband isn’t as tall as my dad.”
Xiao Nan added, “And he’s fat.”
Lin Ping’an chimed in, “Ugly.”
Xiao Bei continued, “And you’re not as pretty as my mom.”
Xiao Nan concluded, “You’re ugly.”
Lin Ping’an glanced at her sister-in-law and then at Song Tian, speaking earnestly, “You look older than my sister-in-law.”
The three children took turns, their comments hitting Song Tian and Zhang Peng where it hurt—directly shattering their composure.
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