From Broken Family to Life Winner: A Reborn Mother's Journey

"What are you doing?" Su Li asked, confused.

"Kissing you," Wu Sheng replied. He thought for a moment with a serious expression, then kissed Su Li’s cheek again, once on the left and once on the right.

Su Li cupped her face and backed away. "Wu Sheng... have you lost your mind again?"

’He just kissed me right in the middle of our conversation! And he’s not even worried someone will see us. We’re outside!’

It was only then that Wu Sheng realized they were outside.

He straightened up. "I haven’t lost my mind."

He said with a stern face, "Su Li, tell Ling Zhen that I’ve already kissed your face, so she shouldn’t kiss it anymore. If she kisses you again, it’s the same as kissing me."

Su Li: "..."

’An indirect kiss via my face?’

’Only Wu Sheng could come up with something so ridiculous!’

"Did you hear me? You have to tell her. If you don’t, I will. She’s great otherwise, it’s just this one thing..."

Wu Sheng shook his head.

Su Li: "...You’re the king of jealousy."

’Getting jealous of both men and women... He’s unbelievable!’

"Put yourself in my shoes. If Zhang Ming kissed me every now and then, would you be okay with that?"

Wu Sheng retorted, raising an eyebrow.

A very suggestive image of Wa Wa Lian kissing Wu Sheng instantly popped into Su Li’s mind. The scene was too stimulating; she shivered and shook her head to clear it.

"Okay, I’ll talk to Sister Ling Zhen!"

’Worst case... worst case, I’ll just be the one to kiss Ling Zhen!’ Su Li thought to herself.

Unaware of Su Li’s inner thoughts, Wu Sheng finally gave a reluctant nod upon hearing her agree.

"Good. Make sure she agrees."

Seeing Su Li nod obediently, Wu Sheng’s expression softened.

"When you go to the TV station, remember to tell me if anything comes up, whether you need help or anything else."

Wu Sheng had given her the same instructions when she went to the newspaper office, so Su Li just nodded obediently again.

"Don’t get bullied. And don’t always hang out with Ling Zhen and that pest Yu Zhengqing. He probably doesn’t like you being their third wheel."

He had learned the term "third wheel" from Su Li.

’Yu Zhengqing and Ling Zhen probably don’t mind me,’ Su Li thought. Outwardly, however, she just nodded obediently again.

"Be good. I’ll come see you when I have time."

With that matter settled, Wu Sheng brought up Wu Qihua.

"Mom said she wants to find time to go back home this year, but I don’t know if she’ll be able to."

"I can take Little Mo to see her tomorrow," Su Li chimed in. "I’ll buy her some plums, and I’ll see if I can find any Yellow Bubble Fruit, or figs..."

Wu Sheng patted Su Li’s head. "Don’t worry about it. Just buy whatever. She’ll be happy just to have you two visit."

He would buy the rest. Every year, whatever Wu Qihua was craving, he would usually find a way to get it for her.

For example, if she wanted persimmons in the winter, or craved plums, Wu Sheng would almost always manage to find them for her.

"So, can you be home for dinner tomorrow? I’ll cook," Su Li asked.

Since they weren’t married yet, Su Li had visited the Wu Family far fewer times than Wu Qihua and Wu Sheng had visited her place.

"Of course I’ll be home," Wu Sheng replied, a smile spreading across his face. "The alley’s going to be bustling tomorrow."

Wu Sheng recalled what had happened before when Wu Qihua brought home the dishes Su Li had cooked for her.

Wu Qihua had grown tired of hearing everyone praise their own daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Now, with Su Li and Little Mo, she finally had someone to boast about, and she would praise them whenever she chatted with the neighbors.

Su Li often invited her over to her own home for dinner. She would not only feed her but also cook extra for Wu Qihua to take back with her.

Every time Wu Qihua brought those dishes home, she had to show them off. She’d take out a small saucer for everyone to try a bite, but she was too reluctant to give them any more than that.

Su Li’s cooking was delicious, and one bite was never enough. Being tempted like that without being able to have more drove the neighbors crazy with frustration.

Wu Sheng had heard no end of their complaints. They’d even ask him to have a word with Wu Qihua: if she wasn’t going to share, she shouldn’t show off.

Wu Sheng had spoken to Wu Qihua about it, and she’d always promised to stop, but then she’d turn around and do it all over again.

She would also listen to the recording of Su Li’s news broadcast from her radio station internship and talk about how smart Little Tang Mo was whenever it came to mind.

The neighborhood aunties had heard the content of Su Li’s short news broadcast so many times they could recite it by heart...

As Wu Sheng thought about these things, Su Li saw his smile and recalled them as well.

"Tomorrow... I’ll just make extra and give some to everyone."

The alley would definitely be bustling when she visited tomorrow. Everyone would come to join in, and Wu Qihua would welcome them all.

Wu Sheng patted Su Li’s head. "You’ll be busy tomorrow, then. I’ll come home early to help."

"It’s fine. Your mother will help, Little Mo will help, and everyone else will too." Su Li smiled, then suddenly bit her lip. "It’s just... I’m afraid she’ll play that recording of my news broadcast again."

Wu Sheng burst out laughing. "Oh, that’s... definitely going to happen."

Su Li put a hand to her forehead. "It’s so... embarrassing."

She said it was embarrassing, but she couldn’t hide the smile playing on her lips or the warmth in her eyes.

Wu Sheng had told her about this before, and Su Li had been so moved at the time that she’d almost burst into tears.

Showing off her news broadcast recording like that... that was something only a parent would do. Something her own parents should have done.

But Father Su had already passed away, and Miao Fenghua would never do something like that. And yet... Wu Qihua had.

One could only imagine the shock and emotion Su Li had felt upon first hearing about it.

All the little things Wu Qihua had done, combined with Su Li’s own past, made her feel a growing, daughter-like affection for the older woman.

Wu Qihua treated her like family and Little Tang Mo like a grandson. In turn, hadn’t she and Little Mo come to see Wu Qihua as their own kin?

After seeing Wu Sheng off, Su Li fell asleep with a smile on her face.

「The next day」

As planned, Su Li went to the Wu Family’s home to see Wu Qihua before her internship officially started.

Just as Su Li and Wu Sheng had predicted, her visit brought the entire alley to life.

Everyone warmly greeted Su Li and Little Tang Mo, inviting her over to their places. They then came over to the Wu Family home, bringing snacks and fruit, to chat with Su Li. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming.

The saying "a close neighbor is better than a distant relative" was perfectly embodied in this alley.

That afternoon, Wu Qihua served everyone fruit and melon seeds, while the neighbors brought their own contributions—a few snacks or a plate of fruit—to join the lively gathering.

Sure enough, Wu Qihua played the recording again. Amid the boisterous laughter, she and the neighborhood aunties helped Su Li with the cooking prep.

Su Li spent two hours preparing a sumptuous feast.

Of course, besides the food for their own table, most of it was plated up and delivered, dish by dish, to the neighbors’ homes.

It was a custom in the alley to share whenever someone made something especially delicious.

At mealtime, it was common to see people exchanging bowls of food.

When it was dinnertime, the kids would run around the alley, bowls in hand.

They’d come out with a bowl from their own home and often return with a different one, filled with something a neighborhood auntie had given them.

Some neighbors in Su Family Village had been like that when she was a child, but Miao Fenghua was stingy, so her family had never participated.

Once the food was ready, Su Li plated the dishes. She watched as Wu Sheng and Little Tang Mo went out to deliver them and returned with new dishes from the neighbors, an unstoppable smile gracing her lips.

The sun slowly set, and one by one, warm yellow lights began to glow throughout the alley.

The sounds of conversation, laughter, children playing and crying, and idle gossip filled the once-quiet alley with life.

It was overflowing with the vibrant energy of everyday life.