Sun Chan thought for a moment and said, "If he really wants Wang Hu to take over, he might use the same trick."

"That's possible. Anyway, we should be careful," the old man said.

For a moment, the three of them fell silent. Nothing was as important as Gu Junming's job. There was no mood for chatting and joking.

It wasn't until Ding Kang ran in to play that the old man began to smile again.

Gu Junming said, "Dad, don't worry. Everything I do is aboveboard; I'm not afraid of his investigation."

"That's the best. We don't harm others, but we can't let others harm us! Still, it's best to be on guard; that guy's not well-intentioned. At his age, he still won't retire, thinking he can be a leader his whole life? Your dad is bad enough, but his character isn't even as good as your dad's!" The old man couldn't stand Bai Chuan one bit.

At this moment, the old lady called out, "Wash your hands for dinner!"

Sun Chan hurried to help set the table. There weren't many dishes available in winter, but it was clear that the meal was quite sumptuous: sauerkraut stew, shredded potatoes, seaweed salad, and a large bowl of mushroom stew with vermicelli. Just looking at it, you could tell it would taste great.

Everyone sat down and started eating in a lively atmosphere.

Gu Junming then asked Wang Shufen what she had been up to earlier.

Wang Shufen laughed and said, "Isn't there someone getting married in the town? I went to help out, made some quilts and new clothes, and earned some pocket money."

"Didn't I send you money?" Gu Junming gave his nephew a big serving of mushrooms. "Sister, working on the farm is hard enough as it is; you don't need to do anything else. What would I do if you wore yourself out?"

Sun Chan also said, "Yes, exactly, sister-in-law. Sewing is especially tiring on the eyes and fingers."

In her previous life, she mended clothes and bedding for the whole family; by her twenties, her eyes were already as worn out as an old woman's.

Wang Shufen hurriedly replied with a smile, "Don't misunderstand! I really was just helping out, only worked two or three days. It's mostly because we're neighbors and it would be bad to refuse if someone comes asking for help."

Gu Junming smiled and said, "It's not that I don't want you to work! I'm just concerned about your health."

"I'm fine. I'll make the bedding for your and Sun Chan's wedding too."

Sun Chan was eating seaweed when she heard this and started coughing in a hurry, "No need, sister… cough, cough…"

"No need to be polite, I'll make it; you just need to focus on preparing for the wedding," Wang Shufen said with a smile.

She felt really embarrassed, and everyone laughed. The young woman hadn't even married into the family yet, but everyone already considered her one of their own.

Mrs. Wang was very fond of this girl and kept putting food into her bowl.

Though the old man didn't talk much with Sun Chan, he was also smiling.

Just then, footsteps were heard in the courtyard. A middle-aged woman in a colorful cotton jacket walked in. Seeing who it was through the glass, the whole family's expression soured. Sun Chan thought to herself, it must be Ding Quan's mother.

Wang Shufen tightly held onto Ding Kang's hand, looking very anxious, "Why is she here?"

"Don't be afraid! She's no longer your mother-in-law, just focus on eating your meal!" Mrs. Wang said, looking at her husband.

The woman had already walked in, her sharp face wearing a sycophantic smile, "Eating? In-laws?"

Father Wang said nothing, his face frosty.

Mrs. Wang sneered, "You're divorced; what in-laws?! Seems like your memory is failing!"

"Sigh! I'm here to apologize, aren't I? My Ding Quan has been thinking about Shufen for the past few months. Isn't it almost New Year? He wants to bring her back. Shufen, after holding a grudge for a few months, hasn't your anger subsided? Come back with me."

Father Wang said nothing, taking a sip from his cup.

For months now, Ding Quan had been causing trouble off and on, utterly shameless. Now it seems he thinks he's powerless, so he sent his mother instead?

Wang Shufen had long since given up talking to this venomous woman, not being one to enjoy arguments, she kept her head down and said nothing.

The woman tried to cozy up to Gu Junming, but he didn't even raise an eyelid, merely serving Sun Chan more food.

"Oh my, this young lady is pretty, is she Mingzi's partner?"

Another moment of silence.

Sun Chan had heard that this woman was vicious. Wang Shufen almost got worked to death in those few years she was married. Sometimes they wouldn't even give her food, and if she was disliked, they'd make her sleep in the grinder shed.

So she wouldn't acknowledge her at all.

The woman was infuriated, cursing internally with countless vulgarities. What ungrateful folks they were! An old woman like her was treated so rudely. Wang Shufen used to be as meek as dough, but after going back to her family's home, did she become strong?

But ultimately, she dared not erupt, instead smiling as she looked at Ding Kang, "Kangkang has grown so much, come, let Granny hold you?"

"I'm not going back!" Ding Kang shouted, "You always hit me and hit my mom, never let us eat. We're not going back!"

With those words, the woman instantly fumed, "Wang Shufen, how could you say such things to a child? What good will come from teaching him like this? Never mind, I won't waste words, you needn't come back, but my grandson must return for Chinese New Year."

Seeing that she'd been here a while and no one had given her a good face, she couldn't hold back any longer. Her objective was the grandchild after all, she had to bring him back.

"Come home with me!" Her action was swift, darting forward to grab Ding Kang's arm. With a yank, Ding Kang nearly fell to the ground, catching himself on the table, knocking two dishes to the floor.

Ding Kang cried out in pain, Wang Shufen frantically rushed to snatch her child back, "You never cared before, and now you have the nerve to want my child? I won't give him to you!"

"You vile woman, I'm your mother-in-law, he's our Ding Family's seed, why should I give him to you?"

Gu Junming and Mrs. Wang blocked the woman, stopping her from pulling any further, while Wang Shufen struggled to reclaim her son. Ding Kang, more understanding now, didn't cry, only gazed at his grandmother with hateful eyes.

"I'd rather die than go back with you; you're all bad people!"

The woman simply sat on the ground, making a scene, "At my old age, to be beaten by my own daughter-in-law, I don't want to live anymore! My grandson doesn't recognize me, and it's all because of you Wang Family, you shameless barren lineage, I won't let this go!" The Wang Family only had one daughter, Wang Shufen, with no sons, so there were indeed those who would call them "barren" behind their back, but this was the first time someone dared to say it to their face.

Father Wang was sitting on the heated brick bed, but suddenly smashed the cup in his hand, grabbed the feather duster at his back, and swung it at the woman.

"You don't want to live? Then I'll make it happen; I'll beat you to death, make you pay for your life, and let you carry on your tantrums in our home!"