Chapter 235: Chapter 215: Isolated

Wu Xiaowen felt she had never been this miserable in her entire life. It was a gut-wrenching agony, the kind that made her want to vomit up blood just to be able to breathe again.

The Tang Qingyun who usually discussed everything with her, hung on her every word, and doted on her was now like a different person—cold, distant, and utterly indifferent. Wu Xiaowen knew he was truly at his wit’s end. The old man in Beijing wouldn’t even take their calls, so it wasn’t like he could just run back home and beg for help.

’But I cried my heart out all night, and he didn’t even come to comfort me,’ she fumed internally. ’That’s just too much! And he claims to love me, that he’d die for me? It’s all a lie!’

Then she thought of the old lady and Tang Qingshan flying off, reaching Beijing in just a few hours, and another wave of resentment washed over her. ’A round trip between Beijing and Wancheng in a single day isn’t impossible. Since they have the means, why can’t Qingyun take advantage of it?’

’My parents worked so hard to raise me, and I married into the Tang family and bore them children. And the Tang family won’t even help with this one small thing? It’s just wrong! They have no sense of loyalty!’

Now, even Tang Qingyun was barred from Beijing. ’Knowing that old crone’s ruthless streak, I’ll definitely be stuck here with him for years.’ This thought was followed by another. ’After what happened with my parents, now it’s my turn to be completely humiliated.’ As soon as she had been transferred to the provincial city, Wu Xiaowen had announced to all her friends and relatives, "We’ll all be transferred back to Beijing in less than a year and a half!" Now, most of her old classmates and friends were already back in Beijing, but she, the one who had boasted so early, was stuck going nowhere. How could she possibly show her face? The shame was unbearable.

The more Wu Xiaowen cried, the more heartbroken and indignant she became. She ran to confront Tang Qingyun, but he had clearly anticipated this. The study door was locked from the inside. It was silent within, and no matter how much she pounded on the door, he wouldn’t open it.

The couple gave each other the silent treatment all night. The next morning, Wu Xiaowen still made breakfast and asked Tang Qingyun to accompany her to Ping County to see their two children. Only then did Tang Qingyun’s expression soften a little. He took care of some work in the morning, and after he got off, he drove her there. However, they only got to see Hao Hao. Xiao Man never showed up. She didn’t even return to the rental apartment that night; she had apparently bunked with a classmate in the school dormitory.

At noon the next day, Tang Qingyun and Wu Xiaowen went shopping for groceries and prepared lunch again. Still, only Hao Hao graced them with his presence, eating a little. Xiao Man remained unseen.

Tang Qingyun sighed internally. Wu Xiaowen, filled with a mixture of resentment and frustration, started walking to the school to find Xiao Man herself, but Tang Qingyun hurried over to stop her. "Let’s take it slow," he said. "I’ve spent the last few days with the kids, and I’m starting to understand her a bit. Everyone has their own personality and preferences. We should respect that. We don’t have the right to just show up and bother her without notice."

"How is it bothering her? I’m her mother! Is it wrong for me to care about her and come visit her?"

"It’s not wrong, but you have to consider the timing. Her studies are intense, and she doesn’t like to be disturbed!"

"More intense than Hao Hao’s? She clearly just doesn’t want to see me!"

"Then you should know better. I told you, she has no intention of acknowledging us! But at least she’s agreed to return to the Tang family. You need to show some sincerity. Maybe then you can still earn her forgiveness and respect in this lifetime."

Wu Xiaowen’s face was a stony mask. "I’ve already told you, what happened back then wasn’t our fault! She’s not a little kid anymore. She should be able to understand. Why is she so stubborn?"

"Enough. Can we just not bring that up again? If it wasn’t our fault, are you saying it was hers?"

As Tang Qingyun’s voice rose, Wu Xiaowen’s eyes couldn’t help but redden. She sniffled. "She’s just here to collect a debt! No, I came all the way from the provincial city. I have to go in and find her, to have a word with her!"

"Wait here. I’ve already sent Hao Hao in to find her."

Tang Haocheng came out a moment later and said to Wu Xiaowen, "My sister is reviewing for a test this afternoon. She said, ’There’s no need to meet. Please leave.’"

"It’s not the end of the term. What test could she have?"

"It’s a practice exam. Next semester, my sister is skipping a grade to go straight to ninth grade."

"Ninth grade? Doesn’t that mean she’ll be at the same level as Xuanxuan? I didn’t think a county school would be capable of that."

As Wu Xiaowen spoke, she grabbed Hao Hao’s arm. "Take me inside. I need to talk to your sister about something."

Tang Haocheng said helplessly, "Mom, my sister really doesn’t have time."

"Just ten minutes will be fine. It’s their lunch break now, so I won’t be taking up her class time."

"There are a lot of people studying in my sister’s classroom. Mom, what is so important that you have to see her right now?"

Wu Xiaowen paused. ’There’s no need to hide it from my husband and son,’ she thought. "Your grandmother’s illness recovered so quickly. If it was really your sister who treated her, then she’s truly learned some real skills. You know your maternal grandfather has always been in poor health, with all sorts of ailments that can act up at any moment. And your maternal grandmother developed rheumatism during those years in the countryside and needs treatment... Mom wants to ask for a few days off for your sister so I can take her to Feng City to take a look at them!"

Hearing this, Tang Haocheng said nothing, just looked up at Tang Qingyun.

Tang Qingyun frowned, walked over to the car, opened the door, and got in.

Wu Xiaowen followed him, displeased. "Qingyun, what is the meaning of this? You have to come with me to find Manman. My father’s illness..."

Tang Qingyun picked up a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, and exhaled. "I promised Manman I wouldn’t go into the school to look for her. I can’t go back on my word!"

"You!" Wu Xiaowen was speechless with anger. "See? This is your attitude toward my parents! Hao Hao, let’s go. You take me!"

Tang Haocheng said, "Mom, it’s better not to go. It’s useless. My sister will never go with you, much less treat our maternal grandparents!"

"Why not?" Wu Xiaowen looked at her son, struggling to maintain her usual gentle and elegant demeanor. "She’s studying medicine. A healer should have a benevolent heart. She can’t refuse to treat her own grandparents just because she’s upset with me, can she?"

"I can’t say for sure, but there’s one well-known reason: anyone studying medicine who hasn’t obtained a medical license is not allowed to treat patients! My sister hasn’t even been to medical school. She just learned some traditional Chinese medicine from a folk practitioner and hasn’t even completed her apprenticeship. She wouldn’t dare to casually diagnose and treat people. If something went wrong, who would be responsible?"

Wu Xiaowen was stunned. "But she treated the people from the Gu family and your grandmother, and everything was fine, wasn’t it?"

Tang Haocheng thought for a moment and replied, "That wasn’t voluntary. The Gu family practically forced her to do it! If something had gone wrong back then, the Gu family would have had no grounds to blame her. And Grandma isn’t an outsider; she would never make things difficult for her own granddaughter."

"Hao Hao, what kind of thing is that to say?" Wu Xiaowen understood the implication in her son’s words, and her expression changed. "Are you saying our maternal grandparents would make things difficult for their own granddaughter?"

"Mom, maybe my sister and I don’t know our maternal grandparents, uncle, and aunt as well as you do. But it’s really hard to say what might happen."

Wu Xiaowen was...

...speechless, a knot of frustration tightening in her chest.

Tang Qingyun glanced at his watch, told Tang Haocheng to go back to school, then pulled Wu Xiaowen into the car and drove straight back to Wancheng.

Wu Xiaowen said through her tears, "Tang Qingyun, I finally see it clearly. Your whole family is siding with Manman and isolating me!"

Tang Qingyun gave a bitter smile. "I understand how you feel. To be honest, I feel the same way sometimes. Xiao Wen, don’t forget we’re husband and wife, and we’ll always be their parents. My brother was right. When you’ve made a mistake, you have to admit it and accept the consequences. Don’t keep trying to defend it and make things worse. We can still make amends. As long as we don’t leave, as long as we continue to love and tolerate them with a parent’s heart, they probably won’t abandon us. Manman resents us for now, but she’s still our daughter. With time, she’ll come around."

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