Chapter 267

She had raised her son with great difficulty, so how could he marry such a woman? Wouldn't that be like someone else plucking the peach she had cultivated?

No one had expected Wang Yue to handle things so ruthlessly.

Things had reached such a point, yet she still refused to let people in the door.

Wang Yue thought that Old Pei and Pei Yong were the same kind of people. Back when she had asked them to find a job for her child, they made things very difficult. And now the family was divided, Old Pei couldn't possibly use Pei Jing's house to provide shelter for Pei JianGuo.

Moreover, even if he did take Pei JianGuo in, the one eating losses wouldn't be them. As time went by, who knows whose house it might become in the future?

Moonlight caressed the earth like water. Old Pei and Pei Yong were still in the living room.

"JianGuo can no longer follow Wang Yue. This child still has a decent character. You're his father. You can't just watch your own son be ruined by his mother," said Old Pei as he looked at Pei Yong. This was the first time such a thought had occurred to him.

Both children were already grown up. During the divorce, they hadn't clearly stated which parent the children should follow. After all, the house was given to Wang Yue, so it was only natural that the children would live there with Wang Yue.

But this incident also made Pei Yong profoundly realize that his son now faced circumstances not much different from his own back then. If things continued this way, given JianGuo's temperament, sooner or later he would be driven to make trouble.

Pei Yong rarely smoked, but this time he couldn't resist and lit a cigarette.

He took a big puff and blew out smoke rings, then leaned back in his chair and thought for a long time before speaking: "With JianGuo's seniority, dividing two houses shouldn't be a problem, as long as the newlyweds aren't too picky."

As long as he got away from Wang Yue, the oppression would naturally be gone.

It was just that although they were houses, there was still a big difference between one house and another. For example, Old Pei's place here versus where Wang Yue lived now - once Pei JianGuo's house was divided off in the future there would be absolutely no comparison.

"They'll definitely be coming over again tomorrow. We can ask the child's opinion then," said Old Pei. Just in case JianGuo still wasn't willing to separate from Wang Yue, then there would be no need for them to make extra plans.

Old Pei had just finished speaking when they heard knocking sounds coming from outside.

It also surprised them that, after just mentioning arranging a house for Pei JianGuo, the next moment they were here, forced to come because they had no home to return to. After hearing Pei Yong's idea, Pei JianGuo naturally wouldn't object. Given his and Guo Momo's current circumstances, it would be pretty good just to have a house to live in, even not a great one. It was still better than not even being able to rent a place.

The room Pei JianGuo had lived in before was now occupied by the twins. Although during summertime they usually slept with Zhi Xia to help conceal their entries into the magical space, today was Pei JianGuo's happy wedding day, so there was no rule saying he could mess around on the children's bed.

Luckily the weather was hot and there were reed mats spread on the bed. The congratulatory gift of a thin blanket that Zhi Xia had given them happened to come in handy.

Zhi Xia had heard the movements during the night but hadn't come out the entire time.

After daybreak, getting clothes on the few children took up quite a long time. She had just opened the door when she saw Guo Momo already out in the yard. "Auntie, you're up? Have Chenyang and Wanqing gotten up yet? Should I go help them wash their faces?" said Guo Momo.

"No need, they're big now. I'll get the water ready and they can wash up themselves," Zhi Xia said, caught off guard. It took her a moment to hurriedly respond.

Yet in her heart, things didn't feel right.

What she had heard last night was real. It seemed that Guo Momo must have spent the night here. Would Old Pei really let them keep staying?

If they were strangers it would be one thing, but this was Pei JianGuo - it just felt weird.

"Then let me get some water ready for them," said Guo Momo, immediately turning to fetch water. This left Zhi Xia unable to refuse. She could only turn back to call the children: "Chenyang, Wanqing, hurry up and come brush your teeth and wash up."

Behind her back, Pei JianGuo pulled Guo Momo aside and said tenderly, "Go easy with the helping out, okay? No need to ingratiate yourself like this."

A newlywed couple was as sweet as honey. This was the time when their feelings were the best, so of course neither could bear to see the other suffer even the slightest grievance.

"How is this considered ingratiating? I saw Uncle wasn't home and figured Auntie had her hands full with several kids by herself. And now we're staying in their home too. Helping out a bit is just being neighbourly. Plus I don't have a job anyway, so what else would I be doing with my time?" said Guo Momo, smiling at Pei JianGuo. Her eyes brimmed with joy. "JianGuo, I like you and also want to have a good relationship with your family members. I don't feel even a tiny bit wronged - as long as I'm with you, I'm happy."

Her coaxing made Pei JianGuo laugh like a child who hadn't fully grown up yet. "Alright, we'll do as you say. Once we divide up the houses we can have our own home. I'll try to find a way to get you a job then, and in the future we can live well together."

"Sounds good. Just do your best without overexerting yourself. After all, jobs aren't that easy to arrange. You've got no idea how much effort my parents went through trying to find my brother a job..." As Guo Momo spoke, once again she felt delighted by her choice.

In this world, a love at first sight was rare. So-called love at first sight was either lust or some kind of scheme. Of course, Guo Momo was a little bit of both.

Pei JianGuo was handsome and employed - maybe not outstanding in his own social circle but to Guo Momo, he was the salvation sent to her from heaven.

Her parents favored sons over daughters. In the past few years, when it was time for her second eldest brother to be sent down to the countryside, her elder sister had gone in his place. The few letters sent back said she couldn't stand rural life and in the end, just to survive, could only marry and bear children there. It was unknown whether she would ever have the chance to return.

Now it was Guo Momo's turn. She didn't want to go down to the countryside, nor did she want her parents selling her off to collect a bride price for her second brother.

She had always lived clearly and sensibly. If life gave people choices, why shouldn't she choose for herself? Before meeting Pei JianGuo, she had already made advances towards two rather decent men but neither looked upon her favorably and even actively avoided her.

Pei JianGuo was different. He was good-looking and employed. Maybe nothing special in his circles but to Guo Momo, he was the redemption sent from heaven.

During their conversations she realized that although this man and his family circumstances were pretty good, long-term oppression from his mother had made him extremely insecure inside.

Guo Momo had long ago analyzed all kinds of men and discovered that everyone's personality was closely tied to their experiences. Pei JianGuo had been denigrated by Wang Yue for so long that he hoped to gain others' approval and had a bit of machismo inside, liking when people praised him and also longing to be needed by someone.

Utilizing this point she had discovered, she quickly captured this man's heart.

Guo Momo did scheme a little but she wasn't stupid, nor was she greedy like Wang Yue.

She merely wanted to escape her original family and live a good life. To her, a partner who was employed and good-looking that could help her avoid being sent down to the countryside was already not easy to find. And on top of that his family seniors all had promising careers - father-in-law and uncle were military officers, paternal grandfather was a veteran official, and they even had a maid to serve meals. At one point the family was able to give them their own place to live. Why wouldn't she try to get on their good side? She would have to be stupid to offend everyone like Wang Yue and gain nothing for herself.

She also noticed that the children in auntie's family never wore patched clothing. Several kids wore outfits for half a month with no repeats.

Then she thought about her own two nephews back home whose clothing was all cast-offs found from relatives. The older one wore it until the younger could fit in it, and things were worn until they really couldn't be worn before reluctantly giving them away. Their clothes were tattered and shabby, useless.

What did this signify?

It showed that this other family had abundant savings. If even a tiny bit slipped through their fingers it was still more than she could have ever hoped for in the past.

Not to mention, once she had her own children, when she came to auntie's house to find some small clothing for them, auntie surely wouldn't refuse.

In the past, Guo Momo had never had more than fifty cents in her hands at once. After getting to know Pei JianGuo, he took her to movies and bought her clothes. His family seniors even gave her a bride gift. Added up together it was several dozen yuan - and they didn't look down on her for registering their marriage secretly against her own family's wishes.

Aside from the issues with Wang Yue and the Pei twins' side, everything Pei JianGuo had brought her were things she hadn't even dared dream about before.

As for her, she just needed to dote on him, rely on him, make him feel needed. Satisfy his spiritual needs.