She won't clear her name; she'll throw away all the scum.

After everyone left, Old Mrs. Xia whispered to Chen Xianghong, "Let me tell you, the first thing you should do after getting married is to get Xiao Yu's salary and allowances. I've learned my lesson the hard way, so you must not follow my path. Feelings may change, but money won't disappear."

Xiao Yu is a good kid, but I'm afraid he might become a completely different person in the future.

Chen Xianghong said in a muffled voice, "I know. He likes me now, so he doesn't care about anything. He's the easiest to talk to at times like this. But once things settle down, he won't be so easy to talk to anymore. If he's still as warm-hearted as Dad, then I'll have to support the family with my own money, just like Mom, and I'll have a hard life."

Grandma Xia suddenly sat up and glared at Chen Xianghong in the darkness. "You haven't even had your wedding yet, and you've already thought of this?"

Chen Xianghong pulled Grandma Xia to lie down. "Mom, you can find something meaningful to do, so why can't I? Didn't I get the job that Xiangbei introduced me to? Besides work, whenever I have free time, I follow Xiangbei around the streets and alleys, and I've seen quite a lot of things."

I've discovered that people really can't stay in one place forever. Go out and explore the world, and you'll find that many couples' personalities completely change after a few years or even a decade. I don't know if it's because of the adjustment period or because there's no need to pretend anymore; some fight every day, some have relationships worse than strangers, while others manage to live peacefully and harmoniously.

So, Mom, I will never entrust my entire destiny to others; I will take control of my own life.

Grandma Xia said with relief, "Xiang Hong, you seem to have really grown up. I used to worry about your in-laws. You're too soft-hearted and too nice to your own family. You're bound to suffer. But after hearing what you said today, I feel a little more at ease."

The mother and daughter talked for a while, and Grandma Xia finally couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep. Before closing her eyes, she sighed, "If only all of us women could take control of our own lives."

Chen Xiangbei walked in the night, his destination today being near the place where the Wang family's children used to live.

Chen Xiangbei jumped onto the low wall with practiced ease, then quietly climbed onto someone's roof, where he lay there for a long time before finally hearing some useful information.

Seeing that the owner of the house was fast asleep, Chen Xiangbei slowly moved his body, trying not to make a sound. If he made a sound, then... he would meow like a cat.

He was facing forward, his body hanging from the eaves, his feet tentatively reaching for the low wall.

It was too dark for him to see the location of the low wall, so he could only search for it on his feet first.

As soon as his foot touched a solid surface, he eagerly pressed his weight down on it. However, as his body weight pressed down, Chen Xiangbei realized that something was wrong with his foot.

He struggled to turn his head and look down, only to realize that what he had stepped on looked like a person, but he couldn't see their face clearly.

It was really scary in the middle of the night.

Chen Xiangbei bit his hand to keep himself from making a sound, and then his other foot finally found the low wall.

Just as he was about to jump over and escape, the man seemed to have realized his intention and immediately pulled Chen Xiangbei toward himself.

The two of them fell to the ground together, letting out a low groan.

The voice was familiar. Chen Xiangbei squinted and touched the other person's face randomly until the other person couldn't help but stop him and said, "Stop touching me, it's me, Wang De."

Chen Xiangbei had a hundred curses he wanted to utter, but his immediate priority was to leave this place of trouble.

He pulled Wang De outside, and after they had gone a certain distance, he finally couldn't help but yell, "Wang De, are you out of your mind? Why are you following me here in the middle of the night to scare me?"

Wang De followed behind him and said in a muffled voice, "I'm following you, but I have something to say to you."

Chen Xiangbei: "Why can't you say these things during the day? Don't you know that people can be terrifying?"

Wang De: "Do you need to work?"

Chen Xiangbei was stunned: "What?"

Wang De: "Didn't you previously scold Uncle Chen, saying he'd rather find a job for my brother than for you, his own son?"

Chen Xiangbei: "I did say that, but what did you mean by what you just said? Do you have a job opportunity you want to introduce to me?"

Wang De nodded, then realized that he was walking behind Chen Xiangbei and Chen Xiangbei couldn't see him, so he spoke up, "Yes, do you want it?"

Chen Xiangbei refused: "I don't want it. I can find a job on my own. I don't need your favor."

Wang De followed him silently for a short distance, then suddenly said, "Could you help me find a job?"

Chen Xiangbei stopped in his tracks. "Why don't you give this opportunity to your third son? Isn't he about the same age as me?"

Wang De: "Why should I give it to him?"

Chen Xiangbei: "What...what exactly do you want? Are you trying to harm me?"

Wang De: "I'm preparing to go to the countryside."

Chen Xiangbei covered his mouth. "Why? With such a good job, why would you want to go to the countryside? Life in the city is much better than in the countryside. My sister went to the countryside before, and when she came back, I almost didn't recognize her."

Wang De: "I can't stay here, I can't stay with my mother. I'm going crazy if I stay any longer. Xiang Bei, I won't tell you that you helped me get the job. You have a lot of connections, I'm begging you."

After considering it for a long time, Chen Xiangbei asked, "Tell me, why can't I stay with your mother?"

Wang De: "Ever since the money she entrusted to Wang Ming was stolen, all she cares about are my two younger brothers. When she talks to me, she can't stop talking about my salary. A few days ago, she started telling me to get married, and that all the money I and my wife have to give her will be hers."

So, whether it's me or my wife, we'll both be the ones earning money for them in the future. We'll be working ourselves to the bone, while they get all the enjoyment. She saw your sister's getting married and these past few days she's been going crazy, asking people to introduce me to girls, and she specifically wants a factory worker.

She's made her intentions crystal clear. If I don't leave, not only will my mother drag me down with her, but my wife will be dragged down too. Why should this perfectly good girl work so hard to support my whole family?

Chen Xiangbei immediately felt sorry for Wang De. After thinking about it, he realized that Yang Su really didn't care about this only son in their family who earned money. Compared to those two parasites, Wang De was indeed too pitiful. He comforted him, "Brother Wang, think about it from another perspective. It's possible that you have to marry according to your mother's wishes. She doesn't like the ones you like, but you have to marry the ones she likes."

Wang De: "There's no need to tell me this at a time like this, is there?"