Chapter 314 – Aunt, Please Don’t Sell Those Large Bungalows!
Soon, Xu Jinning also saw the bride of this wedding, the protagonist of the day, her eldest cousin from Aunt Xu’s family — Xu Qingqing.
Due to Aunt Xu’s divorce, she and the four children who had followed her all shared the Xu surname.
Coincidentally, the foster parents who had adopted Aunt Xu also had the surname Xu. Therefore, there was no need for them to change their surname after reconnecting with Xu Aiguo.
Aunt Xu welcomed Xu Jinning and the others into the living room and Xu Qingqing quickly served tea, warmly greeting their arrival.
Aunt Xu also learned that Xie Ting’an was Xu Jinning’s boyfriend.
Observing Song Yi and Xie Ting’an, Aunt Xu thought highly of both of them.
She believed her two nieces had good taste.
As they sipped tea and chatted in the living room, Xu Jinning took in the grand bungalow, the television, cabinets, radio, sofas, refrigerator, and other items, realizing that her Aunt Xu’s foster parents had lived comfortably.
Aunt Xu owned several such large bungalows.
She heard that her foster parents had held a respectable position in Tianjin before their passing.
No wonder when Aunt Xu divorced that scumbag, she took all four children with her and left nothing for the scumbag’s family.
Rumor had it that the scumbag’s family had quietly left Tianjin.
They didn’t dare to contact the four children.
Xu Jinning could tell that Aunt Xu had a strong bond and affection for her four children.
So, actually, whether a child can grow up healthy and happy doesn’t necessarily require a complete family with both parents loving each other. Of course, if there is such a situation where parents are loving and together, that’s naturally the best scenario.
But if parents’ relationship breaks down and one of them has thoughts of leaving, then it’s not necessary to compromise with an unhealthy marriage for the sake of the child. Because what children need are healthy family relationships, not necessarily a complete family unit.
As for financial stability and good education, even in a single-parent household, children can still grow up healthy and happy. It’s much better than letting children live in a constant atmosphere of fighting, indifference, betrayal, or violence.
Therefore, Xu Jinning cannot understand those modern women who endure betrayal, abuse, or violence and still want to maintain the illusion of a complete family just for the sake of their children. It’s shifting all the responsibility onto the children.
But fundamentally, it’s just their own cowardice.
Coming back to reality, Xu Jinning examined Xu Qingqing who was sitting opposite her.
According to her elder sister, Qingqing’s fiancé is also from Tianjin, and their family backgrounds are quite similar. They were both sent to the countryside together for four years, and only returned after both being admitted to Jin University.
During their time in the countryside, they were each other’s companions.
Now both are students at Jin University.
Initially, due to policy reasons, despite the influence of Aunt Xu’s foster parents, one of them had to go to the countryside.
As the eldest child in the family, Xu Qingqing took the initiative to go.
Later, with Aunt Xu’s arrangements, Qingqing’s experience in the countryside was quite good. Despite spending over four years there, she worked as a primary school teacher in the village, so it wasn’t physically demanding.
Later, she began dating her current fiancé.
So, Xu Qingqing’s time in the countryside was quite manageable.
“I was planning to sell off some of the old houses and buy some small Western-style houses. Nowadays, young people all prefer small Western-style houses. One of them, I’ll give it to Qingqing as your wedding house…”
As she spoke, Aunt Xu began discussing her recent plans. She looked towards her other three children sitting across from her. “Of course, you will each have one when you get married. Before you marry, I’ll keep it safe.”
“I like small Western-style houses!” exclaimed young Xu Wenwen, showing her enthusiasm for them.
Aunt Xu’s financial situation was good now, and she had no shortage of houses. Her greatest concern was her four children, whom she naturally wanted to provide the best for. Because young people nowadays prefer small Western-style houses, she planned to sell off the old houses and replace them with these.
When her four children got married, each would have their own.
Aunt Xu casually mentioned her plans, not intending to discuss such important matters in front of Xu Fanghua and Xu Jinning. She considered them close enough to share this with.
In reality, others might think Aunt Xu was deliberately showing off and might even feel jealous or envious. But not Xu Fanghua and Xu Jinning.
When Xu Fanghua married, although the Xu family was well-off, they couldn’t directly give away a house like Aunt Xu was proposing. However, Mr. and Mrs. Xu did their best to provide Xu Fanghua with many things.
For Xu Fanghua, who grew up surrounded by her parents’ love since childhood, there was nothing to complain about. As for other things, she was still young with limitless possibilities ahead. She could create and own things for herself in the future, even saving to give back to her parents.
So, from Aunt Xu’s perspective, Xu Fanghua felt no jealousy or envy; she only saw Aunt Xu’s deep affection for her children.
This kind of affection made her feel very good, very warm.
That’s how Xu Fanghua felt, and Xu Jinning more or less shared the same sentiment.
She wouldn’t be jealous or envious at all.
Firstly, her identity as a wealthy young lady in her previous life made her view money, houses, jewelry, and such things with indifference.
Secondly, whether it was the small Western-style house in Haishi compensated by the Lin family in her name or the welfare house in the county town from her father, they had already given her a lot.
Naturally, she couldn’t be greedy anymore, nor would she envy or be jealous of others.
Seeing Aunt Xu’s actions, she only felt that it was no wonder Aunt Xu and her father were siblings; both were extremely caring towards their children and did everything they could to secure their children’s own possessions.
However…
[Aunt, please don’t sell those big bungalows!]
Aunt Xu was pondering which house to give to Qingqing first when suddenly she heard Xu Jinning’s voice beside her.
Huh? What’s going on?
She turned to look at Xu Jinning.
At the same time, Xu Jinning looked at Aunt Xu.
Xu Jinning could see that Aunt Xu seemed to open her mouth as if to say something, but no sound came out. When she realized this, there was a hint of panic in Aunt Xu’s eyes.
“Let’s have some tea, everyone,” Aunt Xu suddenly changed the subject, surprised that she could speak again.
But as she turned, “Ningning, you…”
The question of why she couldn’t sell the big bungalows automatically silenced itself again.
Xu Jinning smiled and said, “Aunt, are you inviting me to have some tea? Sure, I’ll have some.”
Xu Jinning held the cup and took a sip of tea, feeling extremely awkward.
Because she realized that Aunt Xu’s reaction seemed to be able to hear her inner thoughts.
