The original host, Shen Baiyang, was twenty-eight years old and had a son and a daughter with her husband, Zhao Chenguang. Her children were Zhao Zhili and Zhao Xinuan.
Zhao Chenguang was the Executive Vice Mayor of City A, while the original host was a physics professor at University A. Zhao Chenguang also had a younger brother, Zhao Wencong, who served as the mayor of City H.
Zhao's father was a veteran leader who had served in the military. After retiring, he remained in the capital, and the Zhao family was quite well-off.
However, this was a special era, and the entire family faced the prospect of being sent down to the countryside.
The original host, acting decisively, divorced her husband and took her two children back to her maiden home. Her family situation was not as prominent as the Zhao family's, so they were not implicated.
Her husband was also very supportive of this decision. After being sent to a remote area, life was extremely difficult, and he was very grateful that his wife and children did not suffer such hardships.
But after returning to the city, his mindset changed. Due to health reasons, he could no longer hold his previous position and was assigned a more relaxed, essentially a retirement job.
Zhao Wencong's situation was different. His previous wife had passed away, and Zhao Wencong also had a son and a daughter.
Zhao Wencong remarried a divorced woman who accompanied him to the countryside and took excellent care of his two children.
When they returned to the city, their circumstances seemed unchanged, suggesting they had lived comfortably in the countryside. Zhao Wencong was also reinstated to his former position.
People cannot control their inner desires and instinctively compare themselves to others.
Although he knew his wife's actions were not wrong, he still harbored resentment, which made him less affectionate towards his two children.
Given Zhao Wencong's circumstances, he could have married a better wife. His parents had initially been reluctant about his choice of a divorced, uneducated woman, Ye Zhaoqiu.
Firstly, they felt Ye Zhaoqiu was not good enough for their son, and secondly, they worried about the mistreatment of his two children. However, Zhao Wencong proceeded without their consent. His parents lived far away and could do nothing about it.
Upon entering the family, Ye Zhaoqiu vowed not to have any more children and to treat Zhao Wencong's two children as her own.
The elder couple was initially skeptical, but after witnessing her actions, they were deeply moved by Ye Zhaoqiu's behavior and began to unconsciously favor their younger daughter-in-law.
Zhao Zhili and his sister also noticed their grandparents' attitude, feeling there was always a distance, and that they were not as close to their grandparents as their cousins were.
Both were intelligent and immediately recognized the root cause, becoming somewhat distant and disdainful of the original host.
Zhao Xinuan: "Mom, you just don't love Dad. Why can Auntie Xiao be hardworking and endure hardship, but you can't?"
Zhao Zhili: "I don't have a heartless mother like you. I'm willing to share hardships and adversity with Dad, rather than live on state-subsidized food in the city with you."
"We were young then and couldn't make the decision. We disliked living under someone else's roof. Why didn't you ask for our opinion? You are truly too selfish."
"Dad enjoyed comfort, and you enjoyed it too. But when trouble struck, you ran away. You are not a qualified wife, and you don't deserve my dad."
These words were like daggers piercing the original host's heart. If she hadn't still harbored feelings for Zhao Chenguang, she would have remarried long ago.
After all, during that turbulent period, those sent down to the countryside saw no hope, and many even died there.
The original host tried to explain, but the two children were determined to drift further away from her, and the couple's relationship deteriorated significantly.
One night, in a daze, Zhao Chenguang called out Ye Zhaoqiu's name and said many things. The original host, unable to bear it, caused a scene.
At that time, all members of the Zhao family were gathered in the capital. The commotion in the middle of the night earned the original host glares from everyone.
Zhao Chenguang vehemently denied it, claiming the original host had gone mad. Others also disbelieved the original host and accused her of making a scene.
Zhao Zhili: "Mom, divorce Dad. This can't go on, and it's bad for everyone. My sister and I want to follow Dad."
Zhao Zhili's shout stunned everyone into silence. The original host's heart shattered, and she packed her belongings and left the Zhao family.
Zhao Chenguang kept making excuses after returning to the city, and the couple had not remarried. The original host knew he had reservations and was willing to wait.
She never expected this outcome. He had agreed to her actions back then, yet now they all accused her of being heartless and unrighteous.
Zhao's parents also knew their actions had hurt the original host, but with the couple's discord, separation was the best option.
They knew the original host was not wrong, but Zhao Chenguang was their son, and they had to support his choice.
As for the original host's accusations, they did not believe them. The brothers had a good relationship, and Ye Zhaoqiu was not extraordinarily beautiful.
Zhao Chenguang had received a good education and would never entertain such morally corrupt thoughts.
They thought perhaps their attitude had driven their elder daughter-in-law to a state of delusion, making her jealous of her sister-in-law.
Zhao's father gave the original host 3,000 yuan as compensation, which at that time was enough to buy a decent-sized courtyard in the capital.
The original host refused and left the place heartbroken.
Ye Zhaoqiu generously came out to see the original host off, but quietly whispered into her ear, "A woman like you, who fears poverty and loves wealth, doesn't deserve a good ending."
After saying that, she waved goodbye to the original host with a smile, while the Zhao family watched them with expressions of relief.
They thought Ye Zhaoqiu was truly dignified and generous, unbothered by the original host's words.
The original host knew that no one would believe her if she spoke her mind. Seeing her children glare at her, she was completely disheartened.
The Zhao family became a lifelong regret for her. She wished for a second chance to go to the countryside, to fulfill Zhao Zhili and his sister's wish of enduring hardships with Zhao Chenguang.
Shui Wa: "Ungrateful wretch. They truly haven't been toughened by society. They forget the original host's years of devotion just because the Zhao family is well-off. As long as there's milk, they'll call it mother.
Host, you need to make them suffer, and don't let that Ye Zhaoqiu off the hook. As for Father Zhao... he's a good person who contributed a lot to the country.
It's normal for them to favor their son. Zhao Wencong is also quite normal, so don't mistakenly harm him.
Jun Jiuli: "I know."
"Okay, okay. (ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́)✧"
At this moment, the original host's sister-in-law was holding her hand, her eyes red and filled with sadness.
"Little sister, although our family isn't as well-off as the Zhao family, it's more than enough to support you and your three children.
City A is not a safe place to stay. Your brother-in-law's family situation is not optimistic. You should resign quickly and come with me."
Jun Jiuli squeezed her sister-in-law's hand back. "Eldest sister-in-law, a day of marriage is a hundred days of grace. Disaster hasn't even struck yet, how can I fly away on my own?"
"Oh, are you foolish? When the opportunity arises in the future, you can reunite with your brother-in-law.
Even if you don't think for yourself, you must think for the two children. It's alright for adults to suffer a little, but Zhili is six, and Nuan Nuan is only four.
Children are frail. The countryside is not a pleasant place. You'll regret it if you wait too long."
Jun Jiuli lowered her head in thought, then looked up with determination in her eyes.
"Sister-in-law, I'm not leaving. If I divorce now, what will people think of me? What will they think of our family? It will also affect Niuniu and their reputation."
"My silly sister, what time is it now? Who cares about those things? Just come home with me. If anyone dares to gossip, I'll be the first to tear their mouth apart."
Jun Jiuli called Zhao Zhili, who was playing in the room, and gently stroked his head.
"Zhili, you're a big boy now. Your father has been sighing and lamenting these days. The family is likely in trouble.
Do you want to go back to Grandma's house and live a normal life with me, or live a hard life with your father?"
Zhao Zhili blinked his large, watery eyes, completely unaware of the importance of the situation.
In his understanding, his maternal grandparents' home was not as good as his own, and his father was very capable. Following him would be the right choice.
"Mom, I'll listen to you. But I want to stay with Dad all the time."
Jun Jiuli hugged him and burst into tears. "Good boy, Mom respects your choice. Mom also wants to stay with your dad all the time."
Zhao Chenguang, returning home from work, overheard this statement. He was deeply moved, and with red eyes, he greeted the eldest sister Shen.
The eldest sister Shen was also moved to tears by this touching scene, and the words of persuasion for her sister-in-law got stuck in her throat.