Chapter 1125 - 742: The Difficulties of Raising Two Children

"Let’s eat first. Whatever the matter is, we’ll talk after the meal."

Su Xiaomeng said lightly, but Zhu Lan was visibly surprised.

The two elders of the Yin Family naturally noticed Zhu Lan’s troubled appearance, but... they didn’t ask about it.

After passing the burden of the Yin Family onto Yin Shixiu and Su Xiaomeng, the two elders figured it out; they’ve worked hard their whole lives and are realizing it’s not wise to continue worrying as they approach the end of their lives.

Even if they saw Zhu Lan coming with the two kids, clearly bringing issues, the elders had learned to be smart and mischievous—they didn’t ask, didn’t meddle, didn’t resolve.

After hearing Su Xiaomeng’s words, the elders felt relieved.

In these over three years, although Su Xiaomeng and Yin Shixiu were abroad, they never forgot their role as the family head of the Yin Family.

Whenever faced with internal family relations and problems, they actively sought solutions. When uncertain and requiring careful weighing, they prioritized the elders’ opinions.

Observing Su Xiaomeng’s calm and composed manner, she increasingly resembled the family’s fourth sibling, truly fitting the image of the family matriarch.

And what delighted the two elders and the entire household the most was that she had the image but no airs.

Many in leadership only manage to have airs without the image, while most have both. Only a few in leadership can possess the image without airs.

A rare, admirable character.

Nowadays, if anyone claims she’s not the granddaughter of the former prime minister, it would probably be hard to believe; her inherited manners and disposition are undeniably convincing.

When Yin Junjie arrived with Yin Junfan, Shuangshuang and Huang Huang were distracted from eating, hastily gulping down their meal to drag Yin Junjie off to play.

Fortunately, Yin Junjie has always adored Huang Huang and Shuangshuang; despite rare reunions over the years, their bond remained strong every meeting.

If anything evolved, it was Junfan’s increasing assertiveness with his "protective food" behavior as he grew.

Seeing Shuangshuang and Huang Huang pleading with Yin Junjie to play, Yin Junfan silently clung to Junjie’s sleeve, adamantly refusing to let his brother play with others.

Amused by Junfan’s little action, Yin Junjie quickly coaxed,

"Of course, Junfan comes along too. Hurry and finish your meal; we’re waiting for you."

Said so, Junfan seemed a bit skeptical, tilting his head to glance at Shuangshuang and Huang Huang.

Shuangshuang eagerly replied,

"We’re not lying! Hurry up!"

With hands on the table, Shuangshuang craned her neck to urge.

After this glance, Junfan lowered his head and shoveled his food, sauce smeared on his face and mouth. Meanwhile, Yin Junjie didn’t assist until Junfan finished his meal; then Junjie carefully wiped Junfan’s mouth and hands with a napkin before lifting him from the child seat.

Junfan promptly grasped Yin Junjie’s hand, becoming a literal little tail.

Shuangshuang and Huang Huang also hopped down from the table, accompanying Yin Junjie on the other side.

As Xiaomeng watched this scene, she couldn’t help but chuckle, remarking,

"Jun Jie is quite the king of kids now... Does he always take care of Junfan at home?"

Zhu Lan nodded, glancing at the two elders, seemingly unwilling to discuss too much at the dining table.

Su Xiaomeng sensed it and asked,

"Have you finished eating? Fancy a walk?"

"Alright."

Zhu Lan replied, and after bidding farewell to the elders, the pair strolled companionably around the mansion, walking along the ancient walls covered in greenery. The sun hadn’t entirely set, painting the sky a vivid red as the evening breeze toned down the lingering summer heat.

They walked alongside for a while, and once distanced from Mengqin Garden, Xiaomeng broke the silence,

"Are the finances sufficient?"

Zhu Lan hadn’t anticipated Su Xiaomeng’s directness, feeling both embarrassed and relieved.

"Um..."

"Is it not enough?"

"The private nursery fee for Junfan has increased again, and with Jun Jie moving to his last year in junior high, his extracurricular fees are rising. It’s such an important year; I can’t halt his tutoring because of the financial strain."

Zhu Lan pursed her lips,

"The monthly allowance you provide is generous, and I’m embarrassed to ask for more, but I truly don’t want to make the two kids suffer. It boils down to my incompetence..."

Listening to Zhu Lan, Su Xiaomeng took casual, steady steps, casually clasping her hands behind her back, her expression fixed calmly ahead...

Zhu Lan, standing beside, sneaked glances at her expression, unable to decipher her emotions, growing increasingly anxious.

"Xiaomeng, rest assured, I’ve not misused the funds; you can verify with Jun Jie. That kid won’t lie, and you know this."

"Jun Jie is aware... of the remittance I send you?"

Su Xiaomeng asked.

Zhu Lan shook her head, "He doesn’t know, but you can inquire about daily matters..."

Su Xiaomeng raised her hand to signal no need for further explanation, "I understand, and I trust you wouldn’t squander the money, especially seeing the children’s current state shows you haven’t mistreated them. Domestic prices have soared over the years, especially in education, becoming progressively like a bottomless pit... My fault for not considering this aspect."

"No, no, it’s not... Xiaomeng, please don’t say that. If you keep talking like this, I’ll want to crawl into a hole?"

Zhu Lan spoke lowly, her ears turning red.

Su Xiaomeng chuckled softly,

"I’m speaking the truth; you should have told me earlier. Even if I wasn’t back, you could email me; you do have my email."

"..."

Zhu Lan pressed her lips tightly, nodding to express understanding.

Yet Su Xiaomeng realized that Zhu Lan still had reservations about emailing her...

"Yin Shiqing died in prison, Shi Haiyan received a life sentence, and Yin Bowen has over twenty years ahead in jail. Since Yin Shiqing and Shi Haiyan’s youngest daughter hasn’t returned to Beijing after the family’s issues, only Yin Junjie and Yin Junfan remain... If you hadn’t stepped forward to raise them, it’s hard to say what fate might have befallen these two poor children later."

"Jun Jie... is my biological child after all. I’m genuinely sorry for this child... Raising him is my duty."

"But before you officially obtained Yin Junjie’s guardianship, Jun Jie candidly told you he wouldn’t abandon Junfan at an orphanage, and I hadn’t contacted you at the time. You knew that obtaining Junjie’s guardianship meant taking on another child."

Su Xiaomeng took a deep breath,

"I also know you could’ve had the opportunity for remarriage—the man seemed decent, right?"

Zhu Lan laughed ruefully,

"Just seeking companionship out of unwillingness to be alone... just an ordinary man."

"But weren’t you seeking a common man to settle with later?"