Meng Ning's words instantly chilled the atmosphere.
Yang Liu, who was playing with her phone on the side, had a very grim expression. Not being able to have children was a deep pain for her. Both her mother-in-law and husband kept focusing on her belly. Her mother-in-law often made veiled remarks, implying she was like a chicken that couldn't lay eggs.
Since her husband was promoted to department head, her mother-in-law's attitude towards her had worsened. She even secretly encouraged her husband to divorce her. Fearing divorce, Yang Liu had returned to her parents' home to hide for a few days.
Zhou Wenxiu glanced awkwardly at Yang Liu and said, "There's no rush to have children. Your older cousin is still young and wants a few more years of a couple's life. Besides, your cousin's husband is busy. By the way, Ning, you don't have a partner yet, right? How about Auntie introduces someone to you?"
Meng's mother smiled and answered for Meng Ning, "Elder sister, you're thoughtful, but Ning already has a partner."
"Really? Why haven't I heard about it before? Is he a local?" Zhou Wenxiu said, "Ning, you shouldn't find someone from out of town. They don't share our interests. They might just be after your local household registration, like what happened to your mother back then, getting deceived."
Meng Ning didn't want to speak, but seeing Zhou Wenxiu's indirect jabs at her mother, she couldn't help but retort, "Auntie, no need to worry. He is local."
Meng's mother could only awkwardly chuckle on the side.
Yang Liu put down her phone and asked, "Meng Ning, what does your partner do? Since he's local, he should have a house, right?"
Meng Ning truthfully replied, "No, we rent. He's just a worker. He's nowhere near my cousin's husband."
She knew exactly what Yang Liu meant—to compare whose husband had better conditions.
Upon hearing that he didn't even have a house and was just a worker, Yang Liu lost interest in probing further.
Zhou Wenxiu felt satisfied. She didn't want Meng Ning to marry better than her daughter.
Zhou Wenxiu insincerely said, "As long as it's about the same, it's fine. Not everyone is as lucky as Yang Liu to marry so well."
Meng Ning remained silent. In today's society, relatives and friends might wish you well, but they certainly don't want you to live better than them.
After lunch, Zhou Wenxiu asked Meng's mother to help push the wheelchair to go shopping at the mall. Meng's mother was very willing. Among sisters, she didn't mind these things.
Meng Ning didn't want to stay any longer. After Meng's mother and Zhou Wenxiu went shopping, Qin Huan coincidentally called her, so she left.
Meng Ning walked to the underground parking lot to drive, while Yang Liu also walked out carrying her LV bag.
"Meng Ning," Yang Liu called out, walking over and looking at Meng Ning's car, disdainfully smiling, "Changed your car again? Did you buy this one from the second-hand market?"
Yang Liu drove a BMW worth half a million yuan, while Meng Ning's Chevrolet, costing just over a hundred thousand yuan, stood in stark contrast.
Meng Ning didn't want to engage in comparisons, but she wasn't one to be underestimated either. She said, "Cousin, you should worry less about my affairs and more about your own. It's been eight years and still no child. Maybe your cousin-in-law is desperate and finding other women outside to bear his child."
Yang Liu's alarm bells rang loudly, but she remained composed and said, "He doesn't have the guts."
Meng Ning chuckled without confirming or denying, then got into her car and left.
However, Meng Ning's words just now struck a chord with Yang Liu. She was all too aware of her in-laws' desperate desire for a grandchild. If he really did find another woman outside to have a child with, she would be finished.
With this thought, Yang Liu hurried back to her in-laws' home.
...
Xinxing Club.
Meng Ning followed Qin Huan's provided address and navigated to the club's entrance by car.
This was a members-only club, essentially catering to the upper echelons of society. Of course, there were also those who went to great lengths to obtain membership cards to fish for wealthy partners.
Meng Ning wasn't sure why Qin Huan had invited her here. She waited at the entrance for a while until Qin Huan came to escort her inside.
"Huan Huan, what are you doing here?"
"Playing some ball," Qin Huan replied in his sportswear. "I was dragged here by a friend. It's too boring, so I called you to join us. I heard the CEO of Shengyu Group is coming today. My friend is here to get close to him."
Meng Ning casually asked, "Getting close to the CEO of Shengyu Group for what?"
"Of course, to create opportunities," Qin Huan explained. "The CEO of Shengyu Group is still unmarried. Today, many socialites and wealthy daughters are here at the club. Do you think they're all here to play ball?"
As Qin Huan spoke, Meng Ning noticed quite a few elegantly dressed girls around.
Meng Ning smiled. "Marriage also depends on fate."
"The marriages of these wealthy young ladies are different from ordinary people like us," Qin Huan continued. "There are family interests involved. It's rumored that the CEO of Shengyu Group is handsome and wealthy. Isn't that a prime target? Naturally, people are eyeing him."
Suddenly remembering something, Qin Huan asked, "By the way, your husband works at Shengyu Group. Has he seen the CEO? Is he as handsome as rumored?"
Meng Ning laughed, "I don't know. I'll ask him later."