“Mom!”
Zeng Shuyi’s other hand still held a foam box as her mother searched her thoroughly.
Seeing her second sister running over right after, she knew what was going on.
“Don’t say a word. Come home with me!”
Lin Jiazhen was unusually firm.
She hadn’t slept all night and had rushed to her niece’s house, only to find her daughter was not there.
Thinking that her daughter had nowhere to go overnight, she had been frantic, almost losing her mind.
Zeng Shuyi was scared by her mother and said nothing, quietly following her home.
When they got home, everyone else had already left for work, leaving only Zeng Xiangmin behind.
Lin Jiazhen had her second daughter watch over the youngest, while she went to the kitchen to cook noodles.
She soon came out carrying the bowl, saying, “Eat first. We’ll talk after you finish.”
Zeng Shuyi had never seen her mother so strong-willed.
She had just called out, “Mom,” when she saw her mother’s lips tremble as she urged her to eat.
“All right, all right, I’ll eat first.”
Zeng Shuyi was hungry too.
She had left early to sell ice pops and hadn’t eaten a single bite until now.
After swallowing a bowl of noodles, before Zeng Shuyi could speak, her mother asked where she had been last night.
“I originally wanted to go to Auntie’s, but Auntie’s neighbor said Auntie had gone to the countryside.
Then I ran into a friend selling things, so I stayed at her place overnight.”
Zeng Shuyi answered honestly.
Lin Jiazhen frowned tightly.
“Was it a man or a woman?”
“A woman. A young lady, really. I can take you to see her. I’m not lying.”
Zeng Shuyi saw the doubtful look in her mother’s eyes and swore repeatedly.
Only then did Lin Jiazhen relax, sitting down in a chair to wipe away her tears.
Zeng Shuyue whispered from the side, “Before dawn, Mom went to Auntie’s to look for you. When she found out Auntie’s family wasn’t home, she was scared something happened to you and ran all the way back. Look, Mom’s pants are torn. Shuyi, I know you want to work hard, but you have to feel sorry for Mom too. She’s such a strong person, but she argued with Dad all night last night because of you.”
Zeng Shuyi lowered her head.
Seeing her mother’s scraped knees, she choked up as she spoke, “Mom, I… I’ll help you check.”
“No need.”
Lin Jiazhen put her hand on her knee.
“Let me ask you—are you dead set on doing speculative trading?”
Zeng Shuyi was stunned for a moment, then nodded, “I can’t wait for a job assignment. Looking for a job on my own costs money and requires connections. You know our family situation, there’s no way you could find me a job.”
“As for getting married, I have no skills of my own. Marrying any man means having to ask him for money. Mom, you understand, right? Life like that is really hard.”
These past few years, Lin Jiazhen’s life had been exactly like that, always at the mercy of others.
She used to have a job herself and a salary.
Sometimes, she would even buy snacks.
Later, she gave up her job to her eldest son and became a housewife.
Zeng Qingliang handed over his salary every month, but he would question every penny she spent.
Lin Jiazhen understood the bitterness of being a housewife.
Zeng Shuyi rolled up her mother’s pants, took the red medicine from her second sister, and said, “I know doing business has a bad reputation. But is just enduring a hard life any better?”
“I’ve never been favored at home since I was little. Grandfather and grandmother cared about the eldest brother. Then with the younger brother, my father only has eyes for those two sons. Mom, I don’t steal or rob—I just want to live a good life for myself. The policy now allows it; it’s not like the old days. Please… believe me, okay?”
Lin Jiazhen had seen the daughters’ difficulties clearly.
“But Shuyi, you know what people in the alley will say if you go into business?”
“Then let them say it. When I have money, they’ll naturally be jealous. Look at Wang Chaoyang—how much better is his family’s life now?”
Zeng Shuyi reaffirmed her determination, “Dad won’t give me money to retake school, and I don’t want to marry some mediocre man. Mom, I want to fight for myself this once. Will you support me, please?”
“You… how can you be so stubborn!”
Lin Jiazhen cried as she held her daughter tightly, “Why won’t you listen to me?”
Zeng Shuyi said nothing.
The three women were left only with sighs.
Zeng Xiangmin took the opportunity to speak up, “I support Third Sister. What’s wrong with buying and selling? I think it’s the old policies that were wrong, not our or Third Sister’s thinking. What’s wrong with capitalism? It’s honorable to earn money by your own ability. Do you want to starve to death rather than do business?”
“Oh my god, shut up!”
Lin Jiazhen glared at her youngest son, “If anyone hears that, our whole family’s done for!”
Zeng Xiangmin puckered his lips and leaned back in his chair, showing off his belly, “Mom, you know how stubborn my Third Sister is. I advise you to give her money to get a license. Otherwise, running a business without a license, she’ll get caught sooner or later.”
He had his own selfish reasons for saying this.
He had been expelled from school for trading and dealing, and the family was strict with him now, forbidding him from associating with those friends.
If Mom supported Third Sister’s business, there would be no reason to keep him locked up.
In fact, Lin Jiazhen had been thinking about it for a while but was waiting to see her daughter’s attitude.
“Fine, I can’t fool you.”
Lin Jiazhen went to her room and brought back thirty yuan, “Take this to get a license. But you have to promise me, before the license comes through, no speculative trading, got it?”
Zeng Shuyi looked at the money in disbelief, “Mom, you really gave me this?”
“If I don’t give you money, you’ll definitely run illegal businesses. Shuyi, I’m a timid person. I’m really afraid something will happen to you. When Xiangmin was expelled, I barely slept for days. Just listen to me, okay?”
Lin Jiazhen pleaded.
Zeng Shuyi naturally agreed, “But what about Dad? Will he agree?”
Lin Jiazhen was soft by nature.
Usually, in the family, big and small matters were decided by Zeng Qingliang.
Now, for such a big issue, Zeng Shuyi felt her mother couldn’t make the call.
But Lin Jiazhen said, “My children must live well. Even if your father disagrees, it won’t matter. I’ve already given you the money. If he wants to beat me for it, let him try.”
Though she said it, Lin Jiazhen was worried.
If it weren’t for this, she’d be afraid her daughter would be taken away for labor reform.
She urged her daughter to hurry and get the license to avoid trouble.
Zeng Shuyi thought the same.
But what kind of business would she do?
Not long after leaving with the money and license, she heard her younger brother calling.
She thought something was wrong at home, but it turned out he wanted to tag along.
“Third Sister, you’re taking me with you, right?”
Zeng Xiangmin clung to her eagerly.
“Look at my arms, they’re strong! You’re a young lady doing business—someone’s bound to bully you. If I’m with you, it’ll be different. I’m great at fighting!”
Seeing her sister silent, he grabbed her arm and pouted, “Come on, Third Sister, take me with you, please! Your good little brother!”
Zeng Shuyi said, “When Dad wanted to hit me yesterday, why didn’t I see you say a word for me?”
“That was my fault. Today when Dad gets home from work, I’ll definitely stand in front of you! Okay?”
Zeng Xiangmin knew his father’s temper and expected a big storm when he got home.
Zeng Shuyi glanced at her sixteen-year-old half-grown brother, who had no school and no proper job.
If he kept hanging out with those second-rate guys, trouble was bound to come.
But her brother’s words were right.
The thought of her wandering streets alone selling things scared her a little now.
She deliberately dragged out the last word, “Then let’s see how you perform.”
“All right, all right! If you want me to go east, I won’t go west.”
Zeng Xiangmin grinned widely.
“Third Sister, what kind of business do you want to do? Food? Or repairs?”
Thinking of running a business, Zeng Xiangmin was excited, sticking closely to his sister’s side.
Zeng Shuyi thought for a moment.
She had no culinary skills, and no one to teach her.
That day, Bai Duoduo had praised her for being good with words.
Now that she could get a license and not fear getting caught, she could invest more capital.
Zeng Shuyi already had a plan.
She raised her eyebrows, “You’ll know when the time comes.”
Zeng Shuyi and her brother went to get a self-employed business license.
At home, Lin Jiazhen’s heart was still pounding.
By late afternoon, Zeng Qingliang came home from work and casually asked, “How’s it going? Has that girl Shuyi come back?”
Lin Jiazhen was chopping vegetables, “She’s back.”
“Good. If she messes with me again, I’ll break her legs!”
Zeng Qingliang washed his hands, the grease stains not coming off.
“She doesn’t want to do business now, right?”
Lin Jiazhen’s hands stopped chopping for a moment as she took a deep breath.
“I gave her money to get a license. As for the capital for business, she’ll pay herself.”
“What?”
Zeng Qingliang thought he’d misheard and asked Lin Jiazhen to repeat it.
She put down the knife, “Shuyi is my daughter too. Since you can’t persuade her, I have to go along with her. Qingliang, it’s better to lose face than to lose your daughter. They’re all my flesh and blood. I can’t bear to see Shuyi homeless.”
Tears fell easily, leaving Zeng Qingliang even more dumbfounded.
He hadn’t even started scolding and was already at a loss.
“You… Lin Jiazhen, you… you’re really something!”
Zeng Qingliang pointed at his wife, hands trembling, “You know spoiling a child can harm them. What you’re doing will make so many people laugh at our family.”
“I’m not afraid of being laughed at. I want my children to live well!”
Lin Jiazhen wiped her tears.
“Anyway, I’ve already given Shuyi the money. It’s useless if you oppose it. And if you want to kick Shuyi out, I’ll fight you for it.”
Zeng Qingliang was stunned again.
They had been married for over twenty years, and Zeng Qingliang had always called the shots.
This was the first time Lin Jiazhen had pushed back.
After a long pause without any insults, he only said a few words and turned to his room.
In the living room, Wang Juan and her husband had clearly overheard the conversation between mother-in-law and wife.
Wang Juan frowned tightly, “How can you do this? You actually gave money to Shuyi to get a license? Isn’t that a waste? Why not use that money to improve your own nutrition?”
Zeng Xiangping was also unhappy, “Old fool’s lost his mind. Speculative trading is nothing compared to working a job.”
Just thinking about it made him feel ashamed.
Just then, Zeng Shuyi came home and heard this.
She pushed the door open and said directly, “Mom cooked special meals for eldest brother so many times, but he still didn’t get into university. I think that’s the real waste of money. Eldest brother and sister-in-law, I’m in a decent mood now and won’t argue with you. But if you insist on arguing over who spent more money, I don’t mind sitting down and talking with you.”
Seeing Zeng Shuyi, Wang Juan was a bit short-tempered, “You… your eldest brother is a son, how can you compare? And with your skinny arms and waist, getting a license is really a waste. If you could make big money from business, I’d kneel down and be your stool!”
If not fighting over trivial matters, then fight over pride.
Zeng Shuyi shouted back, “Fine! Then it’s settled. When I make money, don’t get jealous that you don’t get any benefits!”
“Hmph, I don’t believe you have that ability! Xiangping, you agree, right?”
Zeng Xiangping nodded, “Shuyi, don’t act impulsively. If you haven’t paid yet, refund the money. You don’t have that life.”
He was the eldest son and the family’s hope for glory.
“The money’s already paid. You two just wait and see.”
Zeng Shuyi turned to the kitchen, seeing her busy mother.
She cleared her throat and whispered, “Mom, I’ve already applied. The fastest will take a week.”
Lin Jiazhen didn’t even look up, “Wash your hands and bring the dishes. If this doesn’t work out, don’t make a fuss again. Our family can’t afford more trouble.”
Zeng Shuyi said “Okay,” helping carry out the chrysanthemum dish.
During dinner, Zeng Qingliang didn’t come out.
Lin Jiazhen was the one who brought the food into the room before he started eating.
After that day, the atmosphere in the Zeng household was very awkward. Zeng Qingliang only spoke to the eldest brother and sister-in-law.
Zeng Shuyi was relatively natural, but Zeng Shuyue and Zeng Xiangmin were timid, not daring to breathe loudly.
At the end of the month, Zeng Shuyi asked once more.
The office said it still wasn’t ready and told her to come back after the National Day holiday.
Keeping her promise not to run a business without a license, Zeng Shuyi had to visit various markets to research, getting a clear idea of the prices and sales of different small goods.
After the National Day holiday, Zeng Shuyi immediately went to the Management Bureau.
When she finally got her self-employed business license and walked under the sunlight, she felt as if the air itself was sweet.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.