No matter how much was needed, it definitely couldn’t be Zeng Shuyue who opened her mouth to ask. Otherwise, the neighbors would think Zeng Shuyue was being too greedy.
Zeng Shuyue went to see Shi Yinghua; Shi Yinghua had experience with matters like this.
Shi Yinghua hated people who bullied their sisters-in-law the most. Knowing that Zeng Qingliang was biased, she demanded a bit more on Zeng Shuyue’s behalf, “Ten yuan. In her current state, Shuyue can’t possibly work. Wang Juan, you have to show some sincerity.”
“What, ten yuan?” Wang Juan and her husband only gave their mother-in-law ten yuan a month for living expenses. Asking for ten yuan all at once was like asking for her life. “Director Shi, isn’t that too much?”
She’d thought that giving one or two yuan would be enough. Ten yuan—she definitely wouldn’t give it.
“No matter how much you give, it won’t be more than the benefits your husband’s family promised you,” Shi Yinghua retorted, dropping her pretense.
Hearing this, Wang Juan felt even more aggrieved. Her cousin’s family had indeed promised her benefits, but she hadn’t seen any of it yet.
Seeing the crowd of elderly ladies craning their necks at the door, Wang Juan lowered her voice, “Director, can you lower it a bit? Ten yuan is too much. I still have to pay for this… for Shuyue’s medical expenses.”
Shi Yinghua glanced at Zeng Shuyue and saw her looking down in silence.
Understanding Zeng Shuyue’s stance, she stuck to ten yuan.
“You did this yourself. Whether you pay or not is up to you, but if people in the alley start talking, don’t come crying to me.”
With compensation paid and an apology given, the matter would be considered closed.
If anyone gossiped, Wang Juan could still ask Shi Yinghua for help.
But if she didn’t listen to mediation, Shi Yinghua wouldn’t get involved in the future.
Everyone in the alley was an ordinary person.
Shi Yinghua was highly respected here; otherwise, no one would have asked her to come.
At the door, Liu Yuwang watched the commotion with relish and chuckled, “Zhuang Chao’s wife is right. Wang Juan, you’re so stingy and yet so arrogant. If you’re so capable, why not just move out?”
Wang Ting was about to explode.
Zeng Qingliang frowned and said, “Grandpa Liu, this is our family business!” He was at the end of his patience and looked at his daughter-in-law with displeasure. “Xiao Juan, go get the money.”
“Get the money!” Zeng Qingliang roared, scaring Wang Juan into silence. Wiping her tears, she went back to her room to fetch the money.
Zeng Shuyue took the money and followed Shi Yinghua to the hospital for a checkup. Since she wasn’t paying, she cooperated with whatever the doctor said.
By the time they finished, Shi Yinghua sent her home, and the rest of the family had already returned.
Shi Yinghua went to see Zeng Qingliang.
“Qingliang, daughters are people too. Don’t only value your sons. You might have to rely on your daughters in the future.”
As the Neighborhood Committee Director, she saw sons and daughters as equals.
Anyone who argued that only sons could bring honor to the family would find themselves in a long argument with her.
After Shi Yinghua left, the whole family looked at Zeng Shuyue.
There were ten people in the Zeng family now. The eldest, Zeng Xiangping, had taken over his mother’s job five years ago. After marrying Wang Mei, they had a daughter, Zeng Yuling, who was now three years old.
Both husband and wife worked, so they should have been well-off.
But Wang Mei was stingy with herself and her in-laws, yet extremely generous to her own family.
She’d rather squeeze into her in-laws’ house than move out.
The second, Zeng Shuyue, was like her mother—enduring and patient. She was only a year younger than Zeng Xiangping, but the family gave the job to her older brother, so she had to go to the countryside.
She was quite pretty and often harassed by the local educated youths.
Later, she married He Dong from the village and had a daughter.
Half a month ago, she returned to the city with her whole family, apparently planning to settle in Rong City.
But she hadn’t found a job yet, and both she and her husband kept a low profile in the Zeng household, barely daring to breathe.
The third child was Zeng Shuyi herself. Having watched her older brother bully her second sister all her life, she’d developed a competitive personality.
Now, seeing the whole family looking at her, she wasn’t guilty at all.
She naturally turned to her mother, “What are we having for dinner tonight?”
Lin Jiazheng shot her husband a look, tugging at her apron and not daring to speak.
The fourth, Zeng Xiangmin, was the most spoiled and also the boldest and most willful in the family.
He grinned as he came over, “Third Sis, I heard Big Sis-in-law gave you money. Since you’re in charge of the meals now, take me out to eat at a restaurant!”
Zeng Xiangmin was especially thick-skinned and feared no one, always dreaming of good food, good drink, and getting rich.
“In your dreams! That’s my money!” Zeng Shuyi had other plans for it!
As soon as she finished, Wang Juan slammed the door and went back to her room, not wanting to even look at Zeng Shuyi.
Zeng Qingliang looked at his daughter with displeasure.
“Are you happy now? Was there really anything you couldn’t discuss as a family? Did you have to make such a scene and let everyone know, just to embarrass us? Are you satisfied now?”
What he cared about most was losing face today, not the quarrel between his daughter-in-law and his daughter, and certainly not who his daughter’s blind date was.
Facing her father’s criticism, Zeng Shuyi was already used to it.
She replied calmly, “Dad, do you think I wanted this? If Big Sis-in-law didn’t have bad intentions, would I have made a fuss?”
“And besides, if she hadn’t started it, I wouldn’t have run out either.”
“I was planning to wait for you to come back, but Big Sis-in-law wouldn’t let it go.
You say I embarrassed the family, but you don’t care whether I was bullied or if I feel wronged, do you?”
She asked these questions in a very flat tone.
Because she knew her father would never consider things from her perspective, nor care if she was suffering.
“You little brat, are you lecturing me now?” Zeng Qingliang picked up a slipper, ready to hit her.
But Zeng Shuyi stood her ground. “Fine, if you lay a hand on me, believe it or not, the whole alley will be watching our family drama again tonight.”
“You, you, you… you’re going to be the death of me!” Zeng Qingliang had no way to deal with her and turned to scold his wife. “This is all your fault for raising such a daughter. She has no other skills, but she sure knows how to go against her family!”
Lin Jiazheng: “I…”
She lowered her head in shame.
Zeng Xiangmin was a bit impatient. “Mom, I’m hungry. Can we eat now or not?”
Zeng Xiangping also came out of his room, saying he had to go to night school after dinner, and deliberately glanced at Zeng Shuyi.
The eldest son’s studies were a big deal. Zeng Qingliang waved his hand to signal Lin Jiazheng to serve the food.
As Lin Jiazheng went to the kitchen, Zeng Shuyue immediately followed to help.
For dinner, the Zeng family had sweet potato rice, a plate of loofah with eggs, and a large dish of braised winter melon.
The eggs were quickly snatched up by Zeng Xiangmin, who took half of them. Zeng Shuyi, quick-handed, grabbed some for herself and also for her niece.
Wang Mei didn’t come out to eat.
She waited in her room, expecting the family to scold Zeng Shuyi, but when no one did, she stormed out, picked up her daughter, and left with two dishes she’d packed from the state-run restaurant.
Zeng Xiangping had only taken a few bites before he unhappily chased after her. “Where are you going?”
“You still care about us? I’m being bullied to death by your family. Why would I stay here?” Wang Mei was deeply upset. She shook off Zeng Xiangping’s hand, her daughter crying loudly in her arms, and went straight back to her parents’ home without looking back.
Zeng Xiangping was at a loss, but it was almost time for night school, so he came back and vented his anger on Zeng Shuyi.
“Your big sis-in-law was just being kind, trying to set you up with someone. If you didn’t like it, fine, but did you have to make such a fuss? We’re all family. What’s the point of being so petty? Does it do you any good?”
Zeng Shuyi ate as she replied, “Then, in the future, let Big Sis-in-law marry your daughter off to some old man who beats his wife, and don’t you dare say a word.”
“Zeng Shuyi, aren’t you going too far?” Zeng Xiangping slammed his chopsticks down.
Zeng Shuyi focused on eating. If she didn’t fill up now, she’d be hungry at night, and there were no snacks at home.
“Let me remind you, your wife started this, not me. Don’t expect me to swallow my anger and give in. Take care of your own wife. If you don’t like me, move out. Mom would be glad to have one less person crowding the house.”
Zeng Xiangping and Wang Mei were both working, and had had the chance to apply for a single-room Quarters before, but they didn’t.
They claimed their child was too young and needed care, but in reality, moving out would mean more expenses and having to do all the chores themselves.
Wang Juan was shrewd—she’d rather squeeze in with her in-laws than live alone.
When it came to arguing, no one in the family was a match for Zeng Shuyi.
Zeng Xiangping couldn’t outtalk his sister. He gritted his teeth and said, “Zeng Shuyi, you’re a grown woman now. Why don’t you learn from Shuyue? A woman should behave like a woman!”
Zeng Shuyi glanced at her second sister, who had been silently eating the whole time.
She’d been back for a while and hadn’t said a word to her husband.
Zeng Shuyi had no intention of ending up like her.
After she’d eaten enough, she put down her chopsticks.
“What should a woman be like? Meek and submissive, always putting you first? But, big brother, this is the third time the family has paid for you to repeat a year. If you don’t get into college this time, the people in the alley will say throwing money into a well at least makes a splash. What about you?”
Not getting into college was a sore spot for Zeng Xiangping.
He didn’t understand it himself. His grades had always been above average, and the first year he’d just applied to a school that was too high for him.
But the second year, he missed the cut-off by more than twenty points. When he saw the results, he nearly fainted.
Seeing her brother’s dark face, Zeng Shuyi got up and said, “Why don’t you give your job to me, and you can focus on studying? Maybe you’ll really make it next year. What do you think?”
Holding onto both the job and the hope of getting into college, wanting all the benefits—Zeng Shuyi gave her brother a sweet, mocking smile.
“Dream on!” Zeng Xiangping was so angry he was full, grabbed his bag, and left.
Lin Jiazheng chased after him. “Xiangping, take this sweet potato to eat on the way.”
“I’m too mad to eat. Mom, I’m telling you, if you keep spoiling Third Sis like this, one day it’ll come back to bite you.” Zeng Xiangping got on his bicycle and rode off without looking back.
As for picking up Wang Mei?
Heh.
He didn’t have the time for that. At least now he could enjoy some peace and quiet for a few days.
Watching her eldest son leave, Lin Jiazheng went back inside.
Her second daughter was already clearing the table, and she sighed as she went to find her third daughter.
The Zeng family had three rooms in total.
Zeng Qingliang and his wife had one, Zeng Xiangping and his wife had one after they married, and the last room was divided for Zeng Shuyi and Zeng Xiangmin.
Because Zeng Shuyue’s family had returned, they had to put planks in the living room for Zeng Xiangmin and He Dong to sleep on.
There was no one else in the room now.
Lin Jiazheng sat down beside her third daughter and spoke earnestly, “Shuyi, your father says he won’t care about you anymore.”
“Then thank him for me.”
“You…” Lin Jiazheng looked at her daughter helplessly, her face full of worry.
“What are you going to do in the future? You’re not getting married, and you don’t have a job. You have to plan a way out for yourself.”
A girl had to get married eventually. Even if she was willing to support her daughter for a lifetime, would the rest of the family agree?
Lin Jiazheng was worried sick.
Zeng Shuyi said she had a plan.
“What plan?” Lin Jiazheng asked.
“My business. Don’t worry about me. You should keep a closer eye on my brother. He’s always running around. Don’t let him end up at the police station again.” Zeng Shuyi took off her shoes and lay down, not wanting to talk further.
But Lin Jiazheng was still uneasy.
“Don’t mess around. Your father said the papers are all exaggerating. Policies can’t just change overnight. If you dare get involved in speculation and profiteering, your father really will beat you.”
“Listen to your mother, we don’t have the ability to get you a good job. While you’re still young and pretty, find yourself a good match. For us women, marriage is like a second life. You have to keep your eyes open. Don’t be like your second sister, marrying just anyone…”
Her mother’s nagging was too much. Zeng Shuyi simply covered her ears.
After a long while, when Zeng Shuyue came in, Lin Jiazheng saw that all the chores were done and finally stood up.
“Talk to your sister. Don’t let her regret it in the future.”
After the door closed, Zeng Shuyue sat on her bed and was silent for a long time before speaking, “Shuyi, actually…”
“Second Sis, if you’re going to persuade me, think first—why did you insist on bringing Sheng Nan back to Rong City instead of staying in the countryside to farm? You never say it, but I know. Sheng Nan, Sheng Nan… you’re not willing to accept your fate, are you?”
Sheng Nan was Zeng Shuyue’s daughter’s name.
The first time Zeng Shuyi heard it, she understood her second sister’s thoughts.
The room fell silent.
Zeng Shuyue swallowed what she’d been about to say and changed the topic. “So what are you going to do? It’s really hard to find a job these days.”
She’d been back for half a month and tried every factory she could, even asked people to pull strings, but couldn’t even get a temporary job.
The factories said there were too many returnees and not enough positions. Most places had already filled up.
If things went on like this, the money she’d brought back would be gone soon.
Zeng Shuyi sat up, her long brows arching as she smiled brightly.
“Second Sis, I know you want to settle down in Rong City, but you need money to get a foothold. Do you want to make some money?”