“I definitely want to make money.”
Zeng Shuyue had brought her whole family back to the city, wanting to settle down in Rong City with her daughter, so her child wouldn’t have to grow up in the countryside and end up living a mediocre, uneventful life.
But how were they supposed to make money?
Neither she nor her husband could even find a job.
“Ershan, you’ve been looking for work for a while now. Do you think you’ll still be able to find anything?” Zeng Shuyi asked.
Zeng Shuyue sighed.
“I’m thinking of letting your dad go back first. Mom hasn’t said anything directly, but Big Brother has hinted several times that ever since we came, the quality of life at home has dropped a lot. We really do need to earn money. If we go back to the village now, we can still catch the autumn harvest, help people cut rice and do odd jobs, and at least make some money for food.”
That’s still better than the whole family just eating off others in Rong City.
“My big brother has the nerve to say that? He’s the one who spends the most money at home! Your living expenses are handed over together with theirs. It’s not like they each pay five yuan while you pay ten!”
Zeng Shuyi wanted to curse at how shameless he was, but held herself back and brought the topic back to the main point.
“Second Sister, it’s really hard to find a job these days. Even when there’s finally an opening, by the time we hear about it, it’s already been reserved for someone else. It’s never our turn. Do you know Wang Chaoyang from the alley?”
“I… I know him.”
“I saw him selling fish while I was out on a matchmaking meeting today. He sold out everything in the time it took to eat a meal!”
Speaking of making money, Zeng Shuyi’s eyes sparkled.
“The Wang family used to be the poorest in the alley, but in the past month, they’ve been buying fish and meat every few days. Wang Aunt even looks much healthier now.”
Zeng Shuyue understood and hurriedly shook her head.
“No way. Dad said if we dared to get involved in private business, he’d kill us. And business isn’t something you can just start on a whim. What if we lose money?”
“Doing business always comes with gains and losses. That’s normal,” Zeng Shuyi said.
“No, no, I don’t have much money—I can’t afford to lose it.” Zeng Shuyue waved her hands repeatedly, and instead tried to talk Zeng Shuyi out of it. “Shuyi, don’t be foolish. We can’t get involved in speculative trading. Dad’s right, policies don’t change that easily—they might just change back any day. You should just listen to Mom and Dad. Either find a job, or find a good match.”
Forget it, Zeng Shuyi thought, I’m just wasting my breath.
At that moment, her niece came in through the door.
Zeng Shuyi smiled at the child and lay down, not planning to say anything more.
Her second sister was still too soft. There was no way to take this path together with her.
If she had any capital herself, she wouldn’t be so anxious either.
How nice it would be to earn money.
Ever since the Gaokao was reinstated, there were more and more ways to make money.
With money, she could buy her own Snow Cream, eat fish and meat, and have a room to herself.
Without money, she was stuck like she was now—having to watch people’s faces just to eat or do anything, and with no privacy of her own.
Zeng Shuyi wanted a good life.
She wanted to be someone with money.
Since she couldn’t convince her second sister, she’d just have to look for another way.
There was no television at home. Once the lights were out, everyone went to sleep. Zeng Shuyi was used to going to bed early and getting up early, and soon drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, at the Wang family’s house, the whole family was sitting together in the living room.
Wang Juan held her sleeping daughter, eyes brimming with tears.
“Mom, the Zeng family really went too far. I tried to help them out of kindness, and now I’ve ended up with a reputation as a stingy sister-in-law. The medical fees plus compensation cost me fifteen yuan!”
“What?!” Wang Zhigang’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at his daughter. “Your sister-in-law wanted that much money? Even your Gonggong and Popo didn’t say anything?”
“It was Gonggong who told me to give it!” The more Wang Juan spoke, the angrier she got. That was fifteen yuan—enough for her to pay one and a half months’ Shenghuofei.
“This Zeng Qingliang really is too much. How could he bully people like that?”
Wang Zhigang said, “If the matchmaking didn’t work out, then it didn’t work out, but now they’re extorting money? Tomorrow I’ll go talk to him—we need an explanation!”
Tian Xiaohua looked at her husband, then at her daughter. “Juan, does your Dabo know it didn’t work out?”
Her daughter had been so confident at first, but now things had blown up like this. There was no hope—Zeng Shuyi definitely wouldn’t agree anymore.
Wang Juan didn’t dare go to Dabo’s house. She shook her head.
“I came straight home.” She’d eaten plenty at Dabo’s place, and even packed two dishes to take home today. Now, everyone in the alley knew her cousin had hit a woman.
She was most afraid of running into someone from the alley at Dabo’s place—Dabomu would definitely not let her off.
“Zhigang, tell Big Brother tomorrow that Juan has already done her best. It’s Zeng Shuyi who has no taste.” Tian Xiaohua yawned. “And you, Juan, enough with the fussing. You’re part of the Zeng family now. It doesn’t matter what your Gonggong and Popo think—you need to get Xiang Ping on your side. Isn’t Xiang Ping the one the Zeng family values most? With his help, I don’t believe your sister-in-law can outmatch you.”
When it came down to it, her daughter just didn’t have enough tricks up her sleeve.
“Remember what I told you: no matter how tough life gets, you have to win your man’s heart. When Xiang Ping comes to pick you up, don’t throw a tantrum—just go home with him quietly. Your second brother has already agreed on the Caili with the bride’s family; you need to help pay half.”
Before Wang Juan got married, she’d always handed over her salary. After marriage, it was even more so—she had to give ten yuan a month for filial piety.
Now that her brother was getting married, as the eldest sister, she naturally had to contribute both money and effort, and she didn’t think there was anything wrong with that.
What made Wang Juan most angry was the ungrateful Zeng Shuyi.
And she couldn’t explain herself to Dabo’s family.
Her Dabomu really wasn’t easy to deal with.
She worried all night, thinking that Xiang Ping would surely come to fetch her early. Though she was fuming, her mother was right—she still had to go back to the Zeng family.
Otherwise, if she wasn’t home, her Popo would give all the good food to someone else. Wouldn’t she be losing out?
But the next morning, no matter how long she waited, Wang Juan didn’t see Xiang Ping come to pick her up. After work, she thought he’d surely come, but even when it was dark, he still hadn’t shown up.
Now Wang Juan was even angrier.
Her second brother, Wang Weiguo, grabbed a handful of melon seeds and stood at the door, looking into the distance.
Not seeing his brother-in-law, he came back with a mocking tone, “Sis, it’s this late already. Brother-in-law definitely isn’t coming. He doesn’t want to live with you anymore.”
“What are you saying?” Wang Juan glanced outside, a little disappointed. “Your brother-in-law isn’t like that. Maybe he’s just busy today. I’m sure he’ll come tomorrow.”
That’s what she said, but inside she was uneasy, blaming Xiang Ping for not coming sooner. If he came tomorrow, she was definitely going to scold him.
Wang Juan went inside and asked her dad if he’d found her Gonggong.
“Hmph, your Gonggong is just a scoundrel. I reasoned with him for half a day, but he just said he shouldn’t interfere in the younger generation’s affairs. If he can’t interfere, why did he make you pay compensation?”
Wang Zhigang cursed, “And what about Xiang Ping? Why hasn’t he come to pick you up? Does he even want to live with you?”
Wang Juan was anxious too. She just wanted to throw a tantrum and scare the Zeng family a bit—she never thought about divorce.
What was going on? Did Xiang Ping really not want to be with her anymore?
At that moment, over at the Zeng family, Lin Jiazheng was trying to persuade Xiang Ping to go pick up Wang Juan.
Xiang Ping had just finished eating and went to his room to get his schoolbag.
“If she wants to throw a tantrum, let her stay at her parents’ place for a few days. I work during the day and go to night school in the evening—where do I have time to coax her? I’ll wait a few days and go on the weekend.”
After saying that, he got on his bicycle and set off for night school.
There was another reason Xiang Ping didn’t want to pick up Wang Juan—he was afraid the neighbors in the alley would see her and remember what happened between Wang Juan and her sister.
After a few days, when everyone in the alley had forgotten about it, he’d bring her back and no one would talk about it anymore.
Xiang Ping was riding his bicycle out of the alley when he almost ran into someone.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”
Looking up, he saw it was Sanmei. Xiang Ping frowned, “Shuyi, you’re getting bold. Skipping dinner and only coming home after dark—where did you go?”
Zeng Shuyi replied irritably, “My business is none of your concern.”
Zeng Shuyi turned and walked into the alley. Before entering the house, she peeked through the window to make sure her dad wasn’t in the living room before quietly slipping inside.
But she still ran into her brother.
“Mom, Third Sister’s back! Dad, didn’t you just say you’d break Third Sister’s legs? Come quick!” Zeng Xiangmin shouted gleefully.
Zeng Qingliang immediately rushed out of the room.
“Where did you go? Didn’t come home for dinner—what were you up to? Were you hanging out with some shady people?”
“Mom knows. I told her I went to see my Tongxue. I realized on the way back I didn’t have money for the bus, so I walked all the way home.” Zeng Shuyi lied without blushing and shot her mom a look.
Lin Jiazheng was afraid her husband would really hit their daughter, so she quickly chimed in, “That’s right, Shuyi told me. I just forgot.” In truth, she hadn’t, but she was used to covering for every child.
“You can even keep this a secret?” Zeng Qingliang scolded. “Your brain is useless—might as well cook it!”
He turned to look at his daughter. “Which Tongxue? Boy or girl?”
“A girl, of course! It’s Xiaohuang, the one who’s been to our house before. Didn’t her family help her find a job? I wanted to ask if she knew of any opportunities.” Zeng Shuyi smiled. “Mom, you should rest early. I’m going back to my room.”
Once inside her room, Zeng Shuyi finally let out a sigh of relief.
She really was looking for opportunities, but for business, not a job.
But Zeng Xiangmin really was asking for a beating. When she went out to wash her face and saw her brother brushing his teeth in the yard, she kicked him.
“Third Sister! What are you doing?!”
“If you keep running your mouth, I’ll make you cry for real!” Zeng Shuyi raised her fist. Her brother was three years younger than her and had always been bullied by her.
Zeng Xiangmin pouted. “You only bully me. Why don’t you go bully Big Brother and Sister-in-law?”
“Mind your own business. You’d better watch yourself. Getting dragged off to the Paichusuo at your age, hanging out with hoodlums!” Zeng Shuyi finished washing her face and rinsed her feet. She was tired.
“They’re my friends, not hoodlums. Don’t look down on people—one day I’ll make big money, and then you’ll have to bring me my foot wash water!” Zeng Xiangmin declared with ambition.
Zeng Shuyi laughed, “If you want me to wash your feet, it won’t be cheap. Let’s see you earn some money first.”
She snorted, not taking her brother’s words seriously.
He was spoiled at home, had never suffered, and was still naïve. Even after being tricked into the Paichusuo, he stubbornly refused to rat out his friends, saying at worst he’d just be locked up for a few days—loyalty couldn’t be thrown away.
When she went back to the room, Second Sister had already coaxed her niece to sleep. As Zeng Shuyi was turning off the light, she heard her second sister call out.
“Shuyi.”
“Yeah?”
“I know you didn’t go see your Tongxue. I saw you this afternoon—you were with Wang Chaoyang. Are you planning to work with him, or… or are you two dating?”
Only the windowsill was lit in the room.
Zeng Shuyi hadn’t expected her second sister to see her, so she answered honestly, “I’m not dating Wang Chaoyang, and I don’t plan on working with him either. Didn’t you see in the newspaper? Private businesses aren’t allowed to hire workers—only family-run ones are permitted.”
“Then why did you go to him?”
“I just wanted to ask about the situation, and how to get an Yingyezhizhao.”
Zeng Shuyi turned over to face the wall.
“Second Sister, don’t ask anymore. I’m determined to make money. If I can’t even pay my own Shenghuofei, I’ll have to let Dad arrange my marriage and end up marrying someone I don’t even know.”
She paused, then added, “I know you don’t believe I can do it, but good or bad, I have to try, right?”
Zeng Shuyue was torn. She wanted to talk to the family in the evening, but held back. “Shuyi, I’m just worried about you.”
“I know. You’re the only one in the family who cares about me. That’s why I’m telling you all this. Second Sister, trust me this once—I’ll make it work. And I’m not risking much—just the ten yuan Sister-in-law gave me as compensation. If I really lose it, I’ll listen to you and obediently go on matchmaking meetings, okay?” Zeng Shuyi said.
Zeng Shuyue couldn’t make up her mind.
She thought Dad was right, but didn’t want to discourage her sister.
She couldn’t figure out what was good or bad, so she could only nod.
“Alright, but you must follow the law. If you get caught and dragged to the Paichusuo, Dad won’t bail you out like he did for Xiangmin.”
Both sisters knew Dad was biased.
“Heh, I know.” Zeng Shuyi reassured her.
“Once I make money, I’ll buy new clothes for Shengnan and for you too. But I won’t buy any for Big Brother and Sister-in-law—let them be mad!”
Thinking of that day, Zeng Shuyi couldn’t help but laugh, turned over, and quickly drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Zeng Shuyi went to the kitchen, grabbed a sweet potato, and was about to head out.
“Shuyi, where are you going?” Lin Jiazheng, wearing an apron, chased her to the kitchen door.
“Going to look for a job,” Zeng Shuyi used the same excuse as yesterday.
“At least have breakfast before you go. I made mung bean pancakes today—you love those, don’t you?” Lin Jiazheng said.
Zeng Shuyi swallowed. “Save me a piece, I’ll eat it when I get back. I made plans with Xiaohuang—if I’m late, it won’t be good.”
She really did have an appointment, but not with Xiaohuang.
Zeng Shuyi hurried out of the alley, turned down another street, and saw Wang Chaoyang pushing his tricycle. She ran over with a smile, “Wang Chaoyang, I’m here!”