In the Liang Hongmei family in S City, they are not so easy to bully like a few years ago. Her mom obviously hasnât realized this problem.
After eating, Zhang Dandan pulled Liang Weixiang back to her small courtyard.
On the way, Liang Weixiang complained she didnât get to see Lin Yinghui today. Even during the meal, her son-in-law didnât come out.
"Your aunt now has money and is tough, doesnât take us seriously. We came all this way, and neither her son nor son-in-law treat me as an elder."
Zhang Dandan didnât want to pay attention to her. All the way here, mom kept embarrassing her. How come she never noticed back in the hometown that her mom was so vulgar and unpresentable?
Even the uneducated Liang Hongmei was more cultured than her mom, who had two years of schooling.
As soon as mom entered their home, she complained about this and that and even asked them for clothes. When they gave her clothes, she complained they were ugly.
How can they treat her well? Moreover, todayâs meal was clearly not up to their usual standard.
Coarse flatbread and stir-fried cabbage. That had to have been prepared by aunt on purpose.
Humph, if they donât want to see us, so be it. Anyway, she doesnât care about their family anymore.
Thinking of this, a figure flitted through Zhang Dandanâs mind, and she smirked a little.
When the two returned to the small courtyard, it was past seven, and Zhang Dandan, being experienced, heated the kang bed.
The coal stoveâs fire was out; Zhang Dandan didnât care about Liang Weixiang bustling around the room and picked a piece of coal to go next-door to Ye Qingâs house.
Originally, she wanted to ignite a piece of coal. But as soon as she knocked on the door, Ye Qing saw the piece of coal in her hand and knew what she wanted to do.
With a cold face, Ye Qing said, "From now on, donât bring your coal over to my house." After saying this, Ye Qing slammed the door.
Leaving Zhang Dandan dumbfounded. "Humph, who did I offend? Why are you taking it out on me? If you wonât let me, so be it. Who cares?"
She said this as she put the coal back in the big pot stove and reignited the fire, by the way, heating the kang again.
"Dandan, isnât this courtyard a bit small?" "Mom, this courtyard is better than our house. Stop being picky. Didnât you see? Aunt was doing it on purpose today. We arrived at their house, and she didnât give us a good face. She just doesnât want you staying at her place. Give up on that idea."
"If you donât stay at their house, how can you win Ah Huiâs heart? Are you foolish?"
Zhang Dandan uncomfortably replied, "None of your business."
On hearing this, Liang Weixiang got angry, nodding her head while pointing at Zhang Dandan. "Weâve only been out for a little while, and youâve learned to be tough like Liang Hongmei, huh? Lying to your family, getting your own place, even owning a bicycle, and Iâm sure your monthly salary is more than just fifteen. You havenât shown me a good face along the way; now I see you donât want me here. Living alone, more comfortable than anyone, right?"
"Mom, what are you saying? Who doesnât want you here?" Zhang Dandan felt guilty.
"Humph, you came out of my womb, donât think I donât understand you. Come on, tell me how much youâve been hiding."
"I havenât hidden any money."
"I struggled so hard for you, coming all this way, and you donât want your mom to starve or freeze to death, right? Give me fifty dollars, and tomorrow, buy me some cotton and cloth to make a few sets of clothes."
At this, Liang Weixiang wanted to curse, this place is really exceptionally cold, could freeze a person to death.
And those damned thieves, curse them. They stole her money, may they have children without butt holes.
"Mom, Iâve only been here for a few months, really donât have that much; I only have twenty dollars saved." Zhang Dandan knew she couldnât fool her mom, so she had to cough up some of her savings. "Mom, actually, aunt is sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. Iâm going to work tomorrow. You wander around her place, cry about being poor, she wonât leave you uncared for. At the very least, youâll save the money for making clothes. Aunt has many nice clothes."
Liang Weixiang glared disapprovingly, "Didnât you hear her say, I canât fit into her clothes, whatâs the use of them looking nice."
"Then let aunt buy some for you, remember, donât ask in front of Lin Wan. Cousin is not as easygoing as aunt."
Zhang Dandan, having stayed here for half a year, had figured out the Lin Familyâs quirks.
After lighting the stove, Zhang Dandan and her mother boiled some ginger water to drink. Liang Weixiang had been cold for a long time today; she couldnât get sick.
Lost several hundred dollars, didnât get any advantage at Liang Hongmeiâs, and getting sick would mean spending even more money.
She came to earn money, not to spend it.
Liang Weixiang thought her daughter made some sense. Liang Hongmei wasnât that heartless, but that Lin Wan girl was hard to deal with. Tomorrow, sheâll wear this set of clothes to Liang Hongmeiâs, and doesnât believe Liang Hongmei will just watch her freeze.
Lin Wan knew the Liang Weixiang mother and daughter wouldnât let it go, so she told her mom at night to leave early these days to go to the shop.
Her brother went to the grassroots before the year ended and did well. Just upon starting work, his superior took him on a business trip.
Just the chance to avoid the Liang Weixiang mother and daughter. Lin Wan and Han Yi had planned well and called Lin Yuan when they returned.
Everyone talked about gathering together; originally, Lin Yuan and her family wanted to come over, but last night Lin Wan called them back, saying they would go over there. Early in the morning, their family and Ning Jiangâs family bundled up Little Star and took a ride to the military camp.
The court hasnât been lived in for a long time, the rooms full of dust. Han Yi let Lin Wan hold the child near the kitchen fire while he cleaned the room alone.
"What do you want for lunch?"
"Arenât we going to find Lin Yuan at noon?" Lin Wan, holding Little Star by the stove, was hot and wanted to take off her clothes.
"Wang Yuan must be at the camp now; letâs go in the evening."
Lin Wan nodded, "Letâs have noodles, shall we? How about oil-splashed noodles?"
Han Yi sorted the rice, noodles, and vegetables brought back in the morning and started kneading dough himself. He had eaten oil-splashed noodles before and knew how to make them.
"The vegetables we brought will last us two days; weâre not going back these days, are we?"
Han Yi smiled, "You donât think your mom can handle your auntâs mother and daughter alone?"
"Youâre underestimating your mother-in-law. My mom is not as she used to be. She knows what to do. My aunt is very competitive, no matter how much you give her, she wonât be satisfied. Might as well give nothing. Apart from complaining, saying my mom has no conscience, she canât do much else."
Han Yi chuckled, "If you donât want to go back, we can stay here for a few more days. Until the day I return to school, how about that?"
At the mention of Han Yi leaving, Lin Wan felt uneasy. Although knowing itâs been a month, Lin Wan always felt like they havenât been together long. Time passed too quickly.
Han Yi glanced back to see Lin Wan was unhappy, so he didnât care about the dough on his hands and knelt in front of Lin Wan tenderly calling, "Xiao Wan."
He didnât know how to comfort his wife. Every time they parted, he too felt reluctant and sad. As a soldier, he couldnât neglect his duty and act willfully; he couldnât just live for himself. Lin Wan, seeing him like this, dared not feel emotional; she didnât want him to worry for her. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she asked, "Can I visit you when I can?"
"Yes, I can rent a place outside for you anytime you come."
Upon hearing this, Lin Wan gave him a playful glare. It sounded like an affair.
"When I come, I wonât bring our daughter."
"Hmm, itâs okay if you come alone; Iâm not comfortable with the child coming."
"Hmm, by the time you graduate, Iâll graduate too. Little Star will be two."
"By then, letâs have another one, Iâll give you a son."
"Xiao Wan, one child is good." Inside, Han Yi thought one child was enough. This way, when heâs not home, Lin Wan wouldnât be too burdened.
"We can afford it; why not?" On this matter, Lin Wan wasnât going to comply with Han Yi. More children are good. Regardless of gender, Little Star wonât be lonely in the future, and when theyâre old, the burden wonât be too great.
"Alright, alright, whatever you say." Han Yi knew this wasnât the right time to discuss the matter. He stood up and continued making noodles.
...
Liang Weixiang didnât sleep well all night. She wasnât used to the kang bed here, so hard her back hurt severely the next morning.
Despite this, Liang Weixiang headed to Liang Hongmeiâs house early in the morning.
She didnât know the way herself, so she had Zhang Dandan take her there; Zhang Dandan only escorted her to the street entrance and didnât go inside.
"Mom, Iâm off to work. Aunt will surely still be at home, so just stay at their place. Auntâs heart will soften."
"Fine, I know what to do. Hurry to work. Bring more food back tonight to save us from spending money."
"I understand."