She didnât even get a bite to eat before being kicked out, and the clothes in her hand were also snatched back.
"Ah Mei, I donât know the way. Let me stay, I know I was wrong. I will change, I surely will. I wonât stay for free. Iâll do all the housework, laundry, and cooking from now on." Liang Weixiang didnât want to lose this chance.
If it doesnât work out this time, there really wonât be an opportunity to move in later.
"Are you leaving or not? Iâll give you one opportunity, Iâll send you to the bus stop. If you are still like this, feel free to stand outside. I wonât open the door for you."
"Ah Mei, this isnât good. If the neighbors see it, they will gossip about you."
"Didnât you ask today? You should know Iâm not familiar with them. I donât care what they say."
"Alright, alright, Iâll go back. Please take me. Can I have the clothes? Iâm unbearably cold." This time, Liang Weixiang didnât dare to say more.
"With the box-making job, you sit inside all day, you canât wear something so thick," Liang Hongmei said as she put the clothes back in her room, turned around, and pushed Liang Weixiang out, locking the door.
Liang Weixiang was very afraid that Liang Hongmei would leave her outside, so she didnât dare say much. Her loose mouth cost her the clothes that were within reach. That girl, Dan Dan, is something else.
She knew perfectly well that Liang Hongmei wasnât home but still didnât come to get her back, leaving her out there to freeze all day.
Unwillingly, Liang Weixiang got on the bus and alighted at the stop Liang Hongmei mentioned.
Relying on memory, she finally reached home.
As soon as she entered, she saw Zhang Dandan eating steaming white rice.
Anger boiled up in Liang Weixiang, and she slapped Zhang Dandan, "How can I have a cruel daughter like you! Watch how I wonât beat you to death!"
"Mom, whatâs going on with you?" Zhang Dandan quickly dodged Liang Weixiang, running around everywhere.
Deep inside, her impatience grew strong.
...
The gathering today was at Lin Yuanâs place. They lived in a newly-built apartment building, in the same building as Yang Wei.
Lin Yuan didnât come regularly, so when Wang Yuan applied, they opted for the top floor, leaving the ones below for others.
Since Lin Yuan didnât come often, the house wasnât very decorated. When she wasnât there, apart from coming back to sleep, Wang Yuan mostly ate at the army canteen.
"Xiao Wan, your Little Star is so adorable. Letâs become godparents!" From the moment Lin Wan entered, Little Star was scooped up by Lin Yuan and hadnât been put down since, and cooking was wholly left to Lin Wan and Shi Lan, as Lin Yuan directly played the role of a carefree boss.
"No way. Little Star already has one godmother, and besides, your son is great. Why be envious of my kid?" As soon as Lin Yuan finished speaking, Lin Wan flatly refused. This time Lin Yuan had brought her kid along too. Three or four years old and looked a lot like Lin Yuan.
This provoked Lin Yuan to glare tearfully at Lin Wan, then resentfully looked at Shi Lan.
Shi Lan laughed, "This is called proximity advantage, Little Star can only be my goddaughter."
Lin Yuan wasnât angry, raised an eyebrow, and laughed, "Itâs okay, if not godmother, I can be her mother-in-law later."
Lin Yuanâs words made Lin Wan realistically eye Wang Zeyang, "Thatâll depend on how your Wang Zeyang acts. My daughter isnât so easily pursued."
"Auntie, Auntie, I like the little sister, I like the little sister."
"Haha, see, my son is something else."
"Oh, stop it, you." Lin Wan laughed.
The three appeared harmonious, making Sun Yu feel awkward on the side, sitting alone with her child, feeling sort of left out. "Whatâs good about girls? They grow up to belong to others. Xiao Yuan, if youâre thinking of godparenting, why not choose my son? When they grow up, he can be filial to you. Zeyang, look at your little brother, do you like him?" Sun Yu knew Lin Yuan had quite a special family. Recently, there was a big leader who stayed at their place for two days. Constantly going upstairs and downstairs, with dedicated service soldiers following. Easily two at a time.
Yang Wei said that Wang Yuan had been here for less than three years, and according to higher-ups, heâd immediately rise after those three years.
So recently, she would casually go to Lin Yuanâs place with the child, making small talk and building a rapport.
Sun Yu considered that she and Lin Yuan got on fairly well during this time.
But Lin Yuan had different thoughts. Every day when Sun Yu came over with the child, Lin Yuan felt really impatient inside; she just couldnât openly kick her out.
She said to let the two kids play together; her Zeyang was already four, while their Little Stone was still unable to speak, how could they play? Kids like to follow bigger kids. Her son had been running wild with other boys in the compound these days; where would he have time for her son?
Lin Yuan gave Sun Yu a sheepish smile, nudged her own husband, "As for a godson, letâs forget it, Wang Yuan just adores daughters."
Sun Yu laughed awkwardly, holding the child, not saying anything else, her heart turning cold.
She felt Lin Yuan did it on purpose to embarrass her, and what was so great about Lin Wan, wasnât it just because she married well?
Why wasnât Han Yi the one she met back then? During the countryside days, Yang Wei seemed capable, but coming out these past years, she realized there are always people better than you.
There were many more capable than him. It was her own short-sightedness, being deceived for a moment. Now it was too late for regrets.
Upon entering, Lin Wan greeted Sun Yu but didnât say much after. Unlikable people, the words exchanged were insincere.
But Sun Yu frequently tried to converse with Lin Wan.
"Sister-in-law Lin, I hear your daughter drinks formula milk, wealthy people are surely different, they arenât bothered by these little costs, unlike us, earning a fixed salary, we canât afford that expensive formula, lacking nutrition, the kid often falls sick."
"When Iâm home, she rarely drinks formula. Mainly when Iâm teaching at night, my mom will feed some formula if she gets hungry. Illness doesnât relate to formula, the adults just need to pay more attention, drink light milk-increasing soups, and avoid stress. When adults arenât stressed, kids donât fall ill easily."
Shi Lan nearby caught Sun Yuâs gist, thinking she was bragging that she and her husband had secure jobs, looking down on those in private businesses like them.
"Iâd say formula is good, rich in nutrients, makes kids look exceptionally fair and tender. Look at Little Star, her skin is fantastic. Sunâs family earns fixed salaries, surely canât afford formula, unlike business owners like us, who can provide for children. But you and Yang Lian should save a bit, you can manage a monthly can of formula. Sun, if nutrition is lacking, why not give the kid a can a month? If he drinks for two months, heâll look as fair and tender as Little Star."
"Boys canât be compared to girls, raising them rough isnât a problem. Iâm actually thinking of letting his grandma take him back home after he turns sixteen. Itâs expensive here, and his grandma isnât adjusting, always saying here isnât as good as home. Even after a year, she misses home. Going back is good; Yang Weiâs hometown is spring-like all year round, suitable for raising kids."
"Oh, Sister, the child isnât even half a year old, how will he be fed?" Lin Yuan looked heartbrokenly at the small child in Sun Yuâs arms, wondering how Sun Yu planned to leave such a young kid with elderly.
Sun Yu chuckled brightly, "His grandpa has sheep at home, in our village, kids without milk mostly grow up drinking sheep milk. Itâs economical and nutrient-rich."
Lin Wan and Shi Lan in the kitchen exchanged a glimpse, indicating their lack of understanding.
Lin Wan partially guessed Sun Yuâs intentions.
Letting the elderly raise the child, first, she could have more leisure. Second, cut expenses; three adults and a child incurred significant costs here. Third, she could send the elderly away; if the relationship wasnât easy, it was better to send Yang Weiâs mother back home, avoiding daily arguments.
Without the child or the elderly, the couple could enjoy alone time again.
All she had to do was send some money home monthly.
Unbeknownst to them, Lin Wanâs guess was precisely Sun Yuâs plan. She and Yang Wei had discussed it for a long time before getting his approval.
Moreover, the mother-in-law was quite pleased with Sun Yuâs decision. Recently, the differences in childcare between the two had been significant, neither willing to yield. She couldnât abide by her daughter-in-lawâs childcare methods.
Returning home to raise the child was good, avoiding daily arguments and keeping her grandson close. Plus, her son gave them twenty bucks monthly.
Sun Yuâs thought process left the trio bewildered. A child nearby allows the best education. Being a teacher herself, raising the child early would be better.
Sure enough, their lack of understanding was peopleâs own business, they had no right to interfere.
As Lin Wan finished preparing the dishes, the men returned.