After seeing off her husband and daughter, Huang Cuilan rushed to the factory to ask for leave and hurried to her parents’ ho.
"Daughter, you’re back? Why aren’t you at work today? How’s the thing I asked you to do? Your niece is waiting for your news; I heard it’s about thirty yuan a month."
Huang Cuilan looked at her mother and said, "Mom, I’m going through a tough ti. I can’t stay at my husband’s house anymore. Can I co back ho to stay with you and dad?"
Mrs. Huang’s eyes widened as she slamd the table and shouted, "Is your in-laws looking down on you? Oh, Old Zhang’s family has beco prosperous and now they look down on people, don’t they? Trying to drive you away! That bastard has forgotten how my sons and nephews took care of him, eating and drinking at my place. Heartless..."
Huang Cuilan silently watched her.
Mrs. Huang cursed for a while and then took a breath, "Tell , is that bastard seeing soone else outside? I’ve told you countless tis to take control of the man’s money. Great, isn’t it? You didn’t listen, and now it’s all gone to hell. Is it so slut? I’ll tear her apart, make her learn her lesson for stealing soone else’s man."
Huang Cuilan held onto Mrs. Huang, "Don’t make a fuss over nothing. The kids’ dad doesn’t have anyone else right now, but it might be soon. Brother told a lot of people have their eyes on him now. Mom, I want to live well with him."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Huang sighed in relief. "Yes, yes. You have to keep an eye on your own man, don’t let soone else take advantage. Your brother also ntioned this to before, don’t listen to him blab. No decent girl is willing to beco a stepmother to soone else’s kids. Those little vixens wouldn’t be allowed through your in-laws’ doors.
Daughter, don’t be afraid, with the three sons you gave birth to, no one can make you leave. Rember to keep a tight grip on the man’s wallet. If you hold the money, he won’t have any to please other won; who would want to follow him then..."
Huang Cuilan shook her head with a bitter smile. Keep an eye on the money? For the past two years, her salary has been supplenting her family, and all the household expenses co from him. Could she even make a peep?
Listening to her mother, Huang Cuilan thought more. Her brother was right. With her husband’s looks and job, plenty of won would throw themselves at him. City girls are not the sa as village girls; she can’t be naive anymore.
"Mom, stop it. I’ve co back this ti to tell you that I can’t send money or food back anymore. You and dad won’t go without food in the village, so I’m not worried. I can’t take care of Brother’s family anymore. I need to save money for Xi Zi and the three brothers, now that they’re getting older."
"But don’t they have their grandparents? Your brother’s family has it hard; if you don’t help, what will they do?"
Huang Cuilan stood up, shaking her head, "Brother’s family has dual incos, much better off than people in the village. I’m barely scraping by myself; I can’t take care of others. I’m just here to tell you from now on I can only look after myself."
Seeing her about to leave, Mrs. Huang quickly stepped forward to pull her back, "Okay, okay, Mother knows. Just sit for a while; your dad will be back soon."
Huang Cuilan shook her head again, "No, thanks. Tomorrow, the kids’ dad is heading to the provincial city to study, for almost a whole year. I have to go back and pack."
Mrs. Huang frowned at hearing this but didn’t stop her. She walked her to the village entrance, unable to resist asking, "Is there really no hope for your niece’s issue?"
Huang Cuilan looked at her amusingly, "I’m leaving."
Mrs. Huang watched her daughter leave until she disappeared, then returned ho, worried. Near noon, when Father Huang ca back, she imdiately perked up and recounted Huang Cuilan’s visit and words.
Father Huang puffed on his pipe, and when he heard their son-in-law was going to the provincial city for a whole year, a glint of concern flashed in his eyes. "If you don’t want your daughter to be sent back ho, embarrassing you, don’t make any fuss."
"How did I make a fuss?"
Father Huang tapped his pipe, "Fine, you didn’t make a fuss. I can’t argue with you, but don’t forget the daughter you gave birth to is as much your own as your eldest son. I haven’t dared to visit the in-laws these past two years, do you know why?"
Mrs. Huang scoffed.
Father Huang glanced at the new clothes on his wife’s body and shook his head, "Our daughter spoke like that, sothing must be off. She’s upset. For her sake, don’t push her too much."
After speaking, Father Huang stood up and went to the yard. Looking toward the county’s direction, he was deeply worried. With the son-in-law going to the provincial city for such a long ti, the daughter not being by his side, who knows what might happen.
Before, he hoped for the son-in-law to succeed, but now he’s worried. Every pot has its lid; the status gap between these two isn’t a good thing.
anwhile, having voiced her thoughts, Huang Cuilan felt as if a heavy burden was lifted from her heart. Oblivious to her father’s worries, she returned to the county with a lighter step.
Around noon, as Zhang Guofu entered the living room, he caught the aroma of at and dishes wafting through the air. Listening to the joyful laughter of his wife and children from the kitchen startled him.
Xi Zi carried a dish over, smiling at him, "Mom went to school to pick us up for lunch. I called Grandma and Grandpa, and they told us to eat by ourselves and visit them tonight."
Mai Miao ran over to Zhang Guofu cheerfully, "Dad, Mom made the dishes you like, and she’s prepared a lot of fried noodles for you to take to the provincial city."
Zhang Guofu ruffled her short hair with a smile, pulling her to the table.
Xiao Zuo and Xiao You ca over with bowls and chopsticks, "Dad, there’s good food. Do you want a drink?"
Zhang Guofu laughed, "I’m not your grandpa, why would I want a drink? I’m going to the provincial city this ti, so you all need to behave at ho. No wandering around, understand?"
"No problem."
"Dad, be careful out there alone."
"Dad, when the weekend cos, let’s visit you in the provincial city for fun."
Xi Zi knocked Xiao Zuo on the head, "All you think about is play. Dad is going to study; you’d better be good at school. If you score only eighty-sothing this sester, do you think Uncle will bring you anything when he cos back?"
Xiao Zuo’s eyes lit up, "Bro, is Uncle really coming back this sumr?"
Xi Zi gave him a sideways glance, speaking slowly, "Last year they didn’t co back. This year, Grandma isn’t going to Beijing, they’ll definitely return."
"Right, that’s how it is. I should write a letter to Uncle, asking him to bring Ping’an back."
Xiao You interjected, "Second brother, ntion in the letter to Uncle that Second Uncle said Ping’an is ranked fifth. His na as Xiao Wu should be given up."
"Then who will respond when they’re called Xiao Wu from now on?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone at the table burst into laughter.
At the table, Zhang Guofu smiled while giving the children food. Looking at his wife, he redirected his chopsticks to also put a piece of at in her bowl.
Happily eating, Huang Cuilan burst into laughter.
Seeing this, Zhang Guofu’s gaze dimd, and he sighed to himself. His wife was difficult to handle either way, and he wasn’t sure how best to treat her.
Pampering her leads to chaos at ho, while treating her coldly makes her appear wronged, as if she’s suffered greatly.
All this made Zhang Guofu feel ntally exhausted at tis. What should a marriage be? In his mind, it should be like his parents’, where they consult each other, working together for the family and children. When he’s tired, there should be soone to accompany him, not soone to constantly please and appease.
Thinking about leaving tomorrow, he felt relieved. Perhaps the separation would be good; he also wanted to take this opportunity to breathe so fresh air.
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