Shen Baoguo and Wang Xiulan’s expressions stiffened. Facing Grandma Liu, they didn’t dare say anything too harsh. They forced awkward smiles instead, but when they turned to look at Feng Wan and Shen Mingzhu, their eyes turned cold.
“Today, out of respect for Grandma Liu, we’ll let you two run wild for now. Go home early, or you’ll never set foot in the Shen family again.”
“Don’t worry,” Feng Wan said, enunciating each word clearly. “Even if I starve to death, I’ll die somewhere you can’t see.”
Feng Baoguo glared fiercely at them, then dragged the still-crying Wang Xiulan away.
The courtyard gate slammed shut, and the small yard fell silent again.
Grandma Liu snorted disdainfully. “What kind of people are they? Marrying off their own daughter to a fool is something you don’t see every day.”
Shen Mingzhu’s legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Feng Wan caught her in time. “Scared?”
Shen Mingzhu shook her head vigorously, then nodded, wiping away her tears. “A little. I’ve never dared to talk like that before.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Feng Wan reassured her, patting her shoulder.
“Come on, let’s go eat first, then sign up for the countryside,” she said. “Later, I need to buy some things. You stay here, and don’t open the door for anyone.”
Shen Mingzhu nodded. “Okay.”
“What? My educated youth subsidy has already been collected? How could it be taken without me even knowing?” Feng Wan’s eyes widened in disbelief. Suddenly, it dawned on her—it must have been taken by that shameless couple from the Shen family.
“Why would we lie about this? Your parents took it when they signed you up. Here’s your train ticket. Your sister’s ticket will be available in a couple of days.”
The staff at the educated youth office were as anxious as a dog scratching at sheet metal. The quota for countryside assignments still hadn’t been filled, and they were practically tearing their hair out. Naturally, they had no time to waste arguing with Feng Wan.
Shen Mingzhu clutched her two hundred yuan, her heart pounding with anxiety. After a moment’s thought, she shoved all the money into Feng Wan’s hands.
“Sis, don’t worry. Take all this money. Buy whatever you need.”
“All of it? What about you?”
Shen Mingzhu glanced around cautiously before whispering, “I… I have twenty yuan saved up from pasting matchboxes. And when I was packing, I also took… um, Wang Xiulan’s new watch. We can sell it for money.”
As she spoke, her face flushed red with guilt. She couldn’t even lift her head, afraid Feng Wan would scold her for being dishonest. In all her life, this was the first time she had ever done something like this.
“Well done, Shen Mingzhu. You’re not completely foolish after all. Come on, let’s hurry home. Give me the watch, and we’ll sell it for cash.”
“Okay!”
The two sisters returned home happily. Feng Wan took the money, ration coupons, and the watch before heading out. Before leaving, she reminded Shen Mingzhu a few more times not to open the door for anyone.
Grandma Liu had gone out to visit neighbors and had finally learned why the two sisters had fallen out with the Shen family. She thought to herself, that couple really was despicable. She’d have to warn her sons about them—people like that were bound to become negative examples.
Feng Wan first went to the supply and marketing cooperative, using all the available cloth, grain, egg, and non-staple food ration coupons she had. The two hundred yuan Shen Mingzhu had given her was spent in no time.
Normally, goods at the supply and marketing cooperative were rationed, and no one could buy or hoard more than their share—except for educated youth. Since she and her sister were about to be sent down to the countryside, it was understandable that they would stock up on more supplies. Even the other customers at the cooperative would give priority to the educated youth.
While she was frantically shopping, things were far from peaceful back at the Shen household. Wang Xiulan’s eldest son, whom she had brought with her, had heard about what had happened and rushed over on his bicycle as fast as he could. He was not Shen Baoguo’s biological son.
But Wang Xiulan was a shrewd operator who had Shen Baoguo wrapped around her finger—otherwise, his own daughter’s wages wouldn’t have ended up with this stepson.
Jia Renyi was seething with impatience, but he still handed over the gifts he had brought to Shen Baoguo first.
“Dad, calm down. I’m sure my little sisters didn’t mean to upset you on purpose. Don’t take it to heart. This is some Maotai I had someone get for you. Later, have Mom make a couple of good dishes, and we’ll have a drink together, alright?”
Shen Baoguo looked at his eldest son with gentle eyes. Although he wasn’t his biological child, this son was truly filial. Thinking of something, he felt a pang of guilt and regret.
“Renyi, it’s your dad who’s useless. If it weren’t for your sister causing trouble, your engagement wouldn’t have been delayed. The niece of the procurement department head—such a good match, we can’t let it fall through!”
Jia Renyi’s smile stiffened slightly. He didn’t like the department head’s niece at all. What he really liked was Xiao Fang from the logistics cleaning team. Even though she was over a decade older than him, true love couldn’t be measured by age.
Despite his inner disagreement, he still responded, because the department head’s niece could genuinely help him.
“Dad, I understand.”
Wang Xiulan’s eyes were red. Her wonderful son deserved nothing less than a golden phoenix, but… to secure this marriage, the betrothal gifts, the bride price, the house, the “three rounds and one sound,” and the “thirty-six legs” couldn’t be missing.
Thinking of this, she remembered the thousand yuan Feng Wan had taken, and her heart suddenly ached.
“Old Shen, our Renyi’s marriage and our Yaozu’s job can’t wait. We still need to coax Xiaowan and Mingzhu back home.”
The marriage arrangement with the Jiang family had been set by Jia Renyi’s grandfather and an old benefactor. After he passed away, the Jia family originally had no intention of honoring it, as there were no suitable girls of the right age in the family. But the Jiangs had a formal betrothal letter, and back then, they had even given the Jia family two gold bars as a lifeline.
All of this was written in the betrothal letter. If they didn’t honor it, they would have to repay tenfold—how could they possibly afford that?
As it happened, Shen Baoguo had daughters, so they came in handy.
“Don’t worry, those two brats won’t get away. You all go about your business. I’m about to be promoted to workshop director soon—can’t let people laugh at us. I can’t be late for work.”
“Alright, dear, you go ahead. Renyi and I will be there soon.”