Lin Jingwen couldn’t help but laugh at what Old Madam Yang said, but quickly held it back, afraid Director Yang and his wife Qi Fang might overhear and take it the wrong way.
Out in the other room, Qi Fang had already heard. She immediately rolled her eyes and whispered to Director Yang: “See? She’s mocking us again! Luckily Jingwen isn’t a gossip, otherwise she’d spread it everywhere.”
Director Yang swallowed his frustration, not daring to speak. Though at school he acted high and mighty because he oversaw housing allocations, at home, he was caught between his mother and his wife. His wife was strong-willed, with good family background, a solid job, and a tough temper—she would never bow her head to him.
Meanwhile, his mother was always trying to suppress his wife’s spirit, constantly attempting to control her. But in the end, it was always him who got caught in the middle.
Lin Jingwen pulled out a pair of knitted wool socks she had made and handed them to Old Madam Yang with a smile: “Auntie, these are socks I knitted for you. You can wear them at home. Even though there’s heating, it’s still important to keep your feet warm.”
“I may be old, but I’m not deaf. I heard you gave my daughter-in-law a scarf and gloves, and now you’re just giving me socks? Trying to brush me off?” Old Madam Yang said, dissatisfied, holding the socks.
How could her treatment be worse than her daughter-in-law’s!
“Of course not! I’ve also started knitting a sweater for you. It’s not finished yet, but I’ll have it ready before the New Year. You’ll always get the best from me,” Lin Jingwen coaxed her with a smile.
Old Madam Yang was immediately delighted. She turned and pulled out two *big unity* banknotes (ten-yuan notes) from the drawer and handed them to her:
“You’ve had it hard. I can’t just take your things for free—here, take this.”
Old Madam Yang was generous—handing out two *big unity* banknotes at once. For a hand‑knitted sweater, even one note would have been more than enough.
“Auntie, if you give me money, it makes me feel embarrassed. This is just my heartfelt thanks to you. The scarf and gloves I gave Sister Fang were also with the thought that if she wore them and looked nice, she might help spread the word. If her colleagues want to buy, I have some for sale. Right now, I’m planning to knit scarves to sell, to see if I can earn a little money.” Lin Jingwen smiled as she gently pushed the money back, while also revealing one of her purposes for coming.
“You’ve gotten much sharper than before,” Old Madam Yang said, looking at her with some surprise.
In the past, when Lin Jingwen came to care for her, she would just bury her head in work, speaking very little. Even when she did respond, it was only with a simple “mm” or “ah,” never offering her own thoughts.
Especially with those beautiful double‑eyelid eyes of hers—such a waste, because they had no sparkle, no liveliness.
But now, Old Madam Yang saw a new brightness and vitality in Lin Jingwen’s eyes. She seemed more confident and relaxed, no longer timid and submissive as before. Of course, her style of dress was still old‑fashioned, so unless you looked closely, the change wasn’t obvious.
“This is thanks to you, Auntie. You always told me to treat myself better, to be strong. I think you were right. The more I thought about it, the more I understood.”
Lin Jingwen spoke sincerely: “You’re my benefactor. Thank you, Auntie.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Yang exclaimed with delight. She was overjoyed.
Everyone said she was difficult, gossiping behind her back that she had a sharp tongue. This was the first time anyone had praised her, calling her a benefactor.
Lin Jingwen then offered to wash the old lady’s hair, since it had become very oily—so much so that the smell was noticeable up close.
She knew that making the old lady feel refreshed was the best way to continue their conversation.
“Aiya, Jingwen, thank you. Honestly, I really don’t like ordering my daughter‑in‑law around. If I asked her to wash my hair, she’d be disgusted to death!” Old Madam Yang deliberately raised her voice, craning her neck and shouting toward the outside, making sure her son and daughter‑in‑law could hear.
No wonder people called her “the difficult old lady.” With antics like this, how could her daughter‑in‑law not be annoyed?
But Lin Jingwen had managed to win her over, making the old lady genuinely fond of her. With Jingwen, her words no longer carried barbs.
Qi Fang, hearing her mother‑in‑law’s words meant to disgust her, rolled her eyes again and angrily kicked Director Yang: “Your mother finally wants her hair washed. Hurry up and get the hot water ready.”
She didn’t even need to push him—Director Yang jumped up immediately to prepare, his heart suddenly overflowing with gratitude toward Lin Jingwen.
For the past two days, this issue had been causing strife in their household.
When he asked his wife to wash his mother’s hair, she snapped back, telling him to do it himself—“She’s your mother, so you take care of her.”
That morning, when he brought it up again, his mother refused to let anyone else do it, insisting his wife wash her hair. He was caught between both sides, frustrated and helpless.
Now that Lin Jingwen has stepped in, the problem is solved. Director Yang was deeply thankful. He even began to consider whether he should invite Lin Jingwen over once a week to wash his mother’s hair, and then repay her with money or gifts.
“Xiao Lin, thank you. Don’t rush off later—stay and have dinner with us,” Director Yang said, smiling as he carried the hot water into his mother’s room.
“Thank you, Director, but no need. I already ate before coming,” Lin Jingwen politely declined with a smile.
After washing her hair, the old lady felt much better and happily pulled Lin Jingwen into a long chat about neighbors and gossip.
In the staff housing compound, there wasn’t anyone Old Madam Yang didn’t know. After all, Director Yang was in charge of housing allocations, so everyone tried to curry favor with him, constantly dropping by.
Lin Jingwen picked up plenty of firsthand gossip. When she heard about someone’s divorce, she gave a bitter smile and took the chance to reveal her own situation:
“Auntie, don’t laugh at me for saying this—I’m also getting divorced. With the school’s new apartments being allocated, sigh, I won’t be able to live in one.”
“Oh my! You’re divorcing too? I thought you and your husband had such a good relationship. All the teachers at the school envied you two,” Old Madam Yang exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. She loved gossip, and this news instantly energized her.
Lin Jingwen found her words ironic.
Everyone thought their marriage was good—that was the illusion Li Anping had deliberately created.
In reality, they had no intimacy at all. They weren’t truly husband and wife. She was nothing more than his servant, working like a beast of burden to serve his entire family.
“Sigh…” Lin Jingwen let out a heavy sigh and explained about Li Anping’s first love returning with his son.
She also told her how Li Anping, for the sake of securing housing and winning the “advanced worker” title, was deliberately stalling and refusing to divorce her.
In her dream, Lin Jingwen remembered clearly that Old Madam Yang had firmly advised her from the start to divorce—urging her to run away, to leave the scumbag and the toxic mother‑in‑law. But back then, she couldn’t understand. She thought divorcing would only benefit Li Anping and his family, so she stubbornly dragged things out. In reality, the one destroyed by all that dragging was herself.
When Old Madam Yang heard this, she immediately flew into a rage, cursing Li Anping viciously—she didn’t spare even his ancestors eighteen generations back.
Listening to her scolding, Lin Jingwen felt utterly relieved. *Well said!*
“He still wants the apartment? Bah! He absolutely must not get it!” Old Madam Yang declared firmly.
“Girl, you’re doing the right thing. Divorce is the best choice—leave that worthless man quickly. And don’t ever let him use that vixen outside to snatch away the money and apartment that should belong to you. I’ve suffered losses like that myself…”
Lin Jingwen nodded repeatedly, then listened as Old Madam Yang recounted her own past. When she was young, her husband had run off with another woman, taking all the family’s money. She and her son had nearly starved to death. Because of that, Old Madam Yang had zero tolerance for scumbags who kept women outside. Whenever she caught one, she would curse him to death. She also didn’t believe women had to waste their lives on men. Without a man, she could still raise her child and live better. That was what made Old Madam Yang different from other old ladies.
“Auntie, you’re absolutely right. The apartments are meant for school teachers. No matter what, I won’t be able to live in one. So I thought, why not give up my housing quota to another teacher? Maybe I could even get some compensation in return.”
Only now did Lin Jingwen reveal her ultimate purpose for coming.
“People outside say you’re foolish and stubborn, but I think you’re clever,” Old Madam Yang said.
Lin Jingwen smiled shyly, thinking to herself: back then, when she was bullied by the scumbag’s family and didn’t know how to fight back—that really was foolish.
“Do you already have someone in mind for the apartment quota?” Old Madam Yang asked.
“Mm, yes. It’s Teacher He Shangjin from the Chemical Engineering Department. Do you know him?” Lin Jingwen asked.
“Of course I know him. He’s still living in a cramped space at his mother‑in‑law’s house with his wife. If he gets this apartment, he’ll be overjoyed. At the very least, he’d give you a hundred‑yuan red envelope in thanks!” Old Madam Yang replied immediately. She knew the situation of the school’s teachers like the back of her hand.
Lin Jingwen smiled shyly.
“Auntie, this matter will still trouble Director Yang. If I meddle too much, it looks like I’m abusing privilege, and I feel embarrassed…”
“What’s the problem with that! The list hasn’t been announced yet, so no one knows who’s on it. He hasn’t even submitted his name. Just for the fact that you washed my hair today and made it smell so fresh, my son has to help you.” Old Madam Yang said, patting her freshly clean hair.
“Thank you, Auntie! You’re so kind!” Lin Jingwen felt warmth in her heart, along with a deep sense of relief.
In her previous life, because she stubbornly refused to divorce, Old Madam Yang had scolded her twice. When she still wouldn’t listen, the old lady stopped bothering with her.
Not only had she wasted Auntie’s goodwill, but she had also lost a supportive elder who was willing to help her in difficult times—blocking her own path completely.
By the time she left Director Yang’s home, it was already nine o’clock at night.
Lin Jingwen rode her bicycle back to her rented apartment, huddling against the cold wind that made her shiver all the way. Her cotton jacket had been worn for many years and no longer kept her warm.
Before winter, she had spent money to make new cotton jackets for Li Anping, Li Dongle, and Zhang Lanxiang—yet she hadn’t allowed herself one.
As Lin Jingwen rode through the cold wind, she couldn’t help but think again: why hadn’t Zhou Xinping returned earlier, why hadn’t she had that nightmare sooner?
If she had, she could have saved a lot of money and avoided years of hardship. Now she was freezing!
Enough—tomorrow she would go to Teacher He Shangjin and his wife to ask for compensation. Of course, they might not believe her until the housing allocation list is officially announced. But that didn’t matter—the list would be out in just a few days anyway.
Once she got the money, the very first thing she would do was buy herself a new cotton jacket. No—better yet, a down jacket!
Down jackets had only recently become popular in the past two years. She had seen them in the department store—one cost about eighty yuan, more than her monthly salary. But they were light, stylish, and warm. Since getting married, she hadn’t bought herself any new clothes or taken care of her appearance.
Now, Lin Jingwen wanted to buy the best-looking winter coat for herself.
Besides, compensation money was unexpected income—it had to be spent quickly. Keeping it in hand only felt like holding something that burned.