When Cai Yongde heard Song Xinran say she was taking Song Yu away, he laughed inwardly.
Leave? Where could they possibly go?
Their old hometown had been uninhabited for years and was certainly uninhabitable. Song Xinran had quit her job, so she couldn't stay at the factory dormitory either. Were they going to sleep out in the open?
But after all, he was Song Xinran's brother-in-law. If people saw this, they'd say his family was mistreating them.
As he spoke, Cai Yongde felt his reasoning was sound. But when he looked at Song Xinran, she didn't even lift her head, remaining silent as if she hadn't heard him.
Just as he was about to speak again, Song Xinran's icy voice cut him off: "Brother-in-law, from what you're saying, it seems you're quite skilled at raising children."
"With such educational insights, why don't you start a parenting class? Still doing manual labor at the pottery factory – could it be you actually enjoy the work?"
Song Xinran rarely spoke like this. She had never been one to openly confront others, adhering to the adult world's rule of maintaining surface harmony.
But now she didn't want to maintain appearances anymore. She even regretted why, when Cai Yang was sick two days ago, she had stayed an extra day at home. If she had gone to town earlier to find housing, Song Yu wouldn't have suffered today's ordeal.
Cai Yongde's face immediately darkened. He knew Song Xinran was mocking him but didn't know how to retort, only managing to choke out: "You—how dare you speak ill of the pottery factory?"
"Good? Of course it's good." Song Xinran sneered. "If it weren't good, would you work so hard at the factory, brother-in-law? Coming home so exhausted you just lie there, having a child fetch you water—people might think you're disabled."
Cai Yongde trembled with rage: "You—you can't tell good from bad! I've been raising your child for you, and this is the thanks I get?"
Song Yu flinched at the shouting, clutching Song Xinran's clothes tightly, looking at her with fearful unease.
The child didn't know what to do, only managing to sob an apology: "Sorry, Uncle, I'm sorry."
Song Xinran held his trembling hand: "Xiao Yu, you don't need to apologize. You haven't done anything wrong."
She turned to mock: "Some adults make mistakes but refuse to admit it, not even behaving as well as a three-year-old child."
Having said this, she took Song Yu's hand and headed upstairs to pack their things and leave.
Cai Yongde was so angry he felt dizzy. Since getting married, no one had ever pointed fingers and scolded him like this, and in such a sarcastic way that made him furious with no outlet.
Watching Song Xinran's retreating back, he roared: "Get out! Both of you, get out now!"
At that moment, a cabbage was violently thrown into the room, splattering leaves everywhere as it hit the floor, followed by an angry shout:
"Cai Yongde, what are you saying? Are you trying to kick my sister out?!" Song Xinwen kicked the door open, the impact against the wall creating a loud bang.
Song Xinwen glared furiously at Cai Yongde, her eyes fierce enough to devour someone.
Cai Yang followed beside Song Xinwen, holding a cabbage in his arms, his chubby face showing confusion and fear. He looked at the adults in the main room, his lips quivering.
Song Xinwen turned to Song Xinran: "Xinran, don't go. This isn't Cai Yongde's place alone—I contributed to the renovation too!"
Song Xinran knew the situation between Song Xinwen and Cai Yongde was complicated and couldn't be resolved quickly: "Sis, I'm going to pack first."
Furious beyond measure, Song Xinwen grabbed a basin and threw it at Cai Yongde: "Is this how you treat my own sister when I'm not home?"
Cai Yongde's eyes widened in shock as he hastily dodged, his movements so exaggerated that he nearly stumbled.
"You actually threw something at me!" Cai Yongde could hardly believe that Song Xinwen, who usually endured everything silently at home, would dare to lay hands on him. He roared even louder: "Why don't you ask what your sister said? She laughed at me for doing manual labor and said I'm not fit to educate her child. Does that sound like something a sister should say? We've been working hard to help raise her child, and now we're in the wrong? Everyone says stepmothers have it tough, but here I am kindly looking after someone else's child only to get no appreciation!"
Song Xinran didn't want to listen to their argument and led Song Yu upstairs.
Song Xinwen grew even more furious: "Don't I know Xinran well enough? She would never say such things! You just don't want Xinran living in this house, do you? Even making up such nonsense!"
"What nonsense! You only believe your sister, always saying how good she is. We help raise her child and still end up being wrong!"
…
Upstairs, Song Yu pressed anxiously against Song Xinran's side, trembling slightly like a drenched kitten.
Song Xinran took his hand and softened her voice: "Xiao Yu, pack the things you need. We'll take them to our new home together."
Song Yu asked quietly: "Do we have a new home?"
Song Xinran looked into his eyes seriously: "Yes, Mommy has found a place. From now on, Xiao Yu will live with Mommy and won't return to auntie's house."
Song Yu's eyes widened slightly: "Together forever?"
Song Xinran nodded solemnly: "Yes, Mommy won't lie to Xiao Yu."
Song Yu stared at her blankly, and after a few seconds seemed to finally understand. Timidly, he extended his pinky finger, looking at Song Xinran with both unease and anticipation.
Song Xinran paused for a second before understanding. She extended her own pinky: "Pinky promise, never change."
Song Yu's tightly pressed lips finally relaxed a little. He nodded vigorously: "Mm!"
A child's world is always so simple – a pinky promise feels like a lifelong vow, something that will never change.
He ran to the bedside, picked up his pillow, reached his small hand inside, dug around earnestly, then withdrew it in a fist and presented it to Song Xinran: "For Mommy."
He opened his palm to reveal scattered paper money – fifty-cent coins, twenty-cent coins, ten-cent coins.
Song Xinran counted it – it actually amounted to two yuan.
Surprised, she said: "Xiao Yu has savings."
Song Yu puffed out his small chest: "I earned it selling bottles."
Song Xinran recalled the novel's plot where the male supporting character was sensible from childhood, earning money by collecting bottles from a very young age. But she hadn't imagined it would be this early. Her heart ached as she gently hugged the child: "Xiao Yu is amazing, already earning money at just three years old."
Song Yu looked somewhat shy: "I'm four."
Village children count their nominal age – once they turn three, they're considered four, though they're really still just small children.
Song Xinran ruffled his hair: "That's still amazing. Xiao Yu is the most wonderful, most capable child Mommy has ever seen."
Song Yu's face turned red. He had never been praised like this by anyone before – even Cai Yang was rarely called the most wonderful and capable.
He lingered in the warm embrace but said: "Mommy, I'll go pack now."
He turned and ran to the large trunk, selecting and organizing clothes.
Song Xinran helped him. Many of the clothes here had been worn by Cai Yang before – some had patches, others were faded and worn.
Song Xinran originally didn't want to take anything from the Cai family, but thinking about the four hundred yuan she sent home every month, she felt these were rightfully hers. She reluctantly picked out some intact clothes that Song Yu could wear and packed them away.
Song Yu's belongings were few, fitting entirely into one bag. Most of Song Xinran's things from the factory hadn't been unpacked yet, so she only took what she needed for daily use, making packing relatively easy.
The sounds of arguing from downstairs came in waves. Xiao Yu whispered, "Uncle and Aunt are fighting really fiercely."
In Song Yu's memory, this was the worst argument he'd ever witnessed.
It wasn't until Cai Yang's loud crying erupted that the quarrel temporarily ceased.
Song Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
But soon after, the door knocked and Song Xinwen entered. Seeing the packed bags in the room, she immediately frowned and firmly took what Song Xinran was holding. "Don't go. I've already scolded your brother-in-law. He knows he was wrong."
Song Xinwen's eyes were red and swollen, her hair slightly disheveled, and her rubber shoes covered in mud. She must have rushed back from the fields upon hearing Cai Yang's account, without even changing her clothes.
But Song Xinran shook her head. "Sis, I've decided to take Xiao Yu to live in town. I've already found a place."
Song Xinwen frowned. "How will you support yourself as a woman with a child? Everything in town costs money, and you can't work while taking care of Xiao Yu. Just leave him with us. Your brother-in-law only has this afternoon off—he's usually not home, and I'm always here when he returns."
Song Xinran understood her sister's meaning—that she needn't worry about similar incidents happening again since Song Xinwen would protect Song Yu while at home.
But she said, "Sis, taking Xiao Yu to town wasn't a sudden decision. While handling matters at the factory these past couple days, I also looked at housing and have already rented a place. I was planning to take Xiao Yu there in the next few days anyway."
Song Xinwen's hands froze as she stared at Song Xinran in shock and hurt. Her sister used to share every little thing with her, yet now she had quietly arranged something as significant as resigning and renting a place without a word.
Song Xinran felt a slight pang.
After all, this was the original host's sister. Their mother had died early, their father worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk, and the two sisters had relied on each other growing up. Even if the original host were here, she couldn't bear to sever their sisterly bond.
Moreover, Xiao Yu had told Song Xinran that his aunt treated him well—sneaking him biscuits and mending his clothes.
After some thought, she said, "Sis, I'm telling you this because I don't want you and brother-in-law to keep arguing. You know better than anyone what kind of person he is, so I won't say more. At least he treats Xiao Yang well."
Song Xinwen's eyes reddened uncontrollably, her voice choked with emotion. "Xinran…"
Song Xinran's eyes also welled up. She turned away, wiping the corner of her eye. "Sis, regardless of how brother-in-law is, you'll always be my sister in my heart. I'm moving to town today, and you're welcome to visit anytime."
Tears streamed down Song Xinwen's face as she recalled her husband's accusations during their argument—each word piercing her heart. Her own sister, having suffered such great injustice, was still wholeheartedly considering her feelings. Song Xinwen felt as if a knife were twisting in her chest. "Xinran, if you want to go to town, then go. Let me help you pack and see you off."
Song Xinwen wasn't one for sentimental words. At home, she was the type to speak little but act much. Now, filled with heartache for Song Xinran and Xiao Yu, she only wanted to do more for them.
Song Xinran asked with red-rimmed eyes, "Will brother-in-law be even angrier if you leave…"
Song Xinwen's heart ached with sorrow: "Why should I care if he's angry? You're my own sister—can't I see you off?"
Tears welling in her eyes, Song Xinran called out "Sister." The pain and fury in Song Xinwen's heart intensified. She turned and stomped downstairs, heading straight to the kitchen. She gathered some freshly pressed oil from this year's harvest, newly laid eggs, recently milled rice… packing everything up.
Cai Yongde was also fuming and hadn't intended to speak to her, but seeing Song Xinwen's actions, he couldn't hold back: "What are you taking?"
Song Xinwen turned and snapped: "I planted the rapeseed, I raised the chickens, I grew the rice—what business is it of yours what I take?"
Stunned by the sudden retort, Cai Yongde fell silent. Song Xinwen didn't usually speak so sharply.
After packing everything, Song Xinwen called a pedicab and helped Song Xinran with her luggage, ready to leave.
Cai Yongde was dumbfounded—why was Song Xinwen getting in the cab too?
Panic stirred in his heart. During their past arguments, he never worried about Song Xinwen returning to her parents' home because she no longer had one.
Cai Yongde quickly shoved Cai Yang.
The chubby boy, truly frightened tonight—having never seen his parents argue so fiercely—had been cowering silently nearby. Seeing Song Xinwen leave and being pushed by Cai Yongde, he cried out: "Mom!"
Song Xinwen looked back, her heart aching.
Sitting in the pedicab, Song Xinran lowered her gaze gently: "Sister, don't see me off. Xiao Yang and brother-in-law both need you. Xiao Yu and I can go to town alone."
Song Xinwen's expression shifted: "Don't worry about it. Driver, let's go."
As the pedicab started moving, Song Xinran watched Cai Yongde and Cai Yang's figures gradually shrink into the distance without saying a word.
She knew that in this marriage, Cai Yongde would always hold the upper hand, fearless and presumptuous.
Today, she would make Cai Yongde understand: don't think that just because Song Xinwen has no parental home, she has nowhere to go.
Now, she was providing Song Xinwen with a place to belong.
Author's note: