“Stop!” Ding Yawen felt a headache coming on.
Seeing her friend, Lu Jiaping felt much better than before. She pointed at the mop and said, “You have no idea. I saw someone else’s automatic water-dispensing mop before—you just fill it with detergent and water, push it around, and it’s so convenient. But it costs two thousand yuan. I thought to myself, two thousand yuan is enough for Yuxin and Yucheng to enroll in an ordinary small class, so I gave up.”
Ding Yawen rubbed her forehead. “After having children, do you really need to be so meticulous with your spending? Your Jiang Cheng earns at least three hundred thousand yuan a year.”
“Three hundred thousand? Between expenses for both sets of parents, gifts and favors, mortgage and car loans, and the children’s schooling, what’s left? Besides, he’s not as capable as you.”
Ding Yawen frowned thoughtfully. Seeing Lu Jiaping lying on the bed, still patting her lower back, she walked over and started massaging her while asking, “Jiaping, if you’re struggling so much, what should I do?”
Lu Jiaping turned to look at her. “Jianhui’s family and yours are both well-off. His family has already bought the wedding apartment, and you can move in as soon as it’s ready. You also have a car, so without mortgage or car loans, you’ll be much more relaxed. As for daily life, once you’re married, you naturally won’t be so extravagant. But you can’t be a full-time homemaker—your Jianhui can’t support the family.”
Ding Yawen licked her dry lips and propped her chin on her hand. “We broke up.”
Lu Jiaping was stunned and scrambled up. “What did you say? Broke up? No way. Jianhui is such a good man. Why would you break up with him?”
“What’s so good about him? You just said he can’t support a family. He earns a little over ten thousand yuan a month, barely enough to cover the rent.”
Lu Jiaping shook her head. “You can’t judge a man by that, Yawen. Honestly, I really envy you. Whenever Jianhui is off work, he’s at home, and he does all the housework. And remember when he came over to our place to hang out? He helped me cook and mop the floor. When we went shopping before, he carried Yucheng the whole time. Isn’t that good enough?”
Ding Yawen remained silent. Was that really enough?
Lu Jiaping’s eyes reddened again. “Look at Jiang Cheng. He’s out all day, and when he comes home, he just argues with me. Besides giving money, what has he ever done? He wouldn’t even lift a finger if the oil bottle tipped over. Today, when we agreed you’d take me out, he just decided to take the kids out for dinner without even bothering to cook.”
Jiang Yuchen ran out. “Mom, I want to go out to eat. Dad promised to take us for a big meal.”
The redness in Lu Jiaping’s eyes vanished instantly. She frowned and scolded, “Go draw! Go play by yourself!”
Jiang Yuchen sulked and went back to his room.
Lu Jiaping couldn’t stop herself from venting and continued complaining to Ding Yawen. “Jiang Cheng’s temper has gotten worse over the years. Do you think all men change after marriage? Lately, it’s been even worse. He contradicts me in everything, especially when it comes to Yuxin’s studies. If we don’t push her now, how will she manage? She’s already in fifth grade.”
Ding Yawen asked, “Did you cancel Yuxin’s basketball lessons?”
Lu Jiaping’s face darkened unhappily. “She’s not the class monitor anymore. The teacher called me in privately and said her essay writing has declined a lot.”
“Did you ask Yuxin for her opinion?”
“Why ask her? She’s so stubborn. Whatever you tell her to do, she just won’t do it. I’m really going to be driven mad by her. She’s so grown up, yet she cries at the slightest thing.” Lu Jiaping grew angry just thinking about her daughter’s attitude.
Ding Yawen frowned. “But Jiaping, Yuxin loves basketball, and she plays really well. I’ve seen her performance on the court before—she’s much better than the boys playing with her. I remember during the New Year, she even told me that some coach at a certain level praised her.”
“What’s a girl doing playing basketball? I’ve always been against her playing basketball.”
“Why can’t girls play basketball?” Ding Yawen was very displeased. “Jiaping, you weren’t so narrow-minded before. Why must there be things boys and girls have to do? Do women have to be gentle and devoted to their husbands and children? How can you be trapped by such thinking? We only live once in this world—we should do whatever we want.”
Lu Jiaping opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “That’s not what I meant, Yawen. I just think Yuxin isn’t suited for basketball. Look at her—she’s short. People who play basketball are all tall. Even if she plays basketball, she won’t achieve anything in the future. Isn’t that a waste of time?”
“If that’s how you see it, then when you make her learn dancing and painting, is it because you think she’ll achieve something in those fields in the future?”
Lu Jiaping paused, not quite following.
Jiang Yuchen ran out again and hugged Lu Jiaping’s leg. “Mom, Mom, I forgot to tell you—Tangtang signed up for a baking class. I want to sign up too.”
“What’s a boy doing signing up for baking? That’s something girls learn.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Jiaping herself froze. She instinctively looked up at Ding Yawen, who shrugged, clearly saying, “See? You do think there’s a difference between boys and girls.”
Jiang Yuchen cried in grievance. “But I really like baking. I want to bake cakes and make cookies.”
Ding Yawen picked Jiang Yuchen up and sat him on her lap. “Why does Yuchen want to make cakes and cookies? Is Yuchen a little greedy cat who wants to eat? How about I take you to buy some later?”
Jiang Yuchen shook his head. “No, no, I like it. I want to learn how to make them. Godmother, I want to make them for Dad, Mom, Sister, and you. Teacher Tutu said that things you make with your own hands have love in them. I love you all.”
Ding Yawen planted several kisses on Jiang Yuchen’s face. “Yuchen is so good. How about this—I’ll discuss it with your mom, okay? You go play first.”
Jiang Yuchen stopped drawing and went to play with his toy train.
Lu Jiaping was silent for a long time before saying, “Actually… before I sign them up for classes, I always ask if they like it. I only sign them up if they enjoy the trial class.”
Ding Yawen nodded. “I know, but Jiaping, have you ever really thought about what’s in their hearts? Jiaping, do you remember when we were in college, we used to imagine our future lives? You said you wanted to get married and have children—back then, we could only have one—and you said you’d make your child the happiest kid in the world. You said you didn’t need them to achieve great success, only to have a healthy and happy childhood.”
Lu Jiaping leaned back on the sofa, trying to defend herself. “But now…”
Ding Yawen asked, “Let’s not talk about the current competition. Just ask yourself: when Yuxin is so exhausted, don’t you feel heartbroken? Do children really need to bear social pressure from such a young age?”
The original intention of a happy childhood.
Lu Jiaping pondered for a long time.