Xu Ailian was dumbfounded.
She stared at Shen Qi with an incredulous look.
How could someone be so shameless?
She gave Shen Baozhu pocket money because she was still in school—didn’t she need money for meals, shopping, and going out with classmates?
Shen Qi neither attended school nor worked, staying home every day—what did she need pocket money for?
Shen Qi remained unhurried: “If Mom doesn’t want to give it, that’s fine. But then Shen Baozhu, Shen Jinan, and Shen Jibei can’t have pocket money either. If I find out you’re secretly giving them any, I’ll have to ask Grandma He to judge what’s fair.”
A threat!
A blatant threat!
Xu Ailian felt a tightness in her chest.
Though she had no heart condition, she felt one developing now.
It wasn’t that Xu Ailian couldn’t afford it—her own salary was 60 yuan, and her husband Shen Congjun, with his high rank, earned ten times that. With additional benefits, their monthly expenses were minimal, so the pocket money they gave the children was quite generous.
But Xu Ailian was willing to spend money on Shen Jibei, Shen Jinan, and Shen Baozhu. For someone like Shen Qi who forced her hand, she didn’t want to give a single cent.
“You’re an adult—shouldn’t you be finding ways to support yourself instead of asking your parents for money?” Xu Ailian gritted her teeth. “Aren’t you ashamed?”
“Not really. What can I do if I can’t find a job? It’s not my fault I was switched at birth and never got an education or skills. Didn’t you say that as long as we’re unmarried, we’re still children who can rightfully receive pocket money? That logic can’t just work for Big Brother and not for me, can it?”
These were the exact words Xu Ailian had said to Shen Jibei, with Shen Qi present, hearing every word clearly.
After Shen Jibei joined the troops, he received allowances and was reluctant to accept money from Xu Ailian, but she insisted, offering numerous excuses.
Xu Ailian: …
If Shen Jibei had been exasperated then, Xu Ailian was a hundred times more so now.
She closed her eyes, thought for a moment, and reluctantly agreed.
Harmony in the family leads to prosperity in all endeavors. Since Shen Qi had caused a scene just yesterday, even if only for appearances, she had to keep up the act for a while.
Once everyone forgot about the incident, she would find a way to deal with Shen Qi properly.
“Thank you, Mom!” Shen Qi, having gained the advantage, added sweetly, “You’re the fairest and best mom ever.”
Xu Ailian couldn’t muster a smile.
Only a fool wouldn’t detect the sarcasm in Shen Qi’s words.
Stony-faced, Xu Ailian took out 60 yuan. Shen Qi accepted it gleefully and went to change rooms.
The guest room didn’t have a wardrobe, but that was fine—Shen Qi had already planned to ask Xu Ailian for one in a couple of days. Surely her fair and wonderful mother wouldn’t refuse her.
Her previous bed was less than a meter wide, making it hard to even turn over. This new bed was one and a half meters wide, complete with a full set of bedding, and the quilt was thicker and fluffier than her old one.
After tidying her belongings, Shen Qi returned to the living room.
Xu Ailian had called someone to repair the gas stove. Glancing at the wall clock, she told Shen Qi to go grocery shopping.
Shen Qi acknowledged but remained seated on the sofa, unmoving.
Once the gas stove was fixed and Xu Ailian saw the repairman out, she noticed Shen Qi still at home and asked, “Why haven’t you gone grocery shopping yet?”
“Mom, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“I don’t want to hear it.” Xu Ailian turned away.
“Alright.” Shen Qi didn’t press further, continuing to crack melon seeds while watching TV.
Shen Jinan clicked his tongue disapprovingly: “Shen Qi, know when to stop. You’ve already gotten a room change and pocket money – don’t be ungrateful.”
“It seems there’s no place for me in this family. Fine, I’ll just leave then, so I won’t be in your way.” Shen Qi threw down the melon seeds and stood up, her movements swift and decisive.
“If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t try to scare people with these tactics.” Xu Ailian shot Shen Qi a sharp look.
“I just feel sorry for Mom.” Shen Qi’s attitude suddenly did a complete 180-degree turn. “During the past ten-plus years when I wasn’t home, you three were here with Mom every day, watching her work tirelessly. Didn’t any of you think to lend a hand?”
Xu Ailian, Shen Baozhu, Shen Jinan: ???
Shen Qi sighed. “When I first returned three years ago, I noticed this problem. In the dead of winter, with so many family members’ clothes to wash, you’d just take off your clothes without a second thought. Mom’s hands would turn red from the cold water, and I don’t know how you could be so unconcerned about it.”
Shen Jinan: “Don’t… don’t you try to drive a wedge between us here!”
“I feel sorry for Mom, so I often help with housework, just to reduce her burden.”
When it came to this, Xu Ailian truly had no rebuttal.
Among the four children, Shen Qi did the most housework.
Even though she had only returned to the Shen Family for three years, she had done more chores than the three children who had always been by her side.
It had to be said – since Shen Qi’s return, Xu Ailian’s hands had noticeably become softer.
Xu Ailian sighed inwardly. She had always believed that Shen Qi, this child, still yearned for family affection.
Though her temper had been a bit short these past couple days and her words rather sharp, as her mother, she could be more tolerant. After some time, things would surely return to how they were before.
“Xiao Qi, I know all this. I’ve seen everything you’ve done.” Xu Ailian’s tone softened considerably.
“So Mom, we can’t continue like this. Shen Jinan is fine – he’s a boy who will marry someday and have a wife to take care of him. But what about Shen Baozhu?” Shen Qi wore a worried expression. “She’ll have to marry eventually, right? After marriage, can she expect to be waited on hand and foot like she is in her parents’ home?”
“Shen Baozhu, let me ask you the simplest question – can you tell the difference between Chinese chives and scallions?”
Suddenly singled out, Shen Baozhu: …
Even without Shen Baozhu’s answer, Xu Ailian knew she couldn’t tell them apart.
Truth be told, this really opened Xu Ailian’s eyes.
She had indeed raised Shen Baozhu too sheltered from practical life.
Forget cooking – she could create chaos even just boiling water.
Shen Qi spoke with the wisdom of experience: “It’s time to start training her. If we wait until she’s about to marry, it’ll be too late.”
Xu Ailian found this quite reasonable.
“Jumping straight into cooking might be too challenging. I suggest starting with grocery shopping – she can learn about ingredients that way. What do you think, Mom?”
Xu Ailian nodded. “Then Baozhu will go grocery shopping today. Here’s the money – buy two jin of pork belly, three jin of eggs, and with the remaining money, buy as many tomatoes and cucumbers as you can.”
Shen Baozhu stared at the money thrust into her hand, her face full of panic.
How did the grocery shopping chore fall to her?!
She didn’t want to go to the wet market – that place was dirty, chaotic, and smelly!
The weather was so cold that even with gloves on, her fingers still felt frozen. Not to mention having to carry so many things – just thinking about it made her miserable.
“Shen Baozhu, don’t let down all the effort Mother has put in,” Shen Qi blew on her hot tea. “It’s getting late, hurry to buy groceries. If you go too late, you won’t even get a piece of fatty meat.”
Although conditions in the 1980s weren’t as difficult as before, common folks still lacked sufficient oil in their diets, so everyone preferred meat with more fat.
At the meat stalls, fatty cuts sold the fastest.
Shen Baozhu couldn’t bring herself to refuse. She could only put on her clothes with a miserable expression and head out. Carrying the vegetable basket, she hadn’t taken more than two steps before she slipped and fell flat on her face.
Shen Qi saw it all clearly through the window, feeling extremely pleased.