Public security wasn’t particularly good these days.
Although there had been crackdowns, there were still some small-time hoodlums loitering on the streets, engaging in petty theft and mischief.
Shen Qi had never encountered such people in her previous life. Staring at the man wearing a black cotton-padded jacket and Lei Feng hat, she couldn’t help but size him up carefully.
Chen Li’s expression instantly changed – angry, fearful, and humiliated all at once.
“Didn’t I tell you not to come to the shop?”
“Cut the crap, where’s the money!”
Chen Li pressed her lips tightly together, standing rooted to the spot without moving.
The man swaggered through the shop, kicking stools and buckets along the way, acting extremely arrogant.
Shen Qi stared at the man, feeling he looked somewhat familiar.
Suddenly, it dawned on her.
The man strongly resembled Chen Li’s son Wang Tao.
This man must either be Wang Tao’s father or a close relative?
“Sir, don’t cause trouble.” Shen Qi stepped forward to block his way. “We’re not far from the police station. You don’t want to end up in jail, do you?”
“Get lost!” The man shoved her aside. “I’m her husband!”
So it was true!
This was indeed Chen Li’s husband Wang Yong.
Wang Yong strode directly to where Chen Li kept the money, pulled a hand tool from his waistband, broke the lock open, and took all the money inside.
“You bitch, trying to hide money from me?” Wang Yong slapped Chen Li’s face. “I don’t have time to deal with you today, but just you wait – you’ll get what’s coming to you!”
Wang Yong stuffed the money into his pocket and left with a cold laugh.
Chen Li trembled as she lit a cigarette, then slumped onto the sofa. For a long while, she covered her face without moving.
Shen Qi’s heart sank. Instead of immediately comforting her, she first cleaned up the shop before bringing a cup of hot water to sit beside Chen Li.
Chen Li maintained her previous position, speaking in a muffled voice: “You can clock out now.”
She still wasn’t willing to talk about her situation with Shen Qi.
Shen Qi felt helpless.
But this was just Chen Li’s personality – she was strong-willed and reluctant to show her vulnerability to others.
Shen Qi could only respect her wishes and quietly leave.
Since she returned home relatively early today, Shen Qi made it in time for dinner.
Xu Ailian said expressionlessly: “Didn’t know you’d be back for dinner. Didn’t make enough for you.”
Shen Jinan sneered: “Were you really job hunting? It’s been two days already. Where’s the job?”
“Soon.”
“Are there really places that would hire someone like you who can’t do anything?”
“I plan to learn a trade. I’ve already found a master.” While Shen Qi appeared to be answering Shen Jinan, she was actually speaking for Shen Congjun’s benefit. “With a proper skill, it’ll be easier to make a living later.”
Shen Congjun nodded in agreement.
Xu Ailian suddenly realized something: “Since you’re working now, you’ll have wages. We don’t need to give you allowance anymore.”
“Mom, what are you talking about?” Shen Qi smiled. “I’m an apprentice. What wages would I get? I even have to pay the master tuition.”
“Don’t try to fool me here.” Xu Ailian didn’t believe a word of it.
“Dad, you’ve seen more of the world. You should know how this works.”
Shen Congjun nodded: “That’s the rule when apprenticing outside.”
“So I think my allowance might need to be increased a bit more, otherwise I won’t have money to learn the trade.”
“Still more?” Xu Ailian’s eyes widened. “You already get 60 yuan monthly allowance! My entire monthly salary goes to subsidizing you, and you’re still not satisfied?”
“Mom, don’t you want me to learn a skill that can support myself? I know you and Dad don’t mind me staying home without contributing, but I do. I want you both to be able to proudly introduce me when others ask about me, not just brush it off casually.
If I go out to learn a trade, I’ll need to eat out every day and take transportation. I’ll need at least one decent outfit each season, right?
It’s not like staying at home where it doesn’t matter if I dress sloppily. As the saying goes, clothes make the man and the saddle makes the horse. If I go around dressed shabbily, people will look down on me.”
Shen Qi calculated item by item for Xu Ailian, “If Mom doesn’t want me to have a good future, then… forget I said anything.”
Shen Congjun frowned, “She needs the money for proper matters. Just give it to her. Why all this nonsense?”
“Dad, you’re being too biased!” Shen Jinan complained angrily.
He had wanted those sports shoes from the Foreign Exchange Store, but his father refused to buy them, scolded him for worshiping foreign things, and even gave him a good beating.
How come when Shen Qi asked for more allowance, his father agreed without hesitation?
Shen Congjun glanced at Shen Jinan, “Deduct 20 from Shen Jinan’s allowance and add it to Shen Qi’s.”
Shen Jinan: !
Is there no justice in this world?!
His allowance was already meager – after deducting 20 yuan, he’d only have 10 left!
How could 10 yuan be enough?
Shen Jinan shot Shen Qi a resentful, aggrieved look – it was all her fault!
Shen Congjun lowered his head to eat.
He wasn’t favoring Shen Qi – her words had struck a chord with him.
As someone who valued face, having his biological daughter be useless, staying home all day doing nothing, while his adopted daughter got into university with a bright future ahead…
This was hardly something to be proud of.
He had previously considered suggesting Shen Qi go out to work, but she would just hang her head without speaking, appearing utterly unsophisticated.
He had been very disappointed.
The initial joy of finding his biological daughter had largely faded over these three years.
Truthfully, to him, blood relation wasn’t that important – what mattered was having achievement and bringing him honor.
Now he didn’t expect Shen Qi to bring him honor – he just hoped she wouldn’t continue embarrassing him.
After dinner, Shen Qi claimed she was tired from work and disappeared into her room, leaving Xu Ailian’s order for her to wash dishes and clean the kitchen stuck in her throat.
Shen Baozhu perceptively stepped forward, “Mom, let me help you with the dishes.”
Xu Ailian looked at her with relief, “You’re the one who truly cares about and understands your mother.”
As mother and daughter worked in the kitchen, Shen Baozhu endured her disgust while washing dishes, but accidentally broke one.
“You!” Hearing the shatter, Xu Ailian instinctively started to scold, but swallowed her words when she met Shen Baozhu’s tearful, frightened eyes.
“…It’s fine, it’s just a bowl. We’ll replace it with an enamel one later – those don’t break easily.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m so clumsy.”
“It’s normal to make mistakes your first time washing dishes.”
“Mom,” Shen Baozhu said hesitantly, “Is it because I’m clumsy that Dad doesn’t like me anymore?”
“Why would you think that?”
Shen Baozhu’s soft sobs sounded like a frightened, helpless fawn.
Xu Ailian embraced her, “Silly child, you’re the daughter we raised. You’re beautiful and smart – who wouldn’t like you?”
“But… I’m not your biological child after all.”
“The mistaken child swap back then wasn’t your fault. We’ve never blamed you, Baozhu. Mom knows you’ve been wronged in this matter with Fang Yi, but Old Master Fang is stubborn, and we can’t go against an elder’s wishes, right?”
“I understand. I… I just feel bad for you, Mom. Shen Qi doesn’t show you any consideration at all.”
“Let’s not talk about her. She’s purely here to collect debts.”
Outside the kitchen door, Shen Qi, who had come out to get water, overheard their entire conversation.
Look at this profound mother-daughter bond—truly enough to break the heart of anyone who hears it and bring tears to the eyes of anyone who listens.