After Fu Yunzhu spoke, she turned to leave, but Jiang Youqing grabbed her hand.
She wasn’t embarrassed by Madam Chen’s earlier words; she was used to them. But her daughter had just arrived so smart, she surely had her own pride.
She held Fu Yunzhu’s hand and said, “Madam Chen, even though you are Jinghang’s aunt, this is not the Chen household it’s the Xiao household. And it’s the Xiao family paying my wages. So even if my daughter and I have done something wrong, it’s not your place to domineeringly scold us here.
“If you’re dissatisfied, you can call Director Xiao now. If he decides to dismiss us, we’ll leave immediately. Otherwise, don’t lecture us here.”
Fu Yunzhu listened, surprised at her mother. She had worried that her mother would create trouble, affect her fate in the story, or delay her relationship with Director Xiao. She hadn’t expected her mother to care so little.
Since that was the case, she would leave with her mother. Thinking this, she squeezed her mother’s hand.
Madam Chen, furious, immediately said, “Don’t use Director Xiao to pressure us! This household isn’t decided by him alone Jingchuan grew up under our watch!
“I’ve never seen such an arrogant servant. Today, I’ll personally fire you. Let’s see what he can do about it!”
Fu Yunzhu held Jiang Youqing’s hand, her eyes fearless. “Very well. In that case, I’ll leave you one more thing to think about: if Director Xiao comes back and still wants to invite my mother back, you will have to apologize in person.”
Miss Chen, Chen Tinghui, had never seen such an arrogant servant. “Apologize to you, a country bumpkin?”
Fu Yunzhu nodded calmly. “Yes, and that includes you now.”
Chen Tinghui looked the rustic girl up and down, as if she’d just heard the world’s biggest joke, and scoffed. “Then pack your things and go dream about it.”
Fu Yunzhu pulled Jiang Youqing back to their room to pack.
Jinghang watched Fu Yunzhu leave, stomping his feet in anger, making “woo-woo” sounds.
Fu Yunzhu, sensitive to the sound, turned back and saw Jinghang reaching toward her departing direction.
Her heart skipped a beat. Jinghang actually had emotional attachment? If she remembered correctly, children with autism don’t develop emotional dependence on anyone. Their condition could be improved to approach normal levels, but never fully cured.
But children with developmental delays weren’t necessarily the same; through strong human intervention, they could return to normal.
She felt a pang of sadness but ultimately suppressed it, leaving with Jiang Youqing without looking back.
Liu Aunt had heard the commotion earlier but didn’t dare watch. Seeing the mother and daughter leave, she felt immensely relieved.
She hurried to Madam Chen, saying, “Madam Chen, please don’t be angry. Leave Jinghang with me.”
Since Jinghang was crying so hard, she could barely hold him. She had no choice but to take him. “It might be inconvenient with just you alone. When will Aunt Wang return?”
“Tomorrow.”
“All right. Tomorrow is Jinghang’s grandmother’s birthday. I’ll take him over today and bring him back tomorrow.” Chen Xia said, worried she couldn’t manage his crying, and instructed Chen Tinghui, “Go get the persimmon cake Jinghang brought.”
Chen Tinghui quickly went to the living room, took the box of persimmon cakes from the table, and offered a piece to Jinghang but he slapped it away.
Liu Aunt frowned. “This child has been spoiled.”
Looking up, she noticed Chen Xia’s expression change and quickly added, “I’ll comfort the little master and only take him once he’s calm.”
After an unknown amount of time, the little boy finally tired himself out and stopped crying with hiccuping sobs.
The two women finally took the child away.
At home, only Liu Aunt remained. Feeling pleased, she cooked herself a large meal the annoying troublemakers were finally gone.
Fu Yunzhu and Jiang Youqing returned to their rented house and put away the things retrieved from the Xiao household.
“Mom, do you regret it?” Fu Yunzhu asked.
Jiang Youqing smiled. “Not really. Over the years, after sending you that twenty yuan, I still saved nearly five thousand for myself. That’s enough to cover your college tuition. Honestly, I’ve long wanted to leave.”
Fu Yunzhu was both moved and surprised, repeating, “You’ve long wanted to leave?”
“Yes. The reason I stayed at the Xiao household all these years was that I was lonely, afraid to be alone. Going somewhere else wouldn’t necessarily be better. Now that you’re here, I’m not alone anymore.”
Hearing this, Fu Yunzhu was touched but still asked, “Then, do you like Director Xiao?”
Jiang Youqing paused, then fell silent for a while. “Why do you ask that?”
Fu Yunzhu realized she had overstepped the original character’s knowledge. From her time with her mother, she probably hadn’t even realized it herself.
“I just noticed Director Xiao treats you specially, so I was wondering…”
Jiang Youqing looked at her daughter, seemingly startled, then explained gently, “Yunzhu, this isn’t something we can think about. Although now is a new society, and everyone talks about equality, I know my place.”
Her words sounded casual, but Fu Yunzhu sensed her disappointment.
“Mom, you can earn your own status. Just wait for me.”
Jiang Youqing smiled. “Right, my daughter is so excellent. You study; I’ll cook you a bowl of noodles.”
As Jiang Youqing turned to leave, Fu Yunzhu called out again, “Mom, you don’t need to pay my college tuition.”
“Your few hundred yuan isn’t enough anyway. Keep it for pocket money.”
Fu Yunzhu spoke seriously. “I’ll earn it myself. You can use that money to open a small shop and do some business.”
In this era, almost any business could make money.
“I have my own plans. You just study.”
“Mm.”
After dinner, Fu Yunzhu showered and lay in bed, instinctively thinking about teaching Jinghang the next day then remembered she wouldn’t have to go.
Her arrival seemed to have changed her mother’s fate.
Thinking of this, she sat up. No she had to find another way to reclaim the wealth and status that rightfully belonged to her mother.
Meanwhile, at the Xiao household, father and son returned a week early.
As soon as Xiao Tianwen arrived home, he habitually called out, “Youqing, make me some tea.”
Liu Aunt, hearing the noise, immediately got up from bed. She went to the hall and upon seeing father and son, asked, “Director Xiao, why are you back so early? Have you eaten?”
Xiao Tianwen glanced at Liu Aunt without answering and instead asked, “Where’s Jiang Youqing?”
Liu Aunt glanced at the Young Master, who was casually removing his watch and pouring himself a glass of water. Calmly, she said, “Aunt Jiang and her daughter were taking care of the child when he got a little hurt. Madam Chen happened to see it and scolded them several times. The mother and daughter disagreed, packed their things, and left. Madam Chen then took the little master away.”
Xiao Tianwen’s expression darkened instantly. “Youqing isn’t that kind of person.”
Xiao Jingchuan paused, his fingers holding the teacup, then set it down and walked a few steps to knock on the room where Fu Yunzhu was staying.