The arguing outside showed no sign of stopping. Fang Zhiwei rubbed his brow, climbed down from the bed with a helpless sigh, put on his Slippers, and went to the door to pull it open.
The door creaked, interrupting the two people in the hallway, who had been arguing until their faces were red.
Zhou Shengcai had deliberately made sure Fang Zhiwei heard their earlier argument, so now that he was face-to-face with him, he felt no embarrassment at being caught. Instead, he spoke frankly. “Zhiwei, you heard what your sister and I were just talking about, right?”
At this, Fang Zhiwei gave a slight nod and forced an “Mm” out through his nose.
Zhou Shengcai didn’t mind Fang Zhiwei’s somewhat contemptuous attitude. Seeing him nod, he continued, “Since you heard us, I’ll speak plainly.”
“I understand that you’ve only just gotten out of there and are still unfamiliar with society as it is now. You can’t just jump right back into it. But you’ve been sitting at home for over two months now. You don’t do a thing all day, just lie in bed playing on your phone and gaming. Fine, whatever. But then Mom has to come home at noon to bring you food, and your sister has to wash your clothes.”
“A son-in-law is half a son. Your sister and I do have a duty to care for Mom, but you should also shoulder your share of that responsibility. Mom helps out at our shop, but your sister and I cover her medicine every month. It adds up to over a thousand a month.”
“Most importantly, there’s Qingyue, too. Aren’t you going to make any plans for her?”
“I’ll be blunt, as your brother-in-law: you have two good hands and two good legs, and you’re only in your early thirties. Lying around at home all day is really not right! I hope you’ll go out and find a job, so you can support yourself and take responsibility for raising Qingyue.”
After laying it all out, Zhou Shengcai fixed his eyes on Fang Zhiwei, waiting for his answer.
But the anger inside him hadn’t eased at all. He didn’t think he was a petty man. He’d helped raise his niece Fang Qingyue for years, too, but he really couldn’t manage to support both his niece and his wife’s younger brother.
He hadn’t even finished wiping the ash from the bottom of his own cooking pot. How could he find the energy to clean someone else’s?
Fang Shuwen stayed quiet, her heart torn between Zhou Shengcai and Fang Zhiwei.
Deep down, she felt Zhou Shengcai was right. But when it came to her younger brother Fang Zhiwei, she couldn’t bring herself to ignore him.
The siblings had been close since childhood. When she was bullied by the village children, he would protect her like an older brother, standing in front of her.
Even when he was ravenous, he let her have the eggs their family’s hens laid.
He was always too reluctant to drink the nutritional milk handed out at school, bringing it home for her every week.
All those little things, one after another, made Fang Shuwen soften toward him time and again.
Fang Zhiwei lowered his head and said nothing. Only after a long while, under their gaze, did he look up. “I… I don’t know what kind of job I can do.”
As soon as he said it, Fang Zhiwei gave up trying to hold back, his voice rising a little. “I did secretly go out to look for work, but as soon as employers heard I had a record, they either told me to go home and wait to hear back, or changed their minds and said they weren’t hiring.”
At that, Fang Zhiwei turned away, no longer looking at the couple across from him.
Seeing this, Fang Shuwen’s resolve softened again. She hurried over to Fang Zhiwei and reassured him, “It’s okay, Zhiwei. You’ll definitely find a job that suits you. Don’t get discouraged. Keep looking, and focus on getting your strength back at home for now.”
Hearing this, Zhou Shengcai felt his anger, which had just subsided, flare up again. Fang Zhiwei had been eating and drinking well for the past two months, and he’d gotten so well-fed that he was rosy-cheeked. He looked healthier than ever. Did he really need to recover?
The one who needed to get his strength back was him, getting up at three every morning to mix dough and roll out Dough Wrappers!
Sure enough, when choosing a wife, you couldn’t just look for a pretty face. You also needed someone with good eyesight.
Before he could speak, Fang Shuwen added, “If all else fails, you can come help out at my shop and your brother-in-law’s.”
Before Fang Zhiwei could agree, Zhou Shengcai immediately said, “The three of us can barely fit in our shop as it is.”
In other words, the Fresh Noodle Shop didn’t need Fang Zhiwei’s help.
Fang Zhiwei understood what Zhou Shengcai meant and didn’t press the matter. “Then I’ll keep looking for work.”
Zhou Shengcai tugged at the corner of his mouth. Something felt off, but he couldn’t say exactly what.
So he waved his hand. “All right, then.”
Whether Fang Zhiwei could find a job or not, what Zhou Shengcai wanted was to see the right attitude.
Fang Shuwen took out her phone and tapped the Screen. “It’s five thirty. The kids are getting out of school. I’ll go back to the shop and cook.”
The house the family rented was an old-style row of connected rooms. A hallway ran between the rooms, which stood on either side. At one end of the hallway was a shared kitchen for the tenants; at the other was a shared bathroom.
Most of the people renting there were middle-aged. To save money, they all cooked for themselves, and the kitchen became terribly crowded at mealtimes. So Fang Shuwen simply cooked at the Fresh Noodle Shop. She didn’t have to squeeze in with the other tenants, and it was easier to keep an eye on the business.
That afternoon, Fang Shuwen had sent Fang Zhiwei several messages but hadn’t gotten a reply. Worried about him, she’d said she would come back and check on him.
After a tiring day, Zhou Shengcai couldn’t stand it either, so he came back with Fang Shuwen. As soon as he got back, Zhou Shengcai couldn’t stop himself from venting his resentment.
At this, Zhou Shengcai slapped his thigh. “I’ll go pick up the kids from school.”
Then he instructed Fang Shuwen, “Mom’s alone at the shop, so hurry back, too. The people who come to buy groceries will be getting off work soon.”
With that, Zhou Shengcai felt the Electric Bike key in his trouser pocket and strode out of the building.
After Zhou Shengcai had gone, Fang Shuwen couldn’t help saying to Fang Zhiwei, “Zhiwei, what your brother-in-law said just now was harsh, but some of it made sense.”
“And Qingyue is your biological daughter. Your brother-in-law and I may be her aunt and uncle, but we can never replace you, her real father.”
“Qingyue is sensitive. She’s been quiet since she was little. Whatever happens, she keeps it bottled up. Even when someone bullies her, she won’t say anything—she just cries by herself in secret.”
In the end, all she could do was let out a long sigh. “You really need to grow up.”
At this, Fang Zhiwei’s lowered fingers curled slightly, and a hint of emotion showed in his eyes. “I understand.”
Fang Shuwen nodded. “Good. I’m glad you understand.”
She craned her neck to glance into Fang Zhiwei’s room. “Don’t you get bored staying inside all day? Why don’t you come to the shop with me and get some fresh air?”
Fang Shuwen and Zhou Shengcai had originally rented two rooms for their family. After Fang Zhiwei got out, they rented a small room for him, too.
Seeing Fang Zhiwei remain silent, Fang Shuwen urged him again. “It really isn’t good for you to stay cooped up at home all day. Come with me to the market, then we’ll have dinner before coming back. That way, your brother-in-law won’t complain when he sees Mom bringing food home to you again.”
With that, Fang Shuwen didn’t wait to see whether Fang Zhiwei agreed. She took out her keys, locked the door, and pulled him along with her.