Su Jinle didn’t think much of it at first. She returned to her room, carefully counted the money again, then spread the newly bought fabric across the table. Following Qiao Fengxia’s measurements, she marked the cutting lines. If she cut everything tonight, she could start sewing tomorrow.
Not long after, Lin Yun came home.
She usually tied her hair up neatly, but today it hung loose, covering half her face. She kept her head lowered.
Su Yian immediately noticed. “Mom, what happened to your face?”
Lin Yun quickly covered it and forced a smile. “Nothing. I just fell.”
Su Jinle stepped closer, frowning. “Let me see.”
Lin Yun turned away and hurried toward the kitchen, muttering about unfinished food.
But at dinner, even with her hair down and head lowered, the others saw it.
Su Weihua’s usually steady hands trembled. He lifted her chin. In his eyes was pain — and anger.
“Who hit you?”
Only then did Su Jinle see clearly: a faint palm print on her mother’s cheek. It had faded, but not completely.
Lin Yun covered her face again, smiling lightly. “It’s nothing. I accidentally dropped a plate while serving. It splashed and burned a customer. It was my fault. The boss had every right to be angry. It didn’t even hurt. Eat.”
But you don’t slap someone across the face. You apologize, you compensate — you don’t hit.
Su Jinle’s face flushed red with fury. “I’ll go find him!”
Lin Yun grabbed her. “I said it’s fine. They didn’t deduct my wages. That’s already good enough.”
Her daughter’s eyes widened. “No! He has to apologize!”
Lin Yun sighed helplessly. “He’s the boss. Jobs are hard to find. Several women are trying to push me out and take this position.”
Not everyone had a formal job. Many women without work wanted to supplement the family income. One yuan a day might not seem much — but that was enough to cover a family’s staple food.
Su Weihua’s anger turned inward, into bitter self-hatred. As a man, he couldn’t even tell his wife not to work. Thirty yuan a month meant food for the family — and medicine for his son.
Su Jinle fell silent, quietly eating.
Su Yian said nothing, but his gaze dropped to his useless leg, emotions surging in his eyes.
Suddenly, Su Jinle set down her bowl.
“Mom. Don’t go anymore! Make keychains with me. We’ll make them together and sell them!”
Why hadn’t she thought of it sooner? One keychain earned forty cents. Three of them equaled more than her mother’s daily wage. Why endure humiliation at a restaurant?
Lin Yun was stunned, then gently refused. “Business is unstable. Today you earn money, tomorrow you might lose it. You can treat it as a hobby. But I can’t rely on that.”
She and Su Weihua were honest, steady people. A fixed job meant security. How could ordinary folks like them dare jump into business?
What if these good days were temporary? What if she couldn’t find work later?
Before Su Jinle could argue, Su Yian spoke calmly, “Mom, why not try with Lele? The restaurant is doing business too. Better to help your daughter than help strangers.”
Su Jinle nodded hard. “I’ll pay you wages!”
Lin Yun couldn’t help laughing — but still shook her head.
Su Yian continued, “Don’t worry about my medical fees. Shixu told me the organization has arranged work for me. Once it’s stable, I can earn too. I still have some savings.”
He had already planned to leave after finishing this matter. He couldn’t let the family keep being dragged down for his sake.
Under her family’s expectant gazes, Lin Yun hesitated.
Su Weihua added softly, “Listen to the kids.”
Quickly, Su Jinle held up a hand. “Five yuan a day!”
Lin Yun laughed again. “This girl has learned to paint big pies for her mother.”
But after a long moment of thought, she finally nodded. “I’ll go tell the boss tomorrow.”
Su Jinle clenched her fists. “I’m going too. He must apologize!”
Lin Yun shook her head. “Let’s not. I haven’t settled my wages yet.”
To her, a slap wasn’t a huge matter. Being scolded daily at the restaurant was normal. When you earn someone else’s money, you swallow some grievances. Pride and backbone didn’t fill stomachs.
When money is urgently needed, dignity is worth nothing.
Early the next morning, Su Jinle was already at the sewing machine. The dress had been cut; sewing went quickly. By breakfast, it was finished and hung outside to dry.
Lin Yun prepared to go quit her job. Su Jinle insisted on going too, clinging to her arm.
“I’ve never been to a restaurant before. I just want to see.”
Lin Yun knew her daughter was timid, but also pitied how little she’d been outside. She agreed, whispering, “Wait outside. I’ll talk to the boss. Don’t run around.”
Su Jinle nodded obediently.
But in truth, she was afraid her mother would be bullied again. No matter how timid she was, she wouldn’t allow anyone to mistreat her mother.
The small restaurant was across from the university. Lin Yun left Su Jinle on the steps outside and went in.
Su Jinle quietly followed.
Across the street wall, Song Shixu sat perched, long legs bent, frowning slightly. Today he hadn’t gone on his weighted run…
Behind the restaurant was a small courtyard. The landlady was calculating accounts. When she saw Lin Yun, her face darkened.
“The plate you broke yesterday will be deducted from your wages. And a one-yuan fine.”
Lin Yun’s voice trembled. “You said yesterday there wouldn’t be a deduction. The customer bumped into me!”
Her arm still had a large burn. She hadn’t dared tell her children. Su Weihua only discovered it at night, eyes red as he applied medicine.
The landlady rolled her eyes. “A plate of stir-fried potatoes wasted — that costs money. Deducting one day’s wages is already mercy. If you argue more, don’t work. Plenty of people want your job.”
Lin Yun inhaled deeply, humiliation flooding her chest.
“I came today to quit. But you can’t deduct my pay.”
“You’re quitting?” The landlady sneered. “What, not afraid your lame son and stuttering daughter will starve? Fine, quit. I’ll deduct five yuan from this month.”
Lin Yun clenched her fists. “On what grounds?”
The landlady laughed coldly. “Because I’m the boss. Take it or leave it. Otherwise, you won’t get the rest either. Lin Yun, didn’t yesterday’s slap wake you up? Look at your family’s condition — and you dare quit?”