When all was said and done, the real difficulty still lay with Zhang Xiuqing. If she had cooperated, none of this would have happened.
As Miao Yunwei left her workplace, her mind was still replaying the exam she had just taken. She was about ninety percent confident in her performance. Although the remaining ten percent left some uncertainty, it shouldn’t pose a major problem. To be safe, she decided to keep it to herself for now and inform her family only after everything was settled, to avoid getting everyone’s hopes up for nothing.
With this thought, she hurriedly quickened her pace toward home.
As soon as she entered her courtyard, she saw Miao Lingwei and Huang Caiying carrying a sack of stones back. She quickly went over to lend a hand. “Grandma, what are you doing here?”
Normally, it was time for dinner, and Huang Caiying should have been at home cooking.
Huang Caiying, panting heavily, looked at her second granddaughter, who was covered in dirt and thin as a rail, and hesitated, unsure how to begin. “I’m waiting for your parents to come back so I can discuss something with them.”
Seeing her expression, Miao Yunwei tactfully refrained from asking further. She put down her cloth bag and joined them in working by the gravel river.
During this period, the whole family had been mobilized, and both the front and back yards were piled high with stones. A little more collecting, and they could start construction.
While the three of them were busy, Meng Suling suddenly appeared on the slope.
She called everyone home at the top of her lungs and hurried into the kitchen.
Huang Caiying followed her inside and stuffed another three hundred yuan into Meng Suling’s arms.
Meng Suling was stunned. “Mom, what are you doing? Why are you giving me money again?”
Huang Caiying let out a long sigh. “It’s not from me. Your eldest brother and his wife asked me to give it to you. They gave five hundred before, and now three hundred, making it exactly eight hundred.”
Meng Suling looked skeptical. “When did Big Brother and Sister-in-law become so generous? They gave five hundred before because they were afraid I’d really make a scene at the sugar factory office. After we moved, they didn’t even make a peep. I didn’t ask them for the rest of the money, and they pretended nothing happened. What’s gotten into them now? Mom, if this money is from you and Dad, I won’t take it!”
Seeing her reaction, Huang Caiying was exasperated. Frowning, she said impatiently, “It really is from your eldest brother and his wife! Your dad and I have given you quite a bit lately—we’re almost running through our savings. Where would we get extra money to give you? Second daughter-in-law, it’s true that your eldest brother and his wife weren’t fair about Yunwei’s job. Your dad and I have always been on your side. Now that the house is built and you’ve moved here, you have more space and life is more comfortable. Can we just drop what happened before? Let’s all sit down, have a proper meal, and talk things out. Don’t let the family drift apart like strangers. Besides, Xuewei is getting engaged. The young man’s family is coming over this weekend. As her uncle and aunt, you should at least make an appearance, right? If possible, bring the children along too. I’ll prepare a hearty meal, and we can all enjoy it together.”
Meng Suling raised an eyebrow slightly. “Engaged? To whom?”
“You know him too—it’s Manager Du’s son, Du Zhenkai, from the same compound.”
As Huang Caiying said this, there was no trace of joy on her face, only endless melancholy.
Meng Suling suddenly understood and let out a cold laugh. “I remember that Du Zhenkai kid used to be quite attentive to our Yunwei. So now that our Yunwei didn’t get into the sugar factory, he’s climbing another branch!”
There are no walls without cracks. The news of Miao Yunwei working as a loader at the bus station had long spread throughout the compound, and some coworkers had even asked her about it. To avoid causing her daughter more distress, she hadn’t dared to breathe a word about it.
Huang Caiying felt displeased hearing this, her face falling. “Children’s words shouldn’t be taken seriously. Now they’re seriously dating, and the Du family is quite satisfied with Xuewei. Second daughter-in-law, don’t go around spreading nonsense—ruining Yunwei’s reputation wouldn’t be good!”
Meng Suling slammed the cleaning rag down heavily. “What nonsense have I spread? I haven’t uttered a single word! That kind of fickle, opportunistic person isn’t worthy of our Yunwei. Those two rotten fish and spoiled shrimp are quite well-matched though!
Mom, I’ve accepted the money, but I won’t be going this weekend. Our family needs to hurry and build the courtyard wall. The weather hasn’t been good this year—look how many times it’s rained recently. If it doesn’t rain this weekend, we dare not slack off.”
As she spoke, she turned around and happened to see Miao Yunwei standing at the kitchen doorway. Her expression immediately softened into a smile, her voice unconsciously gentling. “Mom’s cooking right now. Go wash your hands first, rest in your room. It’ll be ready soon.”
Miao Yunwei walked in as if nothing had happened. “Mom, Grandma came personally to invite you. If you don’t go, Grandpa and Grandma will lose face! The work at home can wait a little while. Let’s go.”
Huang Caiying’s gaze toward her second granddaughter instantly became affectionate and pained. She stepped forward and hugged her tightly. “Child, why must you be so sensible! Grandma would rather you threw a tantrum!”
“Grandma, don’t say anymore. Our family will be there this weekend. No reason to skip a big feast, right?” Miao Yunwei playfully blinked.
Huang Caiying immediately brightened. “Good, good, good! When the time comes, Grandma will make you lots of delicious food and buy you some snacks, specially saved for you.
It’s getting late. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now. You hurry and wash up for dinner, get some rest early.”
Miao Yunwei escorted the old lady out to the community entrance before returning. As soon as she entered, she was met with Meng Suling’s sour expression and quickly coaxed, “Mom, don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health over irrelevant people.”
Meng Suling poked her daughter’s forehead in frustration. “Are you naive? That Du Zhenkai clearly wanted to date you before. He came to our house looking for you several times and didn’t even give Xuewei a proper glance. I don’t believe Miao Xuewei couldn’t tell Du Zhenkai was interested in you.
Now that they’ve gotten together and are discussing marriage, you still want to go join the fun? To become a laughingstock?”
Miao Yunwei lowered her eyelids, speaking unhurriedly. “The unit organized an assessment today. If there are no issues, I can transfer positions and become an onboard ticket seller.”
Meng Suling’s anger instantly vanished, her eyes widening. “Really? What’s the situation?”
Seeing her mother’s excitement, Miao Yunwei quickly covered her mouth. “Mom, the transfer hasn’t been officially announced yet. Don’t shout about it, lest something changes. I’m only telling you in advance so you know—I have things under control.
We all grew up in the same compound. I know what kind of person Du Zhenkai is. He did have feelings for me, and he’s not a bad person, but his parents are no easy customers. Even if he hadn’t gotten involved with Miao Xuewei, I wouldn’t have agreed to date him.
This is a perfect opportunity to attend openly and dispel some rumors, so people in the compound stop linking me with Du Zhenkai.”
Meng Suling nodded like a chick pecking rice, pulling her daughter’s hand down. “You’re right. We don’t need a man like that. Today’s a good day. Wait here—Mom will boil you an egg to nourish you.”
Miao Yunwei nodded vigorously, her eyes full of anticipation. Don’t blame her for being easily impressed—it was just that at home, she had to make do with plain porridge and pickled vegetables every day, and at her workplace, because she was only a temporary worker with low pay, she couldn’t eat the same meals as the regular employees.
She saved wherever she could, usually settling for rice, steamed buns, and simple greens. Eggs were such a luxury that she only dared to order them once in a long while.
Right now, her mouth felt so bland it could almost taste nothingness—a simple boiled egg was more satisfying than an extravagant, illusory Manchu-Han Imperial Feast.