Looks like your good days are over, too.
Chen Xiaofei shot Zhao Xiaomian a smug look, as if to say, Bet you didn’t know that.
“Dad said something came up at work. He’ll be here around ten. Grandma, don’t worry about Dad.”
Du Nian put an arm around Chen Xiaofei. “That’s my good grandson. He certainly knows how to make Grandma happy.”
Zhao Xiaomian pretended not to hear. She sat down in the single armchair nearby. It seemed the person she had come to see wasn’t home after all. She glanced around to make sure nobody was hiding anywhere, not even in the bathroom.
“Is Dad busy with something at work, too?”
Du Nian ignored her completely.
Zhao Xiaomian had been through plenty in her previous life. Her birth mother had abandoned her, her adoptive parents had kicked her out, and to top it all off, her boyfriend and best friend had betrayed her together. She had seen more than her fair share of life’s ugliness.
Du Nian’s little tricks were child’s play by comparison.
Besides, Zhao Xiaomian didn’t particularly care whether the older woman acknowledged her. She had gotten so hot riding her bicycle that her back was soaked with sweat. She stood up, turned the fan up a notch, and glanced toward the kitchen. She remembered that her in-laws had a refrigerator, and there were popsicles inside.
She took one out, unwrapped it, and sat back down to enjoy it.
Du Nian stared at her in disbelief.
Does Zhao Xiaomian think she’s in her own home?
Chen Xiaodan’s mouth watered. “Stepmother, I want a popsicle, too.”
Zhao Xiaomian glanced up at her mother-in-law and deliberately said, “Grandma bought the popsicles. You should ask her.”
Du Nian thought, So you do know who bought them. Yet you didn’t even bother asking me before taking one.
Absolutely no manners!
Du Nian shot Zhao Xiaomian a glare, then turned to the two children with a kind smile.
“Popsicles are cold. You’ll get a stomachache if you eat them.”
Chen Xiaodan looked at Zhao Xiaomian. “Doesn’t Stepmother get a stomachache?”
“Your stepmother grew up in a machinery factory. She’s got a stomach of iron.” Annoyed by Zhao Xiaomian’s carefree attitude, Du Nian’s words grew increasingly sharp. “We shouldn’t follow her example.”
Chen Xiaodan clung to her hand and wheedled, “No, Grandma! I want a popsicle. Grandma…”
Chen Xiaofei wanted one, too. “Stepmother didn’t buy us any yesterday. Grandma, please let us have one.”
Du Nian felt sorry for the children when she heard that. Even adults wanted something cold to beat the heat in weather like this. How could Zhao Xiaomian refuse to buy the children even one?
“All right, you two can share one each. Don’t eat too many. You’ll have meat for lunch, and too many popsicles might upset your stomachs.”
The siblings nodded obediently.
“Xiao Zhao, get a popsicle for Xiaofei.”
Du Nian ordered Zhao Xiaomian around as if she were some grand lady of the household.
Zhao Xiaomian glanced toward the short refrigerator in the kitchen. “Do you need me to get it?”
Chen Xiaofei had learned his lesson yesterday. “I can get it myself.”
The popsicles were on the upper shelf, but Chen Xiaofei could reach them easily by standing on his tiptoes. He even took the opportunity to look through them, checking that they were all roughly the same size before picking one at random.
Zhao Xiaomian gave Du Nian an innocent look that clearly said, It’s not that I refused to get it. Your precious grandson didn’t need my help.
Once again, she nearly made Du Nian choke with anger. The older woman’s expression darkened visibly.
Zhao Xiaomian was genuinely surprised.
You’re already this old, and you still have such a short temper? Yet you keep trying to give me dirty looks?
She found it ridiculous, but she had a feeling this wasn’t over yet.
After finishing their popsicles, Du Nian didn’t take another opportunity to make snide remarks about Zhao Xiaomian. Instead, she ignored her completely. She didn’t even bother giving her hostile looks anymore.
Zhao Xiaomian thought, I’d advise you not to push your luck. Otherwise, I’ll show you what happens when you try to steal a chicken only to lose the rice you used to lure it—and end up losing everything in the process!
By the time Zhao Xiaomian finished her popsicle, she was sitting in the living room armchair, nearly dozing off.
Then she heard the front door open and looked toward the sound.
A tall, elderly man walked in. He looked about fifty percent like Chen Jianye, but he was just as tall as his son, standing well over six feet. His hair had turned mostly white, and he wore it slicked straight back. Dressed in a light gray shirt and trousers, he looked every bit like a high-ranking government official.
A smile spread across the old man’s face.
“Xiaofei and Xiaodan are here?”
His eyes happened to land on Zhao Xiaomian. His smile froze instantly.
“Xiao Zhao, you’re here, too?”
Zhao Xiaomian nearly laughed.
Has this whole family been trained in Sichuan opera face-changing?
“Dad, you’re back.”
Although Zhao Xiaomian suspected her visit would probably be fruitless, she still intended to maintain a proper attitude. She got up and took the watermelon from his hands.
“This watermelon is really heavy. It must weigh at least fifteen or sixteen pounds.”
Chen Yikai nodded expressionlessly. “Sixteen pounds. Take it to the kitchen. Has Jianye arrived yet? We’ll cut it after he gets here. Cut it in half. Save the other half for Jianfen when she comes over this afternoon.”
Jianfen was Chen Jianye’s younger sister. She worked at the supply and marketing cooperative, where weekends were usually the busiest time. She typically took Mondays off instead.
Zhao Xiaomian thought, As if I’d cut the whole thing anyway. I’m not an idiot.
Chen Xiaofei glanced at the wall clock.
“Dad will be here soon.”
Footsteps sounded in the stairwell. Chen Xiaodan hurried over to open the door.
“Dad!”
Chen Jianye walked in and picked up his daughter. When he entered the living room and spotted Zhao Xiaomian standing outside the kitchen, his smile disappeared instantly, too.
Du Nian spoke up.
“Xiao Zhao, go cut the watermelon.”
Zhao Xiaomian thought, No wonder the original Zhao Xiaomian put up with all this.
She certainly wouldn’t!
If she were in the same position as in her previous life, forced to depend on someone else’s goodwill just to get by, she might have tolerated it. But that wasn’t the case here. She had her own biological parents, and according to her memories, her older brother and sister-in-law treated her well, too. Back at the Zhao family home, she had practically been the little princess of the factory compound.
Why should she give up being a princess to become a servant who did all the dirty work? That wasn’t her idea of a good time.
After washing the watermelon, Zhao Xiaomian cut it in half. She wanted to put the other half in the refrigerator, but unfortunately, household refrigerators in those days were too small to hold it.
She had no choice but to put it in a basin of cold water to chill, then cover it with a clean dishcloth.
Two minutes later, Zhao Xiaomian carried out a large plate of watermelon and set it on the coffee table.
“Dad, Mom, have some watermelon.”
She picked up one of the cylindrical slices from the very center. Then, realizing there wasn’t a seat left for her, she dragged over a small stool and sat down.
Chen Xiaofei picked up a slice and noticed that it wasn’t the same as Zhao Xiaomian’s. Her piece had no seeds and seemed to come from the sweetest part of the watermelon.
“Stepmother, how did you cut it?”
The Chen family members looked at Zhao Xiaomian, then at the slices in their own hands. Their expressions were priceless.
That was exactly the reaction Zhao Xiaomian wanted.
Let’s see if you dare to leave me out again!
“Want to know?” Zhao Xiaomian raised her chin at Chen Xiaofei. “I’m not telling you!”
Du Nian was furious.
“Xiao Zhao! Is that any way to talk to Xiaofei?”
“If I teach Xiaofei how to do it, will I have any watermelon left for myself?” Zhao Xiaomian asked, looking at the boy.
Chen Xiaofei shot her a disdainful look.
What a miser!
“Xiaofei is still just a child!” Du Nian snapped.
Zhao Xiaomian smiled. “Now, Mom, that’s not fair. Who isn’t someone’s child? Isn’t Jianye your child, too?”
“You—you! That’s twisted logic!” Du Nian was so angry her chest hurt again.
Chen Jianye frowned. “Stop deliberately provoking my mother. Go to the kitchen and make lunch.”
Zhao Xiaomian got up and headed for the kitchen.
Du Nian felt much better now that her son had put Zhao Xiaomian in her place. Once she had recovered from her anger, she asked Chen Jianye what had gotten into Zhao Xiaomian today.
“She suffered heatstroke yesterday, then Xiaofei made her angry again. She’s upset, so she can’t be bothered pretending anymore.”
Chen Jianye turned to his father.
“I told you before that Zhao Xiaomian wasn’t the person you thought she was, but neither of you believed me.”
Chen’s father believed him now. Unfortunately, Chen Jianye had already registered his marriage to her.
“Are you thinking about divorcing her?”
“She’s been doing her best for Xiaofei and Xiaodan, at least. Let’s leave things as they are for now.”
Over the past six months, Chen Jianye had been through more than enough trouble because of his ex-wife and her younger sister. He didn’t want another upheaval just yet.
“Mom, just don’t pay attention to her from now on.”
Du Nian bristled. “You’re telling me to put up with her? Am I supposed to be afraid of her?”
Chen’s father thought his son had a point, so he asked, “Then why are you getting so worked up? Why don’t you just talk back to her?”
Chen Xiaofei was sitting between the adults and heard every word. He grabbed Du Nian’s hand.
“Grandma, my stepmother has a really sharp tongue. Yesterday, she said our good days were over. She also said your good days were over!”
Du Nian looked at Chen Jianye, silently asking what he meant.
Chen Jianye explained, “I used to indulge him and Xiaodan, but starting yesterday, I’m not letting them get away with everything anymore. Don’t listen to his nonsense. Zhao Xiaomian bathed both children twice yesterday and changed their clothes twice. The neighbors downstairs told me.”
Chen’s father gently patted his wife’s hand.
“That’s good, then.”
“She’s more attentive than a nanny,” Chen Jianye added.
Chen’s father nodded. Du Nian had no choice but to remind herself not to stoop to the level of an ill-mannered woman like Zhao Xiaomian.
Meanwhile, the ill-mannered Zhao Xiaomian took the meat and shrimp out of the refrigerator’s fresh-food compartment. There was quite a lot of it.
Then she remembered what Chen Jianye’s father had said earlier. It was probably enough for two meals: the older son at noon and the younger daughter that evening.
Zhao Xiaomian immediately decided to cook everything.
However, knowing her mother-in-law’s temperament, even if the food smelled delicious, the older woman would find something to criticize. Zhao Xiaomian could already imagine the complaints waiting for her.
The wall clock chimed twelve times.
Zhao Xiaomian carried the electric rice cooker, with the rice ready, to the dining table.
She couldn’t blame the original Zhao Xiaomian for wanting to marry into this family. They had practically everything anyone could ask for. Their living conditions were comparable to what she had enjoyed forty years later.
Chen Xiaofei ran toward the kitchen, but Zhao Xiaomian told him to wait a little longer.
“I’m getting the bowls and chopsticks.”
The boy had been drooling over the smell of meat for ages. He took the bowls and chopsticks from Zhao Xiaomian, then lowered his voice.
“Stepmother, did you cook all the meat Grandma and Grandpa bought?”
Zhao Xiaomian looked at him in surprise.
How had the little rascal figured that out?
Chen Xiaofei explained, “Auntie is coming over tonight, so Grandma must have bought a lot of meat. You don’t like Auntie, so you wouldn’t save any for her. Don’t worry. I won’t tell Grandma and Grandpa.”
“You’re being awfully nice. What’s the catch?” Zhao Xiaomian eyed him suspiciously.
Chen Xiaofei shook his head.
“I just want to eat a few extra pieces.”
Zhao Xiaomian nodded. “Not bad.”
“Then we’re all set!”
Chen Xiaofei turned to leave, but Zhao Xiaomian caught the back of his little vest and signaled for him to come clean.
Adults are so annoying, Chen Xiaofei thought.
He turned around.
“Auntie says bad things about my mother.”
Zhao Xiaomian replied, “I’ve said bad things about her, too. If you get the chance, will you treat me the same way?”
“Would I dare?” the little rascal shot back.
Zhao Xiaomian laughed and let go.
“You wouldn’t dare!”
Chen Xiaofei rolled his eyes, grabbed the bowls and chopsticks, and ran out.
Zhao Xiaomian finished making the braised eggplant in oil and homestyle tofu, then began carrying the dishes out one by one.
There was red-braised pork, crispy sweet-and-sour pork, red-braised shrimp, garlic stir-fried water spinach, and the last two dishes she had made.
She brought them out two plates at a time, making three trips in total.
Du Nian had already started eating before Zhao Xiaomian could even sit down.
Zhao Xiaomian was seated on the south side, facing north with her back to the balcony. Chen’s father sat opposite her, facing south. Du Nian, Chen Jianye, and the two children sat on either side of him.
Once again, Zhao Xiaomian realized they were deliberately excluding her.
The Chen family’s dining table was rectangular. The dishes in the middle had been moved toward Chen’s father’s side. If Zhao Xiaomian wanted any meat, she’d have to keep getting up to reach it.
Instead, she simply went to the kitchen and fetched two empty bowls. She filled them with red-braised pork, shrimp, and vegetables in one go.
Both bowls were piled high.
Chen Xiaofei watched enviously.
Du Nian patted her grandson.
“We won’t copy her. She has no manners!”
Chen Xiaofei wanted to have no manners, too.
Chen Jianye glanced at his father. Chen’s father looked a little embarrassed. Earlier, he had ignored his son’s warning not to do that and allowed Du Nian to move the dishes. He had deliberately wanted to make things difficult for Zhao Xiaomian.
What a childish trick!
And he was supposed to be a government official.
Chen’s father urged Du Nian, “Let’s eat first. Xiao Zhao worked hard to prepare all this.”