What did Zheng Xin say she didn’t dare to do?
“If you don’t want your children to die, then you have to fight your way out for them.
To keep your children from suffering like this in the future, you have to stand up.”
“When you’re not afraid of anything, others will start fearing you.”
Mother Jiang said weakly, “Wouldn’t doing this be a bit too much?”
Yang Yiyang retorted, “If you break something, do you have money to pay for it? No, because you don’t have a single cent. If you don’t break it, is it yours? No, because it’s not your stuff.”
What she meant was: Since it doesn’t cost you money and it’s not your stuff, why the hell are you feeling sorry for it?
“Every time you get your wages, spend them. Why shouldn’t you be able to use the money you earned yourself? If they won’t let you, report it to the Women’s Federation. If you’re not even afraid of death, why care about face? They’re the ones more afraid of losing face.”
Zheng Xin said she could give it a try.
For the sake of her children, she had to try.
Yang Yiyang added one last thing: “The ultimate goal is to split the family. Cutting ties is fine too.”
Zheng Xin immediately said, “No, we’ll be kicked out. What will we do then?”
Yang Yiyang looked at her as if she were an idiot.
“Wouldn’t being kicked out be a good thing? Would you starve to death without wages? Both you and your husband have wages—could life be worse than it is now?”
Zheng Xin’s eyes immediately lit up. That’s right, every time her mother-in-law threatened to kick them out, they were terrified.
But now that she thought about it, why be afraid? Even if they were kicked out, they still had their wages. Would they really be unable to support their two children?
“Sometimes crying in the right place is also good. The world sympathizes with the weak. Used well, it’s a sharp blade.”
Yang Yiyang just couldn’t understand it. Her own younger brother was a troublemaker, getting into fights and brawls all the time, yet she didn’t know how to use him. If she had to fight, she’d beat them until they were scared.
Getting caught? That wasn’t going to happen. This was a family matter—standing up for his own sister.
If that didn’t work, they could always ambush them with a sack. If they weren’t afraid, they’d just beat them until they were.
When Jiang Zihao came back later, she’d tell him to start by giving them a beating in private first.
As long as no one was caught, what was there to fear?
Zheng Xin had come to the hospital with a sorrowful heart but left with an excited one.
However, after she left, Jiang Mother remained worried, her face full of distress.
Yang Yiyang couldn’t be bothered with her. If she liked it that way, so be it.
Good advice is wasted on those destined to die.
Without Jiang Mother at home acting as the workhorse, all the chores in the Jiang Family had to be divided between the two daughters-in-law. With so many children, they felt exhausted by the end of the day.
The one who felt the most inconvenienced was Jiang Dad. No one washed his clothes, no one prepared his washbasin water every morning, and no one brought him foot-washing water before bed at night.
He was very unaccustomed to it and cursed that damned woman in his heart again.
Having a woman at home and not having one really made a big difference.
“Tomorrow, Second Sister-in-law Jiang will go to the hospital and tell them to come back. If they stay any longer, all that money will be wasted.”
Second Sister-in-law Jiang agreed.
In the evening, Yang Yiyang went to the hospital cafeteria to buy food. She bought two bowls of shredded pork noodles for 60 cents, plus one liang of meat coupon, and bought vegetable buns and steamed buns for Jiang Zihao, since meat buns didn’t taste good when cold.
After eating, she found time to go into the space to take a bath and change her underwear before coming out.
It was already dark by the time Jiang Zihao returned. He had sold two hair clips, but the rest hadn’t sold.
Still, he was very happy. One sold for 1.50 yuan, so he made a net profit of 1 yuan today. This was something that had never happened before.
Yang Yiyang also praised her tool-husband, “Not bad. Mom and I will rely on you to support us from now on.”
Jiang Zihao hung his head dejectedly again. He couldn’t even support himself—how was he supposed to provide for three people?
He felt a bit like giving up. What should he do?
Yang Yiyang shot him a sharp glare, as if to say, "Just try refusing!"
Jiang Zihao shrank back again.
Mother Jiang told her son about Zheng Xin coming here.
Jiang Zihao didn’t say anything.
“Don’t you have anything to say?”
Jiang Zihao asked, “What am I supposed to say?”
Yang Yiyang finally understood why Zheng Xin didn’t come back for help. It turned out this guy had never even considered standing up for his sister.
She said with exasperation, “Your sister was bullied. Can’t you fight back? Useless.”
Jiang Zihao hadn’t processed it yet. Was she telling him to go fight?
Didn’t everyone always tell them not to fight or cause trouble?
What was his wife thinking?
Yang Yiyang rolled her eyes at him. Idiot.
Yang Yiyang said in front of her mother-in-law, “Don’t you know people? Find a few guys to ambush your brother-in-law’s two younger brothers, put sacks over their heads, beat them up, don’t say a word, and leave right after.”
“Can you handle it?”
How could Jiang Zihao let his wife look down on him? A man can’t say he can’t do it—he must do it.
He puffed out his chest and said loudly, “No problem. I can do it tonight.”
Yang Yiyang looked at his spineless demeanor. “Spend a little money if you need to. That way, it won’t be hard to ask for help again in the future.”
Jiang Zihao grinned when he heard this. “Mission guaranteed.”
Jiang Mother heard this and grew worried. “You can’t do this. What if someone finds out?”
Yang Yiyang ignored her and continued discussing with Jiang Zihao how to carry out the beating and where it would hurt the most.
Jiang Zihao realized from listening that his wife must have beaten people before—otherwise, she wouldn’t know more about it than he did.
Jiang Zihao didn’t return until midnight.
He didn’t wake Yang Yiyang when he came back, but Mother Jiang had been too worried to sleep, waiting for her son.
She regretted having such a daughter-in-law—one who would send her son off to fight at the slightest disagreement.
What kind of woman sends her own man to fight?
She couldn’t make sense of it no matter how hard she thought.
Only when her son returned did her anxious heart finally settle.
Early the next morning, Jiang Zihao told his wife, “It’s done. I spent eight mao treating everyone to a late-night snack.”
“Good. Let’s never mention this again. Act like you don’t know anything.”
Yang Yiyang thought, “The cost of crime is so low. No wonder so many people cause trouble these days.”
After washing up, Yang Yiyang took Jiang Zihao to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Given the Jiang Family’s usual behavior, she knew someone would likely show up today, so they needed to go early and return quickly.
Along the way, Yang Yiyang taught Jiang Zihao some sales techniques.
They arrived just as the Supply and Marketing Cooperative opened. Many people were there to buy things, so the two stood outside, waiting until everyone had left before she went in.
“Just wait outside the door and listen.”
“Good morning, ladies. Let me show you something nice.”
“You’re here so early.”
“Yes, we have things to do later, so we came a bit early.”
After saying this, she took out the silk scarves. “These came from Gangcheng to Haishi. I heard they sell for twelve yuan each when exported abroad from Gangcheng.”
All three women gasped. They were truly beautiful, and Yang Yiyang had taught them several ways to tie them, each more stunning than the last.
“Take a mirror and look at yourselves. You’ll see how much more elegant and refined you look now.”
Compliments that cost nothing kept flowing from Yang Yiyang's mouth. Not only were the three beauties delighted, even Jiang Zihao standing by the doorway couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth.
Being praised as celestial maidens by his wife, how could they not look good?
The youngest girl said, "Um, we can't afford that. We don't have that much money?"
Yang Yiyang replied, "Of course I wouldn't dare ask my sisters for so much money. If you want them, just give me 2 yuan each."
After saying this, she began to complain about her hardships—she had fallen ill and spent all her money, and now she had no choice but to sell these to make ends meet.
Then she added, "Look, these still have their tags attached. They're brand new, and only a few were brought back for me."
Seeing the desire flicker in their eyes, she knew the deal was almost sealed.
"Opportunities like this don't come often. If I weren't short on money, I wouldn't be willing to sell these."
Upon hearing that something originally priced at 12 yuan was now only 2 yuan, the three thought to themselves, "Heavens, only a fool would pass up such a bargain."
Without a second thought, each of them bought one.
Each of them loved the silk scarf tied around their necks.
Yang Yiyang even brought out two more for them to choose from. The eldest among them said,
"Why don't you just sell these two to me as well? I have a good friend who would love them too."
And so, all five silk scarves were sold, earning her 10 yuan.
"Sisters, could I exchange these for something else that doesn't require ration coupons?"
Jiang Zihao stood by the doorway, his pride thoroughly shattered. He had been overjoyed earning just one yuan, yet his wife had made a net profit of 5 yuan in half an hour!