At dinnertime, the food still came from Jin City Hotel.
When Shen Yunchu offered to cook, Nan Lingyi, distressed at the thought, gently instructed her:
“You want to cook for me once in a while to show filial piety — I won’t stop you. Sometimes you want to cook for your husband to nurture your relationship — I won’t stop you. You lovingly prepare meals for Lihua because you adore her — I won’t stop you either.”
“But none of these are reasons you must cook. You can cook when you want to — when you enjoy it, when you’re in a good mood, when you’re not tired. Yunchu, don’t let tasks become shackles. You weren’t born into this world to suffer — you’re merely experiencing a life. What matters most is that you’re happy. Whatever you do, think of yourself first.”
Shen Yunchu quietly absorbed the words.
The old lady continued, “If we don’t eat a meal you cooked today, will we die? You and Lihua were in the hospital for so long, and you’ve been running up and down the house all day. Don’t tell me you’re not tired. Since we have a better alternative, we should learn to enjoy it. Understand?”
Shen Yunchu looked at her in awe. All her life, she’d heard people praise hardship and endurance — no one had ever openly said she should learn to enjoy life.
Qiao Wengang had already been considered an unusually good man for this era — he didn’t beat his wife, he adored his daughter, and he didn’t favor boys over girls.
But even he, influenced by the times, often focused on earning money outside while assuming that cooking, washing clothes, and child-rearing were naturally Yunchu’s duty.
He had never even asked himself:
If Yunchu could do these things, why couldn’t he?
Little Lihua cupped her face with both hands, listening seriously. In her soft baby voice, she instructed, “Mommy, you must listen to Grandma!”
That one line made everyone laugh. She didn’t understand what Nan Lingyi meant, but she imitated the tone of an adult perfectly.
At night, Nan Lingyi ate lightly — a few bites of the dishes and a bowl of soup.
“Tomorrow, you two go to the department store and buy what the house needs. Decorate however you like. I’ll go out to take care of some matters.”
Then she added, “Yunchu — remember what I said. You must learn to spend money. Only then can a person be happy.”
“Mom, I understand.”
Nan Lingyi went on, “You’re a temporary worker at the textile factory, correct?”
Shen Yunchu nodded and glanced at Qiao Wengang.
Back when she graduated high school, she had no job. The Shen family had the connections to find her one — but with her stepmother sabotaging her, every attempt she made ended in failure.
Later, after marrying Wengang, she entered the textile factory through the Qiao family’s connections, becoming a temporary worker.
The work was exhausting, but she treasured the job.
It wasn’t easy for her to get it.
Ironically, that job also gave Old Madam Qiao more leverage to pressure her.
“Do you like this job?” Nan Lingyi asked casually, sipping her tea.
Shen Yunchu thought carefully and shook her head. She didn’t cherish the job because she loved it — only because she needed it. She had never had the luxury of choice.
She didn’t want to deceive her mother.
Nan Lingyi nodded lightly. “Then change it. Choose something you do like. Tell me what you want to do.”
Shen Yunchu’s fingers tightened on her clothing. Memories of that year resurfaced. She’d had excellent grades in high school, often ranking near the top. But she suddenly fell ill right before the college entrance exam and performed disastrously.
Afterward, she knelt, begging her father and stepmother to let her continue studying.
But her stepmother insisted that she was “not good at studying,” that it would be a waste to continue, and that a high school diploma was already decent.
She was told she had no need to attend university.
Now, trembling a bit, she whispered, “Mom, I want to study again… But am I too old? Is it too late?”
She was already in her twenties, the mother of a five-year-old. She watched her mother’s expression nervously, ready to accept rejection — after all, her mother had already done more than enough.
But instead of refusing, Nan Lingyi laughed heartily.
“Good, good! How could it be too late? It’s never too late to study. Mommy will support you.”
Then she turned to Qiao Wengang. “And you? Will you study with her?”
Wengang had a high school education — already quite high for this era — and he was an official senior worker at the textile factory, earning a respectable income.
Most men at this time would’ve answered, “No need. My education is enough.”
But Qiao Wengang said firmly, “I’ll study.”
He felt uneasy in his heart. With a mother-in-law this capable and wise, Yunchu would only grow more outstanding. If he wanted to walk beside her forever, he couldn’t stand still — he had to grow too.
If he didn’t keep up, one day he wouldn’t be able to reach her anymore.
And now, his mother-in-law was offering him the chance directly. Of course he had to grab it tightly.
Everyone longs for a better life. And something told him — if he let this chance slip, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
“Would you think Yunchu studying again is irresponsible? Not doing real work?” Nan Lingyi suddenly asked.
Wengang shook his head immediately. “I’ve worked at the factory for years and seen the world a bit. I know very well how important education is. So — I support her.”
“Good. Then study well. I’ll hire professional tutors and buy whatever materials you need.”
Qiao Lihua blinked innocently and asked, “Daddy, Mommy, are you both going to kindergarten with me?”
Nan Lingyi burst into laughter, nearly tipping over. “Yes, yes — you’ll all go together. Only they’ll be going to the grown-ups’ kindergarten.”
Qiao Wengang responded enthusiastically, “Then tomorrow Yunchu and I will go to the factory to apply for temporary leave. No need to wait — we’ll buy study books tomorrow too.”
Shen Yunchu nodded in agreement.
“Good. Prepare yourselves well. When you get into your dream universities, I’ll be proud of you.”
After a bit more conversation, the elderly woman grew drowsy and returned to her room.
Back in their room, Shen Yunchu tapped Wengang lightly. “Pinch me?”
He paused while putting away his clothes. “Why?”
Yunchu suddenly giggled dreamily. “Everything feels so unreal… I have a mother now. I have a big house. I have pocket money. I can study again. Lihua can live happily without fear every day. These were things I never even dared to imagine before…”
(End of chapter)