“You say you won't go back, but you can't have your way,” Li Caixia said, reaching out to pull her without explanation.
“Xingping, go to the police station at the street corner and report a break-in. Say something valuable was stolen from my home,” Chen Lishu said abruptly, watching the two struggle.
“Third Sister-in-law, I'll go right away,” Gu Xingping responded, turning and heading for the door.
Hearing that the police would be called, Li Caixia panicked. She stopped pulling Zhao Qiuyue and blocked the doorway, bracing her hands on the doorframe to prevent Gu Xingping from leaving.
“Wh-what are you reporting? I didn't steal anything from your house. Don't spread malicious gossip.”
Chen Lishu got up. “Even if you didn't steal anything, you’re trespassing. If you don’t leave, I don’t mind sending you to stay a few days.”
Seeing Chen Lishu’s serious expression, which didn't seem like a bluff, Li Caixia felt a pang of fear.
This was Chen Lishu's home. If the police were really called, she wouldn't be able to explain herself clearly. Li Caixia finally felt afraid. “Fine, I’ll leave. Do you really think anyone covets this shabby place? I wouldn’t come even if you begged me.”
With that, she yelled at the children in the room and then spat heavily at Zhao Qiuyue, “Pah! You ungrateful traitor! Don't expect me or your eldest brother to help you anymore.”
Watching Li Caixia’s retreating figure, Zhao Qiuyue’s eyes reddened, but she bit her lip tightly, not letting herself cry.
Chen Lishu’s gaze fell on her. Knowing that any comfort would be useless, she thought for a moment and said, “Don’t just stand there. Hurry up and clean the room.”
Zhao Qiuyue quickly put away her dejected mood and looked up to apologize to her. “Lishu, I’m really sorry today. I really didn’t intend to let them stay.”
Chen Lishu nodded. “I know. Hurry up and clean.”
Zhao Qiuyue was diligent and never gossiped. Chen Lishu quite liked her. Moreover, when her sister-in-law came, she had even known to lock her bedroom door. If she hadn’t had even that much awareness, Chen Lishu would not only have called the police today but would have also kicked Zhao Qiuyue out along with them.
Seeing that Chen Lishu wasn't going to blame her, Zhao Qiuyue finally felt a little relieved. She turned and apologized to Rui Rui again, promising to buy him an identical picture book. After he nodded, Zhao Qiuyue finally felt at ease and went to clean.
Today was the twenty-fourth, and there were still two days until the stipulated reporting date for students. The school cafeteria would certainly not be open, and Gu Xingping and the other two would have to eat out when they returned. Chen Lishu made lunch for the three of them and let them leave after they ate.
…
After the new year, Lin Xiaohui found a job as a childcare worker near her home. Her main responsibility was to look after children ranging from a few months to over a year old. This was much more troublesome than teaching kindergarten children. Since there was no competition, the salary was not high, only twenty yuan a month, which was five yuan less than the salary of the kindergarten teacher in the military dependents' area.
Dragging her weary body home in the evening, she found that everyone had already eaten. With a fire in her belly, Lin Xiaohui went to the kitchen, only to discover that there was no food left. After searching for a long time, she finally spotted a locked cabinet. She tugged at it a few times without success. The lock clattered as it fell, and she walked out of the kitchen, questioning Lu Mu in the living room, “Mom, why did you lock the cabinet door?”
“It’s our family rule, no one can eat anything after mealtime.”
Lin Xiaohui: “I just got back from work. Give me the key, and I’ll make something myself.”
Lu Mu, too lazy to deal with her, said, “Hungry? Nobody’s grain grows on trees. Just go eat outside yourself.”
If she hadn’t agreed to her son marrying this woman after divorcing Zhao Hong, seeing her pregnant, she really shouldn’t have. It was like chasing away a Great Sage Equalling Heaven and getting a monkey instead, one worse than the other.
Previously, she had found Zhao Hong displeasing; not only couldn't she have children, but she was also always looking dejected and like a wronged person. However, Zhao Hong at least handed over all her earnings. Now, this one could have children, but she was stingy to the extreme. There was no way to get a penny from her.
Not only did she not hand over money, but she also had to look after the child for her. Lu Mu felt it was necessary to teach her a lesson.
“Saying so much, you just want us to pay for meals, don’t you?” Lin Xiaohui sneered. “I’ll pay if you want me to pay. Let’s divide the cost per person. Your eldest son’s family has six people, and then there are your two daughters. If everyone pays, I’ll pay.”
Lu Mu’s face fell. “You’re still living in my house. If you don’t pay as much as the eldest family, then don’t eat. Move out if you have the ability.”
Lu Chengming’s unit had a shortage of housing, and getting an allocation depended on rank, seniority, and waiting in line. Renting was a waste of money, and waiting for an allocation was uncertain.
The mere mention of moving out struck a nerve with Lin Xiaohui. Angrily, she slammed the door shut and returned to her room.
In the room, Lu Chengming and the child were sleeping soundly, one on each side. She was suffering from hunger and cold, but he was sleeping without a care. Lin Xiaohui went over and yanked the quilt off Lu Chengming, “Don’t you see how your mother treats me? And you’re still in the mood to sleep!”
Lu Chengming, who was having a nice dream, was woken up by Lin Xiaohui. With an impatient look, he pulled the quilt back over his head and mumbled, “Are you crazy?”
“You dare call me crazy? Lu Chengming, have you no conscience? For whom am I working so hard? Look, you only hand over half a month's salary each time. If it weren't for the fact that my mother and child couldn't make ends meet, would I have gone out to find a job?”
No matter how much Lin Xiaohui spoke, Lu Chengming remained unresponsive. Thinking back to how compliant Lu Chengming had been when they first started dating, only to change completely after marriage, Lin Xiaohui couldn't help but complain.
Lu Chengming was truly annoyed. He threw off the quilt and stood up. “Can you stop nagging?”
“You dare call me nagging now, Lu Chengming? Don’t forget that I gave birth to your son. If it weren’t for me, you would be heirless!”
Hearing the word “heirless,” a sinister look flashed across Lu Chengming’s face. He raised his hand and slapped Lin Xiaohui.
Lin Xiaohui, covering her reddened cheek, looked at him in disbelief. “Lu Chengming, you dare hit me?”
Lu Chengming regretted his action as soon as he threw the punch. He glanced at the sleeping child on the bed and opened his mouth, about to say something nice to appease her. Unexpectedly, Lin Xiaohui suddenly rushed at him like a cannonball. “Lu Chengming, I’ll fight you to the death!”
Initially, Lu Chengming had reservations, but once the violent tendencies within him resurfaced, he couldn't suppress them.
The two soon got into a brawl. A woman's strength was, after all, much less than a man's. Lin Xiaohui was quickly pinned to the ground, receiving countless blows and kicks, her throat being choked tightly.
Looking at Lu Chengming’s bloodshot eyes, Lin Xiaohui felt fear for the first time. She wanted to beg for mercy, but Lu Chengming’s palm was slowly tightening.