"This..." Yu Fen paused after hearing Fang Pingying’s words, then revealed her intentions, "No, I just wanted to ask since you’ve opened a store and ntioned that Yu’er could work there, would you be able to let my Cheng Fei also work at your store next year, to earn so money every month."
She paused briefly, touched her belly with so worry, and said, "Look, I am about to give birth soon, and I will need money. Farming at ho doesn’t bring in much throughout the year, I’m afraid we won’t even have enough to eat."
Once Yu Fen finished speaking, Yu’er sarcastically laughed, "Sister-in-law, don’t sugarcoat it. When we eat at ho, have you ever paid or anything? Isn’t it always money given by my parents?"
Yu Fen gave her a sidelong glance, retorting sharply, "Didn’t your brother and I work too? The money we earned is tightly controlled by your mother, and we haven’t received a cent. Do you still want to deny us food?"
"Yu Fen, what are you talking about? You haven’t received any money? Haven’t you used money from ho?" Qiu Xiu ca out from the house just then and upon hearing Yu Fen’s words, furrowed her eyebrows and scolded, "You’re always thinking about the money at ho; how much do you think you could earn in a year, and how much do you think we have saved?"
Yu Fen, not expecting Qiu Xiu to co out at that mont, looked sowhat embarrassed and stamred, "When have I ever obsessed over it? I was just telling sister-in-law to see if next year Cheng Fei and Yu’er could both work at Sister-in-law Ping Ying’s store to earn money."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Xiu’s face darkened. She glanced apologetically at Fang Pingying and then rebuked Yu Fen sharply, "What does Cheng Fei need to do in the city? Does he even have what it takes to earn money there? Even at ho, he only works with a push and a kick from your father; who would need him in the city?"
Yu Fen knew Qiu Xiu would oppose this, so she didn’t respond to Qiu Xiu. Instead, she thought about convincing Fang Pingying, believing that if Fang Pingying agreed, Qiu Xiu would have nothing left to argue.
So, she turned directly to Fang Pingying, "Sister-in-law, about that..."
"Shut your mouth, don’t be so shallow; the mont you hear that money can be made, you pounce on the idea." Qiu Xiu was actually trying to stop Yu Fen from even suggesting this, and before she could complete her sentence, she interrupted, "Ping Ying’s store is a partnership, and even if Yu’er works there I’m still worried about trouble, yet you want to push Cheng Fei into it too, no way."
"Mom, aren’t you being too biased? Why can Yu’er go and not Cheng Fei?" Yu Fen complained loudly. "Yu’er said herself, she spends her own earnings, and if she saves, it just sits there, contributing nothing to the family. If Cheng Fei goes, at least it could lessen the family burden."
"When my brother goes to work, would you allow him to hand all his money over to the family?" Yu’er retorted, rolling her eyes and exposing Yu Fen’s true intentions, "Who else do you think would believe what you just said?"
"You..." Yu Fen stared dryly at Yu’er and fell silent.
She wanted Cheng Fei to earn money so they could save a bit for themselves as a couple; she certainly wasn’t planning on handing it over.
They had been living with Qiu Xiu, who managed all the family’s money. Although Yu Fen always had to seek Qiu Xiu’s approval for expenses, she felt this arrangent was restrictive, hence the desire to keep so money in hand.
Qiu Xiu was already feeling guilty because Luo Dahu’s dical expenses had been covered by Fang Pingying─a fact she didn’t want the family to know. While at the hospital, she had even instructed Luo Chengfei not to spread word of this.
Unexpectedly, right after returning ho, Cheng Fei had told Yu Fen about it. Without even pausing to consider, she imdiately asked for help to find work tasks, leaving Qiu Xiu feeling utterly embarrassed.
She shot Yu Fen a fierce glance and shouted angrily, "I told you not to bring this up again. Did you not hear or what?"
Yu Fen, seeing the situation, also spoke up in a bad tone, imdiately yelled back at Qiu Xiu, "Mom, Sister-in-law hasn’t even spoken, why are you getting so angry?"
Qiu Xiu, seeing her talk back, was furious and shouted towards the next room, "Luo Chengfei, co here."
Cheng Fei and Luo Zhiyong, who were talking in the other room, hurried over upon hearing her. Cheng Fei rushed into the room and asked anxiously, "Mom, what’s the matter? Why are you yelling during the New Year?"
As soon as Qiu Xiu saw him, she got angry, stood up from the kang, slapped him on the back, and scolded, "Are you brainless or what? How did I instruct you when I was in the hospital? I told you that your brother Zhiyong and you fronted the dical fees, and you must not spread it around. But as soon as you co back, you tell your wife. Can’t you keep your mouth shut, or will you die from it?"
Cheng Fei felt guilty upon hearing this.
Actually, he didn’t an to spill it; it’s just that as soon as they got back, and Yu Fen heard about the huge expense, she urged him to go to the neighbors and ask for money. Annoyed by her nagging, he said that the money had originally co from soone from their house, so there was nothing to ask for.
After saying that, he realized he misspoke, and imdiately told Yu Fen to make sure not to let it slip.
Yu Fen agreed well at that mont, but in the blink of an eye, she caused trouble.
But since he was timid by nature, he didn’t stand up for anything.
Cornered by Qiu Xiu’s words, he shrank his neck, ca over, and gently nudged Yu Fen, whispering, "Didn’t I tell you not to say it out loud, why can’t you keep a secret?"
As Cheng Fei finished speaking, Yu’er smirked sarcastically at Yu Fen, "She’s not just unable to keep a secret; she’s looking out for herself. She wants to have you go to the city to work."
"What, go to the city to work?" Cheng Fei looked at Yu Fen with surprise, "When did I say I wanted to go to the city to work?"
Yu Fen glared at him, "I told you to go, isn’t that enough? Your sister is about to move to the city now. What are you doing just staying at ho as a man, it’s disgraceful."
Cheng Fei, a pushover, had always followed Qiu Xiu’s orders on everything at ho before he got married; now that he was married, he mostly believed his wife.
Scolded by Yu Fen like this, he felt embarrassed but didn’t dare to retort, just stood uncomfortably to one side.
Seeing this, Qiu Xiu was truly disappointed with her son, despising how his wife controlled him daily, and he didn’t even dare to speak up, wasn’t it disgraceful?
But since it wasn’t the first ti this had happened, she was too tired to argue with them. She turned to Fang Pingying and said, "Pingying, don’t take this to heart. Cheng Fei isn’t going to the city, he isn’t cut out for city work anyway, and besides, we need him here to do the household chores..."
Before Qiu Xiu could finish, Yu Fen suddenly slamd the table angrily and burst out threateningly at Qiu Xiu, "Mom, if you really won’t let Cheng Fei go work in the city, I’ll divorce him. I can’t stand this lousy life any longer."
"I suffer every day living in your Luo family, I’ve been here so long without a penny in my hand, and when I’m pregnant and want to buy sothing, I’m afraid to even speak up. Life here is utterly aningless." (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welco to visit Qidian (qidian) to vote, recomnd, or send monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian to read.)
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