Ning Tang thought for a moment and said, "It's the same old story. You have to stand up for yourself first. Past experience has shown that Captain Qi is unreliable. The money he earns will have to be used to fill the hole in his hometown in the future. So you have to find a job and earn your own money. With money in hand, you won't have to worry. Once you can earn money on your own and have savings, if your family needs anything in the future, you can use your own salary to buy it instead of asking Captain Qi for it. Let's see if he dares to be so tough in the future."
Mrs. Luo slapped her thigh and said, "Yes, let's do as Xiao Ning says. I don't believe Captain Qi would do such a thing as using his lover's earnings to support his family back home. Does he still have any shame?"
Zeng Xinlan wanted to take out a piece of paper and a notebook to write down every word Ning Tang said, "And then, and then."
"Then, you're crying poor. The household expenses can't be covered by your salary alone. Captain Qi must pay at least half, otherwise we'll have to live separately." Ning Tang said.
Zeng Xinlan asked doubtfully, "Crying poor?"
Ning Tang: "Yes, that is, to explain your difficulties and sufferings to Captain Qi bit by bit, and let him know how difficult life is for you and your son. For example, the broken bowl, and how he can eat in the army cafeteria while you can only eat the free seafood you picked up at the beach. Even if he doesn't want to listen, you keep telling him every year, every month. If he still has an ounce of conscience, if he's a man, he can't help but be moved."
Zeng Xinlan said embarrassedly, "There's another problem, Xiao Ning. I can use my salary to buy things for the family instead of giving it to him, but he'll give things away. What should I do? Am I filling the hole in their family?"
Mrs. Luo said, "Xinlan is right. By then, it will become a matter of the two of us making money to fill the hole. This..."
"So you have to guard your money and your property. You can throw a tantrum if necessary. Take the bowl as an example. Suppose you used your salary to buy a new bowl, and Captain Qi liked it and wanted to give it to those people back home. You must defend the bowl to the death, saying that you bought it with your money and it's for Da Hu. If he takes it, you will fight him to the death."
"Captain Qi is a man who cares about his reputation. He certainly doesn't want your quarrel to be known to all the neighbors. If you protect him once, you can protect him the second, third, and fourth time." Ning Tang said.
Zeng Xinlan said shyly, "But, if everyone knows about this quarrel, how can I save face?"
If you are not from the same family, you will not enter the same house. Captain Qi is very concerned about his reputation, and Zeng Xinlan cannot afford to lose face.
She pursed her lips and said, "If this gets out of hand, what will the people in the courtyard think of me? If I don't give the old man money, I'll be labeled an unfilial person and won't be able to escape."
Thinking of those rumors, Zeng Xinlan felt very nervous.
Ning Tang: "What can I see? Those with good hearts and minds will only feel pity for you. If you don't believe me, ask Sister Luo. As for those with bad hearts and minds, why bother with what they think?"
Mrs. Luo said, "You live your own life, but other people have their mouths to speak for you. They can say whatever they want."
"You can't control other people's mouths, you have to walk your own path." Ning Tang said.
Mrs. Luo: "Oh, that's the truth. I never thought that Xiao Ning, at such a young age, could be more insightful than me. I've lived half my life to realize this truth."
"Sister-in-law, you're too kind," Ning Tang said. "Besides, which is more important, face or money?"
Mrs. Luo said, "If you can't bear to lose your face, just think about Dahu. Think about how much money Dahu needs for nutrition, education, and marriage. Then you can make up your mind."
Zeng Xinlan gritted her teeth and made up her mind, "Okay, I'll do this from now on."
"The most urgent thing is to find a job," said Mrs. Luo.
Zeng Xinlan asked, "But where can I find a job? Ah."
Mrs. Luo has been on the island for many years, so she has experience in this matter. "After the New Year, the health center and the Women's Committee will both be hiring. You can give it a try."
Zeng Xinlan said, "Health center? But I don't know how to treat patients."
"Generally, pharmacies recruit people. Doctors write prescriptions for patients, and you just need to take the medicine according to the instructions. Anyone who can read can do this job, and the salary is okay, three to five yuan a month. The Women's Committee is busy, but the salary is high, seven or eight yuan a month. It depends on which one you want to do." Mrs. Luo said.
They talked about finding a job and were not interested in Ning Tang.
In her previous life, she worked 996 for several years and no longer wanted to endure the hardships of work. Work, work, even if it was easy, it was still work. Work was exhausting. She even suspected that she traveled through time because the 996 had damaged her body.
Zeng Xinlan's situation was special, so Ning Tang gave her this advice.
Ning Tang let Mrs. Luo and Zeng Xinlan chat slowly and went home first.
I've been busy helping Zeng Xinlan for almost a whole day. Da Wa and the other three must be waiting anxiously at home.
Ning Tang returned home. Da Wa heard the footsteps and ran over, "Stepmother, you're finally back! If you hadn't come back, we would have gone looking for you."
Ning Tang waved his hand. "I'm starving. Is there anything to eat?"
She didn't eat lunch and just ate two cucumbers at Mrs. Luo's place.
Erniu tilted her head. "Why do these words sound so familiar?"
Sanwa said, "I know. Big brother was like this when he came back. As soon as he came back, he yelled to Dad, saying, 'Is he hungry? Is there anything to eat at home?'"
Ning Tang narrowed his eyes and said, "Sanwa, come here, I have something delicious for you to eat."
The third child took a step back and hid behind the eldest child. "I'm not stupid. You called me over here to beat me up."
Ning Tang said, "Alright, I won't chat with you guys any more. Do you have anything to eat? Oh, and what did you three have for lunch?"
Da Wa said, "We went to find Uncle Zhao, and he helped us get some food."
Ning Tang ate some red dates to fill his stomach. Chen Lie would be back soon and wait for him to make dinner.
After taking just two steps, she smelled a strong fragrance and sniffed, "What the hell, it smells so good?"
The eldest child swallowed his saliva and said, "The stepmother next door made it. It's delicious."
Ever since the day when the Shen family made stir-fried octopus with soy sauce, grilled oysters with garlic, and fried small crabs, and the aroma reached the Su family, Ning Xue seemed to want to compete with Ning Tang. For many days in a row, she made all kinds of delicious food for Su Junyan and the twins.
You know what, it really tastes good.
Ning Tang took advantage of the fragrance and ate a few red dates to fill his stomach. Chen Lie also came back.
He entered the house and took off his outer shirt while muttering, "What kind of food is the Su family preparing? Why does it smell so good?" He passed by the Su family's door just now and was almost dizzy from the fragrance.
Ning Tang smelled it and after a while, he guessed what Ning Xue was making. "She's probably making chicken soup. Only chicken soup has this aroma."
"Then let's make duck soup tomorrow. Cook a pot of duck soup and use it to go with silver thread noodles. It will taste better than theirs." Chen Lie said.
The eldest child's mouth watered as he listened, nodding his head frantically, "Okay, okay, Dad, shall we make some duck soup silver thread noodles now?"
Chen Lie scratched his nose and said, "You wish. We didn't buy any ducks today."
The next day, at 5:30 in the afternoon, Shen Lie returned home.
The eldest child came running over, looking up at his little face, "Dad, did you buy the duck?"
Chen Lie was amused. "No, since you want to eat duck so much, I'll give you a duck leg next time I cook it."
The eldest boy counted on his fingers, "A duck has two wings and two legs." He took a deep breath and said, "Hush, there are five of us in our family. What if there are not enough to share?"
Ning Tang said, "Your father and I will each have a duck leg, Erniu and Sanwa will each have a duck wing, and you can drink the soup."
The eldest child put his hands on his hips and said angrily, "Stepmother!"
"Hey." Ning Tang picked his ears and said, "I heard it, I'm not deaf."
Da Wa looked at Chen Lie and said, "Dad, don't be a duck anymore? I can't eat it anyway."
Ning Tang said, "You have to go to school five days a week. We can secretly eat duck while you are at school. You won't know about it anyway."
Chen Lie nodded, "Let's cook the duck while the eldest child is at school, Erniu, Sanwa, what do you say?"
Erniu glanced at Da Wa and wanted to say yes, because if Da Wa didn't share the duck wings, one would be perfect for her and San Wa. The little girl said conscientiously, "Okay, but let's save some soup for him."
The eldest child was almost crying with anger, "Second girl, whose side are you on?"
Sanwa raised her hand, "I know, Second Sister stands on the side of delicious food."
Ning Tang let the three little kids bicker and asked Chen Lie, "What's for dinner?"
Chen Lie said, "Let's have steamed clams and fried clams. The clams at the market are quite fresh today. Let's also make a steamed sea bass. Is that enough for the five of us?"
Chen Lie went to the kitchen to work, and Ning Tang helped him.
Da Wa was in the house when he suddenly smelled a strong fragrance coming from the Su family next door. He sniffed and found the fragrance so tempting that he couldn't help but run to the Su family following the smell.
In the Su family courtyard, Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu each held a large chicken drumstick in their hands. As they ate, they exclaimed, "Oh, it's delicious." "This crispy chicken drumstick smells so good."
When the eldest boy took a closer look, he saw that the chicken legs in their hands had a crispy outer layer. When he bit into it, it was crispy and crunchy, and the chicken was tender and smooth.
But the eldest child was so greedy that he sipped his saliva and said, "Your family is cooking chicken again."
Su Yaozu glanced at Da Wa smugly and deliberately took a big bite of chicken in front of him. "Yes, my mom made it. She said we were too skinny and needed some nutrition."
Su Guangzong asked Da Wa, "Do you want to eat?"
The eldest boy nodded his head frantically, "I want to eat."
Su Guangzong hid the chicken leg behind his back and said, "No, if you want to eat it, ask your stepmother to cook it for you."
The eldest child pouted and said, "Isn't it just a chicken drumstick? What's the big deal? No, wait, I'll ask my stepmother to make it for me when I get home."
After saying that, he ran away with his short legs.
As soon as he left, Ning Xue came out of the room, rubbed Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu's heads, and praised them, "Well done."
Su Guangzong asked in confusion, "Mom, why do you want us to eat chicken legs in the yard in front of Da Wa?" They usually eat at home.
Su Yaozu curled his lips, "Stupid, you don't even understand this. Mom wants the eldest son to envy us so he can go back and make trouble for his stepmother."
Ning Xue curled her lips, "Yao Zu is really smart."
A cold light flashed in her eyes. Now it all depended on whether her gourmet food offensive would be effective. It would be best if the eldest child went back and made a big fuss, causing Ning Tang to beat and scold the children, making Shen Lie dissatisfied, and the Shen family would be in turmoil.
Thinking about this, Ning Xue listened attentively to the movements of the Shen family.
When Da Wa came back, the food was already on the table?
Chen Lie glanced at him and said, "It's almost time for dinner, where have you been?"
Did the eldest child turn around? He rolled his eyes, "Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu asked me to go to their house to play."
"What did you play?" Chen Lie said casually while picking bones from the sea bass.
"No, what are you playing for? They showed me the big chicken legs my aunt fried for them." Da Wa said crisply. He sipped his saliva and said, "They smelled delicious."
These little movements of his didn't escape Chen Lie's eyes. Chen Lie sneered, "It smells good. Then take a few more breaths and enjoy our meal while enjoying the aroma of theirs."
Seeing that Chen Lie didn't respond, Da Wa blinked and said bluntly, "Dad, I want to eat crispy chicken legs too."
Chen Lie was amused. "You look like a big chicken drumstick to me."
When Da Wa puffs up his cheeks, he doesn’t look like a big chicken leg!
Then he turned to Ning Tang and launched an offensive, "Stepmother, please make me a big chicken drumstick."
Ning Tang didn't respond, but just looked at him with a smile.
Did the eldest child turn around? He rolled his eyes. "Su Yaozu said that the big chicken legs were made by their mother. I said I wanted to eat them too, and he told me to go home and ask you to make them for me."
He deliberately made a bitter face and said pitifully, "I envy them so much. Their mothers all make big chicken legs for them to eat, but I don't have that."
Ning Tang curled his lips, "I envy them too. Big boy, when you grow up, buy me a big chicken drumstick."
The eldest child thought quickly and resorted to throwing a tantrum. He sat down on the ground and yelled, "I don't care. I want to eat a big chicken drumstick. Stepmother, make it for me."
Ning Tang still didn't respond. He ate while watching him making a fuss, occasionally putting food into Erniu and Sanwa's bowls. "Eat more! Today's clams are delicious. Let's eat up all the rice quickly and leave nothing for your brother. If he makes a fuss again, he'll go hungry."
Was Big Baby pretending to cry? After a while, he saw that Ning Tang not only ignored him, but also seemed to be making fun of his performance.
He resorted to another trick, sighed, and said, "They're both stepmothers, why is there such a big difference?"
He glanced at Ning Tang's face. "Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu don't like to eat. Their stepmother always coaxes them and cooks for them in various ways. They also told me that their stepmother ordered a large steamer a few days ago. It's specially used for steaming buns. The steamed buns are fragrant, soft and delicious. I heard that they spent a lot of money on the steamer. It's really worth it."
He exclaimed, "Oh, how nice it would be if I had a stepmother who would buy me an expensive big steamer and make me giant chicken drumsticks." He winked at Erniu and Sanwa and said, "Don't you agree?"
Ning Tang smiled and said, "I think a rolling pin is cheaper than a large steamer, and it has many uses. It can also help you with your writing homework."
Shen Lie almost spit out a mouthful of rice.
Ning Tang glanced at him sideways, "Am I wrong?"
Chen Lie said, "You're right." He glanced at Da Wa and said, "I think Da Wa has been getting a little naughty lately. We need to get a rolling pin ready."
The eldest boy was immediately frightened and quickly covered his butt.
Shen Lie said, "Shen Dawa, people who don't cook don't have the right to be picky. If you ask your stepmother to make you a big chicken drumstick, she has to make you a big chicken drumstick."
"Do you know how much trouble it is to cook a dish? Take chicken legs for example. You have to buy the chicken, kill it, clean the internal organs, chop wood, cook it in the pot, and keep an eye on the heat. It takes so much effort." He asked Da Wa, "I'll buy you a chicken, and you can cook the chicken legs yourself. How about that? You can have as many as you like."
Big Boy really wanted to nod in agreement, but when he thought about how troublesome it would be to make a big chicken leg, he shook his head hesitantly.
Shen Lie sneered, "You don't even want to do it yourself, yet you let your stepmother do it. Shen Dawa, you're really something."
Ning Tang said, "When you can complete this process, I will ask Captain Shen to make chicken legs for you every day. Okay."
Chen Lie was speechless. What did he mean by asking him to help Da Wa? Why didn't Ning Tang do it himself?
But he didn't dare say it out loud, for fear that Ning Tang would punish him.
Big Baby wanted to grumble a few more words, but Ning Tang gave him a look and said, "Captain Shen, stop wasting time talking to him. Go buy a rolling pin tomorrow after get off work."
Big Boy quickly stood up and sat on the stool, shoveling rice into his mouth. While eating, he deliberately said loudly, "Oh, today's meal is so delicious. I don't want to eat the big chicken drumstick at all."
Ning Tang sneered, "I've spoiled you."
As for Ning Xue, she was standing in the yard in the pitch black, listening to the movements of the Shen family with her ears pricked up.
Suddenly, the crying of Da Wa was heard from the Shen family. It was particularly harsh in the quiet alley. Ning Xue was overjoyed and couldn't help but stretch her neck, trying to see the scene of Ning Tang beating and scolding Da Wa from the reflection of the window.
But with just this one sound, the Shen family fell silent.
Ning Xue stomped her numb feet and took two steps towards the Shen family without giving up.
"Ouch!" Su Junyan, who came home late from get off work, rubbed his chest, which was hurt by the quilt, and frowned, "What are you doing here so late at night?"
Ning Xue was also startled. How could she admit that she wanted to see the excitement at the Shen family? So she stammered, "No, it's okay. The weather is nice, so I came out for a walk."
"Is the weather good?" Su Junyan looked up at the sky. A large dark cloud was passing by, accompanied by shocking thunder.
He looked at Ning Xue strangely. Why did he feel that she was becoming more and more weird lately?
At eleven o'clock in the evening, Ning Tang and Chen Lie were lying in bed.
Chen Lie turned over and the bed creaked.
Ning Tang opened his eyes, "Captain Shen, are you still asleep?"
Chen Lie muttered, "I just can't sleep. Hey, why is Big Baby making a fuss out of nowhere? He wants to eat a crispy chicken drumstick."
Although the eldest child is greedy, he is not to this extent.
"I still don't understand this, someone must have seduced me." Ning Tang said.
"Who hooked it?" Chen Lie asked, "Su family twins?"
"What did the eldest child say at dinner? 'Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu showed him Ning Xue's fried chicken drumsticks,' and 'Tell him to come home and ask me to make chicken drumsticks.' How could the twins have such an idea? Ning Xue must have ordered it."
Chen Lie frowned and said, "Why did she mess with Da Wa for no reason? What good could it do if she made the child cry?"
Ning Tang thought, there are so many benefits, the most obvious one is that you can watch the fun, but this principle is hard to explain to a grown man like Chen Lie.
She turned over and pulled the quilt.
After a while, Chen Lie heard a faint snoring sound.
Chen Lie: You are so generous.
The next day, Saturday, Chen Lie was on vacation, so he got up early to make breakfast.
He carried the vegetable basin to the yard to wash the vegetables. Just as he turned on the faucet, he heard a voice in his ear, "Captain Shen."
Chen Lie was stunned and looked up. The person calling him was none other than Ning Xue. "What's wrong?"
Ning Xue stood outside the low wall, looking around the Shen family's house. Seeing no movement, she smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just wanted to ask you, did Da Wa make a fuss when he went home yesterday?"
"What's going on?" Shen Lie's heart skipped a beat.
Ning Xue: "It's like this. Guangzong Yaozu told me that yesterday, Da Wa wanted to eat the crispy chicken drumsticks he had made. Yaozu didn't want to give them to him, so he told him to go home and ask Ning Tang to make them for him."
She continued, "I know my cousin's cooking skills, but how could she make a crispy chicken drumstick? I guess the eldest child would be in a state of panic."
She pretended to sigh, "It's also my fault as your aunt. If there was an extra chicken drumstick at home, I would definitely give it to the eldest child. It's a pity that we only cooked one chicken yesterday."
Chen Lie said with a forced smile, "Big Baby wants to eat chicken legs, how can we let your family spend money? A chicken is not cheap. Sigh, in the final analysis, it is just that Big Baby is too greedy."
Ning Xue's lips curled up when she heard Chen Lie say that. "Well, you can't say that. Da Wa is a child, and every child is greedy."
Chen Lie nodded. "You make sense. I'll buy a chicken tomorrow and make crispy chicken drumsticks for my eldest son. No, I have to buy two. After all, we have three little ones in our family."
Before she could reply, Chen Lie said, "Hey, is that big chicken drumstick of yours coated in flour paste and then deep-fried? I'll make it in a couple of days. By the way, I also need to make another pot of old duck soup. Ning Tang still has some red dates left, which will be perfect for the soup to nourish her body."
Ning Xue pulled the corner of her mouth, "Hehe..."
How come this is different from what she thought!
Ning Tang got up and saw that the bedside was empty. She went downstairs and saw Chen Lie busy in the kitchen.
Satisfied, she gave Chen Lie thirty-two thumbs up for his diligence.
In the yard? After washing up, Ning Tang went into the house and called Da Wa, "Da Wa, go to Sister Luo's house later."
Da Wa tilted his head and asked, "Why are you going to Sister Luo's house?"
"Get the sweet and sour radishes," Ning Tang said. "They're the white radishes that you three helped pick last time. Mrs. Luo has pickled them. I ran into her yesterday, and she told me to go to her house and get them today."
The eldest child took one look at the wooden toy car in his hand and didn't want to move. He nudged the second girl with his elbow and said, "Your stepmother is calling you. Go."
Erniu pouted and moved Sanwa, "Sanwa, you go."
Sanwa crossed his arms and puffed up his face, "You two? If you don't go, I won't go either."
Ning Tang was amused. "You two are both lazy. Okay, I'm in a good mood today. I won't recruit you men. I'll go by myself."
Arriving at Sister Luo's house, Ning Tang said, "Sister Luo, I'm here to get the sweet and sour radish."
Mrs. Luo was busy in the yard, directing her daughter, Zhao Qing, "Qingqing, go get Xiao Ning two cans of sweet and sour radishes. They're in the kitchen."
Zhao Qing had almond-shaped eyes and an apple-shaped face, and looked very well-behaved, but this well-behaved face showed an inappropriate expression, "I'm not going."
Mrs. Luo put down her hoe and said, "Hey, you girl."
Zhao Qing turned her face away, "I said if I don't want to go, then I don't want to go. I don't have time."
After saying that, she ran up the stairs in three or two steps, and threw a sentence, "Why do you want to be someone's stepmother when you are a good girl? Do you still have any shame?"
Mrs. Luo's eyes widened. "You little bitch!" She apologized to Ning Tang, "I'm sorry, Xiao Ning..."
"It's okay." Ning Tang waved his hand. "I won't argue with her."
Zhao Qing was seventeen years old and thought in black and white. She had no idea that Ning Tang didn't want to have children, so she said some "bad" things, and Ning Tang could understand.
People like this who don't play tricks on you are at least more straightforward than those who smile on the surface but stab you in the back.
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