Chapter 16 Yuan Dongmei
◎No one has ever praised me◎
Ji Jinmao had just been busy arranging Ji Zhao's place, and had to deal with Luo Yihui, Duan Yong, Feng Hongying and others. When he finally caught his breath, he found that Xu Songling and Zhao Xiangwan had already left. He hurriedly led his men to catch up with them, thanking them while giving each of them a box of homemade hotel cakes.
"Ji Zhao is my lifeblood. You risked your lives to save him. I am deeply grateful. I know that you police officers value integrity. This cake is just to fill your stomach. Tomorrow, I will come to your police station to present you with a banner."
Xu Songling was about to decline, but Zhu Feipeng took the cake without hesitation: "Cakes from the hotel? Great, great, I'm hungry after running around today, this food comes just in time."
Ji Jinmao personally handed the cake to Zhao Xiangwan, smiling attentively and cordially: "I don't even know your name yet."
"Zhao Xiangwan."
The sweet aroma of pastries wafts from the delicate paper bag.
Ji Jinmao was not tall, and had a chubby figure. He was almost the same height as the tall Zhao Xiangwan. The more he looked at Zhao Xiangwan, the more he liked her. His eyes sparkled with joy. "I'll treat everyone to a meal tomorrow. Please come and see me."
Zhao Xiangwan shook his head: "I have to go to class."
The management of the People's Public Security University is strict, and you have to ask for leave to go out, not to mention that she doesn't like this kind of social activities.
Ji Jinmao smiled and said, "Okay, okay, then just go to class and I'll have someone take you to your dormitory."
As for where Zhao Xiangwan studied and where her dormitory was, Ji Jinmao always found a way to find out.
Ji Jinmao went around in circles for a long time before finally getting to the point: "Student Zhao, Ji Zhao is refusing to eat now. He ignores anyone who talks to him. Can you please go and talk to him so that he can eat something?"
Zhao Xiangwan: "It's okay, Ji Zhao is resting now, just let him lie down and take a nap." When he wakes up, the scene may change.
Ji Jinmao tried hard to control his excited emotions, but his chattering voice reached Zhao Xiangwan's mind.
[She really knows! Dan Feng and I have raised him for twenty-one years, but we don’t understand Ji Zhao as well as this girl. She can make Ji Zhao quiet, obedient, and sleep well. Oh my God! She is sent by God and is the savior of our family.
I don't know what she likes, how can I please her? Money, gold and silver jewelry, house, clothes... I don't know what young girls like nowadays. No matter what, I must make friends with her at any cost. If she can talk to Ji Zhao often, maybe Ji Zhao can get better slowly and live like a normal person. 】
Ji Jinmao asked cautiously: "Student Zhao, I wonder what you meant by saying to Ji Zhao earlier that the wind was so strong that the trees were shaking? How should we express this when we talk to Ji Zhao in the future?"
Zhao Xiangwan pondered for a moment and said, "This is a metaphor in psychology, using figurative things to express a state. When you communicate with Ji Zhao, try to use words as directly and briefly as possible."
At this moment, in Ji Jinmao's mind, Zhao Xiangwan was more powerful than those foreign psychologists who charged high fees. He nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. When you are free in the future, you must come to my house as a guest."
Zhao Xiangwan nodded.
Ji Jinmao asked again: "What did Luo Yihui say that was wrong? Why did you let someone detain him? What should we pay attention to in the future?"
Zhao Xiangwan did not answer the question immediately.
Luo Yihui obviously dislikes Ji Zhao and may be detrimental to Ji Zhao; but he is someone Ji Jinmao trusts, otherwise he would not have become Ji Zhao's personal assistant.
There are some things that can be discussed within the serious crime squad, but cannot be said to outsiders.
Xu Songling acted calmly. He saw Zhao Xiangwan's embarrassment and said seriously, "Mr. Ji, Zhu Feipeng and Zhao Xiangwan stopped Luo Yihui because they saw that Ji Zhao was emotionally unstable. As for what he said was not good, we don't know. The situation was urgent at the time and Luo Yihui was offended. I hope you don't blame me."
Ji Jinmao looked chubby and innocent, but he had been in the business world for many years and had become very experienced. He cupped his hands and smiled, "It's an emergency, it's okay. Everyone was trying to save people, I can't thank you enough, how can I blame you?"
Zhao Xiangwan could see Ji Jinmao's sincerity and reminded him, "Mr. Ji, why don't you first find out what Feng Hongying said."
What story did the landlord's idiot son tell? Why did it irritate Ji Zhao? How did he get used by Luo Yihui? This is the key.
When Ji Jinmao heard her words, his heart was stirred.
【I did find out the story that Aunt Feng told. A stupid son of a landlord, he was well taken care of by his parents since he was young, wearing gold and silver. When his family fell into poverty, no one paid attention to him, and he froze to death alone in the winter. Could it be that Ji Zhao understood and was worried that after I died, he would be left alone and unable to live? Ji Zhao didn't like to communicate with others since he was a child, and I don't know why he was suddenly stimulated by this story. When Dan Feng is better, I will take Ji Zhao to see a psychologist abroad to find out the reason.】
It was late at night and a cold wind was blowing outside the hotel entrance.
Ji Jinmao shook his shoulders and smiled: "This story is a bit long, would you like to go upstairs and sit for a while?"
This girl is so smart, it's a waste of talent for her to be just a criminal police, it's better to keep this talent by your side. Ji Jinmao decided to recruit people himself and strike the snake while the stick is still there. In short... the most important thing is to coax this lovely girl in front of him.
Hearing Ji Jinmao's plan, Zhao Xiangwan was a little amused and waved his hands.
Ji Jinmao became more and more interested in Zhao Xiangwan. Being able to remain calm in front of him might be because he was too young to understand the importance of wealth, but being able to control curiosity and not ask questions was true wisdom.
He laughed, took out a black card, and stuffed it into Zhao Xiangwan's hand without saying anything: "Student Zhao, I'm giving you a card to play with. The Ji family welcomes you anytime."
The hotel entrance lighting is soft, the black card material is special, and it glows with a mysterious light. The golden rice ears in the center and the dandelion lace around it reflect the dazzling light in the corridor.
A bright light flashed and blinded Zhao Qingyun's eyes.
Zhao Qingyun had been paying attention to Ji Jinmao's movements. When he saw the black card stuffed into Zhao Xiangwan's palm, his throat seemed to be stuck. It took him a long time to squeeze out a sentence: "Black card..."
The membership cards of Four Seasons Hotel are divided into gold card, silver card and blue card. The blue card offers 10% discount, the silver card offers 20% discount and the gold card offers 30% discount. The Four Seasons Hotel membership cards are issued to the rich and powerful, so the gold card has become a status symbol for the wealthy in Hunan Province.
Above the gold card, there is the black card. Issued by Ji Jinmao himself, it is for the top VIPs of the Four Seasons Hotel, and all consumption in the hotel is free. Many people want to get one but cannot. Even Zhao Qingyun, who has heard of the name of the Four Seasons Hotel black card for a long time, has never seen one in person.
However, Zhao Xiangwan now holds a black card given by Ji Jinmao himself!
Zhao Qingyun's scalp was numb, and his body was cold and hot. What kind of background and ability did his biological daughter have? She actually made the richest man in Xing City and the old fox in the business world, Ji Jinmao, try so hard to please her!
——Zhao Xiangwan is far more valuable than he thinks!
When Zhao Qingyun realized this, he was overwhelmed with deep regret. Thinking of the opportunity to become Zhao Xiangwan's kin just now, but missing it because of a moment of hesitation, Zhao Qingyun's face darkened, and he looked at Zhao Chenyang coldly: "You'd better explain the matter clearly!"
If it weren't for Zhao Chenyang and his greedy parents, Zhao Xiangwan would have been taken in to be raised eight years ago. The person standing beside her and greeting Ji Jinmao today and showing off the black card in the circle of wealthy people would be him, Zhao Qingyun!
Although Zhao Chenyang is young, he has heard of Ji Jinmao because he has always been with his parents for social events. Today, when he saw him speaking humbly to Zhao Xiangwan, he couldn't help but feel jealous and hateful. Zhao Xiangwan is just a wild girl who grew up in the countryside. How could she deserve to be treated so politely by the richest man in Xing City?
I have lived my life over again, snatched away the resources that originally belonged to Zhao Xiangwan, and tried my best to suppress her growth, but I still can't reach her level. This feeling is simply too painful!
Hearing Zhao Qingyun's cold words, Zhao Chenyang gritted his teeth and cursed Zhao Xiangwan for showing up at this time instead of earlier or later. Zhao Qingyun and Wei Meihua were very realistic. They would recognize which daughter they would adopt, not based on which one was their biological child, but on which one was more useful.
Previously, because she was engaged to the Xu family, which would pave the way for Zhao Qingyun's career in the future, they did not recognize Zhao Xiangwan immediately. But now Zhao Xiangwan somehow got in touch with Ji Jinmao, and Zhao Qingyun might have some ideas.
In order to avoid being driven back to the countryside, Zhao Chenyang tried hard to force a smile and replied respectfully: "Dad, I just found out about this recently..."
After listening to Zhao Chenyang's words, Zhao Qingyun fell into deep thought.
Zhao Xiangwan took the black card without realizing how valuable it was. He only felt that the dandelions and rice ears on the card were painted very realistically. He knew it was Ji Zhao's handwriting, so he put it in his pocket and said, "Thank you."
Through the glass door of the Four Seasons Hotel, Zhao Xiangwan caught a glimpse of Zhao Qingyun whispering with Zhao Chenyang. His eyes dimmed and he left with everyone without stopping.
The more you long for your biological parents, the more disappointed you will be when you actually meet them.
The art of mind reading sharpened Zhao Xiangwan's heart to be strong and resilient. After just one quick glance, he decided to let go of his previous obsessions and walk his own path with peace of mind.
When I got back to school, it was almost time to turn off the lights in the dormitory. I quickened my pace and walked into the dormitory building. I saw my roommate Zhang Yalan standing at the window of the dormitory management office on the first floor answering the phone.
章亞岚是星市人，城裏姑娘愛說愛笑愛打扮，給人的感覺家裏條件優越、日子過得很順心。可是今晚她臉頰挂着兩行淚水，正對着話筒哽咽。
“媽，你別哭了，我不在家你要保護好自己。”
“是，我是個女孩，可這是我能決定的嗎？難道是個男孩就能改變什麽嗎？”
“你不想過，那就不過啊，我和你說過無數次，可是你不肯聽！”
趙向晚假裝沒有聽見，繞過章亞岚往樓梯口走去。可是，章亞岚哭泣的內心讓她停下了腳步。
【無能！一個無能的媽媽，一個喝醉酒就打人的爸爸，章亞岚啊章亞岚，你天天裝瘋賣傻地傻樂，有什麽意義？有什麽意義？！什麽都做不了，什麽也幫不了！就算我讀公安大學，能夠報警抓走爸爸嗎？能夠幫助媽媽立起來嗎？不能！什麽也不能！】
原來，看似沒心沒肺的章亞岚有一個讓人窒息的家庭。
一只腳踏在樓梯踏步上，另一只腳還踩在一樓平臺，趙向晚轉過頭看向打電話的章亞岚。
章亞岚已經挂了電話，呆呆地迎上趙向晚的目光，似乎想到了什麽，章亞岚慌忙抹幹眼淚，努力要擠出一個笑臉。
可惜嘴角剛剛咧開，眼淚卻控制不住地撲簌簌往下落，章亞岚終于控制不住情緒，一邊哭一邊朝趙向晚走過來，伸出手拉住她呢子大衣的袖口，可憐兮兮地喚了一聲：“趙向晚……”
趙向晚忍耐地看一眼她牽住自己袖口的手：“需要我做什麽？”
趙向晚的态度有些冷淡，但一個宿舍上下鋪住了近半年，章亞岚知道她外冷內熱，只要坦誠以對，其實并不難相處。
章亞岚的滿腔心事終于找到可以傾訴的對象：“趙向晚，明天考完試之後你能不能陪我回一趟家？我想讓你幫幫我媽。”
趙向晚擡步向上，領着章亞岚來到三樓開水房，離宿舍樓熄燈還有半個小時，這裏安靜而冷清，只有一盞日光燈亮着。
趙向晚問：“怎麽幫？”
章亞岚的淚水已經止住，但聲音裏還帶着鼻音：“我想讓我媽離婚，可是她一直不願意。你不是能通過微表情識別謊言嗎？我想知道我媽心裏到底是怎麽打算的，我想幫助她。”
趙向晚有些詫異地掃了她一眼。
九十年代初人們的婚姻觀念還是：離婚對名聲不好、湊合湊合過一輩子。如果有夫妻鬧離婚，單位的人都會勸他們為了孩子再忍忍，離了婚孩子要麽沒了爸、要麽沒有媽，多可憐啊。哪有孩子勸父母離婚的？
趙向晚搖搖頭：“這是你們的家事，外人不能參與。”
章亞岚神情焦灼，語速很快地解釋着。
“我是獨生女，爸爸在建築公司工作，底下管着不少工人。媽媽以前在國營商店當營業員，因為改制搞承包下了崗，沒再工作，在家裏做飯收拾屋子。
從我上高中開始，爸爸賺了錢人就飄了，整天喝酒，回到家拿我媽沒生兒子這事鬧騰，把我媽打得頭破血流。我媽一被打就哭，我一勸她呢，她就怪我不是男孩子。
考上大學之後，家裏只剩下我爸媽，聽我媽說爸爸在外面找了別的女人，天天逼她離婚。我媽不肯，說不能讓我被人瞧不起。”
講到這裏，章亞岚眼神悲傷，淚水在眼眶裏打轉轉。
“以前我們一家三口平靜安寧，可是自從我爸賺了錢、我媽下了崗，日子就變得不一樣。我媽現在入了魔，總覺得是自己沒有生兒子才遭了嫌棄，每天過得像個罪人一樣。她還求我爸，說只要不離婚，我爸想幹什麽都可以，哪怕他在外面生了兒子，她都沒有怨言，将孩子抱回家來上戶口、她來養。”
趙向晚聽得頭痛。
審訊汪乾坤的妻子曹彩雁的時候，曹彩雁口口聲聲說丈夫之所以出軌都是小三的錯，只要消滅了這些不要臉的女人，家庭就能得以保全。現在章亞岚的母親更是卑微到了極致，只要不離婚，甚至願意撫養小三生的孩子。
是什麽，讓女人在婚姻中将“自我”扭曲成這樣？
趙向晚嘆了一口氣：“連你都勸不了你母親，我又有什麽辦法？”
章亞岚的眼中有着深深的欽佩、濃濃的信任：“你不一樣，你是趙向晚啊。你幫周老師找到被拐的寶寶，又幫許警官偵破了無頭女屍案，得到校長表彰，你那麽厲害，肯定能夠找到我爸媽之間真正的問題。我是他們的女兒，情緒容易被牽動，很多事情看不清楚。你幫幫我吧，求你了……”
趙向晚依然有些猶豫。
俗話說得好，寧拆一座廟、不毀一門親。章亞岚的父母之間積怨已深，不管是修複夫妻感情，還是幹脆利落離婚，牽扯的東西都太多。趙向晚雖然早慧，但畢竟只是個十八歲的少女，介入同學的家庭問題不合适。
看到趙向晚猶豫，章亞岚頹然地垂下雙手，輕聲道：“對不起，讓你為難了。”
說完，章亞岚沒有再繼續央求，走出開水房，走過長長的走廊，推開宿舍門走了進去。
走廊的日光燈用得久了，燈管有些發黑。光線昏暗，章亞岚雙肩下沉，腰杆沒有立直，走路的步伐有些拖沓，看得出來心事重重。
趙向晚內心被什麽觸動。
初中班主任梅心慧老師的面容忽然閃現在眼前。
趙向晚小學畢業考試考了雙百分，她知道養母錢淑芬不會讓自己繼續讀書，于是拿着成績單找到黃田鄉中學，向初一年級組組長梅老師求助。
見到梅心慧老師的時候，趙向晚心中忐忑不安，雖然有讀心術能夠聽到她內心的同情與憐憫，但準确來說，趙向晚還沒有來學校報到，算不上梅心慧的學生，幫與不幫全在她一念之間。
面對趙向晚的求助，梅心慧完全可以拒絕的。
趙向晚只不過是一個普通的農村女孩子而已，能不能讀書與梅心慧有什麽關系呢？要讓一對重男輕女的父母同意女孩子繼續讀書、承擔起這個女孩子的學費與未來，這是多麽困難的事情！
可是梅心慧耐心地聽趙向晚說明情況，絲毫猶豫都沒有，主動聯系小學校長、趙家溝村委會主任、婦聯主任，帶着這些人一起到了趙向晚家裏，對錢淑芬、趙二福曉之以理、動之以情，并承諾承擔學費，趙向晚這才能夠繼續讀書。
如果沒有梅心慧老師的幫助，趙向晚早在十二歲的時候就已經辍學，和趙家溝其他女孩子一樣，幹幾年農活之後外出打工，到了适婚年齡再回村嫁人生子；她永遠沒有機會考進公安大學，将讀心術與刑偵技術結合起來，成為星市公安局刑偵支隊隊長許嵩嶺的好幫手。
今天章亞岚的求助，是不是和趙向晚當年一樣，逼到了絕路，不得不向人開口呢？
趙向晚記得很清楚，梅心慧曾經微笑着對自己說：“趙向晚，不要怕，這個世上還是好人多。”
梅心慧、許嵩嶺、周巧秀、朱飛鵬……是啊，這個世上還是好人多。
想到這裏，趙向晚大踏步走進宿舍，走到章亞岚床邊，對着拉起的床簾輕聲說：“章亞岚，明天我和你一起回家。”
刷——
米色床簾突然拉開，章亞岚又驚又喜，眼睛裏滿是感動：“真的？”
趙向晚點點頭：“嗯！”
穿着件毛衣的章亞岚從上鋪跳了下來，興奮地叫了起來：“趙向晚，你真好！”
等到周末，趙向晚和章亞岚一起回家。
章亞岚的家位于城西一個小區，坐公交車大約需要一個小時。
下了公交車之後兩人并肩而行，章亞岚邊走邊介紹着自家的基本情況。
“這是我爸以前在市工程局上班的時候分配的住房，我六歲一家人搬進去的，兩房一廳，廚房衛生間雖然小，但一家三口住起來還是挺好的。”
趙向晚問：“以前在工程局？那你爸現在在哪裏工作？”
章亞岚回答：“現在徐氏建築公司上班。徐氏建築公司是我們星市最大的私人建築公司，老總姓徐，以前在工程局當領導，後來辭職下海開公司，越做越大，星市一半的建築工程都是徐氏承接的。我爸以前是徐總手底下的工長，兩個人關系不錯，從徐總辭職開公司起就一直跟着他做事。”
徐氏建築集團？很熟悉的名字。似乎是趙晨陽的靠山，趙青雲未來的姻親？不過星市只有這麽大，人與人之間總會有些交集，不稀奇。
趙向晚将注意力轉移到這個陌生的小區。
小區是普通的行列式布局，但綠化做得非常漂亮，道路兩旁香樟、玉蘭樹高大豐茂，樓棟之間的花壇裏臘梅飄香，即使是冬天依然能夠讓人感覺到生機盎然。
章亞岚看到趙向晚的目光停留在花壇裏的臘梅之上，笑着說：“你喜歡臘梅？我也喜歡，聞起來真香。”
趙向晚點了點頭：“我們鄉下沒有臘梅。”
第一次見到臘梅還是在高中，趙向晚記得學校教學樓前面種了很多，第一次聞到臘梅香的時候驚為天人。
章亞岚的注意力被分散，嘀嘀咕咕開始和趙向晚說起自己讀書時逛公園、賞花的故事，不知不覺間兩人已經來到11棟二單元樓前。
章亞岚剛剛還興奮歡快的情緒忽然就低落下來。
“那個，我家住一樓，這個點我媽應該在做晚飯。我回來之前給家裏打過電話，我媽知道我會帶同學來。”
趙向晚看章亞岚一靠近家門就渾身上下不自在的模樣，知道她內心想要逃離這個讓她窒息的家庭，微笑安慰：“好，那我嘗嘗你媽做的飯菜。”
兩個姑娘進了屋，趙向晚穿着章亞岚遞過來的棉拖鞋，觀察着屋裏的陳設。
老房子地板鋪了淺藍色花瓷磚，門框、窗框刷着天藍色油漆，窗簾綠色黃花，花玻璃映着夕陽，有一種別樣的美。裝修有些陳舊，但收拾得很幹淨，客廳的木制沙發墊着拼花的棉墊子，牆角方桌上紅色的電話機上蓋了塊鈎花白紗。
聽到門口的動靜，一個身穿碎花薄棉襖的中年女子從廚房裏慢慢走出來。她腰間系條圍裙，右手拿着鍋鏟，笑容溫柔：“回來了。”
看到趙向晚，她的笑容更加熱情：“是趙向晚吧？經常聽亞岚提起你，歡迎歡迎。”
【高中三年，沒見亞岚帶過一個同學回家，沒想到上大學才半年就能結交到朋友，這是好事。這姑娘看着樸實沉穩，挺好的。】
聽到同學母親發自內心的歡迎，趙向晚禮貌地打招呼：“阿姨好，打擾了。”
章亞岚原本有些擔心，一來怕母親慢待了同學，二來也怕趙向晚不喜歡母親。現在看兩人相處和諧，這才松了一口氣：“媽，飯做好了沒？我們都餓了。”
袁冬梅身形瘦削，臉頰沒什麽肉，眉心之間有一道深深的紋路，額角、嘴角帶着瘀紫傷痕，聽到女兒喊餓，她忙說：“我正在炒菜，還要等一下。”
章亞岚站在玄關掃了一眼，奇怪地指着鞋櫃處原本挂穿衣鏡的地方問：“媽，鏡子呢？”
袁冬梅小心翼翼地看了女兒一眼，猶豫着開口：“我，我不小心打碎了，還沒來得及換新的。”
【她爸昨天喝醉酒又動了手，收拾了一天才把屋子收拾好。亞岚說要帶同學回來，我忙着買菜做飯還沒來得換鏡子，只希望……亞岚不要怪我。】
破碎的鏡子，擦傷的額角、嘴角，不太自然的行走姿勢——這一切綜合在一起，結合章亞岚曾經說父親一喝醉酒就動手，趙向晚确定袁冬梅昨晚遭受了家暴。難怪昨晚章亞岚與母親打電話的時候掉眼淚，既是心疼也有痛恨吧？
章亞岚有點輕微近視，不過她平時不喜歡戴眼鏡，因此進得門來沒發現母親臉上的傷，等她換了拖鞋走進屋，與母親面對面看到，愣了半秒。
“媽，你……”
袁冬梅低下頭，擡起手肘遮住受傷的那一側臉頰，勉強笑了笑：“我沒事，這不進門摔了一跤，鏡子碎了、臉也擦傷了，我沒事、沒事。”
【她爸昨天下手不狠，只推了我一把、打了我兩巴掌，也不知道是發了善心，還是終于知道還是家裏老婆好。他外面有女人怕什麽，只要他不嫌棄我生的是女孩，願意時不時回家來，我就滿足了。】
雖然聽章亞岚說起過母親的愚忠，但親耳聽到袁冬梅心裏所想，趙向晚依然內心沉重。
丈夫家暴，卻還因為某一回打得輕了心存感激？
丈夫出軌，卻還在反省自己沒生兒子罪孽深重，只求他時不時回家就心滿意足。
章亞岚顯然不相信母親說的話，走到母親身邊細細查看她嘴角的傷，恨得牙癢癢：“我爸打的吧？媽，你別執迷不悟了，趕緊和他分開吧！我還有三年半就能畢業，等我畢業分配工作就能領工資，我養你。”
袁冬梅不自然地躲開女兒的碰觸：“說什麽傻話，你同學還在這裏呢。”
章亞岚不由分說地雙手按住母親肩膀：“媽，我說的都是真心話，你這樣太可憐了。趙向晚是我好朋友，什麽事我都不瞞她。”
章亞岚動作幅度有些大，膝蓋正碰到袁冬梅右腿，一聲悶哼之後，袁冬梅一張臉痛得變了形。
眼看得袁冬梅臉色一下子變得煞白，趙向晚感覺不對勁，忙上前托了托她後腰，待她穩住身形這才收回手，對章亞岚道：“阿姨腳受傷了，趕緊扶她坐下。”
由不得袁冬梅反對，章亞岚将她摁進沙發上坐着，撸起褲腳，發現膝蓋敷了一大塊紗布，紗布上正滲出絲絲鮮血來。
章亞岚蹲在母親身前，眉毛擰成一條線：“媽，你受了這麽重的傷昨天晚上怎麽不跟我說？”
袁冬梅擡手摸了摸女兒的頭，柔聲道：“我沒事，就是鏡子碎了劃破了一點皮，我自己處理下不影響做事。我閑人一個，在家裏也沒什麽事，不買菜做飯還能幹些什麽？”
趙向晚從袁冬梅手中接過鍋鏟：“阿姨，晚飯我來做吧，您休息一下。”
袁冬梅慌忙擺手：“不要
不要，你是客人，又是第一次來家裏，哪裏有讓客人動手的道理。”
【只是劃傷了道口子，算得了什麽。前年斷了兩根肋骨、去年脾髒破裂，住了半個月的院不都治好了嗎？】
聽到這話，趙向晚的心髒縮了縮：“沒事，交給我。”
趙向晚六歲就踩在板凳站竈臺煮飯，只不過炒幾個菜，這點事情難不倒她。
等到六點，天色漸晚，趙向晚快手快腳将袁冬梅準備好的三菜一湯都做好，端到飯廳餐桌上擺好。
小炒黃牛肉、苕粉肉絲、蒜葉炒蛋、排骨蘿蔔湯。
袁冬梅先前只炖好了一鍋湯，其餘菜切好準備妥當，只等女兒回來開炒。沒想到趙向晚這個客人動作這麽麻利，只十幾分鐘就端出菜來，不由得贊了一句：“你這孩子真能幹。”
說完這句話，袁冬梅又轉頭在女兒頭頂虛虛地撫了撫，嘆了一口氣：“你呀你呀，什麽都不會做，将來可怎麽辦。”
章亞岚不服氣地偏了偏頭：“我将來要做事業女性，才不和你一樣當家庭主婦。”
袁冬梅眼神黯淡了許多，顯然也知道女兒看不上自己這個母親。
【像我這樣的女人除了做家務，還能做些什麽？亞岚能考上大學，将來當警察領工資，可是我呢？我以前就是個賣毛衣的營業員，下崗之後在家幹家務，除了收拾屋子、買菜做飯我什麽也不會。
她爸爸經常嫌棄我，說我連個兒子都不會生，沒替老章家留個後，是個罪人。我這樣的罪人，不老老實實地在家裏做家務，還能做什麽呢？
亞岚總說她養我，真是孩子話。她将來要談戀愛、結婚，嫁出去的女兒潑出去的水，帶着我這麽個沒用的媽像什麽話，還不如守着這個家一個人過。只要她爸爸隔三岔五地回來一趟，每個月給點錢，我就滿足了。】
聽到袁冬梅的心中所想，趙向晚大約明白了她之所以活得如此卑微的原因。
第一，價值感缺失。
或許是因為下崗之後當家庭主婦沒有再與社會接觸的緣故，回歸家庭的袁冬梅的社會性減弱，很難從外界獲得價值感，她對自身地位、意義的反饋信息均來自丈夫、女兒的評價。
女兒章亞岚高中階段住讀，只有周末、假期在家，再加上她性格大大咧咧，絲毫沒有覺察到母親的內心需求，無法給予袁冬梅所需要的贊美與肯定。
丈夫章石虎習慣了袁冬梅的付出，絲毫沒覺得她把家裏收拾得幹淨整潔、回到家有熱氣騰騰飯菜是件多麽了不起的事，言語間缺乏尊重。他賺錢之後心性變了，喜新厭舊，挑三揀四，極盡打壓之能事。
這樣一來，袁冬梅慢慢接受的信息便是——我是個無用的人，我不配得到旁人的關心、愛護與尊重。
第二，斯德哥爾摩綜合症
趙向晚在圖書館查資料的時候看到過一個案例，1973年瑞典首都斯德哥爾摩發生了一起銀行搶劫案，罪犯劫持四名銀行職員為人質，歷經六天對峙，警方解救人質之後卻發現他們對綁匪産生憐憫的感情，拒絕指控綁匪，對警察持敵對态度。因此，犯罪心理學中将這種在面對死亡威脅的情境下，人質為了求得生存，與綁匪之間形成一種順從、忠誠的感情，命名為“斯德哥爾摩綜合症”[1]。
袁冬梅雖然不是章石虎的人質，也沒有經歷死亡威脅，但長期被家暴、求助無門的情境之下，她為了求生存不得不盡量表現得順從、忠誠，并在生活中逐漸形成依賴心理。
I was beaten so hard that my ribs were broken and my internal organs were bleeding. But this time I was only slapped twice, which was a blessing.
Once you have been humiliated and belittled, giving you some money occasionally is a sign of care.
Although Zhang Yalan wanted to help her mother, she only knew the surface and not the inside, and she set too high expectations on her mother. Therefore, Yuan Dongmei treated her suggestion of "Divorce, I will support you" as a childish remark.
Support? How? With no house to live in and no money to spend, how can a freshly graduated college student support his mother? Life is so long and changes are everywhere. The three words "I will support you" sound light, but it is extremely heavy to do.
Zhao Xiangwan took a sip of the pork ribs and radish soup and praised with a smile, "It's really delicious." The soup stewed by Yuan Dongmei was indeed delicious, with a strong meaty aroma and the sweet taste of radish.
Zhang Yalan's mother would cook all kinds of soup every time she went home. She had long been accustomed to it. When she heard Zhao Xiangwan praising her mother's soup, she drank two sips in confusion, raised her eyebrows, and muttered to herself: Is it delicious? It's just so-so.
Zhao Xiangwan's praise was simple and soothing, and a warm current flowed through Yuan Dongmei's heart.
After all these years, it was the first time I heard someone brag about his cooking skills. Yuan Dongmei smiled brightly and desperately put food into her bowl: "Come on, come on, eat more if you like it."
Zhang Yalan opened her mouth, but Zhao Xiangwan stopped her with a look.
Zhao Xiangwan ate a lot of dishes. Although she didn't talk much, her expression was relaxed, her eyes were slightly narrowed, and she looked comfortable and enjoying herself. She expressed her affirmation of Yuan Dongmei's cooking skills with her actions. Occasionally she made one or two comments, and each one touched on the point that Yuan Dongmei was most looking forward to.
“The beef is very tender.”
Yuan Dongmei explained happily: "Yes, you have to pat the starch in advance and control the heat well, otherwise it will be overcooked."
“The sweet potato vermicelli is really tasty.”
Yuan Dongmei happily imparted cooking tips: "Soak the potato starch in advance, then marinate it with soy sauce and salt so that it can absorb the flavor."
"Zhang Yalan is so lucky to have a mother like you."
…
These words touched Yuan Dongmei's heart. She suddenly put down her chopsticks and covered her face with tears.
Zhang Yalan panicked and clung to her mother's shoulders and asked, "Mom, what's wrong with you?"
Tears flowed from her fingers, and Yuan Dongmei said in a muffled voice: "I have been doing hygiene and cooking for so many years, and your grandma, your dad, and you, no one has ever praised me."