Ning Tang thought for a while and said, "It's the same old saying. You have to stand up for yourself first. Past experience shows 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 make money yourself. With money in hand, you won't be worried. When you can make money on your own and have savings, if your family needs something in the future, you can use your own salary to buy it instead of asking Captain Qi for money. 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 said. I don't believe that Captain Qi would use the money earned by his wife to support his family. 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, even if you cry yourself into poverty, the household expenses cannot be covered by your salary alone. Captain Qi must pay at least half, otherwise everyone will have to live separately." Ning Tang said.

Zeng Xinlan asked doubtfully, "Crying poor?"

Ning Tang: "Yes, that is, explain your difficulties and sufferings to Captain Qi bit by bit, let him know how difficult it is for you and your son to live, such as the broken bowl, and the fact that he can eat in the army cafeteria, but you can only eat free seafood picked up from the sea. Even if he doesn't want to listen, you tell him every year and every month. If he still has a conscience and is a man, he will be moved."

Zeng Xinlan said embarrassedly, "There is another problem, Xiao Ning, I can not give him my salary, and use it to buy things for the house, but he will give things away. What should I do? Am I filling the hole in their family?"

Mrs. Luo said, "Xinlan is right. Then it will become a matter of two people making money to fill the hole. This..."

"So you have to guard your money and your property well. You can throw them away when necessary. Take the bowl as an example. If you use your salary to buy a new bowl, and Captain Qi likes it and wants to give it to the people in your hometown, you must protect the bowl to the death, saying that you bought the bowl with your money and it is for Da Hu. If he takes it away, you will fight him to the death."

"Captain Qi is a very proud person. 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 the quarrel, how can we save face?"

If you are not from the same family, you will not enter the same door. 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, how will the people in the hospital look at me? If I don't give the old man money, I will be regarded as an unfilial person and will not be able to escape."

Thinking of those rumors, Zeng Xin and Lan Xin felt very nervous.

Ning Tang: "What can you see? Those with good minds will only think that you are pitiful. If you don't believe me, ask Luo's wife. As for those with bad minds, why bother about what they think?"

Mrs. Luo said, "You live your own life, but other people have their own mouths. 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 you, Xiao Ning, are so young but you are more insightful than me. It took me half a lifetime 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 Da Hu. Think about how much money Da Hu needs to supplement his nutrition, how much money Da Hu needs to study, and how much money Da Hu needs to marry a wife. Then you will be able to 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?"

Mrs. Luo has been on the island for many years, so she has experience in this matter. "The health center and the Women's Committee will both be recruiting workers next year. You can go and try."

Zeng Xinlan said, "Health center? But I don't know how to treat patients."

"Generally, pharmacies recruit people. Doctors prescribe medicine for patients, and you just need to get the medicine according to the prescription. It's a job that anyone who can read can do, and the salary is also good, three to five yuan a month. Although the Women's Committee is busy, the salary is high, seven or eight yuan a month. It depends on which one you want to do." said Mrs. Luo.

They talked about finding a job and were not interested in Ning Tang.

She had been working 996 for several years in her previous life and had long since stopped wanting to suffer the hardships of work. Work, work, even if it was easy, was still work. Working was exhausting. She even suspected that she had traveled through time because the 996 work had damaged her body.

Zeng Xinlan's situation is special, so Ning Tang gave her this suggestion.

Ning Tang let Mrs. Luo and Zeng Xinlan chat slowly and went home first.

I've been busy helping Zeng Xinlan with her affairs for almost a whole day. Da Wa and the other two must be waiting anxiously at home.

Ning Tang returned home. Da Wa heard the footsteps and ran over, "Stepmother, you are finally back! If you hadn't come back, we would have gone looking for you."

Ning Tang waved his hands, "I'm starving, is there anything to eat?"

She didn't have any lunch at noon, 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. My eldest brother was like this when he came back. As soon as he came back, he yelled to Dad, saying he was hungry and asked if there was anything to eat at home."

Ning Tang narrowed her 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, "Okay, I won't talk nonsense with you guys anymore. Do you have anything to eat? Oh, by the way, what did you three have for lunch?"

The eldest child said, "We went to find Uncle Zhao, and he prepared some food for us."

Ning Tang ate some dates to fill her stomach, as Shen Lie would be back soon and she would wait for him to make dinner.

After taking two steps, she smelled a strong fragrance and sniffed. "What is that? It smells so good."

The eldest child swallowed his saliva and said, "It's made by the stepmother next door. It's delicious."

Ever since the day the Shen family made fried octopus with soy sauce, grilled oysters with garlic, and deep-fried baby 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 cooked all kinds of delicious food for Su Junyan and the twins.

You know what, it really smells good.

Ning Tang ate a few dates to fill her stomach with the aroma, and Shen Lie also came back.

He entered the house and while taking off his outer shirt, he muttered, "What kind of food is the Su family preparing? Why does it smell so good?" Just now, he passed by the door of the Su family and was almost dizzy by the smell.

Ning Tang smelled it for a while and 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 noodles. It tastes better than theirs." Shen Lie said.

The eldest child was drooling as he listened, nodding his head wildly, "Okay, okay, Dad, are we going to make duck soup silver noodles now?"

Shen Lie scratched his nose and said, "You wish. I didn't buy any duck today."

The next day, at 5:30 pm, Shen Lie returned home.

The eldest child came running over and looked up, "Dad, did you buy the duck?"

Shen Lie was happy. "No, since you want to eat duck so much, I'll give you a duck leg next time I cook duck."

The eldest boy counted on his fingers, "A duck has two wings and two legs." He took a deep breath and said, "Hey, there are five of us in our family. What if there is 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 drink the soup."

The eldest child put his hands on his hips and said angrily, "Stepmother!"

"Hey." Ning Tang picked his ears and said, "Did you hear it? I'm not deaf."

The eldest child looked at Shen Lie and said, "Dad, you don't want to 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 eat duck secretly while you are in school. Anyway, you don't know."

Shen Lie nodded, "Let's cook the duck while the eldest is in school, Erniu, Sanwa, what do you think?"

Erniu looked at Da Wa and wanted to say yes, because if Da Wa didn't share the duck wings, she and San Wa would each have one. The little girl said conscientiously, "Okay, but leave some soup for him."

The eldest child was almost crying with anger, "Second girl, who are you standing with?"

Sanwa raised his hand, "I know, Second Sister stands with the delicious food."

Ning Tang let the three little kids bicker and asked Shen Lie, "What are we having for dinner?"

Shen Lie said, "Let's have steamed eggs with clams and fried clams. The clams in the market are quite fresh today. Let's also make a steamed sea bass. Is that enough for the five of us?"

Shen Lie went to the kitchen to work, and Ning Tang helped him.

Da Wa was sleeping in the house when he suddenly smelled a strong fragrance coming from the Su's house next door. He sniffed and found the fragrance so tempting that he could not help but run to the Su's house following the smell.

In the Su family yard, Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu each held a large chicken drumstick in their hands, and while eating, they exclaimed, "Oh, it's delicious." "This crispy chicken drumstick is so fragrant."

When Da Wa took a closer look, he saw that the chicken legs in their hands had a layer of crispy skin on the outside. When he bit into it, it was crispy and crunchy, and the chicken meat was tender and smooth.

But the eldest boy was so greedy that he sipped his saliva and said, "You guys are cooking chicken again."

Su Yaozu glanced at Da Wa smugly and deliberately took a big bite of chicken in front of him. "Yes, my mother made it. She said we were too skinny and needed to eat more."

Su Guangzong asked Da Wa, "Do you want to eat?"

The eldest boy nodded his head and said, "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, "It's just chicken legs, what's the big deal? No, wait, I'll let my stepmother cook 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 house, rubbed Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu's heads, and praised them, "Well done."

Su Guangzong was puzzled and asked, "Mom, why do you let us eat chicken legs in the yard in front of Da Wa?" They usually eat at home.

Su Yaozu pouted, "Stupid, you don't even understand this. Mom wants the eldest son to be jealous of us, and then 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 food offensive would work. It would be best if the eldest child went back and made a big fuss, causing Ningtang to beat and scold the children, making Shen Lie unhappy, and the whole Shen family in chaos.

Thinking about this, Ning Xue tilted her ear to listen to what was happening in the Shen family.

When the eldest child came back, the meal was already on the table.

Shen Lie glanced at him and said, "It's almost time for dinner, where have you been?"

Did the eldest child turn his head? He rolled his eyes, "Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu asked me to go to their house to play."

"What did you play?" Shen Lie said casually while picking bones from the sea bass.

"Nothing to play with. They showed me the big chicken legs that my cousin fried for them." Da Wa said crisply. He sipped his saliva and said, "It smelled delicious."

These little movements of his could not escape Shen Lie's eyes. Shen Lie sneered, "It smells good. Then you can smell it a few more times and enjoy our meal with the aroma of theirs."

Seeing that Shen Lie didn't respond, the eldest child blinked and said bluntly, "Dad, I want to eat crispy chicken legs, too."

Shen Lie was amused. "You look like a big chicken drumstick to me."

Big Wa puffed up his cheeks, he doesn’t look like a big chicken leg!

Then he turned to Ning Tang and said, "Stepmother, please make me a big chicken drumstick."

Ning Tang didn't respond, but just looked at him with a smile.

Da Wa rolled his eyes, "Su Yaozu said that the big chicken drumsticks were made by their mother, and I said I wanted to eat it, so he told me to go home and ask you to make it for me."

He deliberately made a bitter face and said pitifully, "I envy them so much. Their mothers all know how to make big chicken legs for them to eat, but I don't."

Ning Tang curled her lips, "I envy them too. Big boy, when will you grow up and buy me a big chicken drumstick?"

The eldest child thought quickly and used his usual slapping tricks. He sat on the ground and shouted, "I don't care. I want to eat chicken drumsticks. Stepmother, you cook for me."

Ning Tang still didn't respond. He ate while watching him making noises, and occasionally put 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 noises again, he will 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 used another trick, sighed, and said, "They are 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, and their stepmother always coaxes them and cooks for them in different ways. They also told me that their stepmother ordered a large steamer a few days ago, which is specially used to steam steamed buns. The steamed buns are fragrant and soft, and they are delicious. I heard that they spent a lot of money on the steamer. It's really worth it."

He said loudly, "Oh, if only I had a stepmother who would buy me an expensive big steamer and cook big chicken drumsticks." He winked at Erniu and Sanwa and said, "Don't you think so?"

Ning Tang smiled and said, "I think a rolling pin is cheaper than a big steamer, has more uses, and can also help you with your homework."

Shen Lie almost spit out a mouthful of rice.

Ning Tang glanced at him and asked, "Am I wrong?"

Shen Lie said, "You're right." He glanced at Da Wa, "I think Da Wa has become a little bit sluggish recently, so we need to prepare a rolling pin."

The eldest boy was immediately frightened and quickly covered his butt.

Shen Lie said, "Shen Da Wa, people who don't cook don't have the right to be picky. You said you want your stepmother to make you a big chicken drumstick, so 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 need to buy the chicken, kill it, clean the insides, chop wood, cook it, and keep an eye on the heat. How much effort does it take?" he asked Da Wa. "I'll buy you the 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 drumstick, he hesitated and shook his head.

Shen Lie sneered, "You don't even want to do it yourself, but you let your stepmother do it. Shen Dawa, you are really something."

Ning Tang said, "Whenever you can complete this process, I will ask Captain Shen to make chicken legs for you every day."

Shen Lie was speechless. What did they mean by asking him to help Da Wa? Why didn't Ning Tang do it himself?

But he didn't dare to say it out loud, for fear that Ning Tang would punish him.

Da Wa wanted to grumble a few more words, but Ning Tang looked at him and said, "Captain Shen, stop wasting time talking to him. Come back tomorrow after get off work and buy a rolling pin."

The eldest boy quickly stood up and sat on the stool, shoveling rice into his mouth. While eating, he deliberately said loudly, "Oh, today's rice is so delicious. I don't want to eat chicken legs at all."

Ning Tang sneered, "I'm used to you."

As for Ning Xue, she was standing in the yard in the dark, listening to what was happening in the Shen family.

Suddenly, the crying of Da Wa was heard coming from the Shen family. It was particularly harsh in the quiet alley. Ning Xue was overjoyed and couldn't help stretching her neck, trying to see 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 that was hurt by the collision 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 in the Shen family? So she stammered, "No, nothing. The weather is nice, so I came out for a walk."

"Is the weather good?" Su Junyan looked up at the sky and saw a large dark cloud passing by, accompanied by shocking thunder.

He looked at Ning Xue strangely. Why did he feel that she was becoming more and more strange recently?

At eleven o'clock in the evening, Ning Tang and Shen Lie were lying on the bed.

Shen Lie turned over and the bed creaked.

Ning Tang opened his eyes and said, "Captain Shen, are you still going to sleep?"

Shen Lie muttered, "I can't sleep. Hey, why is Da Wa making a fuss out of nowhere? He wants to eat a crispy chicken drumstick."

Although the eldest child is greedy, he is not so greedy.

"If you still don't understand this, someone must have seduced you." Ning Tang said.

"Who seduced them?" Shen Lie asked, "The Su twins?"

"What did the eldest child say during dinner? 'Su Guangzong and Su Yaozu showed him the chicken drumsticks that Ning Xue fried', 'Let him go home and ask me to make chicken drumsticks for him'. How could twins have such an idea? It must have been Ning Xue's instigation."

Shen Lie frowned and said, "Why did she mess with Da Wa for no reason? What good could it do to make the child cry?"

Ning Tang thought, there are so many benefits, the most obvious one is that you can watch the excitement, but it's hard to explain this to a grown man like Shen Lie.

She turned over and pulled the quilt.

After a while, Shen Lie heard a faint snoring sound.

Shen Lie: You are so careless.

The next day, Saturday, Shen Lie was on vacation, and he got up early to make breakfast.

He carried the vegetable basin to the yard to wash the vegetables. As soon as he turned on the tap, he heard a voice next to him, "Captain Shen."

Shen Lie was stunned. He looked up and saw that the person calling him was none other than Ning Xue. "What's wrong?"

Ning Xue stood outside the low wall and looked around the Shen family's house. Seeing no movement, she smiled and said, "Nothing. I just wanted to ask you, did Da Wa cause any trouble when he went home yesterday?"

"What's going on?" Shen Lie's heart was beating fast.

Ning Xue: "It's like this. Guangzong Yaozu told me that yesterday, Da Wa gave them a big crispy chicken drumstick, but Yaozu didn't want to give it to them, so he told them to go home and ask Ning Tang to make it for them."

She continued, "I know my cousin's cooking skills, but how could she make a crispy chicken drumstick? I guess Da Wa will be shocked."

She pretended to sigh, "It's also my fault as a cousin. 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."

Shen Lie said with a fake smile, "Big Baby wants to eat chicken legs, how can you let your family spend money? A chicken is not cheap. Well, in the final analysis, Big Baby is just too greedy."

Ning Xue curled her lips even more when she heard Shen Lie say this, "Ah, you can't say that. The eldest child is a child, and what child is not greedy?"

Shen 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, since we have three kids in our family."

Before she could reply, Shen Lie said, "Hey, is your big chicken drumstick coated with flour paste and then fried? I'll make it in two days. By the way, I have to make another pot of duck soup. There are still some red dates left that Ningtang brought. They'll 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 seat next to the bed was empty. She went downstairs and saw Shen Lie busy in the kitchen.

She gave Shen Lie thirty-two thumbs up for his diligence with satisfaction.

After washing up in the yard, Ning Tang went into the house and called Da Wa, "Dada, 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, "The white radishes that you three helped to pick last time. Sister Luo has pickled them. I ran into her yesterday and she asked me to go to her house to get them today."

The eldest child took a 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, "The stepmother is calling you, go."

Erniu pouted and moved Sanwa, "Sanwa, you go."

Sanwa crossed his hands and puffed up his face, "Both of you? If you don't go, I won't go either."

Ning Tang was happy, "You two are really lazy, okay, I'm in a good mood today, I won't catch you guys, I'll go by myself."

When they arrived at Sister Luo's house, Ning Tang said, "Sister Luo, I'm here to get the sweet and sour radishes."

Mrs. Luo was busy in the yard, instructing her daughter Zhao Qing, "Qingqing, go get two cans of sweet and sour radishes for Xiao Ning. They are in the kitchen."

Zhao Qing had almond eyes and an apple-shaped face. She looked very well behaved, but this well-behaved face showed an inappropriate expression, "I'm not going."

Mrs. Luo put down the hoe and said, "Hey, 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 upstairs in three or two steps, and threw a sentence, "Why do you want to be someone's stepmother, you are a good girl? Don't you have any shame?"

Mrs. Luo's eyes widened. "You stupid girl!" She apologized to Ning Tang, "I'm sorry, little Ning..."

"It's okay." Ning Tang waved his hands, "I won't bother with her."

Zhao Qing was only 17 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" words, and Ning Tang could understand.

People like this are at least more straightforward and frank than those who smile on the surface but stab you in the back.