When Wei Deng started school, Song Xia's shop was almost finished with renovations. She first went to the hospital for a medical check-up and obtained a health certificate, and then applied for a business license online. She quickly finished all the procedures and hired two honest and capable employees.
Even Wei Zhu admired her mother's efficiency. She was thinking of helping her with these things, but before she could even ask, her mother had already done them herself.
"Mom, how did you know that these documents could be processed online?"
"Why not just check online? The government is much more efficient now than before, and the efficiency is even higher in big cities."
“That’s really good.” Wei Zhu nodded. “But Mom, you’re still amazing.”
“Of course.” Song Xia proudly raised her head. “Your mom is an entrepreneur now. Mom has to keep up with the times. Xiaozhu, there’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you.”
"What?"
"Mom wants to say sorry to you."
Wei Zhu was stunned. Had she misheard?
Song Xia sighed and said, "After coming to the big city, I realized that it is wrong to favor boys over girls. The girls who buy breakfast from my stall are all very capable and have a very hard life. You are one of them."
Wei Zhu felt a lump in her throat and couldn't speak.
Song Xia continued, "We are all born into this world the same way, so why should girls have to help their brothers in the family for free? It's obvious that boys have an easier time in this world. As for carrying on the family line, your father is dead, and he didn't care much about these things when he was alive. Yet your mother is still stubbornly clinging to her own opinion."
"mom……"
"Besides, look, since Mom came here, your brother hasn't contacted us except for asking for living expenses. If he doesn't change, how can Mom expect him to support us in our old age? No, there's a saying circulating online that you shouldn't have children for retirement, as it's unfair to the children. So, Mom has decided to stop exploiting you. From now on, I'll give you the same amount of pocket money I give your brother each month until he graduates, or you pass the civil service exam. Also, I can't pay back the salary you earned before, but I'll pay you back when business is better and the shop has more cash flow."
"No need." Wei Zhu forced back the urge to cry. "I gave it all voluntarily, Mom. You don't need to pay me back. I don't have anywhere to spend money right now, so you don't need to give me pocket money."
"What girl doesn't need to spend money? Don't you know how to buy more clothes and cosmetics? Look at Yue Ting, she dresses up so beautifully every day, and she even went on a trip by herself during the Chinese New Year. Doesn't all of that cost money?"
"But I..."
“There’s no ‘buts’.” Song Xia’s attitude was firm, then she looked at her suspiciously, “Mom was too influenced by your grandparents before, and only changed her mind after finally coming to the big city. Don’t let Mom influence you to be sexist, right? That won’t do, it’s not fair to your future children.”
Wei Zhu said softly, "No, Mom. If I have a child in the future, I will love him well. But whether it was before or now, all my contributions to the family are voluntary. Besides, the little salary I earn is not even enough for you and Dad to support me and pay my tuition!"
“How can you think like that?” Song Xia sighed again. “Since you chose to have a child, raising the child and providing for their education are the most basic things. Besides, you’ve been working since you were a child. How do you count those things? Speaking of which, I almost prevented you from going to university back then. Luckily, your father insisted on it.”
“I am already very grateful,” Wei Zhu said sincerely. “Compared to many girls who drop out of school, I am already very fortunate.”
Song Xia was still repenting: "Mom often said that when you get married, you must receive a large dowry for your brother's marriage. Isn't that selling your daughter? Mom never thought that you would live in the man's family if you asked for so much dowry."
"A bride price is still necessary; it's a way of showing the other party's attitude."
"That's true, but we can't go too far. It depends on the other party's conditions. When you get married, whatever dowry the other party gives, Mom will give double of it."
"Mom, you don't need to pay. Once I've successfully made it to safety, I'll work hard to save money myself."
“This is from Mom’s heart.” Song Xia didn’t allow her to refuse. “Consider it Mom’s compensation for what you did before.”
"There's really no need for any compensation." Wei Zhu couldn't help but hug her mother with tears in her eyes. "Mom, just take good care of yourself."
Song Xia patted her on the back, and the mother and daughter parted ways after a long while.
“When your brother comes next time, you have to make it clear to him that just because he is a boy, everything in the house belongs to him and everyone in the house has to serve him.”
Wei Zhu hesitated: "Isn't it a bit too early to say now?"
"It's too early, lest he grow up to be even more crooked and think that someone in the family is protecting him, and then he starts to do whatever he wants outside."
"Mom, did you plan this all along? Is that why you sent my younger brother to work during winter break?"
"Well, you were able to earn your own living expenses back then, so why can't he? Once he gets used to working, he won't be so resistant to going to work after graduation, so he won't end up like those spendthrift sons who sponge off their parents at home. If he brings a wife back to sponge off his parents too, then your mother will be finished, won't she?"
"Mom, did you learn all of this online?"
“That’s right, Mom thinks what those people on the internet are saying makes a lot of sense. And that’s not all. When Mom has time, I’ll send you some more life advice that I think is good.”
"Okay, I'll definitely take a closer look then."
That night, Wei Zhu thought she would sleep very soundly, but she couldn't fall asleep at all. So she simply covered herself with the blanket and sent a message to Yue Ting, briefly showing Yue Ting what her mother had told her that day.
“I knew Auntie was different from the average sexist!” Yue Ting’s tone suggested she had known all along. “From Auntie letting you take the civil service exam, to Auntie personally picking you up from the factory, to accepting me as a temporary guest, none of these things are things a sexist would do!”
Wei Zhu had a smile on her face the whole time: "My mom said she learned the principles from the internet."
"I didn't expect Auntie to be so obedient. Wei Zhu, I'm so happy for you."
“I’m also very happy for myself. My mom said she’ll have to keep an eye on my brother from now on and that I shouldn’t interfere with him anymore. I felt a lot more relaxed instantly.”
"That's true. Siblings can take care of each other, but it's definitely not the responsibility of just one person."
"However, if my brother really encounters difficulties in the future, I will not stand idly by."
"Auntie is really clever. She doesn't exploit you or spoil Wei Deng. On the contrary, you're becoming more and more responsible. But judging from your brother's behavior, he probably won't change anytime soon."
"I believe in my mom, she will definitely find a way."
From the moment her mother started supporting the small stall to the moment her mother took over the shop, Wei Zhu had always admired her mother immensely. Especially after what her mother said to her today, she felt that nothing could stump her mother.
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