Pay wages at 14:014
When Ning Jin knocked on the door of the old house, the rest of the Ning family had already turned off the lights and gone to sleep.
Ning Lao Er came out shuffling along in his shoes and asked, "Who is it?"
"It's me, open the door."
"Xiao Wu? You're back? Why are you here at this hour? What happened at home?" Ning Lao Er opened the door and saw his younger brother still holding Ping An. He thought something had happened at home again and called out, "Mom, get up quickly, Xiao Wu is here with the baby."
Soon, all the adults in the family appeared in the main room. Zhao Guixiang, with her hair down, asked, "Xiao Wu, why are you so late? And why are you holding Ping An? Did Su Yu hit my grandson?"
Seeing his mother's angry face, as if she would go and beat someone up and cause trouble if he nodded, Ning Jin thought for a moment and, under everyone's gaze, asked his second sister-in-law, "When I came back last night, Ping An said he was beaten and his mouth was bleeding. He also said that his second mother scolded him for having a mother but no mother to raise him. He said it vaguely, and I was afraid there would be a misunderstanding, so I came to ask."
In an instant, everyone's eyes, except for Zhao Guixiang's, turned to Qian Xiaofang. Qian Xiaofang panicked, subconsciously glancing at her mother-in-law, rubbing her hands together, forcing a dry smile, lowering her eyelids, and stammering, "I was just angry and said something to him, I didn't mean anything else. It's just that Ping'an is a bit unreasonable. I told him there were no eggs, but he insisted on looking for them himself. He lifted the lid of the pot and let the gas out, so the cornbread we ate for lunch was rock hard. Your brother carried a vat of water this morning, but Ping'an didn't even use it much before he dirtied it. At noon, everyone else was sleeping, but he went out to fetch water under the blazing sun. Xiao Wu, I didn't mean to scold Ping'an. I was just thinking that Su Yu didn't teach Ping'an properly and let him go astray. Ask your second brother, our Gou Dan is only four years old and he doesn't rummage through cabinets for an egg."
The more she spoke, the calmer she became. She glanced at her mother-in-law and continued, "After you left, Ping'an ate lunch here every day. Your second wife never came to see the child. The mother and child were always well-fed and cared for. Ping'an was incredibly attached to an egg, while the two of them were making dumplings together inside."
"Your second sister-in-law is only doing this for Ping An's sake. Which of you siblings didn't get beaten and scolded when you were little? She's afraid Ping An will be spoiled, that's why she beats and scolds him. Your second sister-in-law has never hit other people's children, has she? If Ping An weren't her nephew, she wouldn't care about him." Zhao Guixiang also spoke up for her second son's wife, and then scolded Ning Jin, "Did someone complain to you? You came all this way in the middle of the night for something like this? What, you want to fight back for your son? You soft-hearted fool."
If he hadn't asked Ping An about the past few days on the way here, he would have believed his mother and sister-in-law's words. He asked his mother, "Why did you tell Ping An that you cooked eggs for him alone when there were no eggs at home? And why did you say in front of outsiders that Ping An was pitiful because he didn't have a mother, and that his brothers were sensible and gave him the eggs? Mom, whether before or after I married Su Yu, when have I ever come home without bringing things? You didn't lose out if my son ate some food at your dinner table, and you don't need his sensible brothers to give him the eggs, do you?"
"And besides, you're all constantly smearing Su Yu's reputation. Did she have an abortion or starve her? My second sister-in-law said Su Yu didn't come looking for the child and was secretly eating good food in the house. I even asked Ping An, and his mother saved the food he didn't get for lunch for him to eat at night." He stared at his mother and asked, "You're so dissatisfied with Su Yu, you practically want to label her a wicked stepmother. Are you trying to drive her to her death or do you want me to get a divorce?"
"Little Wu!" Old Man Ning glared at his youngest son. "How dare you talk like that? What did your mother say that made you say she was trying to force Su Yu to her death? Anyone who didn't know better would think your mother was your enemy. She raised your son and you still think she made a mistake?"
"Whether she meant it or not, Mom knows perfectly well. It's not easy for me to manage this family, and it's even harder to find a woman who doesn't have any ill intentions towards my son. Mom, our two families don't live together. You're unhappy with Su Yu, but she's not around. Can you let her off the hook and think about me too? Please stop bothering my family, okay?" He pleaded. He was genuinely afraid that Ping An would be corrupted by being surrounded by several women. Of his grandmother, aunt, maternal grandmother, and stepmother, Ping An would have the most dealings with Su Yu in his life. Moreover, since he wasn't home, Ping An's food, clothing, and shelter all depended on her.
Zhao Guixiang was furious. How could she have given birth to such a spineless brat? She shouldn't have let her mother-in-law raise him from a young age; she had raised an enemy. Clutching her chest, she pointed at the door and scolded, "Get out! You only need to listen to that vixen in your bed. Don't come crying to me if your son gets into trouble because of her."
Ning Jin frowned. Here it goes again. His mother always starts cursing whenever she's unhappy. Seeing that he couldn't continue, he turned to his second sister-in-law and said, "Second sister-in-law, I don't care how you treated Ping An before, but don't curse him anymore. You said you wanted to teach Ping An because he was immature, but I haven't seen you kick and curse your own child. He's an adult now, and everyone knows how vicious that phrase is. Besides, Ping An was born and is now raised by a mother. A stepmother is still a mother. Su Yu neither hit him nor starved him. If no one interferes, a stepmother is not much different from a biological mother."
After saying that, he picked up the child and walked out, ignoring his mother's scolding him for being an ingrate. On the way back, he asked Ping An, "How were you doing while I wasn't home?"
Upon hearing this, Ping An skillfully began to describe how his stepmother treated him. "Just like before, Xiao Yuan and I eat the same things. It's just that my mom's cooking is even better than before. She doesn't care when Xiao Yuan and I argue. I like her cooking the most. I don't like the way she used to bring food back from the cafeteria."
Ning Jin nodded, "When I'm not home, you have to listen to your mother. If your mother cooks well, you should go to your grandma's and maternal grandparents' houses less often. If you go to their houses for meals, I have to deliver things to them. At home, it's just you and Xiao Yuan eating. If we deliver the food to your grandma's and maternal grandparents' houses, your brothers, sisters, and other relatives will have to share it with you. We'll be at a disadvantage."
"Then I won't go," Ping An immediately agreed.
Ning Jin breathed a sigh of relief. Ping An's mother died when he was two years old, and he raised him single-handedly. Only a couple of years ago, when he started driving a car, did he send his son to live with his maternal and paternal grandparents. His son had little memory of his biological mother, and if it weren't for other people misleading him, Ping An shouldn't have any aversion to Su Yu.
Before he married Su Yu, he knew she was an honest person. He bought her a job to put her mind at ease and make her treat Ping An better. Every time he drove back, he would ask Ping An about her family in private. Just when he was about to feel at ease, his wife's personality changed drastically, as if she were a different person. Fortunately, apart from being extravagant, she didn't have any ill intentions towards Ping An. Moreover, her current personality was more interesting; she could act coquettishly and glare, no longer dull and sullen.
When a man is faced with a beautiful, energetic, and assertive wife, and he can no longer suppress her, he will unconsciously lower himself to please her, try to get her attention, and listen to her opinions in order to prevent her from escaping.
After returning home, he escorted Ping An back to her room. As soon as he opened the door to his bedroom, he saw someone leaning against the headboard. "You're still awake?" he asked, turning on the light bulb.
"I'm waiting for you to come back. Did you two have a fight?" Su Yu asked with concern.
“It’s not too noisy. My mom probably won’t call Ping’an to eat alone anymore.” He hugged Su Yu and said in a deep voice, “You and my mom, I chose you. You have to raise my son the same way you would your son.”
“You chose me because my stance is for Ping An’s sake.” Su Yu stopped pretending and said calmly, “I have no ill intentions towards Ping An. Since I’m going to continue living with you, I certainly won’t be a wicked stepmother and mistreat the child. If I’m angry, I’ll vent it on you.”
"Yeah, I'm your punching bag."
“But if you want me to raise your son the same way I would my son, you have to treat Xiaoyuan the same way,” Su Yu said, pulling the man’s ear.
"I didn't mistreat Xiaoyuan," he said, feeling wronged.
"After you came back tonight, you didn't let Ping An put her feet on the ground. You didn't even pull my son up. And you expect me to treat you the same way?"
Ning Jin was speechless. "I'll be more careful next time. I'll hug two at once next time I come back," he promised.
Su Yu hummed twice, glanced at him and said, "Then remember this well, I'll be watching."
The man, feeling weak, got out of bed, took out a roll of money from his clothes, handed it to the woman on the bed, and said, "This is my salary for this month. You can take it."
Su Yu didn't take it. "I still have money. I haven't even used up the 150 yuan you gave me last month." This man gave "Su Yu" 15 yuan every month for household expenses and never paid any wages.
Ning Jin handed the money in his hand forward again, saying, "Now that you don't get your food from the cafeteria and you eat well, the money you had before probably won't be enough."
"It's enough. My salary plus what you gave me adds up to over thirty, and there's still some left over." Su Yu moved her hand away from the money.
"Take it." Ning Jin felt the money in his hand was burning hot, so he pried the woman's hand open and stuffed the money into her palm. "You are the lady of the house. From now on, I will give you all my salary and you can manage it."
Su Yu sneered and didn't reply, opening her hand without holding the money that had been stuffed into her hand.
Ning Jin understood what she meant, but he was too ashamed to explain, so he stuffed the money under her pillow, pulled her into his arms, and said gently, "I've given you all my wealth. Let's live a good life together from now on."
Su Yu hesitated again and again, thinking that since she couldn't get a divorce and had to take care of the child, she might as well take this opportunity to control all the money herself. She scoffed, "You think your only net worth is this month's salary? Who are you trying to fool?"
“I’ve carved a gap under the bed that can be sealed shut. The savings book is in there. I’ll get it for you tomorrow morning.” After saying that, he felt much more relaxed and hugged the person, saying, “Go to sleep first. I have to get up early tomorrow.”
Thank goodness she held back; the bed almost burned down.
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