Nan Nan is so good, so considerate of me, but what kind of person did I marry? If it weren't for my master, I would have filed for divorce long ago. It's only because Tang Jianjun selflessly taught me his skills that I felt uneasy and have endured it until now. But what has my endurance brought me?
"What? You want a divorce? Dad, look at the kind of person you found for me! Now that you're going to climb the social ladder, you're dumping me!" Tang Xiaoling never knew that Xinan would have such a temper, let alone that he would bring up divorce.
“I think divorce is a good thing. With a wife like you dragging us down, there’s no hope for this family. Your older brother wrote to us; he got a promotion and was allocated a welfare apartment. He wants us to go live with him in our old age,” Tang Jianjun said coldly.
It was a bolt from the blue! It was truly a bolt from the blue! Tang Xiaoling had long forgotten about her older brother, always assuming that her parents would live with her in their old age, just like Grandma Yan and the others lived with Yan Xiaonan.
She never imagined that her parents would be led by the nose by a letter from her older brother. What about all her years of sacrifice? Tang Xiaoling turned her gaze to her mother, hoping that she could stand up for justice.
Mother Tang sighed and said, "Xiaoling, you've already married Xinan. You should put Xinan first in everything. How can you turn the tables? Xinan is already good enough. You should cherish what you have."
Tang Xiaoling felt like fainting. Why was no one supporting her? Suddenly, she saw Wu Jinban and excitedly grabbed his hand, saying urgently, "Wu Jinban, tell your father not to go to the capital."
Wu Jinban broke free from Tang Xiaoling's hand in a panic and ran to Xinan's side, saying, "I want to go with my father. Wherever he goes, I will go too."
Tang Xiaoling's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, clutching her head, unable to understand. Was it wrong for her to dedicate herself wholeheartedly to this family? Why didn't they understand her?
Tang's mother couldn't bear it any longer, so she pulled Tang Xiaoling into the kitchen. She decided to have a serious talk with Tang Xiaoling, telling her that she couldn't get herself stuck in a dead end, as it wouldn't benefit anyone.
Three days later, Southwest received a remittance notification from Yan Xiaonan. When Southwest went to the post office to collect the money, he was filled with mixed emotions. Fortunately, his master and mistress were sensible people, otherwise it really would have ended in divorce.
Yan Xiaonan wired 100 yuan to Southwest, hoping that Southwest would have a little more money.
Southwest carefully hid the money on his body. He wouldn't spend it himself because it was a gift from Nannan to him. On the way, he went to the train station and bought a train ticket. Wu Jinban was under eight years old and could ride for free.
Having bought the train ticket, Southwest felt at ease. He first went to the post office to send a telegram to Nan Nan, writing down the train number and time, and specifically noting that he was bringing Wu Jinban alone to Beijing this time.
Then he rode his bicycle towards Mushroom Mountain to say goodbye to Zhongnan and Zhongzi. Nanfeng had already caught a whiff of the southwest's scent, and after chatting away with Zhongnan for a while, they ran down the mountain.
Southwest saw South Wind and patted his wolf head: "South Wind, how is your father? Is he alright?"
Nanfeng didn't answer, but ran ahead to lead the way. Wild boars were out foraging at this time of year, so they had to protect him.
Zhongnan and Tiger King were waiting for Southwest by the hot spring. Southwest looked at the two who had obviously aged and felt a strange pang of sadness: "Nannan said that it would be great if we could bring you to the capital, but unfortunately we can't."
The two sat down, one yawning and the other squinting, clearly disgusted that what Southwest was saying was nonsense.
"I'm going to the capital the day after tomorrow. Do you have any messages for Nan Nan?" Southwest asked.
Tiger King didn't even look up. Zhongnan snorted, "You don't understand anyway, so what are you bringing?"
Southwest was a little embarrassed: "Then I'll tell Nannan that you're doing very well now and that you miss Nannan very much, okay?"
Tiger King's eyes lit up, and Zhongnan roared: Agreed.
Southwest was relieved; the flattery had been done perfectly. He stood up to leave, when South Wind placed a roe deer at Southwest's feet. Southwest was touched and picked up the roe deer, saying, "Thank you for the roe deer."
Nanfeng let out a long howl, its voice clearly expressing disagreement. Xinan realized, "This is for Nannan, isn't it?"
The south wind howled: Agreed.
Southwest was miserable. He had gone into the mountains so many times, but he hadn't even been able to get a single pheasant. He picked up the roe deer and prepared to go down the mountain when Zhongzi followed him with a pheasant in his beak. Zhongzi nuzzled Southwest's leg with his head. Southwest took the pheasant and asked, "Is this for me?"
Zhongzi nodded and turned to leave. Southwest's wounded heart finally warmed up. Zhongzi was so good to her. She walked down the mountain step by step, with Nanfeng following behind. Only when Southwest had left Mushroom Mountain did she turn back.
Southwest gave the roe deer to Mother Tang, asking her to make it into jerky so that he could take it to the capital for Nannan. It was a token of Zhongnan and Nanfeng's affection.
In the past two days, under the guidance of her mother, Tang Xiaoling gradually realized her mistake. She took out two hundred yuan and handed it to Southwest: "This is the family division fee that Mother gave us. I have been hiding it and haven't touched it. I have three hundred here now. You can use two hundred yuan when you go to the capital."
Southwest accepted the money. In fact, Southwest trusted Tang Xiaoling quite a bit in managing the money. Tang Xiaoling was too stingy; she would never spend a penny on something that cost less than a penny, and she never took anything from her husband's family to her own. Apart from the normal filial piety money, no one could get anything from Tang Xiaoling.
Other people's wives, if they have a little money in their pockets, will think about buying some good food and pretty clothes to dress themselves up, but Tang Xiaoling would never do that. The clothes she is wearing now were made when she got married, and some were gifts from Nan Nan.
Even the face cream she used was a gift from Nan Nan and Chen Er. After she finished using the face cream, she couldn't bear to throw away the bottle, so she filled it with clam oil and pretended that she was still using the face cream. Xin Nan couldn't stand it anymore, so he bought her face cream, but she scolded him for being wasteful.
The five-and-a-half-pound baby was wearing clothes that were too small for the six-pound baby. Now, Duoduo is wearing clothes that are too small for the five-and-a-half-pound baby, and they are all a bit tattered. Southwest asked her to make some new clothes for Duoduo, but Tang Xiaoling thought it was a waste. Children grow quickly, and new clothes won't last long before they're too small, so why make them?
Southwest couldn't be too harsh on Tang Xiaoling. Frugality is a virtue, and Tang Xiaoling was frugal with herself. There were only hot meals at home when Southwest came home. Usually, she and the children would just make a few flatbreads or cornbreads with chili sauce and pickled vegetables.
"Xiaoling, I'm taking Wujinban to Beijing tomorrow. You and Duoduo should eat well at home. If anything happens, talk to your parents first. Don't make decisions on your own. Also, be good to Duoduo. After all, he's your biological son."
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