Chapter 13 Leaving Home
When Cai Yongde heard Song Xinran say that she wanted to take Song Yu away, he laughed to himself.
Leave? Where else could they go?
No one lives in her hometown all year round, so she definitely can't go there. Song Xinran has also quit her job, so she can't stay in the factory dormitory either. Should she go and stay in the open-air dam?
But he is Song Xinran's brother-in-law after all. If people see this, they will say that his family is mistreating people.
As Cai Yongde spoke, he felt that what he said made a lot of sense. When he looked at Song Xinran, she didn't even raise her head and remained silent as if she hadn't heard him at all.
Just as he was about to speak again, he was interrupted by Song Xinran's icy voice: "Brother-in-law, judging from your words, you're quite good at taking care of children."
"With all your educational insights, why don't you open a teaching class? You're still doing manual labor in the pottery factory. Do you just enjoy working?"
Song Xinran rarely said such things. She never liked to directly confront people. The rule of the adult world is to keep things on the surface.
But now she doesn't want to live like this anymore. She even regrets why she stayed at home for an extra day when Cai Yang was sick a couple of days ago. If she had gone to town to find a place to live earlier, Song Yu wouldn't be suffering like this today.
Cai Yongde's face immediately darkened. He knew that Song Xinran was mocking him, but he didn't know how to refute her. He could only stammer out, "You...you dare to say that Taochang is bad?"
“Good, how is it bad?” Song Xinran sneered: “If it were bad, would my brother-in-law work so hard at the factory? He’s so tired when he gets home that he’s lying down and even makes the kids do his own thing, like he’s broken his arms or legs.”
Cai Yongde was so angry that his hands trembled: "You, you really can't tell right from wrong, I've raised your child and you've made a mistake!"
Song Yu trembled at the shout, clutching Song Xinran's clothes tightly as she looked at her with fear and unease.
The child didn't know what to do, and could only sob and apologize, "I'm sorry, Uncle, I'm sorry."
Song Xinran grasped his trembling hand: "Xiao Yu, you don't need to apologize. You did nothing wrong."
She turned her head and said sarcastically, "Some adults do wrong and still talk tough; they can't even be considered three-year-olds."
After saying that, she took Song Yu's hand and went upstairs to pack her things and leave.
Cai Yongde was so angry that he felt dizzy. He had never been scolded like this since he got married, and the insults were sarcastic and made him feel frustrated with nowhere to vent his anger.
Watching Song Xinran's retreating figure, he roared, "Get out! Get out of here right now!"
Just then, a cabbage was thrown forcefully into the house, hitting the ground and scattering its leaves everywhere, followed by an angry roar:
"Cai Yongde, what are you saying? You want to kick my sister out?!" Song Xinwen kicked the door open, and the door slammed against the wall with a loud bang.
Song Xinwen glared angrily at Cai Yongde, his eyes so fierce they looked like he wanted to devour him.
Cai Yang followed Song Xinwen, holding a cabbage in his hands. His chubby face showed a bit of helplessness and fear. He looked at the adults in the main room and pouted.
Song Xinwen turned to look at Song Xinran: "Xinran, don't go. This isn't just Cai Yongde's place. I also helped with the house renovation!"
Song Xinran knew that the matter between Song Xinwen and Cai Yongde was complicated and could not be resolved in a short time: "Sister, I'm going to pack my things first."
Enraged, Song Xinwen grabbed a basin and smashed it at Cai Yongde: "I'm not home, and this is how you treat my own sister?"
Cai Yongde's eyes widened, and he hurriedly dodged, his movement so exaggerated that he almost fell.
"You actually hit me!" Cai Yongde couldn't believe that Song Xinwen, who usually tolerated everything at home, would dare to lay a hand on him. He shouted even louder, "Why don't you ask what your sister said? She laughed at me for doing manual labor and saying I'm not qualified to educate her child. Do you think this is something a sister should say? We're doing a lot of hard work taking care of her child, and we're wrong for that? Everyone says being a stepmother is hard. I'm just trying to help someone take care of their child, and I'm not even getting a good reputation!"
Song Xinran didn't want to listen to their argument, so she led Song Yu upstairs.
Song Xinwen was even more furious: "Don't I know Xinran well? How could she say such things! You really don't want Xinran to live in this house? You even made up this nonsense!"
"What nonsense! You only believe your sister, you say everything she says is good, and you even made a mistake in taking care of her child."
...
Upstairs, Song Yu huddled anxiously next to Song Xinran, trembling slightly like a drowning cat.
Song Xinran took his hand and said in a soft voice, "Xiao Yu, pack your things and we'll take them to the new house together."
Song Yu asked softly, "Do we have a new home yet?"
Song Xinran looked into his eyes and said seriously, "Yes, Mom has found a house. From now on, Xiao Yu will live with Mom and won't go back to Aunt's house."
Song Yu widened her eyes slightly: "Will we be together from now on?"
Song Xinran nodded solemnly: "Yes, Mom wouldn't lie to Xiaoyu."
Song Yu stared blankly at her, and after a few seconds it seemed she finally reacted. She timidly extended her little finger, looking at Song Xinran with a mix of unease and anticipation.
Song Xinran paused for a second, then quickly understood and extended her little finger: "Pinky promise, forever."
Song Yu's tightly pursed lips finally relaxed a little, and he nodded vigorously: "Mm!"
Children's world is always so simple; they think that once they make a pinky promise, it's a promise for life and will never change.
He ran to the bedside, picked up his pillow, reached inside with his little hand, rummaged around for a bit, scooped out the pottery, clenched it into a fist, and placed it in front of Song Xinran: "For Mommy."
He opened his palm, and in his small hand lay scattered banknotes—five-cent, two-cent, and one-cent coins.
Song Xinran counted them and found there were actually two pieces.
Somewhat surprised: "Xiao Yu even has savings."
Song Yu puffed out her little chest: "I earned it by selling bottles."
Song Xinran recalled the plot of the book, in which the male supporting character was sensible as a child and would collect bottles to sell for money at a very young age. But she never imagined it was at such a young age. Her heart ached, and she gently hugged the child: "Xiao Yu is really amazing. He can earn money at only three years old."
Song Yu said shyly, "I'm four years old."
In rural areas, children are called "lunar age" (or "traditional age"). Once a child turns three, they are considered four years old, but in reality, they are still just little children.
Song Xinran rubbed his head: "That's still amazing. Xiao Yu is the best and most amazing kid Mom has ever seen."
Song Yu's face turned red. He had never been praised like this by anyone else before. Even Cai Yang was rarely told that he was the best or the most capable.
He seemed to long for the warm embrace, but then said, "Mom, I'm going to pack my things."
She turned and ran to the large box to pick out and pack her clothes.
Song Xinran helped him. Many of the clothes here were worn by Cai Yang; some were patched, and some were faded and worn.
Song Xinran didn't want the Cai family's things, but when she thought about how she brought home four hundred yuan every month, she felt that these were all her due, so she reluctantly picked out some intact clothes that Song Yu could wear and put them away.
Song Yu had few belongings, which could be easily packed into one bag. Song Xinran hadn't emptied most of her things from the factory; she only took what she needed regularly, so packing them up was also quite convenient.
The sounds of arguing coming from downstairs came in bursts. Song Yu whispered, "My aunt and uncle are arguing so fiercely."
In Song Yu's memory, this was the most impressive one.
The argument only temporarily stopped when Cai Yang let out a loud cry.
Song Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
But a moment later, there was a knock on the door, and Song Xinwen walked in. As soon as he saw the packages in the room, he frowned and forcefully took the things from Song Xinran's hands: "Don't go. I already told your brother-in-law. He knows he was wrong."
Song Xinwen's eyes were red and swollen, his hair was slightly messy, and his rubber shoes were covered in mud. He must have rushed back from the dirt after listening to Cai Yang's words and didn't even have time to change.
Song Xinran shook her head: "Sister, I've decided to take Xiaoyu to live in town. We've already found a house."
Song Xinwen frowned: "How can you, a woman, live with a child? Everything in town costs money. You can't go to work while taking Xiaoyu with you. Why don't you leave Xiaoyu at my house? Your brother-in-law is off today and will only be home this afternoon. He's usually not home. I'll be there when he comes back."
Song Xinran understood what Song Xinwen meant and told her not to worry about such a thing happening again, as Song Xinwen would usually protect Song Yu at home.
But she said, "Sister, it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision for me to take Xiaoyu to town. I took care of some things at the factory these past two days and also looked at some houses. I've already rented one, and I was planning to take Xiaoyu with me in the next couple of days anyway."
Song Xinwen's hand froze. She looked at Song Xinran with shock and sadness. In the past, Song Xinran would tell her about even the smallest things. This time, she had arranged even such big things as resigning and renting a house in silence.
Song Xinran's heart stirred slightly.
This was, after all, the original owner's older sister. Their mother died early, and their father worked from dawn till dusk. The two sisters had always supported each other as they grew up. Even though the original owner was here now, she couldn't bring herself to sever the sisterly relationship.
Moreover, Song Yu had told Song Xinran that his aunt treated him very well, secretly giving him cookies and even sewing clothes for him.
She thought for a moment and said, "Sister, I'm telling you this because I don't want you and your husband to argue anymore. You know your husband best, so I won't say more. He's still pretty good to Xiaoyang."
Song Xinwen's eyes reddened, and his voice choked with emotion: "Xinran..."
Song Xinran's eyes also reddened. She turned her head away and wiped her eyes: "Sister, I don't care what brother-in-law is like, but in my heart you will always be my sister. I'm moving to town today, so you can come and visit whenever you want."
Song Xinwen's tears welled up instantly. She recalled the argument she had just had with her husband, whose accusations had pierced her heart. Her younger sister had suffered such a great injustice yet still thought of her wholeheartedly. Song Xinwen felt as if her heart was being torn apart: "Xinran, if you want to go to town, then go. I'll help you pack your things and see you off."
Song Xinwen doesn't know how to say sentimental things. She's the kind of person who does more than she says at home. Now that she feels sorry for Song Xinran and Song Yu, she just wants to do more for them.
With red eyes, Song Xinran asked her, "Will my brother-in-law be even angrier if you leave...?"
Song Xinwen felt both pain and sorrow: "I don't care if he's angry or not, you're my own sister, can't I even give you a ride?"
With tears in her eyes, Song Xinran called out "Sister!" Song Xinwen's distress and anger intensified. She turned around and rushed downstairs to the kitchen, where she grabbed some freshly pressed oil, freshly laid eggs, freshly cooked rice, and packed it all up.
Cai Yongde was also angry and didn't want to talk to her, but when he saw Song Xinwen's actions, he couldn't help but ask, "What are you taking?"
Song Xinwen turned around and cursed, "I planted the rapeseed, I fed the chickens, I grew the rice, what right do you have to tell me what to take!"
Caught off guard by the sudden retort, Cai Yongde was speechless. Normally, Song Xinwen would not say such sharp and sarcastic things.
After packing his things, Song Xinwen hailed a tricycle and helped Song Xinran carry her luggage before they left.
Cai Yongde was stunned. How did Song Xinwen get on the bus too?
He felt a little panicked. In the past, when the two of them quarreled, he was never worried about Song Xinwen going back to her parents' home, because Song Xinwen no longer had a parents' home.
Cai Yongde quickly gave Cai Yang a push.
The little fat boy was really scared tonight. He had never seen his parents argue so fiercely. He shrank to the side and didn't dare to say a word. Now that he saw Song Xinwen leave and Cai Yongde shoved him, he cried out, "Mom!"
Song Xinwen looked back, feeling a pang of sadness.
Song Xinran sat on the tricycle, her eyes lowered slightly: "Sister, you don't need to see me off. Xiao Yang and brother-in-law miss you. Xiao Yu and I will go to town."
Song Xinwen's expression changed: "Never mind that, driver, drive quickly."
As the tricycle started moving, Song Xinran watched Cai Yongde and Cai Yang's figures gradually shrink, without saying a word.
She knew that in this marriage, Cai Yongde would always have the upper hand and be the one who was fearless and emboldened.
Today she will let Cai Yongde know that Song Xinwen doesn't think she has nowhere to go just because she doesn't have a family.
Now, she offers Song Xinwen a place to go.
A note from the author:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
