After a busy day, Fang Meili took her clothes from her room to take a shower. As she passed her parents-in-law's room, she heard her mother-in-law's hushed voice coming from the inner room, mixed with Yuan Xinkang's mumbled response.
She stopped in her tracks.
“...It’s not that I’m saying anything bad about Meili,” the mother-in-law said with a hint of embarrassment, but her words were clear. “We all knew about her family’s situation when the matchmaker came to talk to her, but it’s not easy to make money by opening a shop. And she’s been too, too generous to her family.”
Yuan Xinkang hummed in agreement, his voice muffled: "She also cares about her family... This is something she agreed to when we were discussing it. Even though she's married out of the family, she still wants to take care of her family's affairs."
“It’s heartbreaking to see you like this,” the mother-in-law’s voice rose a fraction of a second before quickly lowering it again, “You, as a man, should also try to persuade them. It’s not easy for us to save up this money; we can’t just give it all to them.”
“Mother, don’t think like that. Every time Mei Li’s father comes, he never comes empty-handed. He always brings us things.”
"Yes, that's right. Her parents are nice people, but the things in the shop are all purchased from suppliers; they're not made by them."
Fang Meili knew that her mother-in-law was not a mean person and usually treated her kindly, but she understood the meaning behind her words very clearly.
When Fang Meili returned from her shower, Yuan Xinkang was already in the room.
“Xin Kang,” Fang Meili began to speak.
"Hmm, go ahead," Yuan Xinkang seemed to have something to say as well.
"Go take a shower first," Fang Meili said, finding his clothes.
"Okay." Yuan Xinkang took the clothes and went out.
When Yuan Xinkang returned from his shower, Fang Meili was sitting at the small round table in the room.
"Xin Kang, sit down and let's talk for a while."
Yuan Xinkang was in the chair opposite him.
“My parents aren’t the type to take advantage of us. They’ve only been to the shop a few times, and they never accept anything from us. Sometimes, when people from the village come to buy things, I ask them to take some home. I know that if I bring things home to my parents’ home more often, my parents never come empty-handed.”
"Yes, I know, I saw it all, I'll remember it."
“My sister is like this, and Dongqiang is also pitiful. Did you see him when he came today? He wanted to come here to play, but my mother was afraid that he would want too many things, so she told him in advance that he could only have one thing. Dongqiang is obedient, and even if he likes something, he doesn’t beg for it. I understand that your mother is reluctant to spend money.”
Yuan Xinkang wanted to say something, but she stopped him.
"Don't think I only care about my family," Fang Meili said in a lighter tone, with a hint of barely perceptible pride.
“Look at the business in the store now, it’s much better than when we first opened, right? I think about how to make the business even better every day. Every time I go to buy goods, I don’t mind looking around everywhere. I buy the trendy things and sell them. They say the people at the supply and marketing cooperative have a bad attitude, so I treat every customer even more enthusiastically. Before, I didn’t interact much with the villagers, but now I call everyone, whether I know them or not, ‘brother, sister, sister-in-law,’ or ‘aunt.’”
With a slight smile, Yuan Xinkang squinted and looked intently at Fang Meili. "Hmm, the neighbors all say that Xinkang's wife is cut out for business."
Fang Meili lowered her head and bit her lip.
"I just want to say that I'm not someone who does nothing. I will work hard to earn money, to earn more money, and I also need to take care of my family."
Yuan Xinkang came over and squatted down next to Fang Meili. "Yes, my wife is capable. The business is even better with you here."
"Do you feel bad if I give things to my family?"
"Why should I, a grown man, be worried about it? This money is what you worked hard to earn."
"And what about your mother?"
"Her? My mom isn't a bad person. She says you're good too. It's just that her generation is used to being frugal, and their thinking is different from ours. Don't give things to the family in front of her in the future."
"Should I still secretly give things to my parents' family? No, I want to do it openly and honestly."
"Okay, be open and generous, but don't give it to her secretly, and don't be too generous in front of her."
"Oh dear. Doing business is already stressful enough, and you still have to think about all this." Fang Meili frowned.
"I'm tired too, let's go to sleep."
"I'm tired, I don't want to move." Fang Meili stretched.
Yuan Xinkang stood up, bent down and picked her up in his arms, walking quietly to the bedside. "Let's go to sleep. We have to get up early to open the shop tomorrow."
The moonlight shone through the window frame and onto the bed, as if trying to peek at something.
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