Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
âCome on in.â
Seeing the cultured and refined Li Chuhan, Mother Wang smiled and welcomed her into the home.
Regardless of the relationship between the two of them, since they were here, she naturally had to receive them.
âKid, why didnât you tell me in advance that you were coming back? I didnât prepare anything,â Wang Cuiping whispered.
âMom, stop pretending. Ji Qingyan must have told you over the phone. Donât think I donât know.â
âDonât talk nonsense. Qingyan didnât tell me.â
âThen your acting is too poor. Youâre actually not excited at all.â
Wang Cuiping looked at Lin Yi and thought to herself, âYou brought another woman back. You almost scared me to death.â
The family chatted for a while before Wang Cuiping stood up.
âYou guys havenât eaten yet, right? Iâll cook for you.â
âI havenât eaten anything since this morning. Please get me something to eat. Iâm starving.â
âWait, Iâll do it now.â
âAuntie, Iâll come help,â Li Chuhan stood up and said.
âThatâs not necessary. Iâll do it myself.â
âItâs okay.â
Just as Li Chuhan was about to help, Zhao Quanfu stopped her.
âNo need, no need. You and Lil Yi can just stay here. How can I let you help with the work? The two of us can handle it.â
As he spoke, Zhao Quanfu pulled Wang Cuiping to the kitchen and said,
âWhatâs wrong with you? This is her first time here. Why did you ask her to come to the kitchen?â
Although Cuiping Wang acted like she had rejected the offer, it was not a firm rejection. To Huaxian people, it did not even count as a rejection.
âShe said she wanted to help,â Wang Cuiping mumbled.
âI think youâre biased.â Zhao Quanfu said.
âWhen Qingyan came, you didnât let her do anything. Now that itâs someone else, you let her into the kitchen. Why is your heart so crooked?â
âQingyan is my daughter-in-law. Canât I make her work?â
âHeâs Lil Yiâs friend. Why are you making her work?â
âItâs not as simple as a simple friendship,â Wang Cuiping said. âMaybe thereâs something going on between them. I canât let Qingyan down.â
âYouâre already so old. Donât worry too much.â Zhao Quanfu lectured.
âLet him handle Lil Yiâs matter himself. Just do your job well. If he brings one back, you entertain one. As a mother, if you donât treat them well, wonât you be slapping Lil Yiâs face?â
âNonsense. My son is rich now and heâs good-looking. Those women outside canât stop themselves from pouncing on him. If he brings them all back, am I supposed to receive them all?â
âThatâs because heâs capable. Other people donât even have two prospects.â Zhao Quanfu said, âAnyway, donât worry about Little Yiâs matters. Just focus on your own things.â
âAlso, let me tell you, donât fuss about the relationship. When they leave, donât forget to give her a red packet.â
âA red packet?â
âItâs her first time here, and she even bought us something. Why shouldnât you give her a red packet? Why is she getting worse treatment?â
Wang Cuiping did not hate Li Chuhan. She even sort of liked this gentle and refined girl.
However, she firmly believed that she was a mistress, so she had to take her stand on this matter.
âIf Qingyan were here, youâd give her everything. Now that Little Li is here, you wonât give her anything? Whatâs going on?â
Wang Cuiping thought about it and felt that he was making sense, so she did not refute.
âI can give her a red packet, but only 500 yuan.â
âWhy is it only 500 yuan? The days are good now. 500 yuan is too little.â
âWhen Qingyan is here, I only gave her 500 yuan in the red packet. If I gave this girl more and Qingyan finds out, how will I be able to face her?â Wang Cuiping said.
âAnyway, this is the rule. There are so many brats in the orphanage. No matter who brings their girlfriend back in the future, they will be given 500 yuan.â
âAlright, alright. You can decide how much you want to pay so long as you remember that you have to pay.â
âHurry up and fry your eggs. I know how to handle this.â
Because she knew that Lin Yi was coming back, Wang Cuiping had already stewed the pork ribs and beef. They could eat after she stir-fried a few vegetables.
Twenty minutes later, six dishes were served. Wang Cuiping asked,
âSon, I heard that you came back this time to do something. Can you stay for a few more days?â
âThatâll be tough. There are still many things to do in Zhonghai. Donât worry, even if I leave, Iâll come back again.â
Now that he was home, Lin Yi stopped pretending and said whatever was on his mind.
âBe careful when youâre busy with work. Donât tire yourself out. Money isnât earned in a day.â
As she spoke, Wang Cuiping even put a few pieces of pork ribs into Li Chuhanâs bowl. âMiss, eat more. Youâre too thin.â
She saw Li Chuhan quietly eating.
Wang Cuiping felt a little apologetic. She felt that what she did just now was indeed not right.
However, the red packet could only contain 500 yuan. No one could receive more than their eldest daughter-in-law.
âThank you, Auntie.â
âMom, howâs the orphanage now? Do you need me to buy anything?â Lin Yi asked.
âDonât worry, we donât lack anything. Didnât you see that theyâve all gained weight?â Wang Cuiping couldnât stop smiling. She danced around and said,
âNow that weâre able to go out to buy things, weâre very satisfied. We often go to the slaughterhouse to buy pork and beef one by one. Weâre all feeling good eating it.â
âYes, donât be stingy. Let me know if you need money.â
âWe donât lack money, but itâs more troublesome at school. They often have parent-teacher meetings, but theyâre all held at the same time. Your father and I donât know who to visit.â
âTalk to the teacher about this. Itâs usually not a big problem.â
âThatâs true. The teachers in the school are quite open-minded. They know our situation and gave us the green light. They donât make things difficult for us.â
âThatâs good.â Lin Yi said, âIf there are any other difficulties, remember to tell me. Iâll help you solve them.â
âDonât worry. You donât have to worry about this place. Everything is going fine.â
They ate happily, and Lin Yi and Li Chuhan played with the children for a while before leaving.
âChild, take this.â
Seeing Wang Cuipingâs red packet, Li Chuhan took two steps back and waved her hand.
âAuntie, I canât take this.â
âWhy not?â Wang Cuiping said with a straight face, âDo you think Auntie gave you too little?â
âThatâs not what I meant. You can save it for the children in the or[hanage. There are still many places to spend money you.â
Having lived for so long, this was the first time Li Chuhan had seen such a scene.
She also knew that this red packet seemed to have a secondary meaning.
âThis has nothing to do with money. This is the rule. I have to give you a red packet during your first visit,â Wang Cuiping said.
âTake it quickly, or Auntie will be unhappy.
âTake it. Itâs not much. Itâs just a token of his motherâs appreciation.â
Li Chuhan shyly tucked her hair to the side and took Wang Cuipingâs red packet with both hands.
âThank you, Auntie.â
âWhat are you thanking me for? In the future, when you have nothing to do, come over with Lil Yi to play.â
âGot it, Auntie.â
âMom, I have something to do. Iâll leave first. Iâll visit you again when I have time.â
âAlright, letâs get back to work.â
As everyone watched Lin Yi and Li Chuhan drive away, Wang Cuiping sighed.
âOld Zhao, why did I feel so uncomfortable when I gave her the red packet?â
âWhy are you feeling unwell? Did you have a heart attack? Iâll bring you to get a checkup.â
âItâs not that my heart is uncomfortable. I just feel sorry for Qingyan. Iâm too two-faced,â Wang Cuiping said.
âIn the afternoon, he was still chatting with Qingyan. Then, he gave another girl a red packet. Is this something a good person should do?â
âItâs fine. Youâll get used to it after he brings back a few more in the future.â