Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Update Qian Qing returned home late. She had accompanied Li Hongmei to the broadcasting room, where Li Hongmei originally intended to announce Qian Qing's name over the loudspeaker and praise her profusely, but Qian Qing stopped her. Some pedestals, once climbed onto, are hard to step down from. Helping someone casually is a good deed, but building an overly high pedestal for her would only hinder her future business endeavors. The current situation was already more than satisfactory—an unexpected blessing. Her popsicle stall could continue operating. Although the No. 1 Staff School had now established clear regulations for individual vendors, meaning the exclusive business opportunity at the school gate would inevitably attract competitors, Qian Qing considered this a positive development. She couldn't possibly monopolize such a large market alone. With so many children in the school, if she reaped all the benefits herself, how could she continue living in the corridor-style apartment building?

After all, Zhou Hao still relied on meals provided by the factory. Humming a tune, Qian Qing headed home. Upon entering, she immediately noticed her mother's anxious demeanor.

"Qingqing, you're finally back!"

As soon as Qian Qing's mother heard noises downstairs, she had leaned out to check. When someone mentioned that a tricycle had been smashed, she panicked and wanted to go down to see what was happening, but Chen Xinran, who had just returned home next door, stopped her. Chen Xinran reassured her that the factory would certainly address the matter. If an elderly person went downstairs and got roughly pushed around, the medical expenses alone might exceed the cost of several tricycles. After much persuasion, Chen Xinran stayed with her for a while. Only after several men escorted Wang Hua back home did the two women, separated by their doors, grasp the general situation. Once certain everything was settled, Chen Xinran returned to her own home. It was then that Qian Qing learned what had happened, breaking out in a cold sweat. Her mother suffered from slight night blindness, making it difficult for her to see clearly in the dark.

Had she actually gone downstairs to intervene and encountered Wang Hua in his frenzied state, disaster could easily have occurred.

"Mom, remember this from now on: stay far away from that entire family."

Qian Qing had assumed only Wan Zhenzhen was malicious, but unexpectedly, Wang Hua proved even worse. Wan Zhenzhen might harbor ill intentions, but she lacked the courage to commit truly outrageous acts. Wang Hua was different; he might not scheme as much as Wan Zhenzhen, but once his temper flared, could he control himself? Today he smashed a vehicle with a wrench; tomorrow, might he strike someone with a hammer? Qian Qing felt troubled, wondering whether Zhou Hao could be promoted soon. If promoted, could they apply to the factory for different housing? Even moving to another floor within the same building would suffice; she simply didn't want to live adjacent to Wan Zhenzhen's family. The elders were confused, the younger impulsive, and combined with Wan Zhenzhen's peanut-sized brain, one never knew when the fire might spread to them. Actually, Qian Qing hadn't found life in the corridor-style building uncomfortable.

Compared to her natal home, the oilfield compound felt far more warm and community-oriented. After all, in these times, finding truly wicked people was difficult; everyone relied on the collective bowl, sharing both concerns and hopes. Most importantly, the business she wished to pursue operated entirely within the oilfield scope, making it essential to firmly establish her roots here first.

"Mom, a few days ago you asked me about Wan Zhenzhen. Now that you've been here these past few days and witnessed things firsthand, you should understand why I spoke as I did."

The reason Qian Qing hadn't mentioned anything earlier was because her mother was easily swayed. Had Qian Qing outright denounced Wan Zhenzhen as utterly worthless, her mother might not have believed her. She might even have compared Qian Qing's severe warnings against Wan Zhenzhen's actual behavior and concluded, "It's not that bad."

Therefore, Qian Qing chose to let her mother observe and listen for herself, before finally recounting Wan Zhenzhen's past misdeeds all at once, delivering a powerful revelation to ensure her mother would never again harbor even the slightest sympathy toward Wan Zhenzhen's family. Qian Qing's mother sighed.

"She's a confused woman, married to an equally confused man."

How expensive was a tricycle? Over one hundred yuan. Smashing it so casually clearly indicated someone unfit for managing a household. Knowing her mother thoroughly, Qian Qing suspected that by now, her mother's feelings toward Wan Zhenzhen had already calmed. After all, Wan Zhenzhen's name had been broadcast over the loudspeakers, and the entire factory now knew what she had done.In Mother Qian's mind, this was tantamount to Wan Zhenzhen already having been punished; therefore, she shouldn't harbor any more prejudice against her. That's just how kind-hearted people, bordering on cowardice, are: once the perpetrator receives punishment, they quickly forgive and sincerely believe these individuals can reform.

"A repentant prodigal is worth more than gold;"

"lay down the butcher's knife, and you become a Buddha."

"Don't panic just yet. There's something I didn't tell you before. You still don't know that Wan Zhenzhen swindled me the very day after she married into the neighborhood, do you?"

At this point, Qian Qing held nothing back. If Mother Qian believed Wan Zhenzhen had already been punished for stealing business, then what about the previous account? Two offenses could hardly be dismissed as a momentary lapse in judgment. After Qian Qing recounted everything in detail, Mother Qian was so furious her head spun. She jumped up abruptly, looking around the room twice.

"…What are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for our feather duster. I'm going over there to ask her exactly what she's plotting!"

Qian Qing, caught between laughter and tears, pulled her mother back down to sit properly.

"I'm not telling you these things to make you angry, but so you'll understand what kind of person she truly is."

"Before, when I said her family lacked proper upbringing, that her mother always sent Baojin over during mealtime, you accused me of making a mountain out of a molehill. Later, when I said her mother wasn't honest, always coming over pretending to be pitiful whenever she saw something we had, you said I was overthinking things."

Mother Qian felt somewhat embarrassed and lowered her head: "Why bring all that up again… I just didn't know…"

"Both you and Dad are soft-hearted; naturally, you think everyone in the world is good, always believing that giving people a chance will help them improve. The crucial point is that times have changed. In the past, everyone shared from the same pot; anyone causing trouble had to carefully consider what the factory would say and how neighbors would view them. Minor frictions were considered trivial, not worth quarreling over with neighbors you'd lived alongside for years."

"You need to change this mindset sooner rather than later. In recent years, more and more workers are venturing into business; the gap between people will gradually widen. Previously, if our family prepared a good meal and a neighbor came over, it simply meant adding another pair of chopsticks, sharing a few bites. But in the future, if we earn money through business and others become envious, will you still hand it over willingly, letting them cheat you?"

"The first time Wan Zhenzhen swindled me, it was because Zhou Hao was being heavily relied upon by the factory and needed to travel on business; she lied to sabotage his work. The second time, because I was earning money selling popsicles, she directly invested a huge amount, willing to earn only three fen per popsicle just to compete head-on with me."

"Mom, surely you can sense the difference yourself, right? For a job, her jealousy might only lead to lying; but for money, she acts as though she has nothing left to lose. This time, she became envious because I earned over a hundred yuan in one day. What if, in the future, I earn thousands or even tens of thousands daily? What will she do then?"

"Furthermore, by the time I'm earning thousands or tens of thousands, it won't just be Wan Zhenzhen; Li Zhenzhen, Yang Zhenzhen, and others will emerge too."

"You must adapt to this change and remain steady. My goal in earning money is to ensure all of us live better lives. If you're easily swayed, letting others coax or deceive you, then what's the point of my working so hard? Wouldn't that just be inviting unnecessary trouble and anger upon ourselves?"

After hearing these words, Mother Qian felt as though a massive wave had crashed over her heart, filling her with bitterness and guilt. Her daughter was right. She had been struggling alone at the forefront, pushing that heavy cart; whenever Zhou Hao traveled for work, she handled everything by herself. So thin, yet every day she braved the scorching sun, sweating profusely while procuring and delivering goods. As a mother, hadn't she helped much; must she now also make her daughter worry about her being deceived? Thinking back now, every word her daughter had said about the Wan family while still living at home—was any of it wrong? Even someone with her gentle temper occasionally grew weary of the shameless behavior next door. So why, when her daughter spoke up, did she feel compelled to contradict and argue? Perhaps it was to maintain her authority as an elder; or perhaps, just as her daughter said, because she genuinely thought these were minor matters.

Or maybe, she and Old Qian simply wished to avoid conflict with neighbors, seeking only to calm matters down. Qian Qing finally felt relieved after speaking her mind so freely.She had been preparing these words for several days, determined to make everything clear to her mother. She planned to go into business with her older sister, and barring any unexpected setbacks, their lives were sure to flourish. Wan Zhenzhen was nothing to fear; Qian Qing had already figured out her tricks, and after recent events, Wan Zhenzhen would likely keep a low profile for quite some time. But doesn't every family have its share of difficult relatives? Especially on her father's side, where each one seemed more shameless than the last. Their family consisted only of her and her sister, yet her grandmother had constantly urged her father to adopt a boy from her eldest uncle's household. When her cousin from that branch visited during her childhood, he would take whatever he saw, boldly declaring, "Grandma said you girls are just money-drainers. Your parents will rely on me in their old age, so everything in this house belongs to me."

Back then, furious, she had beaten him soundly. In previous years, many had advised her parents to find a son-in-law who would move in with them, ensuring at least one daughter remained close by. However, her parents felt it would be a pity to break up her marriage with Zhou Hao unnecessarily. Moreover, men willing to become matrilocal sons-in-law were rarely good matches, and they feared such an arrangement might disadvantage her, so they never pursued it. Now that she was married, the pressure on her family would certainly increase. Therefore, Qian Qing wanted to use the few days her mother was visiting to cultivate her mother's business acumen. Neighborly relationships worth maintaining should be nurtured through mutual exchange, but there was no need to indulge those without shame or decency. As for those consumed by envy and jealousy, treat them as mere nonsense; don't waste energy trying to understand their minds.

You simply cannot empathize with unreasonable people. It's far better to sprint forward until all they can see is the fading taillights of your car. Mother Qian's heart churned with conflicting emotions before finally settling. Grasping Qian Qing's hand, she said, "I've been foolish too. Your father and I are getting old; we don't think as quickly as you do, and sometimes we've even held you back."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "Don't push yourself so hard from now on. I understand everything you've said. Rest assured, when I return, I'll keep your father in check."

Qian Qing gently wiped away her mother's tears.

"Why talk about returning, Mom? You've been here several days already. Isn't my business doing well?"

Mother Qian composed herself slightly.

"It is doing well, but selling popsicles isn't sustainable long-term."

"I've rented the shop near the school gate for a year. Even if we stop selling popsicles, we can sell other things. Today, at a meeting, I heard that the oilfield administration plans to encourage individual entrepreneurs soon. There might even be significant developments near the school entrance. But we needn't worry. With our exclusive storefront, what small street vendor could possibly compete with our advantages?"

"I'm thinking that once popsicle sales decline, I'll head to the provincial capital to wholesale goods—pencils, erasers, pencil cases, snacks, small toys—and set up a stall right outside the school. How about you manage it?"

Mother Qian hesitated.

"Can I really handle it? I don't think I can. Besides, your father is still at home, and this place is far from our hometown."

At this point, Qian Qing didn't have an immediate solution.

"Mom, please think it over carefully. You're definitely capable of running this business. Plus, with weekends and school holidays, you won't be overwhelmed. Don't worry about housing either; I have a decent relationship with Director Li. Asking her help to find somewhere shouldn't be troublesome."

Qian Qing didn't mention having her mother live in her own home. If it were a two-bedroom apartment, perhaps, but with only one bedroom, her mother would never agree. Having a mother-in-law stay long-term might lead others to criticize Qian Qing for lacking propriety. Actually, what Qian Qing most desired was for her father to take medical retirement, quit his job, and for both parents to move here together. Her parents were already quite old when her older sister was born, and now they suffered from numerous health issues. The work at the match factory wasn't easy either; there was no need for them to stubbornly endure until official retirement age. Still uneasy, Mother Qian asked Qian Qing, "Have you discussed this idea with Zhou Hao?"

Qian Qing fell silent… Actually, she hadn't.

"He's been on a business trip," she replied.

Mother Qian grew serious.

"Qingqing, I need to say something. Although Zhou Hao treats you well and respects you, life's matters must be decided jointly by both of you. Communicating over small things makes daily life harmonious; respecting each other over major decisions ensures a lasting future. Zhou Hao has been away on business for nearly two weeks now. Wait until he returns, discuss this thoroughly with him, and then make your decision."

"Business can wait; if there's a rift between husband and wife, the marriage won't last."

One of Qian Qing's strengths is her ability to admit mistakes quickly. Once she realizes she's wrong, she usually corrects herself immediately.

"Alright, Mom, I didn't think deeply enough. I'll discuss it with Zhou Hao when he returns."

Previously, she had grown accustomed to making decisions alone. Zhou Hao never contradicted her, only replying with "Okay, okay, okay"

or "Yes, yes, yes,"

which nearly led her into error. Yet, she truly missed Zhou Hao… If only they could install a telephone in that small shop… **** After being escorted home, Wang Hua remained silent. His mother held him, consoling him while ranting half the night, disturbing everyone upstairs and downstairs. Yet no one dared say anything, since everyone had witnessed Wang Hua's behavior today. His frenzy was genuinely terrifying. Several children in the courtyard were frightened to tears. Wang Hua clenched his teeth tightly, waiting for Wan Zhenzhen to return home. He himself didn't know what he might do to Wan Zhenzhen, but he truly wanted to ask her face-to-face whether he had somehow offended her, prompting her to deliberately marry him just to ruin him. After waiting and waiting, mother and son still saw no sign of Wan Zhenzhen returning. Wang Hua's mother grew uneasy and trembled as she asked, "Do you think she might have done something rash…?"

Wang Hua denied it decisively: "No!"

Someone who runs at the first sign of trouble most likely fled back to her parents' home to lie low. Wang Hua punched the bed: "When she returns, we'll divorce."

Even if divorce carried a bad reputation, he was determined to end this marriage. How long had this woman been in his household, yet she kept causing endless troubles? He had also heard people saying that the little girl who suffered heatstroke was actually the daughter of a newly arrived engineer at the factory. Under the flickering light, Wang Hua's expression turned even more venomous. Now Zhou Hao would be even more triumphant—his wife had saved the engineer's daughter. Wang Hua's mother nodded: "Yes! Divorce her! Tell her to get out!"

That bringer of misfortune—always either crying or causing disasters—had better leave immediately and make room! Then she could find a better wife for her Hua-zi.