Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Threatening Childhood Friends, Where is the Integrity?

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Threatening Childhood Friends, Where is the Integrity?

Translator: 549690339

Xiao Qian returned home, her pocket stuffed with the passbook Yu Minglang had insisted on giving her, as if his voice were still ringing in her ears. The expression on her face had finally relaxed a bit.

However, as soon as she stepped through the door and saw her mother sitting behind the cash register, fanning herself, and Chen Lin, who was more attentive than ever, holding a watermelon, her good mood soured.

“Qian’er, where have you been all morning? You haven’t been home!” Jia Xiufang’s face still bore the red marks from her fight with Chen Lin the day before, and her eyes were swollen. She had been persuaded by Chen Lin to come back.

Chen Lin’s eyes were full of apprehension when he saw Xiao Qian, but more than anything, he was irritated.

It was all because of this girl that the truth had come out. Otherwise, everything would still be peaceful now. One upstairs, one downstairs, he would have been happy.

“Qian’er, come and eat some melon.” Although he was inwardly annoyed with Xiao Qian, his words were still warm and welcoming. Chen Lin was even more attentive than usual.

If it weren’t for the fact that his despicable deeds were right in front of her, looking at his tea-serving, water-fetching performance now, he really resembled a model husband.

Men caught cheating were all like this, showing their best behavior to cover up their inner weakness.

Xiao Qian didn’t even glance at Chen Lin before turning to ask Jia Xiufang, “Where’s Chu Xue?”

“She’s gone back to her hometown. Our shop hasn’t been busy lately, so I can handle everything on my own.” Jia Xiufang felt choked up when she thought of Chu Xue.

Her husband stubbornly refused to admit that he had anything to do with Chu Xue, and a few red marks weren’t enough to prove anything. All she could do was drive Chu Xue away.

“Why is it so hot?” Jia Xiufang now spoke without any politeness to her husband. Holding the upper hand, she felt a sense of empowerment and even began giving orders to Chen Lin.

“I’ll buy a fan in a bit. Our shop’s fan has been broken for so long.” Chen Lin was completely submissive.

Xiao Qian watched her father leave and frowned. She couldn’t stand his current obsequious attitude.

Jia Xiufang called Xiao Qian to sit beside her. Mother and daughter sat side by side, and Jia Xiufang picked a piece of watermelon for Xiao Qian.

“Why are you roaming around outside at night? What if something dangerous happens? Biaozi from Aunt Qi’s family didn’t run out last night. What would you have done then?”

She had been so upset yesterday because her husband was entangled with that woman. Her heart had been thrown into confusion, and she had felt compelled to run to her family for help. But then she found out that her daughter had also returned at an unknown time last night, which made her heart skip a beat. She hurried back to check on her daughter.

Seeing Xiao Qian safe and sound now, Jia Xiufang breathed a sigh of relief, but she still wanted to nag.

“You should worry about your own business instead of mine.” Her mother really could nag, and her words had never been pleasant to hear. But Xiao Qian could tell that her mother cared about her, so she didn’t genuinely resent it. “What business do I have? You’re just a little girl, don’t meddle in adult affairs.” In Jia Xiufang’s heart, Xiao Qian was still a child.

“That woman may be gone, but you need to keep an eye on your man. More accurately, keep an eye on all the money in the house.”

“What do you mean?” Jia Xiufang stopped eating the watermelon when she heard her daughter’s words.

“You don’t really think he’s changed his stripes just because he’s wagging his tail at you, do you? A dog can’t change its habit of eating shit. If you don’t take control of the money in this house, something’s bound to happen sooner or later.”

Jia Xiufang was displeased.

“How could you say that about your father?”

Xiao Qian snorted coldly, unwilling to explain.

This was a woman’s slavish nature.

She wouldn’t learn her lesson unless she was taught one. It was too early for her mother to become self-reliant. According to Xiao Qian’s assessment, her mother had a dependent personality, and getting her to quit relying on her husband would be the same as kicking a drug habit.

In any case, Xiao Qian wasn’t in a hurry. Healing people’s minds as a psychologist was a long process, and it would take time.

Jia Xiufang chatted idly with her daughter, discussing the family’s affairs, but refraining from mentioning what had happened yesterday.

Just as Xiao Qian had expected, Jia Xiufang was purposely avoiding the topic, pretending it had never happened. But the cracks in her heart had already formed.

Chen Lin came back inside, cursing as he entered.

“Where’s the fan?” Jia Xiufang asked.

“These goddamn merchants raised the price again, and I didn’t bring enough money. Give me another 20!” He remembered that it hadn’t been that expensive just a few days ago, but today, the price had suddenly gone up.

Jia Xiufang gave Chen Lin the money and continued chatting with Xiao Qian.

“Qian’er, I saw a quilt cover for you. When your father comes back and watches the shop, let’s go take a look. If it’s suitable, we’ll confirm the order. It’s time to prepare the wedding quilt.”

“No need, just get me a single one.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? You can’t have a single quilt for a wedding. What a joke! I’ve checked, and silk quilts are popular now, but they’re a bit expensive. I’ll discuss it with your father and buy it for you! Be careful when you use it after you get married. Don’t let someone else take it away, understand?”

“I’m not getting married.”

“What the hell?!” Jia Xiufang slapped the table, causing the watermelon peels to shake.

“Say that again, what’s wrong with you?”

“I’m not getting married.”

Just as Xiao Qian was about to pull out her admission notice to show her mother, Chen Lin walked in cursing again.

“These goddamn things, how could they have raised the price again! 1 mean, not even half an hour has passed, and they’ve raised the price twice! Why don’t they just rob people!”

“Honey, come and take a look at your daughter. She’s gone crazy, saying she’s not getting married!” Jia Xiufang complained.

Chen Lin didn’t have time for this at all. “Give me another 20, hurry up! If I don’t buy it now, the price might go up again. These soft-shelled turtles…”

Jia Xiufang took out 50 from the drawer, and Xiao Qian stood up upon seeing this.

“Give me the money; I’ll buy it myself.”

Chen Lin had run back and forth enough times and took out an exact 30 from the 50, not willing to give Xiao Qian a single cent more.

Xiao Qian had been timing it just right; Ni Jianren, that idiot, would be coming soon. She decided to go out early and not stay in the house to witness the disgusting scene that was about to unfold.

Yu Minglang and his buddy Hai Zhao were just about to head out to eat when they saw Xiao Qian riding a 26-inch ladies’ bike, wobbling over. They stopped in their tracks and went back inside.

“What’s wrong?” Hai Zhao asked.

“Nothing, we’ll leave in a bit.” Yu Minglang scanned the shop and finally chose an inconspicuous corner. He pulled Hai Zhao down to sit with him. This spot was blocked by some appliances, making it hard for other people to see.

“Where are the fans?” Xiao Qian asked as soon as she walked in.

Yu Minglang heard her and tugged at Hai Zhao, “Put down the price of your fan.”

“…Why?!” He had been enjoying the price hike just fine!

“I bet none of your employees know that you wet the bed when you were five.” Yu Minglang said casually.

Hai Zhao let out a low curse, got up, and went straight to Xiao Qian. Seeing the boss come out, the shop assistant stopped talking.

“You want to buy a fan?” Hai Zhao looked at Xiao Qian casually, but once he saw her, he couldn’t take his eyes off her..