Chapter 21: Handling Old Lady Song

“Song Wenran!!!”

Song Jianshe’s last shred of patience finally snapped because of that light bulb!

Wenran glanced at him. “No need to help, I can unscrew it myself.”

She stepped on a small stool and unscrewed the bulb from the room they used to live in.

It was a fifteen-watt bulb, brand new, bought just last month.

Old Madam Song’s hoarse voice was nearly gone, barely audible as she kept repeating, “Put it down, put it down…”

“This was bought with my mom’s money,” Wenran said firmly as she unscrewed it. Seeing that Old Madam Song was still unreasonable, she took down the other two bulbs as well.

Lu Meiqin stayed close to protect her, fearing that Old Madam Song and Song Jianshe would rush over.

Fortunately, Song Jianshe gritted his teeth and held back, managing to control Old Madam Song too.

After they left smoothly, Old Madam Song both hit and scolded Song Jianshe, pinching the tender flesh of his arm hard. “Ungrateful son, unfilial son, you’re killing me with anger, you ungrateful son!”

“Mom, let me explain…” Song Jianshe tried to calm her down.

But Old Madam Song wouldn’t listen to a word, convinced he was useless.

“You can’t even control two women, what hope is there in you? And you have the nerve to explain? Explaining my foot! They’ve moved all the stuff out, how do you expect to live?

Don’t talk about living, you don’t even have the tools to cook, no rice, flour, or oil left, and you’re still explaining? Are you stupid or what?”

“Mom, I have my reasons!”

“I don’t want to hear it, I don’t want to hear it! You get all the stuff back!” Old Madam Song pinched the area between her nose and upper lip, afraid she’d faint from anger.

Song Jianshe was speechless.

...

The mother and son’s voices surfaced from time to time, but Wenran and her mother no longer cared.

---

Back in the bungalow, Wenran arranged the room to her liking and even mixed some paste to paper the walls with newspaper.

Two single beds were separated by a curtain, giving them each private space.

Everything they had at home was now in the bungalow. Wenran realized her mother had used her salary to buy so many things.

After bustling around all afternoon, they suddenly remembered they hadn’t eaten yet.

Just as they were thinking about what to cook, Teacher Liu arrived with two bowls of dumplings.

Wenran and her mother exchanged a glance and quickly invited her inside.

“Teacher Liu, you personally brought us food? I feel so embarrassed!”

“No need to be embarrassed, we all look out for each other in the same residential compound. Besides, Wenran was once my student!” Teacher Liu hadn’t seen Wenran much since her middle school graduation, but now, looking closely, she found Wenran’s delicate features as enchanting as a fairy’s, lifting her spirits.

Wenran poured her a glass of water. “Teacher Liu, we just moved and haven’t boiled water yet. Please make do for now.”

Teacher Liu eagerly accepted. “You two should eat the dumplings first; they get cold and taste worse.”

“Well then, we won’t be polite!” Lu Meiqin took two pairs of chopsticks and handed one to Wenran.

Though a bit awkward, the dumplings really were delicious—vegetarian with chives, eggs, and dried shrimp.

This time Teacher Liu didn’t bring up the topic of matchmaking but chatted casually about various things.

Wenran felt a little overwhelmed by the sudden warmth from Teacher Liu and Director Wei; she hadn’t sensed such approachability from them before.

Lu Meiqin felt almost flattered and was still talking about it after seeing Teacher Liu off. “Why didn’t I realize before how nice Teacher Liu and Director Wei are? Especially Teacher Liu—so kind and easygoing.”

Wenran chuckled softly. “Teacher Liu was quite strict, even hit students in class!”

Lu Meiqin was speechless but then laughed too.

---

After clearing the dishes and tidying the yard outside, Wenran stayed up late chatting with her mother, worried that her mother’s strength was only skin-deep. She only felt at ease after her mother fell asleep.

Once free from that household, everything would get better.

The college entrance exam was still four years away, and she intended to live well during these years. She would work hard, aim to become a regular employee soon, and get assigned a big apartment so she could bring her mother to live there.

The next morning, she went to work full of energy.

Just as she was leaving the residential compound, she overheard two colleagues quietly talking as they headed to work.

“Song Jianshe’s divorce really wasn’t worth it. Right after the divorce, he’s already broke. Yesterday he borrowed five yuan from me, saying it was for a bus ticket to send his mother home.”

“What do you mean ‘broke’? He even borrowed a ten-kilogram grain coupon from me! I don’t know if he’s really generous or just pretending. How did things get this bad? Could he have someone on the side?”

“I really have no idea! The kid’s grown up—he shouldn’t be doing something so foolish!”

“Keep your voice down, isn’t that the Song family’s daughter?”

“...”

When they saw Wenran, they stopped talking.

Wenran ignored it and greeted them as usual.

Even if she hadn’t heard their conversation, she clearly knew Song Jianshe was already struggling financially.

Old Madam Song’s leaving was inevitable.

She was the one Wen Xin brought in to control them, but now that she couldn’t, and couldn’t even eat, she naturally wouldn’t stay.

What goes around comes around.

She rode her bicycle out of the compound, while Old Madam Song was cursing and following Song Jianshe to the bus station.

Catching sight of her, Old Madam Song shoved Song Jianshe. “That’s your bike she’s riding, right? Give it back to me now! I want to ride to the station. If you don’t bring it back, don’t call me your mother anymore!!!”