Chapter 5: Seizing All of Father's Hidden Savings

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It was the "Nationwide Rivers and Mountains Red," and not just a small section, but a vast expanse of red. This would later become a priceless national treasure stamp worth millions. Song Wenran instantly felt as if she had struck gold. In her memory, she had casually slipped it into a book and forgotten where she put it; later, Wenxin had accidentally found it and sold it for several million, causing her to miss the chance to become a millionaire. This time, no matter what, she couldn’t lose it and must take good care of it.

There was a secret compartment inside the drawer of the cabinet, which only opened by triggering a mechanism when the drawer was pulled out. She had discovered it by accident. She reinserted the stamp into the book and placed it inside the secret compartment. She also found other stamps with potential to appreciate in value and stored them there as well. No one else knew about this hidden mechanism.

The cabinet was originally bought by her father at a second-hand market for Wenxin, but Wenxin frowned upon seeing it, so her father immediately replaced it. Since then, Wenxin used the new cabinet while she used the old one bought from the second-hand market. To outsiders, Wenxin was treated even better than her own daughter. At that time, her mother had a big quarrel with her father over the cabinet. It was also through this that she realized her father was no longer just her father alone.

She recalled that her father still liked to hide secret money. Taking advantage of the fact that both her father and Wenxin were not at home and her mother was cooking in the hallway, she quietly gathered all the secret money her father had stashed in every nook and cranny and put it into the secret compartment. In total, there was one hundred and three yuan, plus a few ration tickets. The ration tickets had no expiration date, which was why he dared to hide them; even if he noticed some missing, he wouldn’t make a fuss. She decided not to give the money to her mother yet, planning to surprise her after dealing with Wenxin.

...

Lu Meiqin heard her rummaging through the cabinet and came over holding a spatula. “What are you digging around for? You just got better from being sick and don’t know how to rest properly.”

“I was looking for a few books,” Wenran said, sensing the aroma and changing the subject. “Mom, what are you cooking? Is it fish stew? The smell is making me hungry.”

“You’ve got the best nose!” Lu Meiqin said fondly. “To celebrate you passing the nursing exam, I specially made fish soup. Wait here, I’ll get you a small bowl first.”

“Mom, you’re the best.” Wenran’s eyes curved like crescent moons, radiant with warmth.

Usually, she would wait for Song Jianshe and Wenxin to come back to eat together, but now she didn’t even mention it, putting down her book and heading straight to the kitchen.

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The kitchen was located in the corridor of the communal housing building, and the whole hallway was filled with the fragrance of fish soup. It wasn’t mealtime yet, so there weren’t many people around. Occasionally, one or two neighbors would pass by and greet each other with smiles.

Lu Meiqin was straightforward and bold but had a decent reputation among the residents of the building. She was frank and casual in her actions. When she was young, she was also cheerful and talkative, but after Wenxin arrived, she spoke less and less.

Indeed, with a biased father, how could she speak freely?

Wenran took a sip of the fish soup and praised, “So fresh! Mom, your cooking has improved again!”

“Of course! I learned a couple of new tricks from the master chef at the factory canteen!” Lu Meiqin worked at the garment factory’s canteen. If her daughter hadn’t fallen ill and had a fever, she wouldn’t have swapped shifts with anyone else.

Just as she was about to urge Wenran to drink more, Wenran brought a spoonful of fish soup to her lips.

“Mom, you try it too,” Wenran urged. “You always save the best for us, but this time, don’t hold back.”

Lu Meiqin sensed something different about her daughter but decided it wasn’t a big deal. She sipped the soup and asked, “Wenran, are you still feeling unwell anywhere?”

“No.” Wenran touched her forehead. “No fever anymore. I feel especially energetic now.”

Lu Meiqin nodded in relief. “That’s good. I’m very happy you passed the nursing exam. Before you graduated, I wanted you to work at the garment factory for some security, but you went to the hospital instead.”

“I owe it to Ruan Ling,” Song Wenran smiled. “You know how close we are — we’re like one person. She’s been wanting me to take the nursing exam with her for a long time.”

Lu Meiqin patiently instructed, “You can’t just rely on her. I’ll buy some things for you to give to Ruan Ling’s mother so they won’t think we’re ungrateful.”

“I understand, Mom!” Wenran agreed. She wasn’t the type to take advantage of others.

Lu Meiqin continued to grumble, “Ever since Wenxin came, your father and I have almost fought every day. I’ve had enough! I know exactly what’s on his mind. He thinks he’s keeping it a secret, but I’ve known from the day I married him that his heart belongs to someone else.

He treats that woman’s daughter well, and it bothers me. Now he wants my daughter to suffer for that woman’s daughter? No way. Wenxin has stayed on our household registration long enough! The more your father protects her, the more I want her to be sent to the countryside! I’ve suffered enough over the years, and so have you.

Seeing you change now makes me happy. You’ve grown up and have your own ideas, which is good. You don’t know how afraid I was that you’d agree to go in her place. You’re too kind-hearted and no match for that girl.”

Wenran hesitated and asked, “Mom, have you ever suspected that Wenxin is actually father’s and second aunt’s child?”

Lu Meiqin’s face immediately changed. “You suspected that too?”

“He always treats Wenxin better than me. Anyone would suspect!” Wenran then focused on the word “too” her mother used.

Lu Meiqin’s hand trembled slightly as she gripped a tin mug. “I’ve suspected it more than once, but unfortunately, I have no proof.”

Wenran didn’t have evidence either, or she wouldn’t have started the conversation with “suspect.” Avoidance and appeasement were not solutions.

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The mother and daughter opened their hearts and began discussing how to smoothly send Wenxin to the countryside.

Another hour passed, and Song Jianshe and Wenxin arrived home one after the other. Seeing the fish bones on the table, Song Jianshe frowned. “Why didn’t you wait for us to eat first?”

“How would we know when you’d be back?” Lu Meiqin retorted, washing her and Wenran’s dishes.

Song Jianshe had no appetite, but seeing there was nothing edible in the kitchen, he put on a stern face and said, “Make me and Wenxin a bowl of noodles!”

“Why such a sour face?” Lu Meiqin rolled her eyes. “If you want something, cook it yourself. I’m not your servant; what right do you have to boss me around?”

“Are you crazy?” Song Jianshe scowled.

Wenxin hurried forward, “Dad, I’ll cook. Don’t make it hard for Mom. It’s not the first time we haven’t had our meals prepared. I’m used to it.”

“I’ll cook. You go rest,” Song Jianshe said, not wanting Wenxin’s delicate hands to cook, tying on an apron before her.

This wasn’t the first time such a scene had happened, and certainly wouldn’t be the last.

Song Wenran leaned against the wall, quietly watching her father perform this father-daughter act with someone else. She even wanted to laugh a little. Laughing at herself for being foolish enough to destroy her whole life for such a person.

Lu Meiqin couldn’t stand it anymore and kicked the stool by her feet. “Song Jianshe, come here!”

Song Jianshe turned around. “What do you want?”

Lu Meiqin, blunt as ever, got straight to the point. “You can’t delay Wenxin’s countryside assignment any longer. A group is leaving the day after tomorrow. If you don’t compete actively as the workshop director, you might be the first to be eliminated.”

“So soon? I thought we had a few more days.” Song Jianshe and Wenxin both looked surprised.

Lu Meiqin didn’t lie. She glanced at them coldly. “That’s fast enough. Do you think the neighborhood committee is run by your family?”

Wenxin was the most anxious. There wasn’t even time to get married tomorrow! Moreover, Fu Kaiyu’s mother outright opposed it. Overcoming this mountain wouldn’t be a matter of days.

Her grandmother would catch the earliest bus and arrive by noon tomorrow, but it would still take time to deal with the mother and daughter.

With tears welling in her eyes, Wenxin looked at Song Jianshe. “Dad, I don’t have the good luck my sister has. I can’t be a nurse, and I probably won’t be able to care for you in the future! It’s all my fault for being stupid and not passing the nursing exam!”

What is said with intent is perceived with meaning. Song Jianshe suddenly had an immature idea pop into his mind upon hearing this.

“Wenran, you’re stronger than your sister. I think you should go to the countryside instead and let Wenxin take the nursing job!”