abcnovels
Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Chen Meilan had spent all her money buying Capital Petrochemical stocks, and now she had only a little over 170 yuan left.0
But today, she was determined to treat Little Wang's craving. Holding Little Lang's hand, she walked up to a small vendor and asked, "How much for a whole crate of your cola?"0
The vendor smiled, "You're looking to buy wholesale, eh? That requires a deposit, and it's quite high."0
"How much?" Chen Meilan inquired.0
The cola bottles were worth more than the cola itself, and the vendor, fearing Chen Meilan might be trying to scam him for the bottles, tried to deter her with the deposit amount, saying, "Fifty yuan for a crate. You can't afford it, forget about it."0
A crate of cola had 24 bottles, worth only ten yuan in total, yet he wanted a fifty-yuan deposit?0
It was clearly an attempt to swindle her. These small vendors weren't as honest as they used to be years ago.0
Chen Meilan immediately retorted, "Forget it then. The cola company charges you at most ten yuan for deposit. You're being too greedy. I'll just go to the corner store and get a box of Bingfeng instead. Their deposit is only three yuan."0
"Alright, ten yuan it is. But don't you dare lose a single bottle. I'll be passing by here the day after tomorrow, and you'd better return all the bottles," the vendor quickly conceded.0
His drinks were expensive, and he couldn't afford to lose business to Bingfeng at the moment.0
Chen Meilan took out twenty yuan and was about to take the crate of cola from the vendor when the crate suddenly moved on its own.0
"Hey, hey! How did this crate grow legs? It's running away! The bottles will break!" the vendor cried out in panic.0
"It's me, I'm carrying it," came a voice. It turned out that Little Wang had lifted the crate with his head.0
If all those glass bottles had shattered, it would have been disastrous. The vendor, who had nearly died of fright, watched Little Wang run off at an incredible speed. He couldn't help but laugh. He then took two balloons from his cart and said with a smile, "Ma'am, your son may be small, but I can tell he's destined for greatness. And he's so filial too, look at him, not even letting you carry the crate. Here, here, let me give him two balloons."0
Little Lang accepted the balloons and held up three fingers. "Three," he demanded.0
"Young man, balloons cost money too. Even if you buy them, they're two cents each. I can't give you any more," the vendor explained.0
"I'll bite you," Little Lang said, about to jump up.0
"Alright, alright, I'll give you one more," the vendor said, thinking the child wanted the balloon for his mother. He handed one to Chen Meilan. "I roam the streets every day and see lots of children, but rarely any as well-behaved as your two sons. See you tomorrow."0
Little Wang didn't really understand why Chen Meilan wanted to buy cola. He guessed she might want to sell it, but that wasn't his forte.0
Of course, he ran home quickly, but when he reached the doorstep, why hadn't Chen Meilan returned yet?0
This child had never been attached to Zhou Xueqin, after all, she had too many friends and rarely came home.0
But now that Chen Meilan wasn't following him, why did he feel so anxious?0
After waiting and worrying for a while, he finally saw Chen Meilan emerge from the market, holding Little Lang's hand.0
In her other hand, if he wasn't mistaken, she was carrying eight chicken legs, each about the size of a small fist, tied together with straw. Hadn't they just eaten KFC yesterday? Why was she buying so many chicken legs now? She couldn't be planning to open a restaurant, could she?0
He didn't even realize that his concern for Chen Meilan had surpassed that for his own father.0
"Go, get away from our house, quick!" Suddenly, with a loud bang, Zhaodi came out of Qin Yu's house, looking as if she had been pushed out.0
Zhaodi seemed upset, but upon seeing her mother, she ran over with a smile. "Mama!"0
Chen Meilan bent down to kiss Zhaodi and asked, "What's wrong?"0
"Nothing, Mama. I don't want to learn singing anymore," Zhaodi shook her head. "I don't think singing is fun."0
"What are you talking about, auntie? Zhaodi just touched my mom's piano. That's the school's piano, what if she damaged it? She even wanted to jump on my mom's spring mattress... My mom hasn't even charged her tuition, and she..." Ningning suddenly opened the door and poked her head out to say.0
Qin Yu rushed out and covered Ningning's mouth. "Meilan, the child is just joking. It's nothing. I let the child play the piano. Your Zhaodi has incredible talent, she plays so well."0
"Zhaodi wants to learn piano?" Chen Meilan was quite surprised.0
"I don't want to learn," Zhaodi said, actually worried about her mother spending money.0
In her previous life, Ningning had later become a pianist, playing at grand banquets in a white fringed evening gown, sitting on stage like an elegant white swan.0
Zhaodi had been a money-obsessed businesswoman, over-dieting with a face full of acne. Watching Ningning on stage, she had leaned on Chen Meilan's shoulder and sighed, "Mom, Yan Ning and I have known each other since we were little. We were pretty similar as kids, but now she's a white swan, and I'm an ugly duckling."0
Elegance comes from artistic cultivation. Zhaodi, immersed in business, was surrounded by the stench of money. How could she have elegance?0
Ningning's grace came from a privileged life and her mother's careful nurturing.0
Qin Yu turned Zhaodi's little face towards her. "If you don't want to learn, why did you secretly play auntie's piano, and play so well?"0
Zhaodi still shook her head. "I don't want to learn."0
Chen Meilan blurted out, "Why not learn? If you play well, you should learn. Mom will pay for it."0
Qin Yu let go of Zhaodi and said with a smile, "We're neighbors, and I know you don't have money. Dawei wants to rent your house, but I have an idea. I teach classes outside, charging 5 yuan per lesson, 150 a month, over a thousand a year. You can't afford that. How about this: I'll teach Zhaodi piano, and you sell us all six of your unused large rooms. We'll count each room as two thousand yuan. Since our houses will be demolished sooner or later, I'm not taking advantage of you. You'll have money to support Zhaodi's piano lessons. What do you think?"0
Her proposal seemed fair and considerate of Chen Meilan's situation.0
But Chen Meilan immediately said, "I won't sell the house. However, Qin Yu, I'll rent you a large room for 5 yuan. If you want, I'll rent you five rooms and make a separate entrance for you at the back. You can move things in and out without going through our house. How's that?"0
When Yanguan Village's houses were demolished, this house could be exchanged for eight apartments. Chen Meilan would be crazy to sell it.0
Qin Yu was taken aback. "If that's the case, I'm afraid I won't have time to teach her piano for free."0
"Others charge 5 yuan per lesson, so you charge Zhaodi 5 yuan too."0
In the future, Qin Yu's lessons would increase from 5 yuan to 50, then to 200. Lv Erniu would be one of Qin Yu's proteges. Chen Meilan could foresee this and was prepared for it.0
"Children learning piano all need an electronic keyboard," Qin Yu added.0
"An electronic keyboard is only about 40 yuan, right? I'll buy it," Chen Meilan said decisively.0
Knowing when to stop, Qin Yu smiled and said, "I'll buy the keyboard. I promise I won't overcharge you a penny."0
A department store clerk's monthly salary was only 40 yuan, so it was a considerable amount.0
"Mom, I won't waste your money. I'll study hard," Zhaodi sniffled. "Mom is so good to me."0
But she wasn't bad either. Today was her first time touching a piano, and Qin Yu had praised her, saying she played better than Ningning.0
While Zhaodi was happy, Little Wang's eyes were red with unshed tears, on the verge of crying.0
Why was Zhaodi's mom so good to her, while his mom went to care for other people's children?0
Carrying the chicken legs, Chen Meilan said, "Mom can be even better. Don't you like KFC fried chicken? Today, I'll fry you a whole basket of chicken, and we have cola too. We'll eat fried chicken with cola, how about that?"0
So all this cola was for them to drink?0
"Auntie, too much cola will upset our stomachs. Cola can rot our intestines, we should only drink it occasionally," Little Wang quickly said.0
Chen Meilan said seriously, "When I was little, I drank three bottles a day and nothing happened to me."0
Only after they went inside did Little Wang realize Chen Meilan was lying. There wasn't even cola when she was little.0
This woman actually dared to lie to him?0
Little Wang carried the cola, fuming. But as he fumed, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned upward because Chen Meilan had picked up a kitchen knife and with a swift "pa!" sound, she opened a bottle of cola, which was now fizzing right under his nose.0
"Please enjoy Coca-Cola," she said, handing the balloon to Zhaodi.0
Each of the three children had a bottle of cola and a bright red balloon. The balloons all bore the same message: "Please enjoy Coca-Cola."0
Meanwhile, Chen Meilan was replicating KFC's fried chicken at home.0
She had made this in her previous life, but it was actually quite simple. First, marinate the chicken legs in cooking wine, white vinegar, and other seasonings, then coat them in a batter of egg, starch, and flour. The key was to use plenty of oil and patiently double-fry them. This would lock the moisture inside the chicken, making it tender when eaten.0
Children all have baby teeth, so they can't bite into meat that's too tough. That's why Chinese children, from a young age, become obsessed with this.0
As for Yan Zhao, after dismissing Yan Xishan, he looked through files until afternoon when the phone on his desk rang.0
"This is Yan Zhao."0
"Yan Zhao, it's me. Are you and the two kids doing well? The Meilan I introduced to you is quite good, isn't she? She's good to the children, right?"0
...0
"Did you receive a bonus? I'm in a really tight spot financially and need some money..." It was actually Zhou Xueqin, but today there was no hysterical arguing; her voice sounded quite gentle.0
Yan Zhao looked up at the envelope. The bonus had just arrived and hadn't even warmed up in his hands. Sun Nutao couldn't have gone around telling people, so how did Zhou Xueqin know?0
"When we divorced, you took all of my military retirement money, a full 30,000 yuan," Yan Zhao's eyes flashed coldly.0
"But I urgently need some money now, 6,000 yuan. You must have it, right? Considering how naughty Little Wang and Little Lang were, and that I raised them too, help me out this once," Zhou Xueqin said again.0
Yan Zhao gripped the receiver, enunciating each word expressionlessly: "You can go ask Zhou Fulong, Wang Ding'an, or Chen Ping to borrow. They have more money than I do."0
Zhou Xueqin on the phone suddenly went silent, because these men were all considered nouveau riche in Xiping City, and during the years when Yan Zhao was at the front lines, they all had very good relationships with her.0
But her husband had returned, and those men had all seen Yan Zhao's big name in the newspapers, so they no longer dared to associate with her.0
"Don't slander me," Zhou Xueqin was instantly enraged. "They were just friends. It's not as dirty as you're imagining."0
"Then who dislocated Little Wang's arm, making the child wear a sling for three whole days? Who deliberately tricked Little Wang into drinking baijiu, nearly killing him with alcohol poisoning? And who lied to him, saying they'd give him one yuan for each lamb kebab, but in the end made the child eat until he vomited without giving him a single cent?" Yan Zhao pursued, but speaking extremely slowly: "Zhou Xueqin, tell me the names of those people."0
These questions made Zhou Xueqin's hair stand on end. Actually, they were all just some of her friends who had too much to drink and were joking around, manhandling Little Wang without restraint when they were teasing him.0
She had scolded them too and made them apologize to Little Wang.0
Hadn't Little Wang sworn up and down that he wouldn't tell anyone about these things?0
How could he have told Yan Zhao everything?0
She hung up the phone with a bang.0
Lv Liang happened to come in and instinctively asked, "Boss, did someone report a crime?"0
"Wrong number. Tonight we'll do surprise inspections at every intersection, checking for speeding and overloaded trucks. I'll leave this task to you," Yan Zhao patted Lv Liang's shoulder. "I'm leaving work early."0
Lv Liang looked at the red envelope on the desk, full of envy: "Another bonus from the military, right? Those of us who haven't been to the battlefield don't get those."0
"You can just as well earn awards in police work. Do a good job with your current tasks, and next year the award will be yours," Yan Zhao said.0
Lv Liang smiled a bit. Surprise inspections were a good gig - just go out for a spin and you could ask the drivers for some money. A few hundred yuan at least. Who knows how long he'd have to wait to win an award.0
Turning around, Lv Liang left, and Chief Sun came in: "You're a new groom today, right? Hurry home early."0
"We don't even have a bed yet, so it doesn't count as a new marriage," Yan Zhao said. "I still need to go set up checkpoints tonight."0
"Aren't you not going?"0
"I'll be watching from the shadows," Yan Zhao said.0
Sun Nutao immediately realized this was Yan Zhao's long-term strategy.0
At the Yanguan Branch Bureau, even though the two of them were leaders, they really didn't know who was friend or foe, or who had already been corrupted by those nouveau riche. They were fighting a lone battle.0
They had to be careful every step of the way, otherwise it would mean being crushed to dust.0
"Remember to go buy a bed tomorrow. I've already talked to your sister-in-law, she'll be waiting for you at the department store," Sun Nutao said.0
After Yan Zhao left, he first rushed to withdraw the money from the post office before it closed, then saw that it was already closing time, but surprisingly the department store was still open, so he went in and looked around.0
The department store now had several floors with a wide variety of goods - dazzling and overwhelming, just too crowded with people.0
However, wherever Yan Zhao walked, people would spontaneously move out of the way.0
On the fourth floor, he saw a spring mattress for the first time in his life. He looked at each bed for a long time before finally heading home.0
By the time he got home, the children had already eaten a round of fried chicken.0
Though delicious, it was greasy. Zhaodi and Little Lang each gnawed on one piece before resolutely refusing to touch any more. But there were still six big pieces left, with skin so crispy it fell off, and juicy when you bit into it. But the two of them wouldn't eat it, and Chen Meilan wouldn't eat it either. What a waste.0
Seeing his father come in, Little Wang ran over: "Dad, quick, come here. Today we have... fried chicken that she made."0
It's so delicious.0
Chen Meilan was in the bedroom taking off Little Lang's pants, measuring his little bottom.0
Oh right, she had also seen Yan Zhao's underwear hanging in the corner.0
Boxers, washed very clean, but crooked with many patches sewn on.0
The butt wasn't worn through, but the crotch area had been worn to fuzz, with traces of large needle stitches that looked like two ferocious grasshoppers.0
If you took these out, probably even the most unkempt Old Man Yan in the village would think they were too tattered.0
Both father and son urgently needed underwear.0
Smiling as she came out of the bedroom, she nearly bumped into Yan Zhao who was walking towards her.0
"Do you like spring mattresses?" Yan Zhao asked right away.0
Spring mattresses?0
Chen Meilan was stunned for a moment. This term would disappear in the future, but right now spring mattresses were a novel thing.0
How did Yan Zhao know about spring mattresses?0
After all, Yan Zhao rarely came home, and when he was home he hardly spoke. Zhaodi also came over, tilting her head up curiously.0
"Or do you prefer solid wood beds, or box beds? Whichever you like, that's what we'll buy," Yan Zhao said.0
Little Lang and Zhaodi watched Chen Meilan intently, wanting to hear her choice.0
Meanwhile, Little Wang was still troubled by why no one would eat such fragrant fried chicken.0
Originally, because food was so precious, he wanted to save it for his little brother and father to eat. But now that others disdained it and were unwilling to eat, perfect - he would eat it.0
One bite of fried chicken, one sip of cola.0
He ate.0
Little Wang used to only be able to taste the deliciousness when he ate alone in hiding, but now as he ate angrily in front of everyone, it tasted even better.0
And he himself was completely unaware that this was the first time he could taste the deliciousness of food without having to hide.0
"Spring mattresses must be very expensive, right?" Chen Meilan had to consider carefully.0
It's actually just a soft bed. The reason it's popular is because ordinary people had never seen such a thing before, and it's soft and comfortable to sleep on.0
A reborn wealthy lady couldn't sleep well on a hard kang bed every day either. Chen Meilan occasionally wanted to mix things up by sleeping on a bed, but she needed to know how much a spring mattress cost. If it was too expensive, she definitely wouldn't buy it.0
"Four or five thousand, I suppose. I happen to have 6,000 yuan here. You keep it first, and we'll go buy a bed tomorrow," Yan Zhao said as he handed over the envelope.0
It had already been withdrawn as cash, 6,000 yuan in a thick stack.0
Four or five thousand for one bed? That's robbery! Chen Meilan's heart was roaring. The prices in this era had a blood feud with her. It was so difficult just to sleep on a soft bed.0
She was about to refuse when Qin Yu knocked twice on the door and came straight into the courtyard: "Oh right, Meilan, didn't you want to transfer the two kids to a different school? The principal gave his word, there happen to be two spots available, but the price is extremely high."0
Chen Meilan hadn't yet told Yan Zhao about wanting to transfer the children's schools.0
He and Lu Jingyu were two extremes. Lu Jingyu put education above everything else, willing to do anything to educate children well. Though he was a scumbag, he was a scumbag with foresight and grand aspirations.0
As for Yan Zhao and his two sons, it could only be said that he was content just to let them live.0
Moreover, he was a rigid and conservative person who handled things by the book.0
Let alone not having money, even if he did have money, Chen Meilan feared he wouldn't do something like using money to buy school enrollment.0
So she had planned to discuss this matter with Qin Yu herself, without telling Yan Zhao.0
"You should go back first, we'll discuss it another day," Chen Meilan said.0
Qin Yu had actually deliberately chosen a time when Yan Zhao was home to come over.0
When Chen Meilan was married to Yan Xishan, they often argued about money.0
Every time Chen Meilan spent a penny, Yan Xishan would try to control everything. It wasn't because he didn't have money or was stingy, but rather the unpleasant attitude of a nouveau riche. Although he had money, he hadn't received enough respect and attention from others outside.0
He was always looked down upon.0
Whenever his wife asked him for money, it was an opportunity for him to show off that he had money.0
He would seize the chance to interrogate her and talk about how hard he worked to earn money outside, seeking a kind of self-comfort from his wife.0
When Yan Zhao came, Qin Yu didn't yet understand what kind of person he was. Actually, she wanted to test him for Chen Meilan, to see what Yan Zhao was like.0
If Yan Zhao was also petty like Yan Xishan, Qin Yu thought Chen Meilan should just transfer Zhaodi alone and not bother running to school for someone else's son.0
After all, the transfer fee was indeed very expensive.0
"Are you Yan Dawei's wife?" Yan Zhao thought for a moment and said, "It's Dongfang School, right? How much is the enrollment fee?"0
"Hello, Captain Yan." Qin Yu smiled and extended her hand to shake Yan Zhao's, but he showed no intention of shaking it, so she just brushed her hair instead. "To be honest, our Dongfang School provides good education with low tuition fees. We even have a cafeteria for lunch. All the kids in the city want to transfer to our school, but we don't usually accept ordinary children. I heard the principal only agreed because it's your family's children. It's 2,600 per child, and I haven't overcharged a penny."0
"Two thousand six hundred?" Chen Meilan exclaimed instinctively, but then closed her mouth, realizing times had changed and transferring schools now cost this much.0
Yan Zhao didn't hesitate at all: "Enroll them, I'll pay."0
Qin Yu was stunned for a moment.0
Yan Zhao immediately took the envelope, counted out 5,200, and handed it to Qin Yu: "Thank you, you've gone to a lot of trouble."0
Not knowing where Yan Zhao got the money from, Qin Yu couldn't help but say, "Just based on your attitude as a couple, I won't comment on other aspects, but I'm sure your children will be well-educated."0
Regardless of whether a person is rich or poor, if they're willing to invest in their children's education, the future won't be too bad.0
"Qin Yu, you can rent my house, but the person standing next to me is the captain of our detective squad. You can't engage in any illegal activities," Chen Meilan felt she had to warn her.0
Qin Yu waved her hand: "Meilan, I'm leaving now. Tomorrow I'll have Dawei pay you the rent. Don't worry, we're renting the house of the detective squad captain, we certainly won't do anything illegal. Let's have a pleasant cooperation."0
She hadn't realized before that Meilan was actually a woman with a soft exterior but a strong character, with a particularly good personality.0
While she had previously only seen Meilan as a neighbor, now Qin Yu sincerely felt that Meilan was a woman worthy of her respect.0
Yan Zhao was actually quite nervous inside. The refrigerator was bought by Chen Meilan, and she had also paid for the cement and sand. In the few days he had been here, he hadn't contributed to the cost of rice, flour, or oil.0
He didn't know what Chen Meilan's personality was like, but women all wanted what others had.0
The house was already occupied by Yan Xishan, so it was impossible not to buy a bed.0
But after paying for the two children's school transfers, he couldn't afford a spring mattress for now.0
However, he felt Chen Meilan should understand. She seemed much easier to talk to than Zhou Xueqin.0
He thought if he explained, she should understand.0
But just then, Zhaodi timidly called out, "Daddy."0
That call was crisp, sweet, and natural.0
...0
"Daddy, are we going to buy a spring mattress now? Like the one in Ningning's house? She jumped on it and showed me, it was like dancing in the sky," Zhaodi's voice was soft, filled with suppressed excitement.0
Little Lang pointed at next door and tattled, "Ningning jump, sister watch, not let me watch."0
When Ningning was jumping on the spring mattress, Zhaodi at least had the privilege to take a look, but Little Lang didn't even have that privilege.0
"We're not buying..." Before Chen Meilan could finish her sentence, Yan Zhao immediately interrupted her: "We'll buy it, tomorrow."0
Chen Meilan thought to herself, we're done for. A spring mattress costs four or five thousand, and she only had 800 yuan in hand.0
Were they going to put on black stockings as a family and go rob a department store?0
"Daddy, daddy. I have a good daddy, who cooks with a clang clang clang, who washes clothes with a swish swish swish..." Zhaodi jumped up and clapped her hands, singing and dancing from one end of the courtyard to the other.0
Little Lang also sang along: "I have a good daddy, that daddy doesn't scold people..."0
These naughty kids had directly composed a song about their daddy.0
Yan Zhao turned back and said to Chen Meilan: "It's the first time the child has called me daddy. We can't disappoint her."0