Chapter 5: Demanding Wages

Early in the morning, Cheng Huaien passed by Cheng Yuan’s window. Seeing the curtains drawn back, he found her slumped over the desk, still wearing yesterday’s bathrobe.

He pushed open the door. The neatly made bed revealed that she hadn’t slept there at all.

“Yuan,” Cheng Huaien called softly, nudging her shoulder. “Why didn’t you go to bed?”

Rubbing her eyes, Cheng Yuan blinked at him sleepily. After a long pause, she mumbled, “I was working on the exam paper.” She couldn’t even remember what time she’d dozed off — exhaustion had simply overwhelmed her.

“Yuan, I know you want to study hard, but improvement doesn’t happen overnight,” Cheng Huaien said, heart aching at the sight of her. His daughter’s maturity only made him more protective.

“Dad, I’m hungry,” Cheng Yuan quickly changed the subject, “I want noodles.”

“Alright.”

Cheng Huaien quickly prepared a bowl of egg noodle soup, topping it with fresh chives from the corner of their yard. “I’ll stop by the market later and pick up some eggs. Let’s try selling tea eggs.”

“Mm, got it. I’ll stay home and do my homework.”

Cheng Yuan dug into the noodles, savoring the aroma of the golden-fried egg and fresh chives. A simple bowl of noodles, yet it felt so extraordinary. It had been so long since she’d tasted her father’s cooking.

After washing up and hanging her clothes to dry, Cheng Yuan locked the door behind her and headed toward the restaurant.

Something about the restaurant owner still made her uneasy. He wasn’t as easy to deal with as he appeared.

Standing in front of Wangjia Restaurant again, memories of her past life’s humiliation resurfaced. The timing was perfect — with no customers around during off-peak hours, she slipped straight into the kitchen.

“Cheng Huaien, do you think my money grows on trees?” Boss Hu barked.

“Boss Hu, I still have half a month’s wages left. I earned that money myself,” Cheng Huaien said calmly.

Before he could finish, Boss Hu cut him off impatiently, “No money! Who gives half a month’s pay in advance?”

“Boss, I already handed Xiao Zhang over to you,” Cheng Huaien said, grabbing a kitchen knife from the chopping board. “I just want my wages.”

“Put the knife down! Let’s talk this out!” Boss Hu’s voice trembled. He hadn’t expected the usually easygoing Cheng Huaien to act so aggressively. “What are you doing?!”

“I heard everything you said to Xiao Zhang,” Cheng Huaien said coldly. “Either pay me, or I’ll tear this place down.”

There was no trace of hesitation in his eyes. The time for polite negotiation was over.

Cheng Huaien knew exactly what Boss Hu was thinking. His salary was high — after forcing him to bring out Xiao Zhang, Boss Hu wanted to get rid of him without paying up.

In the past, Cheng Huaien had endured in silence, thinking Boss Hu had at least paid his daughter what was due. Only later did he hear that not only had Boss Hu withheld half a month’s wages, but he had also refused to pay altogether. Remembering his daughter’s humiliation made his chest tighten with guilt and regret.

This time, he wouldn’t let it slide.

“You want to rebel? Fine! I’m calling the police!” Boss Hu’s face turned crimson with rage.

“Go ahead. Isn’t demanding my rightful wages as natural as the sun rising?” Cheng Huaien stood tall, the knife still in hand. His righteous anger left everyone afraid to step forward

“You, you…” Boss Hu pointed at him, stammering.

In the end, he had no choice but to pay up.

Cheng Huaien calmly counted the money. “It’s twenty short.”

He earned four hundred yuan a month, so half a month’s salary should have been two hundred. What Boss Hu handed over was only one hundred eighty.

“You haven’t worked the past few days,” Boss Hu tried to argue.

Before he could finish, Cheng Huaien raised the knife slightly. The cold gleam of the blade shut Boss Hu up instantly. Reluctantly, he pulled out another twenty yuan and shoved it at him.

“Here! Now put down the knife!” Boss Hu snapped, but his voice trembled.

“What about the tutoring fee for Xiao Zhang? You promised me sixty yuan.” Cheng Huaien pressed on, unwilling to let him off easily. Although it had been a verbal agreement months ago, he’d fulfilled his end — Xiao Zhang’s grades had improved.

He brandished the knife again. “A man doesn’t go back on his word, right?”

Boss Hu: “……”

Seeing that things were under control, Cheng Yuan quietly slipped away.

Walking home, her mind was a whirl of emotions.

Her father had changed so much. When had he ever been so forceful, so fearless?

Maybe… maybe her rebirth had changed things. Like a butterfly effect, even small actions could ripple outward and change people around her.

But could a person’s personality really change so drastically?

“Yuan Yuan, I bought some pork belly!” Cheng Huaien’s cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts. He returned home carrying the meat proudly. Not only had he gotten his 200 yuan in wages, but also the 60 yuan tuition fee. With some of the money, he’d bought fifty eggs to prepare tea eggs for sale tomorrow.

“Dad, did the boss — who’s always so easy to talk to — willingly pay your wages?” Cheng Yuan asked innocently.

“Yeah. Not only the wages, but he even paid the promised tutoring fee,” Cheng Huaien said, unloading the groceries. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll make tea eggs and sell them at the canning factory or the train station.”

When he entered the kitchen, he noticed it was spotless.

“Yuan Yuan, didn’t I tell you to rest? Your injuries aren’t fully healed yet,” he scolded gently.

“It’s fine. The doctor said light activity would help with my recovery,” Cheng Yuan replied with a smile. Watching her father’s back as he busied himself in the kitchen, she casually said, “Dad, do you remember? When I was little, Jian Lin stole my tea egg, and we got into a huge fight. I even bit him until he cried.”

Cheng Huaien turned around, amused. “Of course I remember! You bit his arm until it bled. You were only eight years old — where did you get that kind of strength?”

“Whose fault was it for stealing my tea egg?” Cheng Yuan grinned even wider.