Chapter 28: Getting Ready for Work

Wen Jianguo, brimming with confidence after a stroll that garnered envious glances from everyone, pushed his bicycle home.

“Xiaochao, did you leave my dinner in the pot?” Wen Jianguo asked as he parked his bike.

Tian Xiaochao looked at the sky, then at the ground, pointedly avoiding Wen Jianguo’s gaze, pretending not to hear.

Wen Jianguo went into the kitchen and lifted the pot lid. The bottom of the pot was completely empty, not even a drop of water remained.

Well… Xiaochao must have been considerate, not wanting him to wash dishes after work, Wen Jianguo thought. He turned and opened the dresser, only to find it empty as well.

After checking every lid and cabinet, Wen Jianguo had to accept that there was no dinner left in the kitchen.

“Xiaochao, where’s my dinner?” Wen Jianguo rushed out of the kitchen, clutching his rumbling stomach.

Tian Xiaochao was about to explain when Cui Yulan, arms crossed, glanced at Wen Jianguo disdainfully. “Oh, you remember you need to eat now?”

“Mom, even a fool knows they need to eat,” Wen Jianguo mumbled.

“Then you, Wen Jianguo, are even worse than a fool, not even eating dinner,” Cui Yulan retorted, hands on her hips, sneering.

Wen Jianguo was stunned, realizing from her tone that he wasn’t getting dinner tonight.

Thinking quickly, he explained with a grin, “No, Mom, I was familiarizing myself with the roads, so I can take Xiaomei to town tomorrow.”

“Don’t try to fool me, were you in town just now?” Cui Yulan asked sternly, knowing her son’s every move.

Wen Jianguo’s heart fluttered. “I… I was just familiarizing myself with the village roads first.”

Seeing her brother struggling to explain, Wen Wan stepped in. “Mom, don’t scold Big Brother. The more he practices, the less likely we are to fall tomorrow. Imagine, if we fall on the way to town, we’ll be covered in dirt – how embarrassing!”

Cui Yulan tapped Wen Wan’s forehead playfully. “Alright, alright, you siblings do as you please. I won’t interfere.”

Seeing Cui Yulan calm down, Tian Xiaochao got up, pulled Wen Jianguo back to the room, and lifted the lid of a bowl covered by a winnowing basket. “Eat.”

“Wife, I knew you were the only one in the family who cared about me, you wouldn’t let me go hungry,” Wen Jianguo said, his eyes welling up with emotion.

Tian Xiaochao said sarcastically, “Mom said you were already foolish enough, and starving you would make you even more foolish, so she agreed to leave some for you.”

She thought her mother was right today. Jianguo was being unreasonable; even with dinner on the table, he had to go show off, and he deserved this lesson.

Wen Jianguo chuckled sheepishly, picking up his bowl and gobbling down his food. He was starving.

In the next room.

“Xiaowan, will the radio get damaged if we don’t use it?” Cui Yulan worried.

Wen Wan’s eyes twinkled. “Mom, the radio needs to be used; it’ll break if it’s just left there.”

Whether it would break or not, she said it would. Otherwise, Mom would probably keep it until she got married.

“Then I’ll give it to you later, you can keep it in your room,” Cui Yulan agreed softly.

Wen Wan shook her head. “Mom, let’s keep the radio in the main room, so anyone who wants to listen can.”

Hearing this, Wen Dafu, smoking a cigarette, his eyes lit up, thinking he could listen to some storytelling after dinner.

“No, the radio is precious. If we keep it in the main room, with everyone coming and going, what if it gets broken?” Cui Yulan immediately rejected the idea.

Wen Dafu nodded. “Yulan, you’re right, we can’t keep it in the main room.”

“Mom and Dad, let’s keep the radio in your room; we can get it whenever we want to use it,” Wen Wan decided.

She spent her days working in her space, so she didn’t have time to listen to the radio, and she wasn’t interested in the current entertainment programs anyway.

After Wen Jianguo finished eating.

Wen Wan, while everyone was present, mentioned her idea of setting up a stall.

“Wen Wan, speculation and profiteering are illegal; you absolutely cannot do that,” Cui Yulan said anxiously, her forehead sweating, strongly opposing the idea.

Wen Wan looked at the other three who remained silent. “Dad, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, what do you think?”

Wen Jianguo was about to agree when Tian Xiaochao pulled his sleeve, signaling that Mom was angry.

“Dad, Mom, when I went to town today, I noticed that there are so many stalls selling things, it’s like bamboo shoots after a rain,” Wen Wan calmly added.

Wen Dafu coughed twice. “Xiaowan, if you want to set up a stall, I ask, what will you sell?”

“Wen Dafu, I don’t agree,” Cui Yulan’s eyes widened, as if she was about to burst into flames.

Wen Dafu patted Cui Yulan’s hand. “My dear wife, calm down, Xiaowan is discussing it with us.”

Now that their daughter had this idea, they couldn’t simply reject it; their daughter might rebel and do it behind their backs, which would be even more worrying.

“Dad, Mom, think about it, why did the country restore the college entrance examination last year? It was to select talented people for the country. Our country needs to develop, and it will definitely relax policies, allowing everyone to earn a living through their own abilities,” Wen Wan calmly explained.

Wen Jianguo nodded in agreement. “Xiaowan, I think we can do it.”

Tian Xiaochao also nodded in agreement. She thought her sister-in-law’s idea was good and feasible.

“No, I don’t agree,” After listening to Wen Wan’s comprehensive analysis, Cui Yulan still stubbornly refused.

Making money was important, but her daughter and son were precious to her. If anything happened to them, it would break her heart.

Wen Wan looked at Wen Dafu for help. Dad, please persuade Mom.

Wen Dafu shook his head slightly. Daughter, don’t say any more. Your mother might really get angry.

“Xiaowan, the family’s safety and well-being is the greatest wealth. We’re all earning money now, and we have enough,” Cui Yulan held Wen Wan’s hand, earnestly persuading her.

Wen Wan slumped her shoulders, wishing she had just talked to her brother.

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Wen Wan looked dejected, completely lacking energy.

The sky grew darker, and a quietness fell over the land.

“Ahem… everyone, go back to your rooms and sleep,” Wen Dafu stood up and urged everyone to go to bed.