Chapter 5

It was the guard, Xiao Zhou, who pushed open the slightly ajar door, interrupting Aunt Sun’s tirade.

Xiao Zhou was so stunned by Aunt Sun’s outburst that he appeared numb.

Pei Ji’an stepped in from outside, his expression dark and gloomy. It was only then that Aunt Sun realized the weight of her words, her face turning pale in fear. “I didn’t mean to…” she stammered.

Xiao Zhou quickly closed the door to prevent the others in the courtyard from overhearing and making fun of them. He thought to himself, “What are you even talking about?”

Not to mention anything else, those insults directed at Comrade Lu were truly vicious.

She called her a “burden,” a “worn-out shoe,” and a “a widow bringing bad luck.” What was even more despicable was that she told her to go die. Anyone with a fragile mindset might actually consider taking their own life after hearing such words.

If it weren’t for the fact that the chief had asked to measure the bookshelf and desk for Comrade Lu and returned early today, Comrade Lu wouldn’t even know how long Aunt Sun would continue to bully her.

Pei Ji’an raised his hand to stop Aunt Sun from explaining. His expression was much calmer than before, but Xiao Zhou knew that this meant the chief had already decided how to handle Aunt Sun.

“Aunt Sun,” Pei Ji’an said calmly, “Lu Nong is my like-minded and legitimate wife. She is the mistress of this house. It’s true that she is in her second marriage, but so am I. There is no hierarchy between us. Gu Huai and Pei Zheng are our sons. Raising them is our duty as parents, there is no such thing as a burden. Do you understand?”

Pei Ji’an was clear in his words. He was also in a second marriage, and neither he nor Lu Nong was superior to the other. If Aunt Sun called Lu Nong a worn-out shoe, then what did that make Pei Ji’an, who was also in his second marriage?

“Hey, I know, I won’t say it again.” Aunt Sun nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with expectation as she looked at Pei Ji’an.

Unfortunately, she was destined to be disappointed. Pei Ji’an said calmly, “That’s good. I’ll ask Xiao Zhou to pay you this month’s salary. You don’t have to come here anymore.”

Sister Sun was so shocked that she felt as if the sky was about to fall. “No way, Chief, I was hired by Xiao Zheng’s mother to take care of Xiao Zheng. I have worked hard for this family for more than ten years. Even if I have no credit, I have worked hard. If you fire me, what will happen if this vixen bullies Xiao Zheng in the future? Is this how you treat Xiao Zheng’s mother?”

After saying this, she shot a furious glare at Lu Nong.

Wow, who knew there was still an issue involving Pei Ji’an’s ex-wife? Lu Nong secretly glanced at Pei Ji’an but was caught staring, so she pretended nothing was wrong and quietly looked away.

Pei Ji’an frowned.

Seeing this, Lu Nong thought, could it be that mentioning his ex-wife swayed him after Aunt Sun’s words?

This wouldn’t do, she had already offended Aunt Sun to the core. Aunt Sun was clearly narrow-minded, and if she wasn’t completely dismissed, it would be her and Gu Huai who would have a hard time in this house.

Should she add fuel to the fire?

Lu Nong recalled the tone of the little green teas she had encountered in her previous life and was just about to mimic them when Pei Ji’an spoke calmly, “Over the years, I’ve given you twenty yuan each month for purchasing rice, meat, and vegetables. According to the prices, you shouldn’t have spent that much. The army occasionally provides additional supplies, you’ve never told me what happened to the leftover money.”

“In recent years, while the money hasn’t changed, the dishes on the table have become increasingly sparse. When I’m not home, how do you manage Xiao Zheng’s meals? Just because you don’t say anything doesn’t mean I don’t know.”

He could turn a blind eye, as long as his bottom line wasn’t crossed.

Upon hearing this, even Xiao Zhou’s expression changed as he looked at Aunt Sun with disdain. How could she still have the audacity to claim she was looking out for Xiao Zheng while she pocketed money meant for his meals?

Aunt Sun’s face turned pale as she panicked. She had never expected Pei Ji’an would discover her secretly pocketing money for food. In her desperation, she slammed her thigh and sat on the ground to play the victim.

“I’m suffering! My husband died young, and I’ve worked so hard to raise my son by myself. Now my son is married, and his wife has already given birth to three useless children. We’re so poor we can hardly make ends meet.”

“Chief, please have pity on me and let me keep this job. I promise I won’t do anything unethical again.”

Ah, this… Lu Nong was dumbfounded. This turn of events was completely unexpected. This wasn’t just someone using their age to exert influence, this was akin to raising a fat rat.

What astonished her even more was that Aunt Sun, who had acted so superior just a few days ago, now rolled on the ground in desperation.

It was ridiculous, even country folk didn’t throw tantrums at the slightest trouble.

Xiao Zhou couldn’t hold back anymore. “Didn’t you say last year, when you asked the chief to help your son get a job, that your son worked for the transport team and your daughter-in-law was a factory worker? Both of them have jobs, yet you can’t support three children?”

In this day and age, which family didn’t have three or four kids? It was common for families to have seven or eight. The more children, the easier they were to raise. As long as they had food, they could survive.

So, for a family with two working adults, raising three kids would be better off than the average family.

Aunt Sun was momentarily speechless. However, when Xiao Zhou mentioned her son’s job, she immediately threw her guilt aside.

After all these years working like a slave for the Pei family, how could Pei Ji’an not help her with even such a small matter? Was it wrong to take a little something for herself?

But she couldn’t voice that, so Aunt Sun stammered, “Well, my daughter-in-law is just a temporary worker, right? She doesn’t make much money.”

“Just because you don’t have money doesn’t mean you can steal,” Xiao Zhou threatened, “If you don’t leave, I’ll send you to a labor camp.”

Lu Nong looked at Xiao Zhou appreciatively. This young man had potential.

When Aunt Sun heard she might be sent to a labor camp, she panicked completely, fearing that further entanglement would expose more of her wrongdoings. She hurriedly got up from the ground and said, “No, I was wrong. I’ll leave right now.”

Xiao Zhou stepped aside to let her out, saying, “Go on, I’ll see you out.”

Aunt Sun left in a huff. She had initially planned to go out to buy groceries, so she had money and a bag with her. Xiao Zhou was clever and directly deducted her salary for this month from the money she had brought with her, even getting back three yuan.

Only Pei Ji’an and Lu Nong were left in the room. Pei Ji’an looked at Lu Nong with an unreadable expression. Lu Nong felt uneasy under his gaze, not understanding why he was looking at her that way.

After a long time, Pei Ji’an said slowly, “What I told Aunt Sun just now is true. You are my wife, and Xiao Huai is my son. I have never looked down on you or Xiao Huai.”

Just as Lu Nong was about to be moved, Pei Ji’an continued, “In the future, there’s no need to play any tricks. Such actions are beneath us. If there’s anything, you can tell me directly.”

After finishing his words, it seemed he wanted to give Lu Nong some time to reflect, so he turned and went straight upstairs.

Damn it, you are the inferior one, you are the one who is doing the dirty work, this is clearly an open conspiracy! An open conspiracy!

Is this old man trying to teach her a lesson as if she were his son?

Lu Nong was furious, her eyes wide open, her cheeks flushed with anger. The blush enhanced her beauty, making her look even more like a peach blossom than the makeup she had applied in the morning.

“Haha…” Pei Zheng, who happened to witness the whole scene, couldn’t help but chuckle at her misfortune.

Lu Nong: “…”

“Why didn’t you come out just now?” Lu Nong asked, knowing full well he had been home the entire time. With Aunt Sun’s loud voice, he must have heard everything.

As if realizing something, Lu Nong’s expression changed. “What about Xiao Huai? Did he hear anything?”

Pei Zheng rubbed his nose, feeling a bit uncomfortable. “Xiao Huai is asleep.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Nong sighed in relief.

“I thought you were quite clever. How could you ask me such a foolish question?” To shift the topic from him, a grown man, coaxing a child to sleep, Pei Zheng leaned against the staircase and mocked Lu Nong from above. “If I had come out, how would you have gotten rid of her?”

Lu Nong looked at Pei Zheng intently, as if seeing him for the first time.

Pei Zheng shivered, feeling the goosebumps rise. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“I see you’re not just a guy who knows how to eat and drink all day. You actually have some cleverness too,” Lu Nong pretended to be impressed.

This remark was clearly a retaliation for Pei Zheng’s earlier mockery of her for asking a foolish question.

In truth, Lu Nong thought to herself that during these days spent with Pei Zheng, his proud, somewhat naive, and soft-hearted personality was completely different from the cold and serious demeanor of the mature male lead from the novels.

However, today’s events made her feel as if she could glimpse the common traits of the future Pei Zheng, who would have experienced the trials of life: clever, cunning, and decisive.

She couldn’t understand where Aunt Sun got her confidence, thinking she could toy with Pei Ji’an and Pei Zheng as if they were fools. Just Pei Zheng alone was not someone she could easily fool.

“You!”

Pei Zheng straightened up, angry and ready to retort at Lu Nong, but just then, Pei Ji’an walked out of the study, glanced at Pei Zheng, and said to Lu Nong, “Come to the study.”

Lu Nong stuck her tongue out at Pei Zheng and followed Pei Ji’an into the study.

“According to the layout of the study, there are two spots where the desk can be placed. One to the east and another here,” Pei Ji’an pointed to the space next to his desk.

“Where do you want to place the desk?”

Lu Nong naturally wanted it in the east. It had more space, and a bigger desk would fit better there. Most importantly, who wanted to be cramped next to Pei Ji’an?

She finally realized that this old man was a conservative man!

Why is it that when a man schemes, it’s seen as intelligence and cunning, but when a woman schemes, it’s just seen as being manipulative?

Even in modern times, there are plenty of straightforward men and women who appreciate a little green tea.

Thinking this, Lu Nong felt a bit disheartened. There was such a gap between their eras that their worldviews simply couldn’t align.

Sigh, dealing with men really seemed to lead nowhere.

“Let’s put it in the east,” Lu Nong said with little enthusiasm.

Although Pei Ji’an didn’t understand why Lu Nong suddenly seemed deflated, he noticed through their interaction yesterday that she was a quick thinker and didn’t press the matter further.

“Alright.”

After finalizing the study arrangements, Lu Nong went downstairs, leaving Pei Ji’an to measure the dimensions.

As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, the wall clock chimed twelve times, signaling lunchtime. Just then, Aunt Sun had just been sent away, and Lu Nong and Pei Zheng exchanged looks. Pei Zheng spoke first, “You are a woman and a mother. How can you not cook?”

Lu Nong rolled her eyes and extended her delicate hand, which looked almost translucent under the light. “Do I look like someone who can cook? And why should women be expected to cook anyway?”

Pei Zheng was speechless.

At that moment, Pei Ji’an came downstairs. After listening to their exchange for a bit, he rolled up his sleeves and entered the kitchen.

In the kitchen, he moved back and forth gracefully, his tall figure working methodically, as if nothing in the world could faze him.

“Problem solved,” Lu Nong said happily.

Pei Zheng shot her a disdainful look.

…

Meanwhile, Aunt Sun, having left the courtyard, grew increasingly resentful. Working for the Pei family was actually quite easy. Pei Zheng and Pei Ji’an did their own laundry, and all she had to do was cook and clean, earning fifteen yuan a month.

Now that she had lost this job, where could she find such a good opportunity again? Returning home in such a disgraceful manner, her troublesome daughter-in-law would surely have something snide to say.

Aunt Sun regretted her harsh words.

It was all Lu Nong’s fault for being such a little troublemaker.

Aunt Sun thought fiercely. No, she couldn’t let this little fox get away with it. An idea suddenly popped into her mind.