Chapter 49: Changes Occur
Yiyi nodded directly and said, "Yes, I’m studying with Grandma Jiang’s grandson, and I asked him about some things I didn’t understand."
Seeing her daughter so dedicated, Ding Yuejun beamed with a smile, "It’s good for the two of you to study together. Mom will make some hawthorn cakes for you to take over tomorrow. Since he helped you, you should thank him."
"Okay."
Yiyi nodded with a smile.
After putting things down, Ding Yuejun went to the kitchen. Mo Xiaohong was coming back for dinner tonight, so she had to cook a few more dishes.
However, Mo Xiaohong was in a rather bad mood. Looking at Mo Guowei in front of her, she couldn’t believe it and asked again, "Dad, what do you mean by what you just said? Do you want me to give my monthly salary to Grandma?"
Mo Guowei nodded and said, "Yes, from now on, when you get your salary, give it to your grandma."
Upon hearing this again, Mo Xiaohong laughed out of anger.
"Dad, why should I give my earnings to Grandma? I still have a daughter to raise, and I don’t have extra money to give. If you want to, you give it yourself, don’t drag me into it."
Mo Guowei was very displeased with his eldest daughter’s attitude.
"I know you still have a daughter to raise, so you can bring Shanshan back home. Then you and your daughter can live here."
But Mo Xiaohong refused without even thinking.
"No, both Shanshan and I are with Mom now, so we won’t return. Shanshan doesn’t need your support, and I want to spend my salary myself, not give it to you."
She was already worried about their future living expenses; how could she possibly hand over her salary? If she did, how would her mother and they continue living in the town?
"Mo Xiaohong, I am your father. You should listen to what I say."
Looking deeply into Mo Guowei’s eyes, Mo Xiaohong calmed down. Wasn’t this the father she had known since childhood? In his heart, there was always only Grandpa and Grandma and his younger brother’s family, while she, Yiyi, and her mother were merely optional to him. Now he’s asking her to come back because he wants her salary.
Thinking of this, Mo Xiaohong’s eyes were full of sarcasm, and she firmly said, "I will not go back, and I won’t transfer my household registration back to the Mo family. Shanshan and I will always be with Mom."
After saying this, Mo Xiaohong left without looking back.
Watching Mo Xiaohong leave, Mo Guowei’s face turned dark.
"Mo Xiaohong, stop right there!"
Mo Xiaohong ignored Mo Guowei’s words and didn’t even pause her steps. Since starting to work, her thoughts had changed somewhat. She couldn’t afford to act timid and submissive anymore; otherwise, what would happen to Shanshan? She now had a daughter to raise and couldn’t let her suffer the same way she did.
"This unfilial girl."
Seeing Mo Xiaohong leave quickly, Mo Guowei just felt a pain in his chest.
Recently, nothing had been going smoothly, and the family had become a mess. He couldn’t understand how things had turned out this way when everything used to be so stable.
When Mo Xiaohong arrived home, Yiyi immediately noticed that something was off with her sister’s mood.
"Sister, did something happen? You don’t seem very happy."
Seeing her skinny little sister, Mo Xiaohong resented Mo Guowei even more, "Dad came to see me today."
At these words, Yiyi’s face darkened, "What did he come to see you for?"
"What else could it be? He wanted me to give my salary to Grandma."
"Sister, you didn’t agree, did you?"
Mo Xiaohong quickly shook her head and said, "Of course not. I still have Shanshan to raise, and we need to continue living in town. Everywhere needs money, how could I give it away?"
Hearing this, Yiyi finally calmed down.
"That’s good. Sister, don’t bother with the Mo family anymore."
"Mm."
Mo Xiaohong nodded firmly.
Just then, Mo Shan ran over, "Mom, you’re back!"
"Yes, Mom is back. Was Shanshan good at home today?" As soon as she saw her daughter, Mo Xiaohong’s mood softened, and she smiled.
"Of course, I was good. Grandma said I’m a good child."
Hearing Mo Shan’s childish words, both Yiyi and Mo Xiaohong laughed.
"Time for dinner."
After Ding Yuejun brought out the last bowl of soup, she called everyone for dinner. During the meal, she learned about the incident with Mo Guowei coming to see Mo Xiaohong, and her eyes showed anger too, "Xiaohong, since we’re living on our own now, let’s not deal with them anymore."
"Don’t worry, Mom, I’m clear about this."
Seeing Mo Xiaohong like this, Ding Yuejun felt relieved.
Having moved past this topic, Mo Xiaohong curiously asked Ding Yuejun, "Mom, did you buy the things for embroidery today?"
"I did. I plan to embroider a handkerchief each for you and Yiyi first."
Mo Shan quickly raised her little hand, "Grandma, I want one too."
"Alright, alright, Shanshan will have one too."
Hearing Ding Yuejun say this, Yiyi smiled and said, "Then we’ll be waiting for Mom’s handkerchiefs."
"Okay, I’ll start embroidering tomorrow."
The next day, early in the morning, Mo Xiaohong headed out to work, and Ding Yuejun also got busy. She first made the hawthorn cakes and then organized the embroidery materials to start embroidering handkerchiefs. Meanwhile, Yiyi and Mo Shan took the hawthorn cakes to the Jiang family next door.
"Yiyi, Shanshan, you’re here. Come inside and sit. Xueluo just took out his textbooks, your timing is perfect."
Yiyi entered and saw that Jiang Xueluo was indeed ready to study.
Already knowing that Jiang Xueluo was a student at the town’s top school with consistently excellent grades, Yiyi was surprised to find how diligent he was. This motivated her even more.
Seeing the two focused on their studies, Old Mrs. Jiang took Mo Shan to the yard to pick beans together and later slowly peel grapes to eat. They enjoyed their time together.
"Shanshan."
When Ding Yuejun came over, she saw Mo Shan and Old Mrs. Jiang eating grapes, and she couldn’t help but smile and call out, "Where’s your little aunt?"
"Yue Jun is here. Come over and have some grapes. Yiyi is inside studying with Xueluo."
Upon hearing this, Ding Yuejun quickly waved her hand and said, "Aunt Jiang, I won’t eat. I’m here to call Yiyi and Shanshan home for dinner."
Having heard her voice earlier, Yiyi started packing up to leave, "Classmate Jiang, thank you for today. Your explanations were even more detailed than our teacher’s and really helped me a lot."
"You’re welcome. I should thank you for the hawthorn cakes." Jiang Xueluo quickly waved his hand, saying it was no trouble at all. Helping Yiyi also served as a good review for himself.