Chapter 41: Having a Good Mother
Zhu Xianju was much more amiable than Guo Xuyang. At the very least, they could communicate normally.
Lin Wan was now certain that the attitude and innate hostility the male and female leads held toward her were irreversible. It was entirely due to the original book’s settings. Since that was the case, she wouldn’t force things. As the saying went, soldiers would be blocked by generals, and water would be covered by earth.
While they were eating, Zhu Xianju first asked about Lin Wan’s current job situation. Lin Wan had nothing to hide, so she answered truthfully.
“I belong to an external unit. I happened to learn about the recruitment notice by pure chance and went to register. I didn’t expect to score first place in both the written exam and the interview, so I was accepted.”
Zhu Xianju was rather surprised. In her son’s mouth, this girl Lin Wan was a completely useless fool and an absolute villain. But from what she could see, that wasn’t the case at all. This young girl Lin Wan was both smart and beautiful. She found ways to resolve everything on her own without relying on anyone. She wasn’t like Zhang Qin, who did nothing but cry.
Furthermore, no matter which way one looked at it, Zhang Qin couldn’t compare to Lin Wan at all. Hearing her son claim that Lin Wan had once forced Zhang Qin to yield him to her… Sigh, why didn’t she just yield him over!
“Comrade Lin Wan, since you already possess a job, who exactly did you demand that supply and marketing cooperative shop assistant position for?”
Lin Wan: “My mom!”
“My mom is still young!”
“I believe a woman ought to possess a job. Only with a job can she remain economically independent instead of relying on others.”
“Only then can she truly straighten her spine.”
“After all, a woman’s sacrifices at home are invisible to others. My mom married Uncle Zhang, and even though she manages the whole family’s life flawlessly so that not a single person has to worry, allowing them to focus entirely on their work—in everyone else’s eyes, my mom is still just a remarried widow bringing a dependent child to latch onto Uncle Zhang like a blood-sucking leech.”
“It’s as if the chores my mom does, and the time, energy, and labor she sacrifices for that household, simply do not exist.”
Hearing this, Zhu Xianju felt a highly complicated wave of emotion. She could deeply resonate with Lin Wan’s words. She hadn’t expected a young person like Lin Wan to possess such robust awareness, seeing straight to the core of the matter.
“Your mother is truly fortunate to have a daughter like you!” she couldn’t help but sigh. Sigh, why didn’t she spawn such a considerate daughter herself?
Lin Wan said, “Auntie, my mom has sacrificed far too much for me. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have remarried either. What I can do for my mom is still far too little.”
Zhu Xianju replied, “The job won’t be an issue. If everything goes smoothly, it can be processed tomorrow.”
“Mm, let’s make it tomorrow afternoon.”
“Tomorrow afternoon at two o’clock, wait at the entrance of the city supply and marketing cooperative.”
Lin Wan was equally decisive: “Alright, Auntie!”
“The moment my mom completes the onboarding procedures, I will go to the police station to withdraw the case.”
“But Auntie, let me put the ugly words first: if this matter ends up affecting Comrade Guo Xuyang’s future in the military, you cannot blame me.”
“I truly didn’t want to blow this matter out of proportion, but your son was completely relentless. No matter what I said or did, he refused to believe me.”
“He insisted on viewing me as a villain to speculate on everything I did. I was driven to absolute wits’ end by him.”
“To restore my own innocence, I could only rely on the power of the public security.”
Since Comrade Huang Guixiang was going to work within the commercial system, it was best not to let relationships turn completely sour if it could be avoided. Guo Xuyang and his family could be separated. At the very least, his family members were clear-headed.
Zhu Xianju nodded with a smile. “Rest assured, as long as you withdraw the case, I won’t pin the other matters on your head.”
“Auntie says sorry to you once again. I failed to teach my son well.”
Lin Wan shook her head. “Auntie, it’s not your fault. The fact that Comrade Guo Xuyang managed to become a deputy company commander, and that your other two sons are also highly exceptional, is more than enough to prove that there is absolutely nothing wrong with your and Uncle’s education.”
“Don’t gather your children’s problems onto yourself. They are already adults, and adults ought to be responsible for their own actions. It truly cannot be blamed on the parents.”
Zhu Xianju worked within the educational system, so she was originally highly skilled at conducting ideological and political work. She hadn’t anticipated that this young girl was even better at it than she was. Furthermore, every single word struck right at her heartstrings.
She sighed, “A parent worries about their child for a hundred years, harboring anxiety for ninety-nine. Who told us to be the parents!”
Before parting, she handed an envelope to Lin Wan. “This is a token of gratitude for you. Thank you for saving Xuyang!”
“At that time, if you hadn’t delivered him to the hospital, the consequences would have been unthinkable!”
Back then, the third son had already registered his certificate. Rolling around with another woman would constitute improper sexual conduct, which could get someone sent straight to the firing squad. Zhu Xianju had come to dissolve the animosity and resolve the issue, so she didn’t mind giving a bit extra to handle the matter beautifully, explicitly to ensure the other party’s grievances were entirely dispelled.
Upon returning home, Zhu Xianju discussed Lin Wan with Guo Yongnian.
“…She is a highly decent comrade. Xuyang’s prejudice against her runs far too deep, likely influenced by Zhang Qin.”
“Old Guo, we absolutely cannot let Zhang Qin accompany the military yet. I see that the moment Xuyang gets together with her, he turns completely brainless.”
“If he acts this brainless while in the military, I’m afraid he will commit a severe mistake.”
Guo Yongnian was astonished. “I hadn’t expected you to hold such a high evaluation of Comrade Lin Wan.”
“I thought you would blame her for harming your son.”
Zhu Xianju rolled her eyes. “Beat it. Am I the type of person who can’t distinguish right from wrong?”
“Regarding this whole matter, your son was the one who was completely relentless!”
“The young girl had already spelled everything out clearly, yet he charged in like a madman just to harm her!”
“Just look at the job matter—if he had gone to apologize sincerely without playing tricks, how could any of the subsequent events have occurred!”
“Not to mention the young girl actually saved his life before!”
“Marrying an unvirtuous wife brings disaster upon three generations!” Zhu Xianju shook her head.
Guo Yongnian let out a sigh. “Children and grandchildren are nothing but debts!”
Lin Wan returned home. The entire family had already finished dinner.
Zhang Hongqiang’s eyes sparkled as he stared intently at Lin Wan’s canvas military satchel. Like a little monkey, he followed her straight into her bedroom. Huang Guixiang followed her inside as well.
The door shut tight.
Zhong Hongmei whispered to Bao Yan, “Did you catch that? She went out to eat a solo meal!”
“The bag Lin Wan is carrying has the distinct outline of aluminum lunchboxes.”
“Let’s not even talk about us, but eating a solo meal without bringing anything for Dad is truly a bit too much!”
“Keep in mind that Dad has been supporting them for so many years.”
Bao Yan felt envious and irritated, but what could she possibly do?
Inside Lin Wan’s room.
Lin Wan pulled out three lunchboxes. There were the fried dough sticks from the morning, as well as the roast chicken packed at noon and the braised pork packed in the evening.
“Hurry up and eat!” She handed chopsticks to Huang Guixiang and Zhang Hongqiang.
“Sis, you’re the best!” Zhang Hongqiang wrapped his arms around Lin Wan’s leg, looking up at her face in pure excitement. Ahhh! He was so incredibly blissful! His sister had brought him meat to eat again! Meat! And fried dough sticks too!!! He was currently the most blissful younger brother in the entire family compound!
Lin Wan rubbed his head. “Hurry up and eat!”
Then she picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and fed it directly to Huang Guixiang’s mouth. “Mom, hurry and eat, it’s still hot!”
Huang Guixiang quickly bit into it. Oh my, she was finally starting to enjoy her daughter’s blessings! Old Lin, do you see this? Our daughter is so filial. It’s a pity you died far too early…
“Leave a bit for your Uncle Zhang!” Huang Guixiang instructed Lin Wan to empty out the lunchbox that held the dough sticks, and then transferred a portion of the braised pork and roast chicken over.
Once Huang Guixiang and Zhang Hongqiang finished eating, Lin Wan informed Huang Guixiang about the job placement.
Huang Guixiang was completely flabbergasted. What the hell? Her daughter had secured a supply and marketing cooperative shop assistant position for her? An ecstatic heart! Trembling hands! She was actually going to be someone with a permanent job too?
“Split the household!”
“Immediately, right this instant, split the household!”
