Chapter 428 - 362: A Huge Blame Fell on My Sister Rong’s Head
When Rong Yan came out, she found that her parents had already left with those three people.
She had intended to take the three of them over herself.
But now that everyone had left, what was the point in going?
Seeing that Qin Mei hadn’t gotten up yet, she went to Qin Mei’s room.
After checking Qin Mei’s pulse again to make sure there was no problem, she simply walked out.
Breakfast wasn’t made.
Guessing that her parents might be back later, she decided to just go out and buy some breakfast.
Street food stalls were allowed now, and there were quite a few people selling breakfast.
Each one made pretty good stuff.
So, eating out was just as good.
She bought soy milk, deep-fried dough sticks, meat buns, and glutinous rice cakes.
Carrying them, she walked home.
Just as she entered the alleyway, she ran into Song Xiuxiu.
"Sister Rong, you’re buying breakfast?"
Rong Yan nodded, "Yes, where are you off to?"
"I was introduced to a temporary job yesterday, sorting some books at the library, which I can do until the school term starts." That way, I can earn some living expenses.
Having some money in hand is good.
Rong Yan: "That’s nice."
Song Xiuxiu smiled, "Indeed, I think so too. It’s too hard to find jobs in the city now, and many of the intellectual youth who have returned to the city don’t have jobs."
As a large number of the intellectual youth returned to the cities, job positions didn’t increase proportionally.
Even temporary work was highly sought after.
"Then off you go!" Rong Yan didn’t want to delay anyone’s work time.
Song Xiuxiu nodded. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something, "Sister Rong, someone here is spreading rumors that you’re abusing your sister-in-law!"
Rong Yan: ...?
"What do you mean ’abusing my sister-in-law’?" She recognized the words, but the combined meaning was lost on her. Was it what she was thinking?
"It’s... some people are spreading that you’re abusing Qin Mei, not letting her go out to play or eat... They say you make her stand while eating and that all the chores at home are done by Qin Mei, not letting her rest for a minute..."
Rong Yan: ...?
What the hell? Who dumped such a big pot on her head so early in the morning?
"They are painting you as the ultimate evil sister-in-law, while Qin Mei is the most pitiful little cabbage, saying that in the scorching heat...you lay down while making the poor girl stand and fan you."
Rong Yan got the picture.
She knew who had spread these rumors.
Wasn’t it just that brawny aunt who came to her house... didn’t she just happen to see Qin Mei waving a fan for her?
"I’ll find out later who started the rumors, but I have to go to work now." Song Xiuxiu really wanted to help, but her job was obtained through a favor, and if she didn’t show up or was late on her first day, it would inevitably affect the person who helped her get the job.
Rong Yan: "It’s fine, I don’t care about it, go to work! Besides, I know who it is."
Hearing that Rong Yan knew, Song Xiuxiu did not ask further, mainly because she was running late.
"Alright, then I’m off."
She left quickly.
Rong Yan also carried her breakfast towards her home.
Then, Li Juan came out through the main gate and looked at Rong Yan with disdain.
Rong Yan: ...
She was not someone to tolerate such attitude, "Keep looking, do you want to keep your eyeballs?"
Li Juan’s face looked terribly ugly. She wanted to retort but suddenly thought of something and backed into the yard with a dark expression.
Rong Yan watched the retreating figure and couldn’t help but arch an eyebrow; this wasn’t like her?
But she didn’t investigate further, because with fewer words from that woman, she felt instantly refreshed, as if the air around her had cleared.
That’s how people are, otherwise, if she wasn’t tough and not easily provoked, she probably would have had her morning ruined.
Back at her own place, Qin Mei had already woken up.
"Sister-in-law!"
"Do you feel dizzy?" Rong Yan asked.
Qin Mei felt a bit puzzled by her sister-in-law’s question, "I’m not dizzy at all!"
Rong Yan smiled, thinking to herself how blissfully ignorant the child was... which was good!
"Have you brushed your teeth and washed your face?"
Qin Mei nodded swiftly, "Mhm, I’ve washed."
"Alright, then let’s go have breakfast first. I’ve bought quite a few things, all pretty good."
Rong Yan placed the breakfast on the stone table.
Qin Mei walked over.
Rong Yan handed her the soy milk, then gave her a pork bun, "Take whatever else you want to eat. This rice cake is not bad, soft and sticky, try it later."
Qin Mei obediently responded, "Okay." Then she asked another question, "Sister-in-law, where did Auntie go? I didn’t see them this morning. Did they go to buy groceries?"
"Mhm, three thieves broke in last night, and they’ve been caught. They went to take the thief to the police station." Rong Yan left out the part about Miyi Yan.
A girl couldn’t be raised to be a frail princess.
Otherwise, she would end up without any resilience whatsoever.
Sigh, Rong Yan found that raising children was a huge subject... and definitely not easy.
Qin Mei was shocked to hear that thieves had broken in, and three at that.
"Are you scared?" Rong Yan looked at her, "Don’t be afraid, they were just dumb thieves, caught right away, and now they’re in the police station!"
"I... I’m not scared."
Rong Yan raised an eyebrow; her voice was trembling, yet she claimed not to be scared.
But a little tremble was okay; tremble more often, and after a while... she won’t tremble anymore.
"Mhm, there’s indeed no need to be scared, let’s eat breakfast first. Later, we’ll go to the streets and consider buying a dog to guard the house."
Her idea was, after all, in sync with her father’s.
When Qin Mei heard about getting a dog, her eyes lit up considerably.
Shyly expressing her fondness, "Puppies are great!"
"Right, dogs are great, after all, they are man’s best friend. Now, let’s eat breakfast."
Upon Rong Yan’s comment, Qin Mei stopped talking.
She ate a bit quicker today.
Rong Yan had a good appetite and thought that occasionally not eating what mom made... was quite nice too.
Just as they finished breakfast and were about to go out, a knock on the door was heard.
Qin Mei ran out to open the door first and found her older cousin standing outside.
"Cousin..."
Qin Zhen looked at her to see her normal complexion, "Is your sister-in-law at home?"
Qin Mei nodded, "She is."
"I’m looking for her." Qin Zhen walked in.
Rong Yan was somewhat surprised to see him, "What brings you here?"
"I heard about the break-in by a thief last night?"
"You’re pretty well-informed."
"Of course, I am. Don’t forget what Qi Yan does for a living." Qin Zhen looked at her, "Your sister-in-law is quite impressive, huh!"
"Is it your first day knowing me?" The two of them had even teamed up in a fight before.
Qin Zhen was taken aback by her retort.
Rong Yan looked at him, "You didn’t come here especially for this, did you?"
Qin Zhen certainly had more reasons than this for coming. He said with a smile, "There’s more. Our big neighborhood courtyard... is spreading rumors that you are mistreating your sister-in-law!"
Rong Yan: ...
Good lord, if this went on any longer, would she become famous throughout the entire city?