bayedsolid Chapter 108 Off-Season Expenses
Chapter 108 Off-Season Expenses
The days slipped by quietly as Tingnan busied herself with homework, practice problems, and running errands. Tingnan didn't consider herself a particularly bright genius; if she wanted to do well in her studies, hard work was indispensable.
"Grandma, does my mother have a close friend who married out of Chu Family Village?" Ting Nan asked Qian Shuzhen after dinner, as she returned home rather late that day.
"Really? Maybe, I don't remember. How did you get so far away?"
“Business hasn’t been so good lately, so I was thinking of going a bit further away.” Now that Song Tingnan has martial arts skills, he’s bolder, and the only thing Qian Shuzhen worries about is that he goes further away.
"It's the off-season now, business must be bad. Why did you come all that way? You're wasting your study time." Hehehe, actually Song Wanli was concerned, but that's just how he talks.
Tingnan ignored him and continued talking to her grandmother: "Grandma, that aunt is a very nice person. She said she knows my mother. When she saw that the food I brought was cold, she changed it for me and even fried an egg."
"Yes, there are many good people in this world!" Qian Shuzhen couldn't remember who it was, but as long as Ting Nan was good to her, that was fine.
"Grandma, that aunt said my eldest uncle should still be alive."
"Who?"
“My uncle on that side is Xiangqian’s biological father, Zheng Yueqiang.”
"Him? He's not dead?"
"Yes, that aunt said that he might have gone abroad with them, to Taiwan or overseas?"
"How could that be? He's just a lowly soldier."
“Impossible. If this man is still alive, he would send a message back home if he has a wife and children.” Qian Shuzhen and Gao Wanli both refused to believe it.
"I don't believe it either!" Ting Nan said, "I just heard about it and wanted to tell you."
Qian Shuzhen glanced at Ting Nan and instructed, "Then don't mention it when you get to your mother's place, lest she keep thinking about it and making things difficult for herself."
"I know, I'm not stupid," Ting Nan muttered. She was indeed stupid, but now she was determined to study hard, especially foreign languages, so that when she grew up she could go out and see the world, find that "Zheng Yueqiang," and see if he was a 'person' or a 'ghost,' giving her mother, older brother, and older sister an explanation. That aunt spoke very seriously, with evidence; she must have reliable information.
It's too early to think about these things now. Let's solve the business problem first. We have a lot of fancy things at home, but not much income.
Grandma's health has deteriorated considerably, and she occasionally needs to take medicine. When the two families eat together, the cost of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar adds up. Uncle Song Wanli feels that his younger sister-in-law, Zhao Xiaojuan, is already pitiful enough, and as the eldest brother, he should bear the burden. The children are also growing up; next year, Mingxiang and Mingli will both be starting first grade, and tuition, paper, and pens will also be an expense.
Since they started eating together, the four brothers, Xiang, Fu, Li, and Cheng, have had fewer conflicts. They've started practicing their basic skills in the mornings, following Ting Nan's lead. This time, Ming Fu is the most obedient. He's energetic and active, which suits him perfectly, and he's making the fastest progress.
Song Mingli doesn't like sports; he only likes reading. He doesn't understand why his mother always stops him from reading. When he asks his grandmother, she stammers and says she doesn't know either. Nan-ge is more reliable; she says she'll tell him when he turns six, which is next year.
Nan Ge also said that studying hard is good, but reading only a little is useless. Studying and going to school isn't just about getting into university, but about learning to think critically and weigh things carefully, without being easily swayed or blindly following others. Song Mingli didn't quite understand, but it seemed to make a lot of sense. What was most heartwarming was that after Nan Ge talked to his mother, she really didn't stop him from reading anymore—typical Nan Ge! Nan Ge even gave him a task—to tutor his mother, Zhao Xiaojuan, in recognizing characters and doing arithmetic every day.
Ting Nan knew perfectly well why Zhao Xiaojuan was stopping Mingli from studying. Mingli was becoming more and more like the person who had left, especially the way he read. But, "Auntie, not all scholars are the same. You have to trust your teachings over the years. Mingli is a sensible and filial child."
"Tingnan, you're a sensible child. Please keep an eye on Mingli and his brother for me." Zhao Xiaojuan trusted Tingnan from the bottom of her heart.
“Auntie, they are my brothers too, of course I will take care of them. Don’t worry, you are the best role model in how to conduct yourself and respect your elders! They won’t go astray.”
"Tingnan, thank you!" Zhao Xiaojuan's voice was a little choked up. Little Tingnan was really heartwarming, always affirming her.
"Aunt, I was thinking that you should follow in the footsteps of Mingli and his brothers and learn from your grandmother! Learn to read and do arithmetic."
"This... Ting Nan, I'm so old, can I even learn it?"
"Auntie, don't be afraid. We won't teach too much at first. Just learn two characters a day, write your own name, and do simple arithmetic. I've also asked Mingli to help you. After you learn with them once, Mingli can teach you the parts you don't understand individually."
"Is this okay? Is he willing?" Zhao Xiaojuan felt inferior when it came to reading and writing; anyone would lose confidence if their husband constantly ridiculed them.
“He readily agreed. While he’s teaching you, it’s like he’s reviewing the material again! Besides, the time he spends tutoring you is precious time for you and your son to be alone together. He’s very happy to do it.”
“This child…” Song Mingli is sensible. His father left home, and his younger siblings are still young. He considers himself the older brother and is very independent. He often helps take care of his younger siblings and rarely clings to them. But he is only five years old. How could he not be attached to his mother?
"Auntie, don't worry, learn as much as you can, we'll all get better and better." After comforting Zhao Xiaojuan, Ting Nan went to discuss business with his uncle, Song Wanli.
"Uncle, your time to be tested has come!"