Free Web NovelChapter 436: Chapter 436: A Petty Person’s Mind
"I really don’t want to take their calls," Grandpa said, looking vexed. He clearly didn’t want to deal with any of it.
Tan You gave him an idea. "How about this? We’ll go to town for dinner with Mom and Dad tonight. You can give them a heads-up, and when we get back home, we’ll just unplug the phone line. Besides, Grandpa, you have a cell phone. If someone really wants to find you, they’ll find a way."
"Perfect. I bought two family buckets, so Mom and Dad can try them too." She thought of how Cheng Wenhui and Tan Lin had walked past fast-food places like this countless times, never willing to spend the money to go inside, and her heart ached a little.
Tan Deming thought about it and agreed. "True. If Tan Zhen wants to get information, she’ll have to come to the house to do it."
"Besides, your dad is pretty stingy. Even if Tan Zhen tries to get something out of him, she won’t be able to squeeze out much."
Tan You found this amusing. "You’re not worried he’ll get mad, you talking about him like that?"
Tan Deming was unconcerned. "It’s not like I live with him. What do I care if he’s happy or not?"
The four of them chatted idly all the way to town. Since Tan Yue had only been here once before, she wasn’t familiar with the place and simply followed in Tan You and Tan Deming’s footsteps.
As for her little suitcase, she kept a firm grip on it. When Tan Deming offered to push it for her, Tan Yue refused.
Tan Lin was at home, busy with dinner. Now that he no longer had to brave the elements for work, his biggest pastimes were listening to the radio and honing his cooking skills. As for going out to brag to the neighbors, Tan Lin wasn’t the type to show off.
’Stepping outside her role as his child, Tan You tried to identify Tan Lin’s good qualities. To be honest, there were very, very few.’
He had just put a pig’s head into a large pot when he heard a knock on the door. Tan Lin wiped his hands and went to get it. ’Nobody ever comes to visit,’ he thought. With that in mind, he walked over, and as soon as he opened the door, a little cannonball shot past him into the courtyard.
He then saw his father and two daughters standing outside. Tan Lin stepped aside slightly. "Why didn’t you call first? And you brought a suitcase?"
Tan Deming said, "We were passing by on our way back anyway, so we stopped in to tell you something. Tan You’s military training at school starts tomorrow. We went into the city today to buy a few things and ran into Little Qin and Chen Chen."
Tan Lin wasn’t stupid. On the contrary, he was particularly sharp when it came to matters of personal gain and social politics. "You’re worried Tan Zhen will go back and ask questions?"
"Mhm," Tan You hummed. She didn’t care what Tan Deming or Tan Lin said, as long as Tan Zhen’s family left her alone. ’It’s such a shame I’m not an adult yet,’ she thought with regret.
’If I were an adult, I could handle everything myself instead of having Grandpa run interference for me.’
"I’ve thought it over. The neighbors probably don’t know that Tan You bought you this house. From now on, just say you bought it yourselves and that it has nothing to do with me," Tan Deming explained clearly. "If I get dragged into it, Tan Zhen will just accuse me of favoritism."
Tan Lin nodded. "I know. I’ll just say her mom and I bought the house here specifically to make it easier for the little one to go to school. I can also say she borrowed a lot from her family. That will give us a good story."
Tan Deming didn’t care what story Tan Lin told outsiders. As long as the matter didn’t involve Tan You, he couldn’t be bothered with the rest.
"Right, I’m unplugging the landline when I get back. If you need anything, just call my cell phone," Tan Deming added, remembering Tan You’s idea.
"Got it. We’re not far from the old house anyway, so if anything comes up, I can just go back and tell you in person." Tan Lin smiled. "Tan You, would it be okay if I went back to pick some vegetables? You have to pay for everything in town."
Tan You was indifferent. "Grandma’s the one who takes care of the garden. If she agrees, I have no objection."
Then Tan You added with some surprise, "Didn’t I give you a salary? Do you have to be so cheap?"
Tan Lin had his own justification. "You have to save where you can. It’s not like we’re some super-rich family. When I go back, I’ll bring a few pounds of meat, so I’m not just taking your grandma’s vegetables for free."
Tan You said, "Suit yourself. Anyway, since I’m here today, there’s something I need to inform you about."
Hearing Tan You’s tone, Tan Lin immediately sat up straight. "Go on."
Tan You said, "After military training, I don’t plan on living in the dorms. I’m not used to living with other people. I need you two to go and rent a room for me near the school..."
Tan Lin instinctively shot back, "You’re not going to live here? We have a room for you."
Tan You gave him a smirk. "No thanks. If I live here, who’s in charge? You or me?"
Tan Lin was instantly silenced. ’Oh, right. She’s not just my daughter anymore. She’s my breadwinner, my boss. If the boss lives at home, who do I listen to?’
Tan You continued, "There’s faculty housing near the school, and they also rent some units to students, but there aren’t many. Go and ask around for me. Try to rent one. Living closer to the teachers will be more convenient for my studies."
Tan Lin knew this task would definitely fall to him. Cheng Wenhui was working at the garment factory now; how would she have time for this? So he immediately puffed out his chest. "I’ll go ask around tomorrow. The food during military training at your school is probably terrible. How about I bring you meals?"
Tan You looked at him with a hint of surprise. "You’re... that generous?"
Tan Lin’s eyes widened. "I’m still your dad, you know! It’s perfectly normal for me to want you to eat well, isn’t it?"
"I almost forgot you were my dad," Tan You said, waving her hand dismissively. "Forget it. It’s too hot to go to all that trouble. If you really want to help, just bring a few barrels of purified water to my dorm tomorrow. Grandpa’s not in good health, so he can’t do that kind of manual labor."
"No problem! What time tomorrow? Before eight?" Having found a way to be useful, Tan Lin was clearly in a good mood.
Tan You said, "I think I have to be at school by seven, and training officially starts in the afternoon. Before noon should be fine. Grandpa will contact you with the details."
After giving all these instructions, Tan You checked the time. "Shouldn’t Mom be getting off work? I thought she doesn’t work overtime on Wednesdays."
Tan Lin replied, "That’s right. She doesn’t work overtime on Wednesday or Saturday nights. Usually, she gets back around nine. The hours are long, but at least it’s not like before when she was out in the elements. This is much easier."
Tan You said, "Don’t let her work too hard. I’m not expecting her to earn a lot of money, just enough to raise Tan Yue."
"That won’t do. A person needs to have ambition." Cheng Wenhui pushed open the screen door and came inside. "Why didn’t you call ahead? I could have bought some groceries on my way home."
Tan You sniffed the air. "I can already smell the braised meat. This is more than enough."
Cheng Wenhui went to the kitchen to wash her hands, then noticed the two suitcases in the living room. "What’s this?"
Tan Lin had already explained things for Tan You, and while he was at it, he also mentioned her plan to live off-campus after school started. Cheng Wenhui didn’t say anything, just lowered her eyes and continued washing her hands. Tan You knew she wanted to have a serious talk with her later.
’Perhaps in Cheng Wenhui’s eyes, now that their lives had improved, the family should all live together in happy harmony.’
