Free Web NovelChapter 438: Chapter 438: Probing for Information
"That’s for your spending money. If you give it to Tan Zhen, I’ll stop giving you money," Tan You said, her voice growing a little louder. "Grandpa, you need to keep an eye on her."
"Don’t worry, no one is getting their hands on my eldest granddaughter’s money." Tan Deming played along with Tan You. "That’s money you worked hard for. How could we let someone else take it? Tan Zhen’s family runs a cake shop and sells incense and fireworks. They earn plenty, but they’ve never brought anything back for the family."
"I promise I won’t give her any money," Wang Hunv chimed in. "Her family has a cake shop, but they’ve never brought anything like that home. The first cake I ever ate was one Tan You made for me."
"Unbelievably stingy."
Tan You laid it all out on the table. "It’s good that you understand. The village tradition may be for sons to care for their parents, but that’s not what the law says. Daughters have that obligation too. If you show favoritism toward Tan Zhen, I have no problem sending you to live with her."
"I’ll give you some money for living expenses each month, but I won’t be responsible for anything else..."
"I’m not going," Wang Hunv refused flatly. "I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here at home. If Tan Zhen comes over, just let your grandpa deal with her. I won’t say a single word to her."
Wang Hunv was terrified of going to Tan Zhen’s. She wouldn’t eat well or sleep well, she’d have to help with work, and in the end, she’d just be resented. ’Isn’t it much more comfortable to stay home?’ Once Tan You left for school, it would just be her and Tan Deming. She would have money to spend, and no one would be watching over her shoulder. ’How free is that?’
Tan You pursed her lips in a small smile. "That’s for the best. If Tan Zhen asks anything, just say you don’t know and let Grandpa handle it. My grandpa is tight-lipped."
Wang Hunv pouted but didn’t dare to argue back. Given her usual sharp-tongued, aggressive nature, she would have definitely thrown a fit. But Wang Hunv also knew which side her bread was buttered on. She was dependent on Tan You now, so naturally, she had to listen to her.
After a bumpy ride, they arrived home. They heard the phone ringing before they even reached the door. Tan You thought, ’So impatient?’
The next moment, the landline stopped ringing, only to be replaced by the ringtone from Tan Deming’s cell phone. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. "It’s your dad."
Tan You reached out and took the phone. "What’s up?"
"You really called it," Tan Lin’s voice boomed over the phone. "Tan Zhen said she couldn’t get through to the house phone, so she called me instead. She rambled on about a bunch of things, but she was really just asking where we were."
"What did you say?" Tan You tilted her head back to look at the starry sky, which made her think of the hustle and bustle of the city. ’You can rarely see a sky this clear there.’
"Me? I just told her we went back to our hometown," Tan Lin said with a grin. "I said Tan Yue has to go to school, the old folks aren’t in good health and can’t help with the kids, so we might as well come back and find jobs."
"Tan Zhen also asked where your mom works, so I told her she’s at a garment factory. She went quiet after that. She also asked if the old couple gave you the money for the family bucket meal you bought today, but I shut that down."
Tan You understood. "Alright, I get it."
After speaking, Tan Lin sounded worried again. "Do you think... do you think she’ll come to our door after she finds out your grandpa has money..."
"That’s money I earned, and I’m happy to spend it on my mom and my grandparents," Tan You cut him off. "I’m not afraid of Tan Zhen, I just find her annoying. So what if she comes knocking? It’s my money. Grandpa is just keeping it safe for me."
"Fine, as long as you know what you’re doing." Tan Lin fell silent, but he still felt a bit put out. ’My eldest daughter would rather leave her money with my own father than with me.’ The thought made him a little sad.
Cheng Wenhui said, "That’s enough. We’ve known this for a long time, haven’t we? She’s always been closer to your father. The way things are now is fine. We can’t be too greedy."
The mention of greed made Cheng Wenhui fall silent. ’When people are broke, money is all they can see; they can’t spare a thought for much else. But once they have a little breathing room and the pressure eases, they start to notice the things they once ignored.’
’Take family affection, for example. Cheng Wenhui wished she and Tan You could be close enough to talk about anything. But Tan You’s coldness was a barrier she just couldn’t seem to overcome. Now, Tan You could earn her own money, continue her education, and take good care of the old couple. It was as if she no longer needed her parents at all.’
Sighing silently, Cheng Wenhui stroked Tan Yue’s head. "How about I get you ready for your bath? Are you sleeping in your own room tonight, or..."
"I want to sleep by myself." Tan Yue dragged her little suitcase behind her, unwilling to let go of it even at home. "Mama, my sister said she’s going to take Grandma and Grandpa on a trip for the National Day holiday, and she’s taking me too! I’m going to bring this little suitcase with me then!"
Cheng Wenhui smiled. "Okay. Do you want me to help you unpack?"
"No thanks, I’ll do it myself." Tan Yue wasn’t spoiled. She huffed and puffed as she hauled the suitcase upstairs on her own. The living room downstairs fell silent once more. After a long while, Tan Lin finally spoke. "Go take your bath. Things with Tan You are set in stone. From now on, let’s focus on raising Tan Yue well."
After hanging up with Tan Lin, the landline at home began to ring again. Tan You decisively unplugged the phone cord. Watching her, Tan Deming couldn’t help but laugh. "Nice and quiet now?"
"Of course," Tan You said, narrowing her eyes. "The phone’s in my room. Are they trying to drive me crazy with the noise? After I leave for school, Grandpa, you should buy a cell phone for Grandma too. That way we can reach her if we need to. We can just leave the landline unplugged. There’s no use for it."
Wang Hunv was truly delighted. "You’ll buy one for me, too? But I don’t know how to use one. I’m illiterate."
"It’s very simple. Just have Grandpa teach you." Tan You was patient with her elders. "You only need to know how to answer and make calls. It’s not difficult."
"I’m going to heat some water for a bath," Tan You said with a stretch. "Oh, by the way, when you’re getting the roof tiles replaced, Grandpa, you should also buy a solar water heater and have a proper bathroom installed in the house. You know what I’m talking about..."
"I know, I’ve seen them. I’ll find someone to get it all done after you leave for school." Tan Deming had seen the bathroom at Tan Lin’s place, and to be honest, he wanted one too.
’Who wouldn’t want steaming hot water waiting for them at home? A shower is so much more comfortable than washing up in a basin.’
’Anyway, the big villa Tan You had promised him wasn’t going to be built overnight. They might as well start by fixing up the current house. Life ought to be comfortable, after all.’
"Okay, I have faith in Grandpa to get it done." Tan You left the matter in his hands. The project wasn’t enormous. It just involved re-laying the pipes and tiling the floor, but it would probably take at least a week.
’When I get back from military training, the house should be completely different.’ With new roof tiles, it wouldn’t leak everywhere during the rainy season anymore. Tan You remembered how they used to scramble for basins to catch the dripping water whenever it rained. Sometimes, she’d lie awake all night, terrified another tile on the roof would break.
Honestly, in its current state, the leaky, tile-roofed brick house was only a smidgen better than a thatched cottage. Of course, she was only talking about when it wasn’t raining.
