Chen Ru had recently landed several big clients, doubling her performance targets and promising a hefty year-end bonus. But that bonus was still pending, not yet in her hands.
When Wen Ying, that spendthrift girl, returned from Macau with bags full of purchases, Chen Ru was livid.
She had to admit, though, receiving the high-end cosmetics Wen Ying brought back did make her happy.
But Wen Ying buying cosmetics for her was only natural.
Buying for Chen Li was also reasonable—Chen Li treated Wen Ying like her own daughter. If Wen Ying forgot Chen Li, she’d be heartless.
Gifts for Deng Jie and Deng Hao? Chen Ru had no objections. Most of Wen Ying’s generation were only children, without siblings, so cousins were the closest kin. Deng Jie and Deng Hao were Chen Ru’s nephews. If Wen Ying were ever mistreated by her in-laws, having two close cousins could at least intimidate her husband. Sibling bonds grow through give-and-take, so gifts for Deng Jie and Deng Hao were a must.
As for the gift for Deng Shangwei… fine. Deng Shangwei had always been good to Wen Ying. They weren’t divorced yet, so if Wen Ying wanted to buy him a gift, so be it.
On the Wen family side, Wen Ying got Wen Kai a branded fountain pen.
Chen Ru’s feelings toward Wen Kai were complex. If Wen Kai were a failure, the Wen family might drag Wen Ying down in the future. But if he were too successful, overshadowing Wen Ying, Chen Ru wouldn’t be pleased either.
Hmph, fine, let her buy it. Compared to Shu Lu, Wen Kai was indeed more sensible.
Lin Lin had mentioned Wen Ying’s grades were decent, likely good enough for a first-tier university, so Chen Ru’s wariness of Wen Kai had lessened.
As for Wen Ying buying gifts for Grandma Wen, Chen Ru thought of the 2,000 yuan her mother-in-law had given and grudgingly accepted it.
But Wen Ying also brought gifts for Uncle Wen, his wife, and Little Uncle Wen’s family, leaving no one out. Chen Ru thought Wen Ying was burning money. These were items from Macau—nothing cheap! This girl treated money like it was nothing!
Wen Ying flashed a placating smile. “It didn’t cost much. The shop gave me some extra cash before I left, and I took it to Macau. The 2,000 yuan you gave me? I didn’t even touch it!”
She pulled out the pocket money Chen Ru had given her before the trip, placing it on the table, swearing she hadn’t used a cent of the Qin family’s money. The gifts were bought with her own earnings.
A good lie needs nine truths to one falsehood to be convincing.
The money was indeed Wen Ying’s, but not from selling shrimp—it was won at the casino. Chen Ru would never suspect Qin Xianming dared take Wen Ying there. As long as Wen Ying kept quiet, no one would guess her money came from gambling.
In front of Wen Dongrong, Chen Ru couldn’t scold Wen Ying for buying gifts for the Wen family. She only grumbled that Wen Ying spent so much without reporting it.
Wen Ying clung to Chen Ru’s arm, swaying it. “Mom, I went to Macau and didn’t buy anything for myself. I spent it all on you guys. Don’t scold me, okay? Besides, giving gifts to Uncle and them makes you look good too. Who else but you could raise such a sweet, sensible, and generous daughter like me?”
Wen Ying flattered Chen Ru while puffing herself up.
Chen Ru thought about it and realized Wen Ying had a point.
When Shu Lu went to summer camp, she bought herself two new dresses and took photos everywhere but didn’t bring a single piece of candy or pastry for the Wen family. Wen Hongyan saw nothing wrong with it, saying their family was poor, as if poverty excused bad manners.
What Wen Ying did indeed made Chen Ru look good.
Softened by Wen Ying’s words, Chen Ru still glared at her. Couldn’t she have bought something cheaper and practical?
Ever since Wen Ying started earning her own money, her spending habits had subtly escalated, and Chen Ru felt the pressure.
Wen Dongrong coughed. “You got cosmetics for your mom. What’d you get me?”
Wen Ying rummaged through the pile of gifts and finally found Wen Dongrong’s.
She got him three ties.
Since she and Qin Jiao agreed to spend all their winnings, Wen Ying, Qin Jiao, and Xie Qian spent nearly 70,000 yuan shopping the next day. Using their receipts for a mall discount event, the three ties for Wen Dongrong were mostly covered by points, costing Wen Ying almost nothing.
She was indeed half-hearted about Wen Dongrong’s gift, putting little thought into it.
Compared to Qin Xianming’s dedication to his children, Wen Ying didn’t even want to give the ties. But thinking of what Xie Qian’s father had done, Old Wen had some redeeming qualities. So, when Wen Ying had the mall deliver earphones, she added a pair of leather shoes for Wen Dongrong.
The real gift was the shoes, costing her over 1,000 yuan.
Wen Dongrong looked at the shoes and ties.
All branded, quality stuff.
In 2004, shoes costing over 1,000 yuan would sell for 7,000 or 8,000 by 2019.
Even fifteen years later, in Wen Ying’s small hometown, few would wear such expensive shoes.
Wen Dongrong mentally tallied the cost. The shoes and ties together were pricier than Chen Ru’s cosmetics. Satisfied, he nodded—his position as head of the family was secure.
Pleased, Wen Dongrong rare spoke up for Wen Ying. “The stuff’s already bought, so don’t scold her. Just be more mindful next time.”
As Wen Ying said, the money wasn’t spent on herself. She considered every relative, making not just Chen Ru but Wen Dongrong feel, for the first time, their daughter’s thoughtfulness. Besides, they couldn’t control her. With her own income, her wings had hardened. Wen Dongrong, valuing his pride, couldn’t demand she hand over all her earnings. Without financial control, it was hard to rein in her behavior.
Wen Ying finally relaxed.
She’d hidden the gift for Deng Yaomei earlier, or she’d never hear the end of it.
Thinking she’d cleared the hurdle with her parents, Wen Ying didn’t know that Chen Ru couldn’t sleep that night, lying in bed with Wen Dongrong.
Chen Ru’s heart churned with anxiety. “Have you calculated how much she spent on those gifts? Probably one or two *wan*!”
How could this kid spend so much, dare to spend so much?
Some people’s annual salaries weren’t even that high!
Chen Ru was screaming inside, wanting Wen Ying to show her the ‘Shrimp King’ accounts again.
How much did she earn to spend so recklessly?
Chen Ru feared that by year-end, her own salary might not match what Wen Ying earned with her friends. What face would she have as a mother then?
Could she still nag Wen Ying to focus on studies?
Would Wen Ying think college was irrelevant to making money?
Chen Ru had been hesitant about graduate school, and she and Wen Dongrong had been dragging their feet. Now, she wanted to sign up for an English tutoring class that very night.
After talking for ages without a response from Wen Dongrong, Chen Ru kicked him. “What are you doing? I’m talking, and you’re silent!”
“…I’m thinking about which tie to wear tomorrow.”
“…”
Chen Ru kicked Wen Dongrong in the waist, sending him tumbling off the bed.
What use was this useless man!
