“I didn’t expect Big Sis to be so capable!”
Wen Dongrong remarked with admiration.
It was no surprise that his younger brother Wen Changlin could settle in Chengdu; he was always a lively sort. But Zhu Meiqun, an honest woman, managing to set up her own stall single-handedly—that was truly impressive.
Chen Ru agreed, but she couldn’t let the Wen family get too full of themselves!
“Big Sis is indeed capable, going all out to buy a house for her son. But you…” she trailed off with a scoff.
With Wen Ying earning her own money, did that mean her parents didn’t need to prepare anything?
Of course not!
The family had bought two flats in Chengdu, both with loans to repay.
Owning two properties wasn’t the end of their ambitions. Chen Li, who owned several properties in Chengdu, wasn’t keen on buying more, and Chen Ru, managing finances for clients, had a broader perspective now.
You shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Even if they bought another property, why limit it to Chengdu?
When it came to property value growth, first-tier cities were the best bet.
It all depended on where Wen Ying wanted to go for university.
If north, then Beijing.
If south, then Shanghai.
Buying in either city was a sure win!
Chen Ru was already saving up again, planning to buy a property in the city where Wen Ying would attend university.
Of course, she didn’t expect much financial contribution from Wen Dongrong. His job’s nature meant he couldn’t make big money. But hadn’t he once said he’d set a good example and establish parental authority? Now that he’d transferred to Chengdu, had he forgotten about furthering his education?
Chen Ru’s words stung Wen Dongrong’s pride. His eyes widened like bells, itching to argue, but Wen Ying, kind-hearted, decided to spare her father some dignity:
“I’m going to my room to do homework. You two chat, take your time!”
Once Wen Ying left, the couple was left staring at each other in the living room. Wen Dongrong deflated like a punctured balloon, his face no longer flushed with indignation, “Hmph, I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t stoop to your level!”
See, it wasn’t that he lost the argument—he simply didn’t deign to bicker with a tigress!
Wen Ying, hiding in her room, nearly burst out laughing.
Live long enough, and you’ll see everything!
The once-proud head of the family reduced to a henpecked husband—Wen Ying loved to see it.
But she genuinely admired her Aunt Zhu Meiqun. Self-reliant people were always respected wherever they went.
The next day, Chen Ru visited Zhu Meiqun’s stall alone.
Seeing Chen Ru suddenly, Zhu Meiqun panicked.
How did Chen Ru find out?
She wasn’t here to mock her, was she?
Zhu Meiqun froze, unsure where to put her hands, until a customer paid for their wontons, snapping her back to reality.
What was there to panic about? Earning money with her own hands wasn’t shameful.
Besides, her stall hadn’t caused Chen Ru any trouble, so there was no need to feel guilty.
Zhu Meiqun gave herself a mental pep talk.
To her surprise, Chen Ru wasn’t sharp at all.
“Big Sis.”
Chen Ru looked around and greeted her first, “Business doing alright?”
With Chen Ru’s friendly attitude, Zhu Meiqun relaxed and treated her like a customer, “It’s decent. Have you eaten? Let me cook you a bowl of wontons. Sit, you must try some.”
“Alright, I’ll have a taste.”
Though dressed smartly, Chen Ru wasn’t fussy and sat on the small stool at Zhu Meiqun’s stall.
It didn’t feel out of place at all.
The customers eating wontons at the stall came from all walks of life. Sitting at a roadside stall, no one was more distinguished than another.
Over the years, the sisters-in-law had been quietly competing. Looking back, those days seemed distant.
Wen Ying was shining brighter by the day. In Zhu Meiqun’s mind, her son Wen Kai was no less impressive.
The kids were all hardworking and outstanding, and they got along well. It was the adults who had been too petty.
As the water boiled, steam enveloped Zhu Meiqun’s face, and the wontons tumbled in the pot. She zoned out for a moment.
“Big Sis, aren’t they ready to be scooped out?”
“Oh, right, right…”
Zhu Meiqun carefully prepared a bowl for Chen Ru, adding plenty of seaweed and dried shrimp, sprinkling green onions, and drizzling two spoonfuls of vibrant red chili oil, the aroma hitting Chen Ru’s nose.
To be honest, Zhu Meiqun’s wontons were just decent, not the best Chen Ru had ever tasted.
But her stall stood out for its cleanliness.
Few stalls were as meticulous as Zhu Meiqun’s. She scrubbed the pot’s edges with a steel wool pad after closing each day, kept the condiment containers spotless, and wiped away any stray chili oil drops immediately.
So, even if the taste was just alright, her stall did great business!
Whatever you do—study, work, or run a small business like Zhu Meiqun’s—you have to put in the effort.
Zhu Meiqun would surely earn enough to buy Wen Kai a house.
At that moment, Chen Ru was utterly convinced of this.
It was the power of a mother.
Those past grudges seemed so trivial now. When everyone’s vision was narrow, they compared their kids. But what was there to compare? The world was vast, and if they wanted to compete, they should aim for a bigger stage.
Finishing her wontons, Chen Ru set down her chopsticks and asked casually, “Big Sis, where are you living now? Is it convenient for your stall?”
“Not far, quite convenient!”
Chen Ru was skeptical.
Unable to explain, Zhu Meiqun decided to close early and take Chen Ru to her rented place.
Chengdu had many old houses with affordable rent. If you looked carefully, you could find cheap yet decent ones. Zhu Meiqun’s first place was very cheap but in a poor environment. As someone in the food business, she found it unhygienic, worrying about rats or cockroaches, afraid it might make customers sick.
So she moved to another place.
The rent was 150 yuan more per month, but the house was clean, with a large ground-floor courtyard where Zhu Meiqun could park her tricycle.
After seeing it, Chen Ru abandoned her original plan.
This place suited Zhu Meiqun better than their lift-equipped flat.
Chen Ru thought for a moment and asked about Wen Changlin.
“He’s doing better than me.”
Zhu Meiqun laughed, “I heard Changlin got a commission in his first month. I really admire that mouth of his—way more capable than me.”
Those who could talk made money with their mouths; those who couldn’t relied on hard work with their hands.
“Big Sis, you’re plenty capable too.”
Chen Ru paused, then spoke plainly, “Actually, Wen Ying’s uncle saw you on the street a while back. We asked Wen Ying’s grandma and learned you and Wen Ying’s little uncle came to Chengdu. We didn’t reach out right away, wanting to see if you could adapt to the city. You’ve settled in faster than we expected. I came today to say we’re all family. If you need any help from me or Dongrong, don’t hesitate to ask!”
Zhu Meiqun was stunned at first, her hands fidgeting with her clothes, but her last trace of unease vanished.
“I’m managing for now. If I hit a rough patch, I’ll definitely come to you shamelessly. Don’t worry about me now.”
Things were different now.
Able to stand on her own, Zhu Meiqun, as the elder sister-in-law, no longer felt awkward in front of Chen Ru.
Speaking with her back straight felt exhilarating!
