On the drive back to the new district, the two were silent. Sun Jingcheng simply had nothing to say—he was always like this. When there was nothing to say, he rested. Who had so much to talk about all the time? Zhou Yu, on the other hand, felt stifled. She was upset that she was the last to know he had only earned eighty thousand in a year.

When they got home, they didn’t go out to exercise. Zhou Yu washed up early and lay in bed—Monday was tomorrow and they had to raise the flag, so she needed to get up early. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and looked at the person beside her reading a medical book. “Go ahead and pretend,” she said.

He definitely knew she was angry, but he just wouldn’t ask about it.

Sun Jingcheng pressed her head down and tucked her back into the covers. “Good night.” He did know she was sulking, but he didn’t know the reason and was too lazy to ask. For a couple living together long-term, no one wanted to be that exhausted.

Zhou Yu gradually let it go, no longer dwelling on why he had told Sun Jingfei but not her. It was probably just that he was afraid she would look down on him? Running a company for a year and only earning eighty thousand really wasn’t something to be proud of.

Before sleeping, Zhou Yu reminded him that if he wanted a late-night snack, there were shrimp dumplings in the freezer that she had wrapped that morning.

“Mm, you sleep first.” Sun Jingcheng’s eyes didn’t leave his book as one hand massaged her scalp.

After she was completely asleep, he read for a while longer, then closed the book and slowly got out of bed to wash his hands and go to the kitchen to cook the dumplings. The kitchen had originally been open-plan, but after Zhou Yu moved in, she said it wasn’t convenient for stir-frying, so they had temporarily installed sliding glass doors. When cooking, they closed the doors; normally they left them open. It worked out well and didn’t affect the overall aesthetics.

Since Zhou Yu had moved in, many small items had been gradually added to the home, making it much brighter and warmer overall. The balcony door still had the large red paper-cut decorations from the Spring Festival.

After cooking and eating the dumplings, he put on gloves to wash up, then went to the guest bathroom to clean himself. After finishing his ablutions with nothing else to do, he sat there applying hand cream and a face mask. Feeling that the dumplings in his stomach had digested, he finally returned to bed to sleep.

Seeing Zhou Yu sleeping soundly, he breathed toward her nose—a refreshing scent of mint toothpaste. Very nice. He hoped her dreams would be just as refreshing.

At the clinic, Sun’s mother couldn’t sleep. She turned her head, wanting to say something to Sun Youping. What to say? About the fourth son only earning eighty thousand in a year? Thinking about it, she said it anyway—if she didn’t say it, she would feel stifled.

Sun Youping wasn’t too concerned. “Running a business is like crops in the field—how can you have a good harvest every year? It’s just that this year’s harvest is a bit less. It’s not a big deal.”

Sun’s mother felt much more relieved, but inevitably criticized him a few more times. All he did was run around playing. If he were like the second son, steadily doing business, he would have gotten rich long ago.

“Different personalities. Try to see the bright side. I feel that the two of them are actually quite content.”

Sun’s mother thought about many things, and finally gradually came to terms with it. If he earned less, they’d spend less. She didn’t wish for anything else—as long as his health was good, that was a blessing. Seeing Sun Youping still stuffing things into the toe of his shoe, she casually said, “Stop stuffing. Tomorrow have Zhou Yu exchange them for a different size.”

“Not exchanging. If I exchange them, the other foot will be too big.” Sun Youping had slightly different-sized feet. One foot always fit just right while the other was a bit tight.

Sun’s mother took out several pairs of socks from the cabinet, took the cloth shoes from his hands, and deftly stuffed them in. Then she found a back scratcher and used the handle end to forcefully push, stuffing the shoe tight and solid. She stood it in a corner, and with the same mood as waiting for flowers to bloom, waited for it to slowly stretch out.

The roses on the balcony had bloomed. She didn’t know what variety they were, but the flowers were as large as the pot’s opening, as if they could eat a person. Sun Youping cut one and hid it behind his back, then brought it into the room to give to her.

Sun’s mother scolded him, saying he was ruining the flowers, but she also smiled as she accepted it, casually found an empty bottle, added some water, and placed it on the bedside table.

Sun Youping slowly lay down, comfortably stretched his limbs, then said to her, “Next year let’s plant peonies instead. This one looks scary, like Japanese flowers mutated by nuclear radiation.”

Sun’s mother propped up her ear and listened for a while, asking him, “Is Jiarui’s room running the air conditioner?”

“If it’s on, let it be. Leave him alone.”

“I’m afraid the temperature is too low and he’ll kick off the blanket at night and catch a chill.” Sun’s mother got up to go adjust the temperature for him. Sure enough, the room was bone-chillingly cold, with the air conditioner display showing 21 degrees. And that little rascal was tightly wrapped in his blanket.

She adjusted it to sleep mode, came out with the remote control, and ran into the sister-in-law preparing to go to the kitchen to soak soybeans, saying Yuyan wanted soy milk in the morning.

Sun’s mother told her to go to sleep quickly—she had to work tomorrow. She would soak the soybeans. Then she also instructed her that if she felt hot, she should turn on the air conditioner.

She went to the kitchen to soak the soybeans and saw the faucet dripping drop by drop. Instinctively she found the largest basin to catch it. Thinking about it, never mind—she tightened the faucet instead.

She used to hoard water like this all the time. Sun Jingfei said this was stealing water from the country, and if caught, it would be exposed in the newspaper’s livelihood section. Getting in the newspaper for stealing a basin of water—how embarrassing! If you’re going to do something, do something big, like rob a bank—at least then you’d be somebody worth mentioning.

Thinking about it, she returned to the bedroom. Sun Youping was already asleep. She turned down the electric fan and lay back in bed.

The electric scooter forgotten at the hospital was only remembered by Sun Jingcheng several days later, and he rode it back. As he rode it to the company, he thought about their morning spat. Zhou Yu had asked him about Sun Jingfei’s divorce progress—why after half a year was it still not finalized?

He gave her a general explanation, saying his sister was magnanimous. She clearly had enough evidence, but for Ke Yu’s sake, she didn’t want Ke Yong to be too embarrassed.

Zhou Yu had responded, saying that Sun Jingfei’s magnanimity was because she had enough status and voice in the family, enough confidence and assurance to dare to do so. If she were just an ordinary working person struggling to make ends meet, the divorce would have long since devolved into a messy disaster.

A person’s so-called magnanimity, confidence, and perspective… are all built on having risen far above subsistence level and having a certain social status. Sun Jingfei could have a dignified divorce because she had the ability to make that choice. Those whose divorces led to mutual destruction, with both sides making it known to everyone—most of them had no choice, lacking the ability to choose otherwise.

Everyone knows the importance of having a voice, but due to personality, upbringing, and various other factors, not everyone has the ability to obtain that voice. So Sun Jingfei having the ability to choose how to divorce was her good fortune, not her magnanimity.

He had said one sentence, and Teacher Zhou had responded with a whole carful, which led to their spat. Everyone understands grand principles, but it depends on whose situation the matter actually concerns.

After calming down, he thought about many things. He thought about how no matter how well-off the family was, Sun’s mother still couldn’t achieve freedom with electricity usage, couldn’t feel at ease turning on the air conditioner. And no matter how much food was on the table, the grandmother in his memory would definitely use soup or tea to rinse her bowl after the meal and drink it. If you tried to stop her, she would tell you about the events of 1942 that she had personally experienced.

He also thought of what Sun’s mother often said: You all are just luckier than us, born in better times.

And Sun Jingfei would always respond with: Why don’t we reverse time and switch places—I’ll be your mom and you be my daughter!

Thinking of Sun Jingfei, he received a message from her saying there was a place somewhere that had something or other that was incredibly delicious! She invited him to go eat at noon. Recently Sun Jingfei had also been overwhelmed—first, because they hadn’t negotiated the divorce properly, they still hadn’t told Ke Yu. But she felt Ke Yu knew, he just wasn’t saying anything; second, she had lent a friend five hundred thousand with interest, and so far had only gotten back fifty thousand.

Over the ten-plus years of working, she had saved quite a bit of money. Combined with her resources and connections, she also made some small investments. Although she was supposedly unemployed at home, her annual investment dividends were enough for the mother and son’s expenses.

Before the marriage broke down, she and Ke Yong had a clear division—Ke Yong’s salary covered household expenses, while her salary was used for major purchases, like real estate and investments. Back then, Ke Yong had also acted indifferent, saying that husband and wife were one body, and it was fine to only put her name on the real estate. Looking back at that statement now, how ironic was it?

These days, whenever she thought of upsetting matters, she felt anxious; when she didn’t think about them, she felt fine. When she had free time, she would go to Sun Jingcheng’s company and invite him out to eat and drink. They had almost become the eating and drinking duo. Sun’s mother said the two of them were eating and drinking generals.

Because as they ate, they would always end up talking about their great mother, discussing the invisible sacrifices and contributions their mother had made for the family. Then, moved to tears, they would immediately go back to the clinic to hug their old mother—one massaging her shoulders, one rubbing her legs—the three of them hugging and being affectionate.

But the affection couldn’t last three minutes.

Afterward, those who needed to be annoying were annoying, those looking for trouble looked for trouble. If that wasn’t satisfying enough, they’d grumble about each other behind their backs.

This day, the restaurant Sun Jingfei had arranged was near the company. She parked her car while Sun Jingcheng rode over on his electric scooter, saying he’d give her a ride to get there faster.

Sun Jingfei wouldn’t sit on it, nor would she let him ride it. A dignified company manager… riding an electric scooter was so undignified. Sun Jingcheng couldn’t be bothered with her—why care about what others thought?

The two of them, under the blazing sun, wound their way through seven or eight turns to reach a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with excellent reviews on Dianping. They sat down, ordered the signature dishes, first ate with their heads down, then chatted.

Ke Yu’s grandfather had gotten sick last month and was using his illness as an excuse to video call for an hour every week. “Yesterday Ke Yu said he wants to go back this week.”

“He should go back. After all, it’s the grandfather who raised him.” Sun Jingcheng said.

“Of course I know he should go back. I just feel uncomfortable about it.” Sun Jingcheng said nothing more and just listened to her talk.

Sun Jingfei was very clear that even if Ke Yu ended up with her in the future, she had no right to demand he sever ties with Ke Yong’s side, nor could she make such demands. The most complex thing in the world is emotion. She detested Ke Yong, but she would still try to restrain this detestation in front of Ke Yu. She didn’t want to bring this emotion to her child.

She said a lot, yet it was as if she had said nothing. After a brief chat, she went back. Regarding her divorce, she told outsiders it was due to incompatible personalities. Even her sisters-in-law didn’t know much, although they all understood.

Having a husband with an affair—telling others about it would get you nothing but superficial comfort, sympathy, and pity. Some people would even feel a self-righteous sense of superiority. Only a very few people would genuinely care about you; most just wanted to watch the spectacle and have a laugh.

And those gossiping in the company and watching the show might be the very same people who shouted about gender equality on social media, shouted about women helping women, shouted about women caring for women. This was what Sun Jingfei had witnessed firsthand before leaving her job, and her understanding of complex human nature—it couldn’t be taken seriously or too literally.

In the evening she went to the clinic to mooch food. The sister-in-law had made fish with pickled vegetables, and the two sat there eating and chatting idly. The sister-in-law said she wanted to quit her job and start a business, like the second brother and his wife. Sun Jingfei didn’t really support it, saying she was too thin-skinned, not the thick-skinned, bold and adventurous type like the second sister-in-law.

“Not everyone can start a business.” Sun Jingfei said while picking out fish bones. “You and Zhou Yu both can’t do it. People like you can’t bring yourselves to humble yourselves or bend down.”

“You all only see us eating the meat, not getting beaten. The orders I followed back then—even now thinking about it, I feel embarrassed. It was all about being shameless, thinking of every way to get clients to sign purchase contracts.”

“You’re better off just working a regular job.” Sun Jingfei said. “Otherwise you might end up with nothing.”

It took the sister-in-law a long time to say, “I only just had this thought, but I also feel my abilities aren’t up to it.”

“If you had a really bad job right now, I’d support you, because it couldn’t get much worse. But you have an iron rice bowl, and you’ve been doing it for over ten years… Quitting at this point is too risky.”

The sister-in-law gave up on the idea and completely dismissed the notion.

“Back then, second sister-in-law was pregnant and carrying a knife when she went to collect debts for second brother that couldn’t be recovered. She lived at their place—wherever they went, she followed with the knife in her bag. In the end, she got every penny back.” Sun Jingfei said. “Would you dare? I wouldn’t.”

The sister-in-law shook her head. “Second brother had such a fierce side?”

“They were forced to that point.” Sun Jingfei said. “At the time, second brother had played too big and owed the bank quite a bit. If that debt couldn’t be collected, they would basically be finished.”

As they chatted, Sun Youping found time to come up for dinner. The sister-in-law hurried to serve him. Sun Jingfei patted the dining chair beside her. “Daddy, sit here!”

Sun Youping deliberately didn’t sit there, staying far away from her.

“Daddy, why won’t you sit next to me? Did you pick me up from the trash can?”

…

“Where’s your mom?” Sun Youping asked.

“I saw Mommy wearing a pretty flowery dress, like she’s going to attract bees and butterflies…”

“Speak properly, stop with the affected accent.” Sun Youping scolded her.

“Okay, Daddy.”

…

Sun Jingfei stopped fooling around and looked at the handmade cloth shoes on his feet, asking him, “Dad, why aren’t you wearing the leather shoes I bought you?”

“Cloth shoes are comfortable.” Sun Youping said while picking up food.

Sun Jingfei thought for a moment and pursed her lips. “Zhou Yu bought them for you?”

“Mm.”

“Hmph, I’ve discovered that since Zhou Yu joined the family, my status and sense of existence have become weaker and weaker!”

“Hmph, one of these days I’ll put rat poison in her…” Before she could finish, she started laughing uncontrollably.

Sun Youping found her crazy behavior tiresome and ignored her.

After Sun Jingfei had fooled around enough, she got up to go home. “Dad, I’m leaving.”

“Mm.” Sun Youping acknowledged.

“Sister-in-law, I’m leaving.”

“Go ahead.”

Sun Jingfei went downstairs and messaged Sun Jingcheng: “Your wife is everywhere, completely overshadowing my only-daughter status.”

Sun Jingcheng couldn’t be bothered with her.

Sun Jingfei replied again: “Let’s both learn from this—when being a person, we should be like your wife.”

Sun Jingcheng replied: “You’re just envious and jealous.”

Sun Jingfei replied with a laugh: “Jealous to death.” Then she sent him a screenshot—the projector she had bought for them had arrived at the residential complex, telling him to remember to pick it up. Last month when the sisters-in-law were chatting, they had discussed projectors, and Zhou Yu had said she planned to buy one.

Just as she was about to close her phone, she received a message. The contact was listed as Blind Date Guy. He sent Sun Jingfei information about a property development, wanting to understand why this development still didn’t have property certificates.

Sun Jingfei actually knew the inside story about this development and chatted with him briefly. A couple days ago she had also asked him about something small—it was reciprocal courtesy. If they couldn’t be lovers, they could be friends. More friends meant more paths.

Then she changed his contact name to: Jiang Jin.