CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 197: RELYING ON THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE

What would happen if you got beaten by your man?

That’s a good question.

Yi Chichi looked at Yu Lanfang and found she was looking back.

Then, she grinned, "If my man abuses me, I’ll scratch his face bloody."

That response is very Yu Lanfang.

"What about you, Xiao Yi?"

Yi Chichi really wanted to say that Wen Shi is not the type to commit domestic violence; he is reasonable.

But that’s not the answer Yu Lanfang and Zhu Lihong wanted.

So, she flashed a genuine smile, "Needles and medicine."

"???

What does that mean?

They didn’t understand.

The two looked at each other, Zhu Lihong curiously asked, "Will it work?"

"Whether it works or not depends on the situation. My moves rely on the element of surprise."

"Explain further."

She extended her arm for them to see, "If Old Wen is determined to beat me, do you think I can fight back or escape?"

"Can’t fight back, can’t escape either."

It’s impossible to escape.

Moreover, they’ve been professionally trained. If they are determined to act, no woman in the courtyard can escape.

After all, there’s a significant inherent physical strength difference between men and women.

"So, if he’s determined to beat me, pretending to be obedient won’t help. The only way is to protect myself, avoid critical hits, swallow this loss, and wait to retaliate later."

"You want revenge?"

This answer surprised Zhu Lihong a bit. She has been working in the women’s federation for so long and has met at least fifty, if not a hundred, women who suffered domestic violence.

Not one of these women thought about revenge.

Some swore to divorce, but were coaxed with sweet words, and the thought of divorce vanished.

Then, they entered a cycle of being beaten, reporting to the federation for divorce, coaxed back. It was maddening...

In short, working for the women’s federation is tough.

She’d rather do publicity than enter a domestic violence family for mediation.

"I’m not made of dough."

The implication: She will take revenge.

"What if turning violence with violence escalates?"

Yu Lanfang genuinely asked, Yi Chichi thought for a moment, "If you ask me, I’m sure to retaliate and promptly file for divorce, not giving the man a chance to escalate. Domestic violence happens more than once; I can tolerate Old Wen smoking, but I can’t tolerate him drinking or engaging in domestic violence."

If he dares to engage in domestic violence against me, I’d divorce and strip him of his dignity for the rest of his life.

Zhu Hongli just felt fortunate for Wen Shi.

"It’s good that your Mr. Wen only smokes and doesn’t do anything else."

Otherwise, he’d risk getting needled and drugged by her.

However, "What kind of medicine are you talking about?"

"For self-defense."

Yi Chichi didn’t specify, and Zhu Hongli, a smart person, realized she didn’t want to go into details, possibly because it’s something difficult to speak of, so she didn’t press further, instead dropping the matter to focus on her embroidery frame.

"Are you embroidering?"

"Yes."

She nodded, "I’m idly working on something; it’s due at the end of the month."

Upon hearing it was outside work, worry spread over Zhu Lihong’s face, "Where did you get the work? Do you have any certification?"

Fearing Yi Chichi didn’t understand the seriousness of the issue, she kindly reminded her, "You know embroidery is considered an old trade, right?!"

"I know."

Yi Chichi just smiled, "But don’t worry, Sister, I got this gig from the Friendship Store; there’s a certified stamp."

Once she said that, they both completely relaxed.

With certification, there’s no worry even if reported.

The Friendship Store is positioned differently from department stores, catering to different guests.

It’s considered a symbolic bridge of friendship.

Yi Chichi getting work from the Friendship Store means she could be considered either a specially contracted employee of the store or servicing foreign guests and overseas Chinese, depending on how you see it.

Not to say she feels superior, but associated personnel wouldn’t dare mess with her.

"Is this a flower you’re embroidering?"

"Yeah, a Red Plum."

"Such skilled hands."

After closely inspecting, Yu Lanfang looked at her own hands, "I can’t even make clothes. Ah, we’re all women, so why is there such a big difference?"

"You can knit sweaters."

Zhu Lihong praised her, "You knit sweaters beautifully; I can’t knit sweaters."

"That’s true."

She nodded, "Everyone has things they’re not good at."

She then asked Yi Chichi, "Xiao Yi, is there anything you’re not good at?"

"Of course."

She has a lot of things she’s not good at, not worth detailing, so she simply said she couldn’t cook.

Yet, she didn’t expect them to be shocked she couldn’t cook.

"You need to learn this."

Zhu Hongli seriously said, "Not knowing how to cook is very inconvenient, you’ll have to eat in the cafeteria every day."

"Cafeteria food is quite delicious."

Since coming to the island, she and Wen Shi have been eating in the cafeteria, and the chef’s skills are pretty good.

There’s also plenty of seafood; shrimp as big as your palm can be served in white sauce or braised in soy sauce, and fish and shellfish come in various flavors.

The key is that you don’t have to cook for yourself; having ready-to-eat food is such a blessing.

"I’m not saying cafeteria food isn’t nice, I’m talking about costs."

Seeing she misunderstood, Zhu Lihong reminded, "Eating at the cafeteria every day, you two spend more than you would buying groceries and cooking at home."

Yi Chichi suddenly understood, realizing this was what she meant.

"Then I’ll have Old Wen learn to cook."

Hm?

Instead of learning herself, making the man learn?

Thinking of the husband at home too lazy to even lift a falling oil bottle, Yu Lanfang looked at her intently, "Is your Old Wen willing?"

Yi Chichi pointed at the embroidery frame, "My hands can’t do rough work; embroidery requires delicate hands."

Immediately, their attention focused on her hands.

Then —

"Such beautiful hands shouldn’t be used for cooking."

Yu Lanfang held her hands like a scoundrel, feeling and kneading them, she sighed, "So soft, tender, and smooth, if I had hands like these, I wouldn’t cook either."

Zhu Lihong burst into laughter, "Your family can’t afford for you not to cook either."

"True, the burden is too heavy."

Upon mentioning this, Yu Lanfang sighed, "My family situation isn’t great, neither’s the in-laws’, the whole family relies on us for support, plus two kids, ah, it’s too tough."

"It’ll get better once you’re a permanent worker."

Temporary workers have limited pay, permanent workers have it slightly better.

Yu Lanfang acknowledged with a hum, advising Yi Chichi, "Save up while you don’t have kids, expenses are high once you have them, especially without breastfeeding and having to buy formula. Don’t be like Lian Xiaohua, giving her child rice soup mixed with water."

"Is Lian Xiaohua giving her daughter rice soup again?"

Zhu Lihong jumped up, face full of anger.

Yi Chichi, "???"

Again?

"Yesterday, her oldest starved so much he went to the sea to catch seafood by himself, almost getting swept away by the waves. If it wasn’t for a fellow villager who saw and rescued him, the kid would be gone."

Yu Lanfang explained, somewhat helplessly, "Lian Xiaohua doesn’t feed her oldest, nor care for the little girl. The rice soup the little girl drinks was actually fed by her oldest, the child was starving and crying, the oldest was hungry too, so he thought he’d go to the sea to catch some fish and cook fish soup for the sisters to eat."

Yi Chichi was puzzled, "Her man doesn’t care?"

"How could he not care? He does, but can’t manage."