CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 93: PERSUADING MOTHER

Zhou Jiao looked at her tearful mother, reached out to hold her, and said seriously to her, "Mom, I don’t refuse your kindness, nor do I blame you. I will put myself in your shoes. If I were you, when Xiao Wu went missing and doubts arose, I would also keep Ping’an with my mother-in-law while I searched with all my might. I understand your feelings for Dad.

Perhaps others don’t understand, but I know. If something happened to Xiao Wu, my only belief in life would be the same as yours: that he is still alive, waiting for me to find him. Little Ping’an can be safe and carefree. Once I find his father, we can be a family together, and we will have a complete home. So, as I grew up, I understood how hard it must have been for you, and I certainly won’t blame you.

Besides, everyone in this world has their own personality. I’ve been straightforward and low-key since young, even if I grew up by your side, I wouldn’t be flamboyant.

If I were like those kids in the Big Courtyard, eating and drinking foolishly, wasting each day with no goals, do you think such a daughter would be like you or like Dad?

You and Dad are not the sort to have no goals, to eat and drink foolishly, right? So, there is no need to look at how other girls behave. The Big Courtyard has both wild ones and obedient ones.

You’re my mom, so I naturally accept all you give me. Otherwise, with my personality, do you think I’d accept such valuable items like big sums of money, property deeds, and savings books? Do you see me cautiously accepting them? I don’t! The things that belong to you and Dad are mine by right. It’s just me now. If I don’t accept them, should I wait for you to give them to someone else?

As for me being frugal, afraid you’ll run out of money, that’s true. Every time you see me, you bestow a huge fortune upon me, along with two property deeds. I’m genuinely worried you’ll give me all the wealth you have, leaving nothing for yourself, just relying on your salary, thinking it’ll be enough for Dad to support you.

In that case, I have to save, and not spend the money. When you run out of money, I can keep it for emergencies. The future is uncertain, and there’s always a need for a sense of crisis. Dad has given me all the valuable jewelry and houses, and what if you and Dad have more children in the future?

When they grow up, have children, and form their own families, how much money will they need? By then, you and Dad will be retired. I can’t let you carry such a burden, can’t let you live in hardship, can I?

I’m the eldest daughter, so I have to be filial and take care of you both. I must shoulder the responsibility of looking after my younger siblings, of letting them grow up happily, of getting married and having kids.

With all your and Dad’s finances in my hands, what if I spend it all? What will happen to them afterward? So, I can’t spend extravagantly. Besides, I’m not fond of large expenditures. Enough money is sufficient; more is just numbers. I see you’re not tight-fisted, so I should help you alleviate concerns.

This is my nature, helping you safeguard these things. You should just do whatever you like, free from the control of money, happily living with Dad."

Lin Lishan wiped her tears, listening intently, realizing her daughter pondered deeply and thought a lot. She didn’t expect her to consider their retirement plans, causing her to worry for her. It was amusing, indeed a naturally worrying person by heart.

"You don’t have to worry about it; what I’ve given you is yours. What responsibilities do your dad and I want you to shoulder? You’re indeed a worrywart, thinking about if we have more kids at our age. I never planned on having more; it’s your dad who desires it, at most one.

Besides what I gave you, there’s what your grandma kept for me. The money you have is known only to us, and those savings books from Beijing are from your house rent. Technically, I haven’t given you cash yet, understand?

The savings from my work so far are significant too, and the savings from the two years after marrying your dad—all this money is with your grandma. Your grandma is like you, afraid of my extravagance, so she kept it for me and said she’d hand it over to your dad when he returns this time.

So, if you add it up, the money from your grandmother plus the large amount from Dad’s wage subsidy, we also have our earnings; you should feel free to spend.

The others only know you have the house rent and two property deeds, nothing more. I originally planned to give you cash after your dad returns, but this time, I won’t because you can’t spend much here."

Zhou Jiao heard this, fell silent, and watched her. Trustworthy indeed, but that’s her mom. However, she couldn’t trust so much money in the old lady’s hands. In those years without the presence of her dad, hearing about the assets after getting married and having a family, she should have been informed by now. Letting the mother and daughter handle inheritance matters on their own would have been correct. They both came to the Northeast without bringing it along, intending to hand it to father upon his return? Did they really think she, Zhou Jiao, was that foolish? Let’s just say she couldn’t be bothered about it because of this foolish yet dedicated woman who raised her.

"No need to give me more. With what I have, plus Xiao Wu’s stash of money, I have over 2000 in cash—enough for us to spend without needing those Beijing savings books.

Since I still have money with me, I can’t flaunt it, making it known we’re wealthier than this entire household, can I? We made a plan once we got married and had kids.

Once we split the family, this house will be built by my father-in-law, costing us nothing. Then we’ll look for schooling opportunities, find job opportunities, buy a courtyard in the county for less than 1000, leaving the remaining 1000 or so saved. Does that mean we lack money? You should use your money for yourself; I’ll come to you when I’m out."

Lin Lishan glared at her, "Save 1000, and the two of you continue skin and bones, while Ping’an pitifully wears mended clothes—is that the plan? Now that Mom’s here, you can’t continue that lifestyle. Nourish your body, provide for Ping’an. Buy whatever you want; we have money. Out of your 1000, a single trip to Friendship Mall will use it up. That 600 yuan in foreign exchange coupons I spent was a painful decision—after seeing and comparing prices for a long time."

Zhou Jiao smiled, nodding, "That’s why when you offered to buy me a cashmere coat, I accepted right away, knowing my mother isn’t short of money. With a monthly 50-yuan rent higher than a worker’s salary, we’re not short. I’ll spend, since you said all household cash is with grandma, so I’m at ease. If I see something, I’ll buy it."

Lin Lishan nodded approvingly, "Exactly how you should think. Once your dad comes back with money, you can’t foolishly say you have money. The abroad fund can’t be mentioned to dad—that means no money. The Beijing rental savings can’t be withdrawn—that means no money, so you’re just like Xiao Wu with a bit of stash and buying a house, so no money exists. No matter how much you receive, save what’s left. If a child of Lin Lishan’s ever needs money, it would be a joke."

"Rich mom, I’m very poor, really poor, poor to the point of only having money."

Zhou Jiao looked at her, jokingly. She secretly sighed, wasn’t she pretty clear? How could she not think deeper? After all, her own mother had two sons and two daughters. Forget it, she would protect them more in the future, maybe she was suspecting a gentleman with a petty heart.