CHAPTER 969: CHAPTER 560: CHILDHOOD MEMORIES (PART 2)

Xue Chuchu looked at her mother and noticed that the frown lines on her face, usually deep due to life’s hardships, had eased significantly.

"How much did it increase?" she asked.

"By a thousand, now I can bring home six thousand five hundred." Hua Fengmei never dreamed that she would one day earn such a high salary.

A salary of six thousand five hundred! It’s double her previous salary, plus it includes insurance, a housing fund, and various benefits.

"At this rate, by the end of the year, we can pay off all the debts from buying the house."

Her words were full of hope for the future, something Chuchu noticed in her eyes.

Xue Chuchu was lost in thought, how long had it been since it was like this?

Back when her mother worked at the factory, day and night blended together, and to earn more money, she often chose to work overtime. Every day she came home, she was utterly exhausted.

Back then, the phrase her mother said most often was for her to study hard, have a promising future, and not end up like her, suffering at others’ hands her whole life.

Xue Chuchu understood it all, so she studied like her life depended on it.

"Mom." Xue Chuchu called out, her heart aching intensely.

Hua Fengmei took her daughter’s hand, as if examining it, her eyes soft, "Don’t study today, just rest. I’ll get some water ready for you to soak your feet later."

Xue Chuchu: "It’s okay, mom, I’m not tired."

Hua Fengmei: "Be good, I’ll always be here for you!"

She smiled warmly, "Once we clear the family’s debts, I’ll save some dowry for you, so you can marry gloriously!"

Talking about this topic made Xue Chuchu shy, she lowered her head, "I don’t want to marry, I want to stay with you, mom."

Hua Fengmei was happy inside, but she put on a stern face outwardly, "Nonsense, how can one not marry?"

Hua Fengmei had lost her husband in midlife, but she never regretted marrying. If she hadn’t married, she would never have had such an understanding daughter as Chuchu. She looked forward to watching her daughter get married someday.

Seeing her daughter’s shy appearance, Hua Fengmei smiled and said emotionally, "I’m not as lucky as Sister Gu to find a son-in-law like Jiang Ning..."

"But rest assured, I’ll find you a good one, as many Evergreen Liquids as you want..."

Her mother continued to ramble, but Xue Chuchu was focused on the first sentence. She hesitated, then asked softly, "Mom, did you just say... Jiang Ning is the son-in-law?"

...

In Jiang Ning’s room.

Xue Yuantong was perched on her exclusive throne, her little shoes propped on the pedal installed by Jiang Ning.

One hand held the mouse, and the other manned the keyboard.

"Jiang Ning, you have no idea how fierce my mom is. Didn’t you go out at noon? I was playing league, and she called me to take a nap."

"I told her I was gaming, and she actually asked me to pause the game!"

"I said I couldn’t, but she said I was making excuses!"

Xue Yuantong was complaining about her relentless mother, hoping to gain some empathy from Jiang Ning.

But Jiang Ning only asked, "And then what happened?"

Xue Yuantong pouted, "Let’s not talk about what happened next."

Jiang Ning hit the sore spot, "Did Aunt Gu pinch your ear?"

Xue Yuantong remained silent.

She seized the opportunity to maneuver Little Fishman and swiftly defeated a fragile opponent, to vent her inner frustration!

"So pitiful, I’ve never been scolded like that." Jiang Ning sat on the sofa, leisurely reflecting.

He reached out for a duck’s paw from the plate. These were stewed by Aunt Gu herself, plump, spicy, and flavorful, tender and smooth in texture, they made for excellent snacks.

Smelling the aroma, Xue Yuantong turned back and saw Jiang Ning sneaking a bite.

"That’s too much, you’re not even waiting for me!" Xue Yuantong wanted to eat too, but her hands were full.

"Just eating." Jiang Ning took a bite, "Aunt Gu’s cooking is really good."

Xue Yuantong was craving so much, she knew Jiang Ning would look after her, but there were times he wouldn’t.

She stopped controlling her character, turned around and divided the stewed duck’s paws in the plate, a total of 8, 4 for each. Smart as she was, she even took a photo for record, to deter the cunning Jiang Ning.

Seeing her serious demeanor, Jiang Ning said, "I wouldn’t eat yours, why split them so clearly?"

Xue Yuantong coolly replied, "For fairness."

It’s a pity that she has her hair in a bun and is so petite, she doesn’t look cool at all but rather adorable.

Jiang Ning watched her curled up on the seat and couldn’t help but wonder what her expression would be like when she suddenly grows taller and finds she can’t curl up anymore.

Unfortunately, in a previous life, Jiang Ning never had any interaction with the grown-up Xue Yuantong; by then, Xue Yuantong had already transferred to Experimental Class 1.

"Mom is so unfair. She didn’t give me duck feet when I asked, so why did you get them as soon as you walked in?" Xue Yuantong complained.

Just now, Jiang Ning even went to her house to deliver some old clothes!

He washed all his clothes himself, and the more Xue Yuantong thought about it, the angrier she became. She then controlled the Little Fishman and killed two enemies.

Still unsatisfied, she said, "From now on, wash your own clothes!"

Jiang Ning: "Haha."

Xue Yuantong: "Hmph!"

"Haha."

"Tch!"

After a few rounds, Jiang Ning originally wanted to say that Chuchu should wash the clothes, but she might not want to do it for him.

So he compromised: "Then I’ll wash them myself."

When Xue Yuantong heard this, she didn’t even turn her head. She raised her chin and said proudly, "I bet you can’t wash them as clean as I do."

"Hm?"

"Because the first time I washed clothes, I washed ones stained with soy sauce, and I got them super clean," Xue Yuantong recalled her success and couldn’t help but feel proud.

"Why was your first time washing clothes with soy sauce-stained clothes?" Jiang Ning was puzzled.

Xue Yuantong replied irrelevantly: "My mom bullies me every day. Shouldn’t I resist? You really underestimate me!"

"Does it have anything to do with soy sauce?" Jiang Ning continued to ask.

"If my mom picks up a weapon, of course, I have to find a weapon too!" Xue Yuantong said.

"And then?"

"Just don’t ask anymore." Xue Yuantong suddenly shut her mouth.

Jiang Ning didn’t say anything; he chose to contact Chuchu to find out the reason.

Xue Chuchu had just put down the washbasin; she sat by the bed, lifted the hem of her skirt, and revealed a section of fair, delicate calf.

She slightly raised her leg, the calf forming an elegant curve, then dipped her dainty feet into the water.

After seeing Jiang Ning’s message, she replied: "That day, Aunt Gu cornered Tongtong in the kitchen, intending to give her a scolding. Tongtong resisted and grabbed the soy sauce bottle from the counter as a weapon to face off with Aunt Gu, but then she accidentally held it upside down and got herself covered in soy sauce."

"Later, Aunt Gu stood by and watched Tongtong wash the clothes clean." Xue Chuchu recalled the scene and couldn’t help but laugh.

Jiang Ning: "Tongtong is quite pitiful."

Xue Chuchu enjoyed the slightly hot water, her rosy toes trembling in the water.

Xue Chuchu: "Not exactly."

"Hm?"

"Aunt Gu had a reason to scold her; at first, Aunt Gu gave Tongtong 10 yuan to buy a bottle of sesame oil, but she pocketed 5 yuan."

Jiang Ning saw the message and replied with a smile: "A 10-yuan bottle of sesame oil, and she only bought a 5-yuan one. That would only fill half the bottle, wouldn’t it easily be exposed?"

Xue Chuchu’s calm expression had a hint of amusement, "The thing you’re worried about, Tongtong certainly didn’t overlook. She added water to fill the bottle."

"But, well, the density of sesame oil is lower than water, so once it mixed, the oil floated to the top and Aunt Gu found out."

Jiang Ning: "She deserved the scolding."

He finally understood why Aunt Gu always liked to scold Tongtong; she was too naughty.

After chatting with Chuchu for a bit, he reminded her: "Dry your feet soon, don’t let the water get cold."

"Okay." Xue Chuchu agreed.

After ending the chat, Xue Chuchu gently closed her eyes, emptying her thoughts to enjoy the pleasant moment.

When the water wasn’t so hot anymore, she took her feet out of the water. Because of the hot water, her originally fair feet were now tinted with a thin layer of red, like a peach.

Xue Chuchu drew her knees up, wiped away the water droplets with a towel, and then furrowed her brows with a puzzled look:

’How did he know I was soaking my feet?’