OBS Chapter 31: Encountering toxic people, try to avoid them.
Chapter 31: Encountering toxic people, try to avoid them.
Deng Xiuzhen heard Wenjing speaking from outside the door: "You have to sweep from one end to the other, with the big end facing outwards. Hold the top with one hand and the middle with the other, and just like that, exert force in one direction."
Deng Xiuzhen then remembered that it was Saturday and the children were off work.
Since coming up from the countryside, I've spent every day either in fear or busy, and I've never felt so at ease.
Standing under the sun, listening to the children talk, and imagining them doing chores at home, Deng Xiuzhen felt that this was what happiness should look like.
"What are you doing?" Deng Xiuzhen asked, pretending to have just returned and knew nothing as she walked in.
"Mommy, Mommy, Sister Jingjing taught me how to sweep! Look, look, isn't it clean?" Hearing Deng Xiuzhen's voice, Wenyu ran over with a broom and said loudly, his little face flushed and full of joy.
"Mom, I've washed the vegetables. Can you teach me how to cook?" Wenxin tugged at Deng Xiuzhen's sleeve and whispered. Wenjing stood there smiling, like a little adult.
When Qin Yanlin returned, the meal was already prepared.
After the family finished eating and cleaned up the dishes, the children clamored to go for a stroll in the street.
Qin Yanlin said, "Xiuzhen, the houses over there are all ready. Why don't you take the children for a walk around?"
“Why don’t we all go together as a family?” Deng Xiuzhen said. Qin Yanlin had been working hard running around in the city these past few days, but if you asked him to go shopping while she went running around in the city, he probably wouldn’t agree. Letting him stay home and rest would feel like cutting off a piece of his flesh.
Moreover, she really wanted to go shopping with her family. In her previous life, she and Qin Yanlin were always in business, either minding the store, purchasing goods, or handling other matters. The only days of the year when the family could be together without having to do business were Lunar New Year's Eve and a few days into the new year. And those days were basically spent visiting relatives to wish them a Happy New Year.
Until Qin Yanlin passed away, his family never went shopping together or ate out together.
In the years that followed, she often thought about these regrets, and then felt a dull ache in her heart.
"How can that be? Business has been booming lately. And I've seen a few more motorcycle taxis on the street. We need to seize the opportunity to make money, or it will be difficult for us to earn any more if there are too many motorcycle taxis." Qin Yanlin disagreed.
"Money can never be earned enough. Our family has never gone shopping together. In a few years, when the children are older, you won't be able to go shopping with them anymore."
"Dad, let's go shopping together. I'll be starting junior high next year, and my studies will be more demanding, so I probably won't have much time to shop," Wenjing quickly chimed in.
"Dad, let's go together," Wenxin said softly.
"Dad, if I get tired, can you carry me on your back? Mom can't carry me." Wen Yu looked at Qin Yanlin with wide eyes.
“You’re so big now, you have to walk by yourself wherever you go, you can’t let Mom carry you, understand?” Qin Yanlin said, patting Wen Yu’s head. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Okay, today our family will go shopping. We won’t earn money today, we’ll spend money!”
"Yay! Yay! Yay!" the children cheered in unison.
The children were as excited as if it were New Year's Day, rushing to the wardrobe to find clothes they thought looked nice. Deng Xiuzhen opened the wardrobe, glanced at the red woolen coat, ignored it, and went to look for other clothes.
"You should wear this one, it looks good on you," Qin Yanlin said, taking off the red wool coat and handing it to Deng Xiuzhen.
"This is too much of a trend, it's not appropriate for someone in their fifties," Deng Xiuzhen said somewhat embarrassedly.
“You’re only in your thirties, what’s wrong with it? Hurry up and change, the children are getting impatient.” After saying that, Qin Yanlin turned to look at the children.
The family got ready and went out happily.
Although Qin Yanlin's house is located in an alley, this alley is in the heart of the city's bustling center. Turning right out of the alley leads to a lively street lined with Puzhong Middle School, No. 3 Primary School, a bus stop, various businesses, some government offices, and a park. It's both lively and prosperous.
Turning left will take you to a more bustling and prosperous area. Pucheng's hospitals, shopping malls, cinemas, government offices, famous restaurants, and many more are all located here.
The group walked slowly along Fengcheng Road. The children looked at anything interesting and browsed through clothing stores, but ignored all food items.
"Wenjing, aren't you going to buy some snacks?" Deng Xiuzhen asked. It's in children's nature to like snacks, and they usually enjoy them, so why isn't one of them mentioning buying anything today?
"Mom, my sister said we should save our stomachs for the restaurant!" Qin Wenyu exclaimed excitedly, waving his arms and legs.
"You country bumpkin! You've never seen the world before!"
"Who are you calling a country bumpkin!" Before Deng Xiuzhen could react, Wenjing had already rushed up to a girl.
“I was talking about you, Qin Wenjing!” the girl said without the slightest fear, her expression contemptuous.
"Try saying that again!" Qin Wenjing clenched her fists.
“I told you, you’re a country bumpkin, your mom is a country bumpkin, your whole family are country bumpkins, your whole family are bumpkins. Look at your mom, she’s even wearing red! She’s so tacky!” The girl looked at Qin Wenjing provocatively.
"Wenjing, who is she?" Deng Xiuzhen asked, pulling Qin Wenjing back from the brink of a breakdown.
“A classmate of mine, a super annoying jerk!” Wenjing replied.
"Who are you calling a scumbag? You're the scumbag! You're a scumbag, you're a gossip, you're a jerk!"
"Watch your mouth!" Qin Yanlin was furious. He didn't care if the children were arguing, but he couldn't tolerate such insults directed at his daughter.
"Who are you telling to watch their mouth?" A tall, burly man walked over and pointed at Qin Yanlin.
"you……"
"Yanlin! Let's go!" Deng Xiuzhen grabbed Qin Yanlin and led the children away.
"You country bumpkin, you tattletale, you stinking old hag..." the girl continued to curse from behind.
Qin Yanlin tried to turn back several times, but Deng Xiuzhen held him back tightly.
Having lived two lives, Deng Xiuzhen knew this well: avoid toxic people as much as possible.
Trash people don't care about their lives, but you need to know how to protect yourself. Never risk your precious life to fight trash people.
In this lifetime, she wanted to protect Qin Yanlin's life and ensure he lived a long and healthy life.
She also needs to protect her children, teach them how to be good people, and teach them how to survive better. She also needs to teach them to be grateful and to give back.
Deng Xiuzhen held Qin Yanlin's hand with one hand and Qin Wenjing's hand with the other, while Qin Wenxin led Qin Wenyu by the hand. The family hurried forward, looking as if they were fleeing in disarray, quite disheveled.
"Mom, I really can't stand this!" Wenjing said angrily, shaking her hand.
"What will happen if you keep arguing?" Deng Xiuzhen asked calmly without letting go of her hand.
"I can swear too!"
"Does being able to swear prevent you from being sweared at? Are you happy when you swear at someone? Don't you feel angry when you're swearing at someone?"
"I, I, I... I'll just fight her if necessary!"
"What happens after a fight?"
"If we fight, we won't be so upset!"
“But when a fight breaks out, someone gets hurt, and then someone continues to hold a grudge. And judging from today’s situation, 99% of the people who get hurt and continue to hold a grudge are you, your dad, me, your younger brother, and your younger sister. Do you think this is a good thing?” Deng Xiuzhen coaxed gently.