Chapter 27: Duckweed Afloat

"Oh, Gao, please don't cry. That Wang fellow... he was so heavy-handed. Look at poor Hongye's face—my heart just aches looking at him."

Seeing that Gao Huifang still didn't respond, Wu Xiaoling said with a grievance, "My mom isn't crying because of that. She’s blaming Hongye for getting into a conflict with Uncle Wang. Uncle Wang has connections in Jiangcheng; if he gets my mom fired, our family will be left with nothing to eat."

"Ah, worried about your job? If you lose it, you can just set up a street stall."

*Slap.*

Lin Xiaomeng smacked Lin Wei on the arm.

"Don't interrupt, child. You're too young to understand the importance of a steady job. A 'fixed rice bowl' is much more stable than street vending."

"I don't think so. Even the 'fixed rice bowls' aren't as stable as they used to be. Whether you offend someone or not, if they want to lay you off, they'll do it regardless, won't they?"

Gao Huifang sobbed, "It's different. My family has a heavy burden. My job is too important to me. I've offended Wang Changzhi too deeply this time; he's bound to hold a grudge, and if he needs to vent, he'll only vent it on me."

"He won't. Given Wang Changzhi's character, even if he blames someone, he'll only blame me."

Reborn into this life, Lin Wei was not someone who usually meddled in other people's affairs. But seeing how timid these two children were, she couldn't help but think of her past self—without any support, drifting through life like duckweed on water. She couldn't bear it. She knew it might be wrong to speak so bluntly, but she did it anyway.

"Aunt Gao, I’m young, so what I say might be hard to hear. With Grandma Gao bedridden and you being the only pillar of the family, everyone knows how much pressure you’re under and how vital your job is."

"But you can't live your life in constant fear because of that. I know your intention in working so hard is to raise your children well, but have you really succeeded? I don't know the others well, but take the two Su family boys—the difference in their personalities is stark. You can't tell me you don't see it."

"Those two boys are naturally lively," Gao Huifang countered.

"Your Hongye is a boy too. Was he this quiet from birth? I doubt it. So why is there such a huge difference now?"

Gao Huifang looked thoughtful, eventually saying, "Their father passed away, and ever since then..."

Lin Wei interrupted her directly. "No, it's because Uncle Mulin and Aunt Zhang stand firmly behind them, protecting them no matter what happens. Children who have that sense of security won't turn out like this, no matter how quiet their natural disposition is."

"Conversely, look at your side. Just because Xiaoling is crying, I'm sure you've been blaming the two children the moment you got home. They have no sense of security, no one to protect them, and no one standing firmly behind them. How could they turn out any other way?"

Gao Huifang was a grown woman; she understood. She knew perfectly well that what Lin Wei said was the truth, but she was unwilling to admit it. "It's different. You're still a child; you don't understand the hardships of life. If we're backed into a corner..."

"Could you possibly be more backed into a corner than I am? My father just died in an accident, and my mother took his thirty-thousand-yuan pension and ran off with another man. She left my younger brother to me, sold the house we lived in, and dismissed us with only five hundred yuan."

"The day I came to find my aunt, the plastic bag I was carrying contained all the possessions my brother and I had left. No matter how desperate you think you are, the company won't take back your apartment, right? And after working all these years, you don't have any savings at all?"

"With a place to stay and savings, how hard can life really be? It's not like you're missing hands or feet. The times are so good now; there are business opportunities everywhere. As long as you're willing to work, you'll always have a meal. Can Wang Changzhi really threaten your job at the wool mill and drive you to your death? If he really dares to do that, you just move Grandma Gao to his doorstep. If I don't get to eat, then you don't either. Let’s see how long he can hold out."

"But the children are different. They are at the stage where their characters are being formed. If you don't adjust your approach now, and don't stand firmly behind them to protect them, they will grow up without any support. Forget about whether they'll be successful; with this personality, they'll just be bullied wherever they go."

"You only get to live once. You don't have to live with total abandon, but you weren't born just to take abuse, either."

Lin Wei's words were nothing short of shocking. It wasn't just because she said what they had all wanted to say for years but were afraid to. It was the fact that Lin Wei's father had actually passed away, and yet, despite all she had been through, she could remain so optimistic.

"Aunt Gao, you haven't reached the end of your rope yet. Truly, you haven't."

Gao Huifang looked at Lin Wei, unable to collect her thoughts for a long time, but finally, she just let out a long sigh and remained silent. Everyone knew she needed time to digest what Lin Wei had said.

***

Seeing this, Su Mulin steered the conversation elsewhere. "Weiwei is a university student, after all. The way she speaks is just different from us, and her perspective is unique. But about today's matter... the way the kids cooperated... I'm actually worried they might learn the wrong lessons. After all, you're an adult and understand the situation, but the kids are too young to tell right from wrong."

Su Sijin pursed his lips. "That's exactly why Mom beat us up earlier."

"Exactly, it really hurt," Su Si'an quickly chimed in.

"It won't happen. The children in our family, personality aside, are fundamentally good kids. As parents, you have already taught them well. What makes a person human is that they have manners, morals, boundaries, and a conscience. They actually understand everything; they know what they can and cannot do. They have their own bottom lines."

"Aunt Zhang, look at these two. They're mischievous, but have they ever done anything truly excessive or crossed the line? If they had, their own consciences wouldn't let them rest." Lin Wei looked at the two children and asked, "Isn't that right?"

"Uh." The two children paused, then nodded. "Yes."

Lin Wei choked, then turned and said, "Aunt Zhang, give them another beating when you get home."

***

Amidst the confusion of the group, the Lin and Su families left the Gao residence. Lin Wei took her brother inside first, while Lin Xiaomeng was dragged to the next room by Zhang Min.

"Is it true? Was everything Weiwei said just now true? Her father...?"

Lin Xiaomeng nodded. "Yes."

"I couldn't tell at all. I thought the two children were just here to attend school."

Lin Xiaomeng sighed. "What does it matter if you can tell or not? These two children are truly at their wits' end. If they don't pull themselves together, I'm afraid Yuanyuan will end up with the same personality as the children next door. Weiwei is smart; she knows this and is forcing herself to be strong. Plus, she doesn't have any money..."

At this, Lin Xiaomeng paused, then continued, "She didn't want to accept my financial help, so she suggested setting up a street stall. I didn't agree at first—she's my own niece, after all—but then I thought, there's still a long time before school starts, and selling things might help take her mind off things."

"She’s been doing it for six days now," Lin Xiaomeng whispered into the ears of Zhang Min and Su Mulin. "She’s earned over seven thousand yuan. Now, her head is full of making money and business. She’s so exhausted during the day that she even snores at night. I don't know whether to say she's heartless or just incredibly hardworking."