Chapter 134: Just Do It Like This

Da Dan wouldn’t let anyone ask questions, so Er Dan didn’t ask either. He looked up and chirped, “Bro, when you go borrow the cart later, act a little angry.”

Da Dan: “Why?”

“You have to be mad to make it look real when you throw the melons,” Er Dan explained. “That way it’s convincing!”

If it looked real, wouldn’t everyone believe his brother really threw the melons away? Then, when he went to pick them up and sell them later, it would have nothing to do with his brother or their mom!

Da Dan pursed his lips but still did as he was told. He borrowed the cart, came back, and started loading the melons onto it. Just as he finished and was about to push the cart away, his silly little brother suddenly howled, “Brother!”

Da Dan almost let go of the cart handle, glaring at him in exasperation. “What are you doing?!”

Er Dan waggled his eyebrows and whispered, “Bro, just ignore me. Keep your head down and pull the cart forward. I’ll do the yelling!”

Da Dan: “…”

“If you’re going to put on a show, you have to do it right!” Er Dan winked. “Hurry up and go!”

Da Dan took a couple of deep breaths, then lowered his head and strode off with the cart.

Er Dan started wailing behind him, “Brother! Bro, if you don’t want to acknowledge your godfather, then don’t, but you can’t just throw away the melons he gave you! Us ordinary folks have only just started living a good life—we can’t waste food!”

His voice was so loud that Su Qinghu, who had been slouched on a bench wondering what to make for dinner, shot upright in surprise.

This was just too…

Su Qinghu was at a loss for words. When this kid started wailing, he really had the flair of those village aunties who slap their thighs and cry at the top of their lungs!

She glanced at the gate, hesitated for a moment, then slumped back down.

She’d told them to handle things themselves, so she’d let them be. If anything happened later, she’d figure out how to deal with it then.

After lying there a while longer, and hearing the boys’ voices fade into the distance, Su Qinghu finally got up and reluctantly headed to the kitchen.

She only had two hundred yuan on hand, and with the shop needing renovations and workers to be hired, there was no way she could take the kids out to eat. She’d have to cook herself.

But with the weather so hot, she’d keep it simple: cold noodles with shredded cucumber and sesame sauce, plus a bowl of mung bean soup. That would do.

She was leisurely dividing the noodles into three bowls when Er Dan, face flushed and sweating, came grinning into the kitchen.

Su Qinghu glanced at him. “Go wash your hands and face with your brother before you eat.”

“Aren’t you going to ask me?” Er Dan’s eyes sparkled. “I sold everything! Do you know how much I made?”

Su Qinghu: “…Not asking.”

Heh. She hadn’t bought any melons herself this year, but she’d heard from Sister Li that last year watermelons sold for about 0.25 yuan per jin. This year’s melons had just come on the market, so they’d be pricier—everyone knew that, so she hadn’t bothered to ask the price.

And since her work hours didn’t line up with the melon sellers, she honestly didn’t know the current price.

But was that the point?

The point was she just wasn’t going to ask. Let the little brat stew!

“Even if you don’t ask, I’m going to tell you!” Er Dan puffed up his chest, looking smug. But then he added, “And after I tell you, I’m giving you half the money!”

Su Qinghu almost burst out laughing and set down her chopsticks. “You keep it for yourself. When we start making money together from the business, I’ll take you both to the bank to deposit it.”

She didn’t want the money.

It just felt… different if she took it.

Su Qinghu shook her head, banishing the sudden mental image of herself sprouting a few green hairs, and urged the boys to hurry up and wash their hands and faces.

“I—” Er Dan tried to say something else, but Da Dan dragged him off toward the bathroom.

“Bro! What are you doing?” Er Dan protested, out of breath. “I wasn’t finished! I haven’t told Mom how much I made!”

“She won’t take it even if you tell her,” Da Dan frowned, letting go. “Go by yourself!”

Dragging him was exhausting!

“Why not?” Er Dan didn’t believe it. “It’s not like I’m lending it to her, I’m giving it to her to spend!”

“No reason! She can only spend her own money and Dad’s money!” Da Dan said firmly.

Money from selling other people’s stuff was still other people’s money.

Er Dan grinned, ready to argue. “What about the money Grandma gives? Or Grandpa? Or when you and I grow up and earn money—she can’t spend that either?”

“Mom spent the money and ration tickets Grandpa and Grandma gave before!”

He switched gears. “So why can’t she spend my money?”

“That’s not money you earned yourself,” Da Dan explained, shooting him a sharp look. “Shut up. No more questions! No more talking!”

Such a pain!

Er Dan could read the room—seeing his brother was angry, he finally quieted down.

The three of them ate in silence. Every now and then, Er Dan would sneak a glance at Su Qinghu, who noticed but didn’t look up.

She was lost in thought, wondering how to handle the subtle rumors and gossip at work.

The plan she’d thought of before now seemed too blunt—not nearly “green tea” or “white lotus” enough.

The most effective ways to fight back in life were either with overwhelming force that made people afraid, or with enough “green tea” and “white lotus” finesse to make people fume with anger but unable to do anything about it.

She was leaning toward the second option now. Just thinking about it was thrilling~~~

Her face wore a sly, silent smile. Not only did Er Dan notice, but even Da Dan caught on.

Da Dan really wanted to know what Su Qinghu’s smile meant, and who it was aimed at. But knowing she didn’t really like him and they weren’t that close, he decided not to ask and just kept eating his noodles.

Er Dan: “Mom?”

Su Qinghu looked up at him, signaling for him to speak if he had something to say.

“Ahaha, nothing, nothing!” Er Dan scratched his head. Seeing Su Qinghu’s eyes narrow in warning, he had a sudden idea and blurted, “I just wanted to remind you to eat!”

Su Qinghu’s gaze shifted from his head to his bowl, then from his bowl to the hand he’d just scratched his head with. She paused, then said, “Go wash your hands.”

Hands definitely needed washing. In this heat, it was easy to sweat, and with a bit of dust, whatever was left on his scalp would be pretty impressive.

As for the food in his bowl—

She didn’t see any dandruff, so it was fine.

Even if there was dandruff—

Su Qinghu thought back to her university cafeteria days and nodded to herself. Still edible.

Back then, she’d had food with hair in it, and even steel wool from scrubbers in her soup…

Er Dan looked at his hand, then at Su Qinghu, blinked, hesitated, and finally gave in and went to wash his hands.

Whether they were dirty or not wasn’t the point—if Mom thought they were dirty, he’d have to wash them. If he dragged it out, he’d still have to wash them in the end, so he might as well go now.

Su Qinghu withdrew her gaze, then caught Da Dan’s and smiled slightly. Under his wary look, she said slowly, “Starting the day after tomorrow, you and Er Dan, after school, go eat at that restaurant we always go to. I’m going to get busy soon and won’t be able to eat with you.”

I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. Something came up today."