Chapter 51: As Bold as I Am, Mom’s Got That Much Money

After dinner, Su Qinghu waved her hand and called to the two kids, “Come help clear the table.”

At her words, Chen Lie, who had just started to get up, sat back down solidly and watched the three of them tidy up.

Dadan and Erdan were clearly used to being put to work. Without a word, they got up and skillfully gathered the bowls, chopsticks, and plates, organizing them neatly and carrying them to the kitchen with Su Qinghu.

In the kitchen, Erdan set down the chopsticks and watched his new mom and big brother work together seamlessly—one washing, the other putting dishes away in the cupboard. He hesitated, unsure if he should wash the chopsticks himself.

“Give them to me,” Dadan took the chopsticks from his hands and washed them without missing a beat.

Su Qinghu wiped her hands and glanced at Chen Lie, who was standing at the kitchen door, then waved him away.

Chen Lie was easygoing; he didn’t ask any questions and just headed to the living room.

The two kids watched Chen Lie’s retreating back, their faces full of “Oh, our poor old dad, you’ve suffered so much.” Su Qinghu shivered, waving her hand in front of their faces, “Snap out of it! Snap out of it!”

Erdan asked, “Mom, what are you going to say? Why can’t Dad hear?”

Dadan just looked at her silently… Is this about pocket money?

“We’re talking about pocket money,” Su Qinghu glanced at him. “With your dad not here, we can negotiate. If he were here—” She drew out the last words dramatically.

Erdan immediately switched sides, looking at Su Qinghu with a fawning smile, “Mom, let’s talk now! How much pocket money do you want to give us today?”

There was a pretty girl in his class who got fifty cents in pocket money every day, plus tasty snacks to bring to school. The whole class envied her!

“How much do you think is appropriate?” Su Qinghu didn’t give a number right away, just smiled mysteriously at the two of them. “Think carefully before you answer, because you only get one chance~~~”

Dadan said, “No need, as long as you don’t waste money.”

Other people’s moms are frugal, stretching every penny. Their mom, on the other hand, spends money like water, doing whatever she wants…

“Bro!” Erdan turned and glared at Dadan. “Mom doesn’t waste money! Think about it—where has she wasted money?!”

Dadan replied, “She buys clothes even though we already have some at home—doesn’t that count as wasting money? We’re both boys, why buy face cream? Isn’t that a waste?”

“But those things are useful!” Erdan was incredulous. “Bro, are you a total cheapskate?”

Su Qinghu nearly choked. If people weren’t so innocent in this era, she’d have told Erdan, “If you’re going to say ‘chicken,’ don’t say ‘ba’—let’s all be civilized.”

“We could do without,” Dadan said calmly. “If we don’t want to do business, we could save the money in the bank. The interest isn’t bad.”

Wow~~~

Su Qinghu looked at Dadan in surprise. This kid—

So young, and he already knows about this stuff?

“Who told you that?” Su Qinghu was curious. “Or did you look it up yourself?”

Maybe she could nurture him in finance in the future?

But as soon as she had that thought, she dismissed it. Her sister-in-law seemed to have high hopes for Dadan, wanting him to go into scientific research. She shouldn’t interfere and disrupt his interests.

“I heard it from someone,” Dadan said with a straight face. “Over at Houhai, some uncles and grandpas were talking about bank interest. Erdan was there too.”

Erdan said, “Huh? I didn’t hear that!”

He liked hanging around the people telling ghost stories and history. He didn’t pay attention to the money talk.

He was still young—other than earning a few cents here and there, he couldn’t make big money, so it didn’t interest him.

Su Qinghu looked left and right, deciding to give up trying to figure out their interests. As for “teaching according to their aptitude,” she’d leave that to the teachers. She’d just make sure they had a happy, exciting childhood.

“So, how much pocket money do you want?”

As soon as Su Qinghu finished, Erdan hurriedly grabbed Dadan. “Bro, didn’t you want to save money in the bank for interest? Then don’t refuse pocket money! We need money to put in the bank, right?”

Dadan opened his mouth, but Erdan cut him off. “I know you want to say we should pool our money and save it, right? But does it really matter if we save it or Mom saves it?”

Dadan’s face darkened, a little annoyed at Erdan for interrupting him again and again.

Erdan grinned at Su Qinghu, “Mom, I’ll go talk to my brother, okay?”

He dragged Dadan outside, and once he thought Su Qinghu couldn’t hear, he started earnestly persuading him, “Bro, if we leave the money with Mom, she might spend it. If we keep it ourselves, under your supervision, we’ll definitely save some!”

Dadan was a bit annoyed. “She’s not working yet. The money she gives us comes from what Dad gave her before. We need money for food, and our school fees too. She can’t give us much pocket money—just a few cents. How long will it take you to save up?”

Erdan said, “But she said we could decide how much we want, didn’t she?”

Dadan really wanted to knock his brother on the head, but finally gave in. “You speak for me. Whatever amount you say, I’ll go with it.”

“Great!” Erdan beamed. “Thanks, bro!”

They finished their discussion and went back to the kitchen.

Su Qinghu asked, “Have you decided?”

Erdan replied, “We have! Mom, today we want five yuan in pocket money!”

As soon as he said it, Dadan nearly slipped, staring at Erdan like he was crazy.

That’s not asking for money—that’s asking for a beating!

Five yuan?

He actually dared to ask for that!

Does he know how much five yuan is? Does he know how much you can buy with five yuan?!

Erdan’s voice had been a bit loud, so even Chen Lie, who was bored in the living room and pacing near the kitchen door, turned his head.

Five yuan—that’s a year-end bonus for an average worker.

Dadan shot Erdan a look, gesturing clearly: if things go south, run for it, and he’d hold Su Qinghu back.

This was a code they’d developed when facing Yao Yingying’s punishments.

Erdan understood, grinned at Dadan, and shook his head.

If there was really going to be a beating, it should be Dad holding back the new mom, not the other way around. Besides, he didn’t think the new mom would hit them.

Dadan was exasperated. If Erdan got beaten and had to go to school afterward, he definitely wasn’t going to help him carry his backpack!

“Is that okay?” Erdan looked up at Su Qinghu like a little sunflower, full of hope.

Isn’t there a saying, “The bolder you are, the richer you get”?

Aim high—maybe she’ll agree! And even if she doesn’t, there’s still room to negotiate~~~

Under the kids’ expectant and nervous gazes, Su Qinghu nodded crisply. “Okay.”

Okay?

Okay what?!

“Are you crazy?!” Dadan practically jumped up, glaring at Su Qinghu and roaring, “Do you even know how much five yuan is?!”

How are we supposed to live in this house?!

Chen Lie, hearing his son’s outburst, realized that if he didn’t step in, the kid might just pass out from anger, so he strode toward the kitchen."