After Scumming The Eldest Lady Of A Wealthy Family - Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Wen Yan’s face showed pure innocence as she said, “I already told you all the important precautions.”
Xiao Li frowned and asked, “Why do you get tipped so much when you deliver to the private rooms? I’ve delivered to many places and never got a tip.”
The bartender didn’t like Xiao Li at first, but after hearing his complaint, he frowned and defended Wen Yan, “People tip if they want to. There’s no rule requiring tips, and Wen Yan never said that tips were mandatory for deliveries. You’re in such a rush, what’s the hurry?”
Wen Yan softly responded, “I truly told you everything you needed to know and didn’t leave anything out.”
It was strange.
She really hadn’t mentioned any tipping tricks to Xiao Li.
She never openly asked for tips, nor did she hint at it. Instead, every time she entered a private room, she quietly left a few five-yuan bills on the tray.
Though the amounts weren’t large, placing those bills on the tray subtly suggested that the previous customer had tipped. This polite gesture, without demanding tips, gave customers the sense that tipping was their choice.
Those who didn’t intend to tip wouldn’t, but many who were hesitant ended up leaving five or ten yuan, and the more generous ones sometimes gave twenty or twenty-five yuan.
However, Wen Yan kept this little trick to herself.
The bartender concluded firmly, “That’s enough, Xiao Li. Remember, Wen Yan said she told you everything and didn’t hide anything. If you keep causing trouble, I’ll have to ask Sister Zhu to step in.”
Sister Zhu was the manager, and Xiao Li knew he was in the wrong. He wouldn’t dare stir up trouble in front of her, so he grumbled silently.
Wen Yan showed no resentment and even offered, “Brother Li, if you’re tired, you can clean the bar while I make deliveries.”
Xiao Li snorted coldly, “No thanks!”
He thought for a moment, then remembered Wen Yan’s last words: “If you can’t ask for tips directly, subtle hints will do.”
Indeed, the hints worked. When delivering fruit plates to the first two private rooms, Xiao Li received two five-yuan tips which he quickly pocketed. But at the third room, he missed out.
That room was filled with female college students who came to sing. Xiao Li hinted that he expected a tip, but they refused and complained about him to the manager.
Xiao Li didn’t want the manager involved, but the students insisted, so Sister Zhu came down and apologized to them, then scolded Xiao Li.
Xiao Li was humiliated and angry. Seeing Wen Yan calmly unaffected, he pointed at her and shouted, “What about her? She gets so many tips; why isn’t she checked?”
The female student folded her arms, looked at Wen Yan, then sneered at Xiao Li, “If you looked as good as she does, you wouldn’t need anyone’s money or attention. We come here to spend, not to be harassed about tips. Taking customers’ money while disrespecting them? No way!”
“Do you make us feel comfortable, or are you just hoping for tips with a bad attitude? If you’re not providing good service, why should we tip you? We’re not paying for your bad mood, so just leave us alone!”
Sister Zhu silently scolded Xiao Li a hundred times, but with a smile said, “Ladies, don’t be upset. I won’t make Wen Yan work in your room today. I’ll arrange staff training…”
“No need! We’re not here to cause trouble. Just bring three fruit plates,” the students said, pulling out a fifty-yuan note and stuffing it into Wen Yan’s hand. “This is your tip. Let this lovely lady handle it so you don’t get annoyed.”
Xiao Li’s face turned red as he tried to protest but stopped when he caught Sister Zhu’s sharp gaze.
Wen Yan went to prepare the fruit plates while Sister Zhu glared at the bartender watching nearby, “Didn’t you say the newbie should start with cleaning?”
The bartender shrugged, “I saw people tipping Wen Yan, and I couldn’t stop him. Cutting off someone’s money is like killing parents; I didn’t dare.”
Xiao Li couldn’t hold back any longer, grumbling, “If I deliver, no one tips. But if she does, people tip her? If she hadn’t started it, why would they tip?”
He muttered bitterly, “Better to be a woman, and even better to look good. Maybe someone should rub her back and chest—then she’d definitely get tips.”
Sister Zhu’s face darkened, “Say that again?”
Xiao Li swallowed and stayed silent.
Sister Zhu waved her hand irritably, “Asking for tips breaks work rules. If you’re not paid enough for a few hours, just quit and don’t come back.”
Only then did Xiao Li realize his panic. “Sister…”
Sister Zhu sneered, “What? Ready to lose your pay before leaving?”
Xiao Li was speechless, frustrated, tore off his work clothes, threw them on the bar, and left with a bang.
Wen Yan finished preparing the fruit plates and saw Sister Zhu sitting at the bar, her expression sour.
She lowered her head, pulled out the fifty yuan from the student’s tip, and placed it in front of Sister Zhu. “Sister, this is money for the fruit plates.”
Sister Zhu, still angry, pushed the money back, “This isn’t fruit plate money, it’s your tip. Keep it.”
Wen Yan shook her head, “If I stop him from going, there won’t be anything to do later. I have to cover the fruit plate cost anyway…”
“How can I stop him if he insists on going? I won’t blame you. Just take the money and don’t make me angrier.”
Wen Yan reluctantly put the money back in her pocket.
Sister Zhu paced angrily, cursing, “I was blind to bring in such a worthless person…”
Wen Yan muttered some comforting words and got back to work.
The bar closed at two in the morning; by one, it was quiet. Wen Yan worked until one and then left. Sister Zhu packed some fruit for her on the way out.
At midnight, during a break, she ate a few steamed buns to fill her empty stomach. By the time she got home at half past one, she wasn’t very hungry but her hands and face felt numb from the cold.
She locked the door upstairs, saved the leftover steamed buns with ham and eggs, quickly washed up, turned off the lights, and went to bed.
It was nearly two in the morning, and self-study started at 7:20 am. She needed to leave home by 6:40 at the latest and get up by 5:50 to get at least four hours of sleep…
Then the cycle repeated.
In the darkness, her phone screen suddenly lit up with a message:
[Review results say everything’s fine. We’re already on the train.]
The pale screen reflected Wen Yan’s exhausted face. After a few seconds, her frown relaxed, and she typed back: [Is the money enough?]
[There’s some left.]
A wave of fatigue swept over her sore body. Wen Yan set her alarm, put down the phone, closed her dry eyes, and fell asleep within minutes.
Maybe it was the news before bed, but Wen Yan dreamt again of her past.
Her father, Wen Yiquan, seemed like a cold tenant who never paid rent. He ate at home, left messes and dirty clothes, got drunk and beat her mother, giving only the bare minimum in love, money, and responsibility.
From childhood through adulthood, Wen Yan and her sister depended entirely on their mother’s income for food, clothes, and schooling.
Her mother struggled to find work that allowed time to cook for them, but lacking education, she only found low-paying jobs.
The salary barely covered living expenses, with just a few hundred yuan saved monthly for college tuition.
Her mother was strict and often harsh with Wen Yan and Wen Zhi Ink’s studies, frequently punishing them for poor grades or mischief.
In the corner lay two broken rulers. Wen Yan walked past piles of books taller than herself, put on her worn shoes, and hoisted her heavy patched-up schoolbag.
Through rain, snow, scorching sun, she carried her sister every day, enduring those hard years.
Both sisters had good grades. Wen Yan was admitted to City No.1 Middle School, and her sister was sure to pass her exams to attend the city’s best high school. They believed education would change their lives.
Their future path was rocky, but hope shone clearly.
All those beautiful dreams shattered when Wen Yan was sixteen.
One noon, the teacher called her from the dorm and took her to the hospital.
The smell of disinfectant and cold wind hit her as she pushed open the ward door, seeing her injured mother and pale sister lying with twisted legs.
Later, she learned Wen Yiquan had a mistress and was violent at home. He sold their house and stole her mother’s bank card, forcing her to reveal the password.
When Wen Zhiquan returned from school, their mother was beaten badly. She tried to intervene but was pushed down the stairs.
Wen Yiquan threatened to kill Wen if he didn’t give the password. Their mother complied.
Neighbors dared not call the police but helped call an ambulance to take them to the hospital.
Her mother’s legs were broken; in addition, she was diagnosed with br3ast cancer.
Neighbors tried contacting relatives but failed, so the teacher at City No.1 School was informed to come.
Years of savings were wiped out by Wen Yi. The house was sold, yet mother and sister still awaited funds for treatment estimated at over 200,000 yuan.
Insurance covered only a small part; the rest was a huge burden.
The school held a fundraiser that raised 40,000 yuan. Wen Yan took leave, quietly borrowed money, but couldn’t cover the full cost.
While mother and sister supported each other in the hospital, Wen Yan worked tirelessly around the city.
At night, she dragged her exhausted body back to a cramped rental room, recording every penny earned and spent.
Slowly, some debt was paid off.
Once Wen Zhi Ink could move, she started nursing work to help, but Wen Yan soon sent her back to school.
Wen Zhi Ink was just 14, in junior high, preparing for high school exams.
Wen Yan sent her back to school, but wasn’t aware of what she faced there.
Half a semester later, Wen Yan got a call: Wen Zhi Ink was back in the hospital, lying pale and weak.
Beneath the bed, the teacher and parents forced a boy to apologize.
Wen Zhi Ink’s leg wasn’t fully healed and she walked with a limp, suffering bullying at school.
If she hadn’t been pushed down the stairs by that boy, the broken leg wouldn’t have worsened. Wen Zhi Ink didn’t tell Wen Yan sooner.
The boy apologized repeatedly; teachers called it misunderstanding and urged harmony.
Wen Yan wanted to pursue justice but Wen Zhi Ink stopped her, whispering with a pale, sweating face, “It’s too costly… If they don’t pay, I’ll sue and put them in jail.”
Though injured twice, Wen Zhi Ink’s compensation of 73,500 yuan helped ease medical costs.
Wen Zhi Ink refused to return to school and took leave to care for their mother.
Years of abuse, illness, chemotherapy, and side effects left their mother frail, unable to work.
The family’s burden weighed heavily on Wen Yan’s shoulders. Those two years dragged on endlessly.
On June 8, the day of the college entrance exam and Wen Yan’s birthday, she stood outside the exam venue, watching classmates smile and celebrate with their families.
She felt shame and anger, lowered her head, slipped through the crowd, and left.
In August, after nearly two years of treatment, her mother’s health improved.
Wen Yan got a job at a bar, and her mother persuaded her to return to school. Wen Zhi Ink was also studying at home, preparing for exams.
Though debts remained, hope finally returned.
Wen Yan woke early, shivering under the quilt, glancing at the tightly shut curtains.
Cold morning air seeped through. Without heating, the house was as chilly as outside.
She shivered putting on two layers of school uniform. After breakfast and washing, her body warmed slightly.
The weather forecast predicted rain. Wen Yan packed a poncho, umbrella, and plastic bags, and covered her bicycle seat for protection.
She locked the door, schoolbag on her back, and stepped out wearing gloves.
Between the eighth and seventh floors of her worn-down apartment building, the stairwell was eerily quiet.
Her footsteps echoed on the oily cement steps.
The garbage outside hadn’t been cleaned, spreading a foul smell. Wearing two masks, Wen Yan felt better.
A man in a lieutenant colonel’s uniform stood near her bike. Before she reached it, he waved and called out, “Wen Yan! What a surprise, we meet again!”