Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 33

Xu Jing’an could sense her mother’s slight change, but she didn’t show any reaction.

In families today, nine out of ten still prioritize sons over daughters. Sons require careful nurturing and additional savings because they are expected to support their parents in old age.

In contrast, daughters are often treated like outsiders; every bite of food they take feels like a needle pricking the eyes. Some families may maintain appearances, but what they have given their daughters is etched clearly in their hearts. They only think about the bigger returns, calculating how daughters can contribute to the household, earn money, and provide a dowry when they marry.

Moreover, they brainwash their daughters to understand that their roots lie in their maternal family, wanting them to consider their family’s needs above all else. Whenever married daughters face conflicts or grievances in their in-laws’ home, they inevitably feel their maternal family’s importance. It creates a cycle of continuous back-and-forth.

Now, Xu mother, who was speaking comforting words to Xu Jing’an, wanted her to understand the significance of her maternal family. She aimed to pull Xu Jing’an back into her grasp.

Taking advantage of this moment, Xu Jing’an asked, “Mom, how has the construction been lately?”

“What’s there to say? Same old story, just idling at home.”

“Is my sister-in-law still busy?”

“The three kids are learning to walk right now; no one at home can relax.” This was also one of the reasons why Xu mother had come.

“Mom, I got some news.”

“What news?”

“It’s about the fourth brother’s future.”

Xu mother shot up, grabbing Xu Jing’an’s hand. “Third, what do you mean? Clarify!”

Xu Jing’an looked at her mother, who had suddenly reverted to her familiar self, and smiled. “Let me tell you, what’s in it for me?”

Xu mother’s gaze sharpened. “You’re talking about your own brother, and you want money? I just talked to you for so long, and it was all for nothing. Do you still want to consider your maternal family? You ungrateful wolf!”

Most people never reflect on their thoughts or actions, so Xu mother never looks for faults within herself.

Xu Jing’an pulled her hand away, which was sore from being squeezed. “Mom, look at what you’re saying; it’s only fair to settle accounts clearly among brothers.” She looked into her mother’s eyes and said, “Mom, I’m your own daughter.”

Xu mother relaxed a bit and scoffed. “I always thought the second one resembled me the most; it seems your mom was mistaken. Third, go ahead, tell me what you want, and I’ll agree to it.”

“Not much, I just want some dowry money; Mom, you can decide how much to give. I can’t go to my in-laws empty-handed.”

Xu mother gritted her teeth. “At most 100.”

“Not a single cent less than 300.” Xu Jing’an replied firmly.

“Mom, don’t glare at me. You don’t want to be at the mercy of my sister-in-law when you get old, do you? She’s been here for so long; you know what her character is like better than I do. You know whether my older brother can be relied upon.”

Xu mother fell silent. How could she not know that the eldest son was unreliable? She just didn’t want to admit it.

She had to keep the fourth child close to her so that she could control the eldest couple. Otherwise, when she got older and could no longer earn a living or move around, she would be at the mercy of her eldest daughter-in-law.

“150, I can’t give more.”

“Mom, that’s just not reasonable.” Xu Jing’an quietly looked at her mother.

Xu mother saw her daughter, whose expression showed no change and whose eyes were filled with indifference, and realized that she had wasted her efforts raising her.

Before this, she had never truly felt that her third child had come from her own womb. It was no surprise that she was her biological daughter, as she resembled her mother.

Looking at the two of them, it was less like a mother and daughter and more like a pair of shrewd businesspeople. Xu’s mother suppressed the slight bitterness that surged up from her heart.

“300, I agree.” She hoped the information you had to share would be useful.

“Mom, you should step down this year and let Jianshe take over; otherwise, he won’t be able to stay.”

Xu mother was startled. “Be clear.”

Xu Jing’an suggested that they settle the money first. Xu mother had no choice but to take out the still-cool 300 yuan from her pocket and hand it to Xu Jing’an.

After Xu Jing’an received the money, she leaned closer to her mother and quietly said, “With classes not in session and students running around, isn’t it harder to find work than before?”

“It’s back to classes now, but considering the students graduating this year along with those from the last two years, how many are there all together? They’re all crammed together! The job market is tighter than ever, with one job available for every applicant.”

“How can so many people be arranged? The newspapers are constantly promoting that unemployed high school graduates go to the countryside. It’s still a call to action now, but what if it becomes mandatory in a while? Our family would only have Jianshe left.”

“When that happens, Mom, don’t let Jianshe take your place. Forget about whether the street committee will agree or not—just think about how everyone in our building will feel. Who wouldn’t be envious? It would just create unnecessary trouble.”

Xu mother thought for a moment; her third child was right. This matter needed to be resolved sooner rather than later, so she decided to take action when she got home!

“Mom, if you still feel uncertain, then let Jian She get married quickly!” Xu Jing’an proposed another suggestion.

That night, Xu mother tossed and turned, unable to sleep soundly.

After this incident, both of them understood that the already limited mother-daughter bond had nearly vanished.

But Xu Jing’an couldn’t let outsiders know. So, early the next morning, she got up and went to the state-run restaurant to buy a dozen large meat buns for Xu mother to eat on the way. She prepared a lot of things for her to take back.

As she saw Xu mother off, they encountered several neighbors along the way who greeted her with warm farewells, noticing the large bundles Xu mother was carrying.

Xu Jing’an watched her mother board the train without looking back, her expression calm and undisturbed.

Generally, abandoned children yearn for familial affection even more, while the least favored children at home hope to gain their parents’ approval and recognition. In reality, no matter what they sacrifice, they ultimately receive nothing in return!

Because they have never experienced being loved, most of them also struggle to love themselves.

But the current Xu Jing’an did not belong to this category. She took out a brightly colored moisturizer from her pocket and carefully applied it to her hands, the fragrance of orchids wafting from a distance.

Back at work, Xu Jing’an thanked Wu Sufen and handed her a jar of watermelon jam that she had made during the summer. “This is a good thing,” Wu Sufen said, delighted as she accepted it.

The day quickly passed.

When she got home, she steamed some pork and cabbage buns, along with some dried vegetables and tofu buns she had prepared in the summer, and then made some sweet red bean buns.

Just as she placed them in the steamer, she heard a knock at the door. When she opened it, she saw Shen He standing at the entrance. Looking at his red and frozen face and ears, her gaze softened involuntarily.

Shen He knew that this tactic of self-sacrifice had worked well.