" Why did you buy so many dishes today?"
Professor Wen asked in a gentle voice.
" These are for my mother - in - law. The meat ticket quota is limited every month. The meat dishes in our canteen can be bought with meal tickets instead of meat tickets, so I'm bringing a portion for my mother - in - law."
Qin Nian answered truthfully.
" That's good. Your teacher's wife knew you couldn't be an unfilial child."
As soon as Professor Wen said this, Qin Nian finally sensed something was wrong.
" There have been a lot of rumors in the family compound recently about you and your mother - in - law. It's said that you make your mother - in - law do the laundry and cook for you. Someone reported it to the higher - ups, so I thought I'd come and ask you."
Professor Wen's words made Qin Nian pause with the chopsticks in her hand and then slowly put them down.
Seeing this, Professor Wen's heart skipped a beat.
" Teacher's wife, it's true that my mother - in - law has been cooking and doing the laundry for me since she came, but I didn't ask her to do it."
Qin Nian's face looked rather bad. Generally, outsiders wouldn't know such things, but since it had even alerted the teacher's wife to come and talk to her, it meant the matter had spread widely.
But except for her mother - in - law herself, how could outsiders know?
Qin Nian stared blankly at the packed meat dishes.
Carrying the lunch box back to the laboratory, Qin Nian was called to see her tutor again.
" Niannian, if you can't handle things well with your mother - in - law, it will have a great impact on you. I'll give you half a day off. You've been working hard these days. I'll ask Little Lin to take over this afternoon."
This was his student and also the one entrusted to him by his friend. Naturally, Dean Hu believed that Qin Nian wouldn't do anything stupid. However, if this matter continued to develop, it would definitely affect the research. In that case, he would have to move Qin Nian to a less important position, which would be very unfavorable for her.
" I understand. I've made you worried, teacher."
Qin Nian didn't refuse the half - day leave.
Carrying the food container and riding her bicycle back to the small courtyard, she found the door was open. There were great changes in the yard. There was a new red - brick path leading straight to the corridor of the main house. On the left was a vegetable plot, and there was a chicken coop in the corner with three hens brought by her mother - in - law.
On the right, a shed had been built at some point. The shed was filled with firewood, and there was a half - built wall in the corner whose purpose was unknown.
" Niannian, why did you come back at this time?"
Yang Yufen had stopped halfway through building the toilet because she suddenly had an urgent need to go to the toilet.
Qin Nian wanted to call her "mom" as usual, but the words got stuck in her throat.
Yang Yufen immediately noticed something was wrong. Her daughter - in - law's eyes were red.
" What's wrong? Did you suffer any grievances? Or is there something wrong with your work?"
Yang Yufen was a bit anxious.
Qin Nian opened her mouth but still couldn't speak. Instead, tears welled up and she couldn't control them.
For some reason, Yang Yufen suddenly thought of her useless son.
" Did Xianjun have an accident on a mission? It's okay. Big guys are tough. It won't be a big deal."
Hearing this, Qin Nian stopped crying for a moment. Then she shook her head and only then remembered that she could speak.
" No."
" Then what's the matter?"
So it wasn't her unfilial son. Yang Yufen was even more confused.
" Mom, there have been some rumors in the research institute and the family compound recently. The dean gave me half a day off."
Qin Nian finally spoke.
Hearing this, Yang Yufen looked into Qin Nian's eyes.
" Is it about me?"
After saying that, Yang Yufen began to recall what she had done that might have affected her daughter - in - law's work.
" Mom doesn't know if there are any things that can't be done in your research institute. Maybe I accidentally made a mistake. Mom will go to your dean to apologize and accept whatever punishment there is."
Yang Yufen thought for a moment and then spoke. She couldn't figure it out, but since it was related to her, she would go and apologize.
Qin Nian shook her head upon hearing this.
" It's my fault, Mom. From now on, leave the housework for me to do when I get back. I'll give you another fifty yuan for household expenses."
Qin Nian still didn't want to break the current peace. She thought about using money to keep her mother - in - law calm until Shen Xianjun came back.
Hearing this, Yang Yufen frowned. Seeing her daughter - in - law's reluctant - to - talk look, Yang Yufen simply turned around and walked out of the door.
Qin Nian felt really bad and didn't chase after her.
Yang Yufen originally wanted to go to the research institute, but then she thought better of it and went to the apartment building in the family compound.
She stood near the apartment building for quite a while, listening to a group of people chatting. Gradually, she heard what she wanted to know. Just as she was about to go up and ask, she saw a familiar person and stopped in her tracks.
Yi Mengling was overjoyed to hear that Qin Nian had been given a holiday. Her Group Three wasn't very busy recently. After hearing this news, Yi Mengling decided to fan the flames further, so she went back to the apartment building.
" Oh, everyone, stop spreading the rumors. Comrade Qin Nian has been suspended from work. It's all my fault. If I hadn't accidentally said the wrong thing, Comrade Qin Nian wouldn't have..."
" What? Is it true that she's been suspended from work?"
Yi Mengling nodded, hanging her head guiltily. Her eyes fell on her small leather shoes. Although they were already clean, she still held a grudge.
Sister-in-law Li, who was about to continue gathering information, felt someone tug at her and took a step back. Just as she was about to say something, she heard a loud slap.
"It's you, you big-mouthed gossip! I knew you were a troublemaker the first time I saw you. I'll teach you to stop spreading rumors. You have a foul mouth, don't you? Can't control your tongue? I'll do it for you!"
Yang Yufen rushed up and slapped Yi Mengling several times, then grabbed Yi Mengling's hair with one hand.
Unlike Qin Nian, who kept her hair short for work convenience, Yi Mengling loved beauty and took great care of her long hair.
Being grabbed by Yang Yufen like this, she couldn't struggle at all.
"Who are you? How can you just beat people up!"
Sister-in-law Li finally came to her senses and shouted.
Hearing this, the others also reacted and tried to pull them apart.
"I'm Qin Nian's mother-in-law! No wonder our Niannian suddenly went home with red eyes while she was busy at work. No matter how I asked, she wouldn't say a word. So it was someone spreading malicious gossip about her."
Yang Yufen threw Yi Mengling aside and scanned the crowd with a cold look in her eyes.
"My son married me a wonderful daughter-in-law. Because of her mission, they didn't hold a wedding. I came here specially to see her. Niannian was worried that I'd be lonely on my way back, so she asked me to stay until my son finished his mission. She's very busy with her work, contributing to the country. Although I'm just an old illiterate woman, I know I shouldn't be a burden to her."
"I don't know how to do much else. I just tidy up the house. Niannian gave me fifty yuan, various vouchers, and meal tickets, telling me not to work so hard. But how could I bear to spend that money? It's the same whether I cook by myself or eat in the canteen."
There were quite a few women present in the same situation as Yang Yufen. They also didn't want to eat in the canteen. Although it was convenient, it was more expensive than cooking at home.
"This big-mouthed woman sneaked into my house quietly. I thought she was a thief at first. When I caught her, she kept calling me a maid and asking me how much I was paid per month. Does she think I don't know what evil thoughts she has in mind?"
