Chapter 340: Chapter 340: Gnawing the Young
From what Tan You remembered, her father had rarely stepped into the kitchen ever since she was old enough to reach the stovetop. So this was a rare sight. ’Is Dad actually at home cooking?’
Cheng Wenhui laughed. "That’s just your father’s personality. He’ll curry favor with whoever’s doing well."
Tan You smiled. "Alright, let’s head back then. I’m curious to see what he’s made. Come to think of it, his cooking is actually pretty good. He’s willing to spend time really honing his skills."
"That’s about all he’s interested in," Cheng Wenhui said. "Sometimes I think he’s more like a woman."
"That’s not exactly fair," Tan You said, an idea beginning to form. "Aren’t many of the world’s greatest chefs men? Professions don’t discriminate. There’s nothing wrong with him wanting to perfect his cooking."
"You have an answer for everything these days," Cheng Wenhui sighed. Perhaps because Tan You was now independent and successful, Cheng Wenhui’s attitude toward her was much milder. She no longer lectured her at the drop of a hat.
Back in the rental house, the family had split into two small groups. Tan You, Tan Yue, and Tan Deming were focused on eating, while Cheng Wenhui and Tan Lin held the paper contract, studying it from every angle.
Cheng Wenhui still hadn’t fully processed it. "You mean you want me to go and study under this Master Ding? And they’ll pay me for it?"
"Mhm," Tan You said, taking a sip of water. "Working out in the elements every day like you two do isn’t a long-term solution. The clothing factory is doing well. And that Master Ding is very skilled. Didn’t you used to enjoy this sort of thing?"
"If you go learn now, once you’ve mastered the skill, you could even open your own bespoke shop later on if you decide you don’t want to work at the factory anymore."
Cheng Wenhui was both tempted and hesitant. She glanced at Tan Lin. "Your father and I are making decent money as it is. If I go to the factory, I’ll be the only one working, and I don’t know what your father would do..."
"What do you mean he’d have nothing to do? Isn’t taking care of the family a job?" Tan You said deliberately. "I have to go to school, and there’ll be no one home to look after Grandma and Grandpa. If he takes good care of Tan Yue, Grandma, and Grandpa, I’ll pay him a salary."
Tan Lin almost laughed in exasperation. "You’re going to pay me a salary? How much? Are your royalties even enough to cover my wages?"
Tan You gave a knowing smile. "Yesterday, my editor told me that a production company has taken an interest in my novel and wants to buy the film and television rights. If I sell the rights, the fee would be twenty times my original royalties."
"The novel isn’t even finished yet, and there’s a profit-sharing payment at the end of the month. So, you tell me, do I have enough to pay you a salary?"
Tan Lin’s expression changed in an instant. "For real? How much will you pay me a month?"
Tan You pretended to mull it over. "How about the same as Mom? Whatever she makes, you’ll make. Taking good care of the family isn’t easy, after all."
Cheng Wenhui knew this was Tan You’s way of supporting them, and her eyes began to sting. "It’s not easy for you to earn money either..."
Tan You’s reply was very pragmatic. "I can’t live with myself, feasting at home while you two are out there scraping by. Besides, if you’re living well, my own burden feels lighter. So many of life’s hardships are caused by a lack of money."
"If you have a stable job and aren’t drifting around, and Dad can help me take care of things at home, then I’ll be able to focus on my studies without any worries."
"There’s just one condition: you’re not allowed to fight with Grandpa. I’ll make sure Grandma behaves so she doesn’t provoke you."
Cheng Wenhui let out a laugh. "When have I ever argued with your grandpa?"
Tan Lin thumped his chest in a guarantee. "I definitely won’t make your grandpa mad. You little brat, ordering your old man around now."
Tan You was completely unfazed. "Salary. Cell phone."
Tan Lin’s demeanor changed in a second. "Yes, ma’am. You’re my meal ticket. I promise I won’t argue with your grandpa."
Tan You glanced around the rental house. "If you’ve made up your minds, you should pack up and head back as soon as possible. A good job won’t wait around."
Cheng Wenhui was also a decisive person. "We’ll pack as soon as we finish eating, and we’ll take the motorcycle back tonight. A lot of the stuff in this rental is just junk, I don’t want most of it."
Tan You smiled. "That’s up to you. In that case, we’ll head back first this afternoon. If we leave now, we can still catch the last bus."
Cheng Wenhui didn’t object. Tan Yue, on the other hand, clung to Tan You’s hand, clearly wanting to go with her.
Tan You ruffled her soft hair. "Let Tan Yue come with us, then. It’ll save her from the bumpy motorcycle ride."
Cheng Wenhui had no objection. After seeing Tan You, Tan Yue, and Tan Deming off on the bus, she and Tan Lin got busy in the rental. Tan Lin was already packing. Aside from a few changes of clothes, he really couldn’t find anything worth taking back.
Cheng Wenhui looked around the rental they had lived in for over a decade. "The bedding is all hard and matted, let’s just toss it. The bamboo mat is new from last year, we should take that back. The frame on this bed is decent, let’s take that too. As for everything else, we already have it at home."
"We’ll take the pots and pans, too."
"For the rest, we can find a junk collector to haul it away."
As he was packing, Tan Lin suddenly laughed. "I’ve always heard people talk about freeloading off their parents. Would you call this freeloading off your kid? Hey, at least I’ll be putting in the work."
Cheng Wenhui shot him a look. "Oh, shut up. On the bus just now, Tan You said that once the adaptation rights are sold, she’s going to buy us an apartment in town. Then Tan Yue can go to the elementary school there."
"From now on, we’ll live in town, and she’ll live in the countryside with her grandparents. You’ll have to go back and check on them whenever you have free time."
Tan Lin was so ecstatic he was practically floating. "She’s really buying a house for us? In our names?"
Cheng Wenhui said with resignation, "Yes, in our names. Why are you so worked up?"
"How can I not be excited?" Tan Lin turned off his radio. "I truly never imagined that in my lifetime, my eldest daughter would be buying me a house. I never knew she had it in her!"
Cheng Wenhui gave him a light kick. "Get back to work. We need to head back early tonight. I’m thinking of going to the clothing factory tomorrow. The sooner, the better."
While Tan Lin and Cheng Wenhui were busy cleaning out the rental, Tan You, Tan Yue, and Tan Deming finally arrived and got off the bus in front of the clothing factory. The moment they stepped off, a chubby, middle-aged man emerged from the factory’s reception office, beaming at Tan You.
Seeing President Yang’s joyous smile, Tan You couldn’t help but let the corners of her own lips turn up. She looked down at Tan Yue. "Say hello to Uncle Yang."
"President Yang, this is my younger sister, Tan Yue. Thank you for going to the trouble of waiting for us at the reception office so late."
President Yang chuckled. "It’s no trouble at all. I usually don’t go to bed until eleven or twelve anyway. I’ve just been hanging out in the reception office, chatting and playing cards with the guys. It’s not boring in the slightest."
"I figured you’d be arriving around this time, so the factory prepared a late-night snack. Why don’t you have a bite to eat before you head home?"
Tan You didn’t stand on ceremony. "In that case, we’d be delighted to. If all goes well, my mother will come to report for work tomorrow. I’ll have to ask you and Master Ding to please look after her. She’s a complete beginner, so I hope you’ll both be patient with her."
