“Calculate the weight, and I’ll get the money for you.”
“Sure. It’s five and a quarter catties in total, but I’ll round it down to five catties and charge you one yuan. Master Chef, my sister will do the delivery next time. Her name is Sheng An. You’ll know her when you see her.”
“All right. You’re pretty savvy at business, lass.”
Sheng Ning collected the money and remembered to flatter her customer a little before leaving. “Your kitchen looks so neat and clean! I’m sure the food you serve tastes amazing!”
The chef couldn’t contain his smile at her compliment.
With one yuan in her pocket, Sheng Ning’s heart bubbled with joy. Their total earnings for today was five yuan! That wasn’t bad! But the bean sprouts didn’t sell as well as she had expected. Given the hot weather, mung bean sprouts would probably be more popular.
Upon figuring this out, Sheng Ning quickened her steps and hurried back to the stand, but as she came closer to it, she heard the sound of Sheng An arguing with someone. She pushed her way through the crowd and found Sheng An in a scuffle with a tan-skinned woman who was tall and fat. Sheng An was petite in size, and because she wasn’t as strong as the other woman, she was pushed to the ground.
Everyone watched in amusement, but no one stepped forward to help her up.
“What’s going on?” Sheng Ning placed her basket down and pulled Sheng An up. Then, she stood in front of Sheng An, shielding her from the other woman.
“Oh, look who we have here! I was wondering who that was! Turns out it’s you!” The dark-skinned woman rudely rolled here eyes at Sheng Ning. “Get out of my way. You have no right to interfere with me disciplining my daughter-in-law.”
“You’re Liu Cuihua, the mayor’s wife?” Sheng Ning’s gaze turned hostile, and her voice even changed.
“That’s right! That’s me!” Liu Cuihua pointed her finger in Sheng An’s face and scolded her. “You trouble-maker! You’re about to be married into our family, and yet you’re out here shamelessly mixing around with other men? You’ve completely tarnished our family name! If I hadn’t come out to buy groceries today, would you’ve continued disgracing our family like this?”
“I did not! I’m out here trying to make an honest living. What’s wrong with that?” Regardless of how fiery Sheng An’s personality was, she didn’t dare to misbehave in front of her future mother-in-law, and she acted nothing at all like her usual stubborn self.
Sheng Ning watched her and couldn’t help but sigh. Despite how headstrong An’an was, because of the feudalistic ideology she was educated under, she chose to suffer for the greater good. Sheng Ning was going to ensure that An’an continued her education all the way until university; only with an education could a woman broaden her horizons and learn to tell right from wrong for herself.
At times, following blindly only brings disaster upon oneself.
“How dare you talk back to me!” Li Cuihua angrily pushed up her sleeves and was about to hit Sheng An, when Sheng Ning suddenly stopped her.
“You’re the mayor’s wife. If you hit her in public, I will report you to the county authorities for abuse of power.”
“I dare you to! What’s wrong with disciplining my own daughter-in-law? Stay out of this. You’re a vixen with loose morals! Mind your own business!” Li Cuihua’s words were ruthless. She had nothing but contempt for the Sheng family. If not for the fact that her son was mentally challenged, she never would have agreed to the marriage.
Sheng Ning laughed coldly and stared at Liu Cuifen, with intense, dark eyes, refusing to back down. “Auntie Liu, just try me. I’d like to see you continue to throw your power around when your husband loses his position.”
“You… you d*mn wench! Just you wait.” Liu Cuihua was shaken by Sheng Ning’s attitude and began to lose her confidence. Still rambling on, she tried to leave, but she was held back by Sheng Ning.
“Auntie Liu, don’t leave just yet,” she said. “It just so happens that we would like to pay a visit to your family.”
“Sheng Ning, what are you up to?” When Sheng An heard that she wanted to go to the mayor’s house, the blood drained from her face, and she stared at Sheng Ning in horror.