Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Su Fei didn’t know if the novel she submitted would actually be published. She just knew that going back home would bring trouble. This month’s salary allowed her to spend over one yuan on stamps, envelopes, and manuscript paper.
Since Su Fei started receiving her salary in the first month, she gave all the money and tickets to Ningning each month. After Ningning counted the money and found no mistakes, he would give her an extra yuan as pocket money.
For the first three months after Su Fei started receiving her salary, there were basically no problems. Today, Su Fei spent over one yuan of her salary, and she didn’t know how to bring it back home.
As Su Fei slowly made her way home, Ningning was eagerly waiting for her. Every time it was payday, Ningning would be particularly excited.
Ningning cooked meat and rice at home, a meal that he could only enjoy during the New Year’s before. Since Su Fei started bringing home sixteen yuan each month, along with some fabric coupons and oil coupons, Ningning began buying some good food more frequently. They could now afford to eat eggs and meat several times a month.
The aroma of the food wafted into the neighboring houses, letting everyone know that Teacher Su had brought home her salary again. They were all envious of such a capable woman, unlike the women in their own households who just lazed around all day.
When Ningning realized Su Fei hadn’t returned home yet, he went outside to see what was taking her so long. Usually, she would have been home by now. After cooking and setting the table, Ningning went to the village entrance to check.
As soon as he stepped out, he was surrounded by the old men sitting around gossiping. “Ningning’s life seems to be getting better and better. He gets to eat meat every month.”
“Third Uncle, why do you act like you never have meat at home? Doesn’t your second daughter work in the county? Every time she comes back, she brings meat for you, right?” Ningning retorted, complimenting the man’s daughter.
“Yeah, but why is she so disobedient? I told her to keep her own money, but she insists on buying meat for me.” Third Uncle praised his daughter as soon as someone mentioned her.
“We’re just teaching at home, not like your second daughter who works in the county.” Ningning quickly downplayed his own situation and praised others. Who knew what rumors would spread around the village tomorrow?
Everyone started teasing Third Uncle, who had taken advantage of the situation. Ningning saw an opportunity and slipped away, heading home to avoid further conversation. These old men could only grumble to themselves, but they wouldn’t dare say anything in front of Su Fei.
Ningning, still wearing his old clothes, shivered at the village entrance. It was already deep into autumn, and the weather was getting colder at night.
After waiting for a while, he finally saw a figure slowly approaching. Ningning squinted and realized it was Su Fei. He hurried over, worriedly asking, “Is something wrong? Why are you coming back so late today?”
Su Fei was shocked to see Ningning waiting for her, wondering if he somehow found out that she spent money and deliberately came to confront her. She felt terrified.
“N-nothing. There’s nothing wrong,” Su Fei stammered nervously, unsure why she felt so guilty. But facing Ningning, who was living earnestly, made her feel guilty for spending even a penny without certainty of earning it back.
Seeing Su Fei’s uneasy demeanor, Ningning knew she was hiding something from him. He bit his lip but didn’t want to argue with Su Fei right now. “It’s nothing. Let’s go home and have dinner.”
After Su Fei and Ningning returned home together, there were fewer people sitting outside. After all, the weather was getting colder, and they didn’t stay outside as much anymore.
Once they were safely inside, Ningning’s expression changed. Su Fei’s legs trembled in fear.
“Come on, what misdeed are you hiding from me this time?” Ningning looked at Su Fei suspiciously, a sneaky look on his face. He was sure she had done something wrong.
Su Fei dropped her chopsticks in shock. “N-nothing! Please don’t misunderstand me!”
Ningning didn’t fully believe Su Fei’s words, but he decided not to argue with her. “It’s okay. If you did something, just tell me. I’m not unreasonable. You’ve been behaving particularly well lately. If there’s something you can’t tell me, then it must be something you can’t let anyone know.”
Su Fei didn’t want to confess. If people found out, they would surely criticize her for overestimating her abilities. Practically nobody in the village read newspapers, let alone submitted manuscripts. “I really haven’t done anything wrong. You can trust me.”
Feeling awkward, Su Fei quickly changed the subject. “Wow, it smells so good! Did you make braised pork again? It’s my favorite.” She never used to eat fatty meat, but now, after living in this era for a few months, she even ate pork skin. They were just so short on cooking oil.
Ningning saw through Su Fei’s attempt to divert the conversation, but he didn’t want to ruin the mood on such a good day. After all, his father had told him that in order to have a good relationship with one’s spouse, one must be humble and accommodating.
“Mmm, I made your favorite braised pork and steamed white rice.” Ningning brought the dishes and rice from the kitchen.
Su Fei quickly went to wash her hands, eagerly waiting to eat. She couldn’t help but think that these days were much better than living in modern times. Ningning could cook, and he took care of all the household chores, so she didn’t need to lift a finger. If this were in modern times, Su Fei’s mom would have scolded her for being lazy.
“It smells so good, and it’s delicious!” Su Fei exaggeratedly praised Ningning’s cooking. But in this era, people were generally reserved and didn’t express praise so directly.
Ningning was delighted by the praise but remained humble. “Of course, meat tastes good when it’s good quality. Hurry up and eat yours!” Then he served some meat into Su Fei’s bowl.
Su Fei noticed that Ningning had added almost all the meat to her own bowl, leaving him with barely any. She couldn’t allow that; after all, he was her crush. How could she let him watch while she ate? “You eat too, don’t give it all to me.” She quickly divided the meat, giving half to Ningning.
Ningning was pleased. He might have saved some for later, but Su Fei didn’t know his intentions. “Okay, let’s each have half.”
Seeing Ningning pushing the meat aside and eating rice with vegetables, Su Fei realized he was probably saving it for her next meal. “Just eat it now; don’t save it for later. I do have a salary, you know. If you want to eat meat, we can have it more often in the future. You said not eating meat would make us weak.”
Ningning felt guilty seeing Su Fei’s reaction and decided to indulge in the meat extravagance. “We can’t afford to eat meat several times a month. Eating meat once a month already makes others envy us.”
Su Fei encouraged him, “Why not? We have our own land in the village, and we have grains. We can buy some meat and fabric.”
“When I mention fabric, I remember. I said I would take you shopping for clothes with my first salary, but you insisted on buying fabric to make your own clothes. Where are your new clothes? I haven’t seen them.” Su Fei felt a bit uncomfortable. Ningning was generous with her, but he was stingy with himself.
Ningning quickly explained, “I’m waiting for the fabric to go on sale. I’ll buy it then. Fabric is expensive now. I’m trying to save money for us to build a brick house.”
Ningning imagined, “When summer comes, we won’t have to worry about leaking roofs anymore. And in winter, we won’t have to worry about the roof collapsing.” He felt happy thinking about owning his own brick house soon.
Su Fei realized that everyone, regardless of the era, wanted to have their own house. “How much more money do we need? How long do we have to save?”
“I’ve saved a little money over the years, and your salary for these three months almost matches mine.” Ningning felt a pang of jealousy. He thought to himself, a family couldn’t afford to have one less woman. Women were the main earners, yet he had saved for so many years, and Su Fei earned more in just two months of work.
Su Fei felt anxious as the conversation shifted back to her salary. She hurriedly ate her meal, not daring to speak. She didn’t know Ningning was saving her salary to build a house. If she had known, she wouldn’t have spent her pocket money so casually. It had taken her over a month to save up.
After finishing their meal, while Ningning was cleaning up, he said to Su Fei, “Oh, today’s payday, right? Bring out your salary.”
Su Fei’s heart immediately raced. This was like her last supper before the execution! Help!
Seeing Su Fei hesitating, Ningning urged her, “Hurry up, be quick!”
Su Fei realized she couldn’t avoid it. She silently took out the envelope containing her salary and handed it to Ningning, bowing her head and awaiting the final judgment.
Ningning immediately took out the money, spit on his hand, and started counting. There were some one-mao notes, five-yuan notes, and two-yuan notes. He counted three times but felt something was wrong; it was more than one yuan less than usual.
Ningning slammed the money and envelope on the table, glaring at Su Fei with piercing eyes.
Su Fei was startled. Under Ningning’s intense gaze, she felt herself shrinking further and further. She timidly muttered, “I’m sorry, I accidentally spent some.”
Ningning, now hearing Su Fei’s mosquito-like voice, slammed the table and sternly said, “Speak up louder!”
Su Fei, feeling helpless, raised her head and looked at Ningning as if he were scolding a child. “I accidentally spent some.”
Ningning didn’t know how to respond to this. “You’re so timid! Just confess already! Tell me, whose fault is it?”