Chapter 215: Youthful ②
Upon hearing that Nie Qiu had bought three portions of food, Nie Aifang frowned, her tone becoming a little displeased. A single meal costing forty yuan was unheard of during normal times; only during festivals and holidays, when more dishes were prepared and a pot of pig trotters was stewed, would the cost exceed forty yuan.
Nie Aifang was a frugal person, so naturally, she was a bit unhappy, much like many parents who give their children money and the children don’t spend it according to their ideal expectations.
Having lived with Nie Aifang for several months, Nie Qiu hadn’t seen Nie Aifang lose her temper, or rather, she hadn’t seen Nie Aifang angry with her. She hadn’t interacted with her biological parents in her previous life, so she naturally didn’t know why Nie Aifang was angry.
Seeing Nie Aifang frown, Nie Qiu placed the food containers on a piece of cardboard and carefully took ten yuan from her purse, handing it to Nie Aifang.
Nie Aifang didn’t take it and looked at Nie Qiu. “Qiu Qiu, it’s not that Mom doesn’t want you to spend money, but you don’t know how hard it is to earn… You used to set up a stall at the night market with Mom every day, and now you often go to the market with Mom. Everyone’s money is hard-earned. Don’t spend money carelessly anymore.”
“Mom, I wasn’t spending carelessly.” Nie Qiu defended herself. She would spend Nie Aifang’s money, of course, because she felt Nie Aifang should know about it. As a young girl, she couldn’t treat a boy to a meal herself; if people found out, they’d drown her in gossip. She actually wasn’t without money; if you counted the earnings from the vegetable stall, half of it was in her hands. However, she couldn’t let Nie Aifang know about this money. She was still a sixteen-year-old minor, so she had to spend her parents’ money.
“You haven’t been spending carelessly!” Nie Aifang saw that Nie Qiu still didn’t regret her actions after she had spoken, so she scolded, “Look at you, you spent over forty yuan on one meal, you…”
“It was forty.” Before Nie Aifang could finish, Nie Qiu interrupted her. Forty and over forty were different in nature.
Nie Aifang was angry but didn’t want to make a scene in a public place like the market. She just frowned and said, “Then why did you buy food for Brother Zhang?” She didn’t think buying food for Zhang Qitian was a big deal, but she was the parent. Nie Qiu had taken it upon herself to spend this money without her parent’s consent, and she worried that Nie Qiu would be extravagant with her spending in the future.
Nie Qiu was startled by Nie Aifang’s strong reaction. “Mom, don’t be angry. I won’t spend money carelessly anymore. I just thought that Brother Zhang has taken good care of us. When we first started selling vegetables, for the first two days, we ate food sent by his family. We learned how to sell vegetables, what tools to prepare, how to wash, trim, and store them all from Brother Zhang’s family. I just wanted to say that you both work long shifts, waking up at five in the morning and not getting home until seven or eight in the evening, and you don’t have time to treat them to a meal to thank them. So I took it upon myself to buy Brother Zhang lunch today.”
After hearing Nie Qiu’s explanation, Nie Aifang finally relaxed a little. What angered her was merely Nie Qiu’s impulsive and careless spending. Like many parents, after giving money to their children, they wanted to know where it was spent; that was the feeling.
Actually, she had also been inconsiderate. After working for two or three months, she hadn’t treated Zhang Qitian to a meal. On the contrary, she had eaten food from the Zhang family and learned some techniques and skills for selling vegetables. It was indeed time to treat them to a meal. Isn’t that how human relationships work? There’s no reason for others to be good to you without you being good to them. Usually, stingy people can’t make many friends.
Nie Aifang was no longer angry, but she couldn’t speak calmly. She just said to Nie Qiu, “I was inconsiderate. We should treat Brother Zhang’s family to a meal. This kind of thing should be handled by Mom. If you want to spend money, tell Mom, and don’t spend it carelessly. Hurry up and sit down to eat. After eating, those who need to prepare dinner will come to buy vegetables.”
Seeing Nie Aifang’s attitude soften, Nie Qiu knew that the issue of her spending money had passed. Although she felt a little uncomfortable, Nie Qiu obediently sat down and started eating. She also understood Nie Aifang’s meaning; Nie Aifang was, after all, the head of the family and an adult. Matters concerning the relationship between the two families should be handled by Nie Aifang.
Actually, Nie Qiu also felt she had been inconsiderate. Look at what she said to Zhang Qitian, thanking him for his care? What sixteen-year-old girl would have such insight? Nowadays, what sixteen-year-old girl isn’t only concerned with dating and reading novels or watching television? Zhang Qitian only felt she understood social etiquette, but adult matters are adult matters, and children’s matters are children’s matters.
After buying vegetables and closing the stall, Nie Qiu had to return to school the next day to pick up her report card. Nie Qiu had been feeling anxious since the night before. She hoped to get first place and also hoped to be in the top five in the entire city. If that happened, she would not only be exempt from all tuition and miscellaneous fees but would also receive two scholarships: one for five thousand yuan for first place, and another for five thousand yuan for her city ranking, totaling ten thousand yuan. This ten thousand yuan could be openly given to Nie Aifang!
Nie Aifang wouldn’t have to worry about her tuition fees and could even save some money. Since moving, Nie Aifang had become even more frugal, likely because the rent was more expensive than before.
Nie Qiu, of course, hoped that she and Nie Aifang could eat better and dress better, and of course… herself too.
Nie Aifang, who hadn’t slept well that day, slept soundly after watching television and washing up before going to bed. As soon as her five o’clock alarm rang, Nie Aifang got up and habitually woke Nie Qiu. However, picking up a report card was different from attending school. Attending school meant morning self-study at 7:20 AM, and she had to get up and ready by 5 AM, and help classmates with their studies by 6 AM. But picking up the report card was at 8 AM. Nie Qiu groggily opened her eyes, saw the time on the alarm clock, and lay back down. “Mom, today isn’t for studying, it’s for picking up the report card. I want to sleep a little longer.”
Nie Aifang, who was getting dressed, heard this and realized Nie Qiu didn’t need to get up so early. She took out three yuan from her purse, placed it under the alarm clock, set the alarm for Nie Qiu, and then said, “I’ve set the alarm for you. When it rings, you must get up and get ready. I’ve put three yuan under the alarm clock for you. Buy two steamed buns and a cup of soy milk on your way to school.”
Nie Qiu rolled over and mumbled a sleepy agreement.
Nie Aifang left, and Nie Qiu slept until the alarm rang. After waking up, Nie Qiu groggily went to the kitchen to wash up. Although the newly rented house had one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom, the bathroom was merely a single-person fixture. It was difficult to turn around and flush the toilet after pulling up pants, so Nie Qiu washed her face and brushed her teeth in the kitchen sink, as did Nie Aifang.
