Chapter 610 Might as Well Give Me the Money

Chapter 610: Might as Well Give That Money to Me

After sending He Xing to school, He Feiyan prepared to move to Dongmin Lane with her two younger siblings.

Seeing them packing, Xu Lihua walked over curiously.

"Fei Yan, what are you doing?"

He Feiyan replied, "My sister-in-law’s due next month, so we’ll need to hire someone to help her during her confinement period. I’m taking Zhengdong and Lilan to move out."

Xu Lihua was stunned. "You’re hiring a nanny for postpartum care?"

"Otherwise, how could my sister-in-law manage alone?"

He Feiyan thought it was perfectly normal, but Xu Lihua seemed to be making a big deal out of it.

Xu Lihua tutted. "Isn’t there your eldest brother? And you siblings can pitch in. Hiring someone must cost a lot, right?"

He Feiyan shook her head. "I’m not sure yet. We haven’t hired anyone. My sister-in-law just asked her great-aunt to inquire at the neighborhood committee."

Xu Lihua chuckled. "Why even ask around? If you want to hire someone, just hire me. I’d definitely do a better job than anyone else."

He Feiyan didn’t believe that for a second. Hiring someone from the residential compound was out of the question—it’d just cause problems.

"Aunt Xu, my eldest brother is in charge of this. If you want to offer your help, go talk to him."

Xu Lihua: "..."

She wouldn’t dare go to He Tingyue.

He Feiyan ignored her and went inside to pack their clothes.

Xu Lihua sighed. "Where are you siblings moving to? Not back to your dad’s place, right?"

"No, we’re staying at Dongmin Lane. It’s my eldest brother’s friend’s house—spacious and unused."

She didn’t dare say Jiang Yu had bought it, to avoid causing drama.

Word got around that Jiang Yu was hiring a nanny.

People had mixed feelings—some wanted the job, while others were resentful.

"Some have all the luck. When I was in confinement, no one helped me—I even washed the diapers myself," Jiang Ting grumbled.

Lin Hongxia overheard and frowned. "If you’re so envious, you should’ve married someone like He Tingyue. Too bad you don’t have that luck."

Jiang Ting turned red with anger, too furious to speak.

Suddenly, Lin Hongxia slapped her thigh.

"Oh! Since Jiang Yu wants someone to take care of her, why look far when her own sister is right here? You’d be perfect!"

Jiang Ting perked up. "You’re right! Why let someone else earn that money when I could? If she hires a nanny, it’d be at least twenty yuan a month, right?"

Lin Hongxia nodded. "Absolutely!"

Jiang Ting didn’t waste time. She rushed off to find Jiang Yu, afraid someone else would beat her to it.

"Since you're hiring someone anyway, you might as well give the money to me. I’ll look after you. I'm your own sister, I know you better than anyone—surely I'm better than an outsider?"

Jiang Yu glanced at her. "Are you really better than an outsider? As for knowing each other inside out, I wouldn’t dare claim I understand you."

Jiang Ting's smile froze, and she looked at her with displeasure, complaining, "Why do you say things like that? As if I’d ever hurt you!"

Jiang Yu chuckled. "Who knows? You’ve done it before."

"Cut it out! That was forever ago—why are you still holding onto it? Back then, I was just worried you’d steal Fu Xiangyang from me. Now that your life is better than mine, you oughta thank me. If you’d married him, maybe I’d be the one married to Section Chief He today."

Jiang Yu was fed up and rubbed her temples.

"You full of crap? Shut your filthy mouth. Get lost."

Jiang Ting was furious but unwilling to give up.

After a brief internal struggle, she tried one last plea.

"I won’t ask for much—just twenty bucks a month, and I won’t even take up a room in your house. Deal?"

Jiang Yu looked up, her gaze icy.

Meeting that stare, Jiang Ting felt as if snow dumped down her collar, sending a chill through her.

"Last warning: get out."

Jiang Ting stamped her foot, furious, and stormed off.

Later, Jiang Yu made it clear to everyone that she wouldn’t hire anyone from the housing complex.

If problems arose later, people might use their factory connections to pressure her, making it hard to hold anyone accountable.

Soon after, He Feiyan officially moved out with her two younger siblings.

The house suddenly felt empty, and Jiang Yu couldn’t shake the weird feeling.

On the very first night after moving out, He Feiyan came rushing back home.

"Sis, do you remember Ding He?"

"Of course."

He Feiyan lowered her voice. "How did she become Director Lan’s daughter?"

She had heard it herself today—Ding He bragging to her friends: "My mom is the director of the State Cotton Mill No. 3!"

Jiang Yu explained calmly, "Director Lan’s long-lost daughter was Ding He."

"What a coincidence!"

Jiang Yu gave a noncommittal ‘Hm.’ "I thought so too."

Whether it’s a coincidence or not, at least it was a blessing for Lan Raoping.

He Feiyan bit her lip. "Ding He doesn’t look a thing like Director Lan."

Jiang Yu laughed. "Fei Yan, since when do kids gotta look like their parents?"

"But even if they don’t look alike, there should still be something in common, right?"

"Alright, this isn't something we should worry about," Jiang Yu said, not one to meddle.

Even the police had confirmed the matter, so who was she to question it?

Before long, another day off rolled around, and Yu Lan came over.

After working at the Second State Cotton Mill for a while, you could see she was doing better.

She had always been a tough woman at heart.

"You look so happy—do you have good news to share?" Jiang Yu jumped in to ask.

Yu Lan couldn't hide the joy in her eyes, dropping her gaze shyly.

"I'm getting married."

Jiang Yu blinked in surprise but caught herself.

"Congratulations! Who’s the lucky comrade that caught our Yu Lan’s eye?"

"He’s a steel mill mechanic. He was married before but later divorced. The kids stayed with their mom, so he’s been on his own since then."

When talking about this man, Yu Lan’s eyes were full of happiness—clearly, she was really into him.

Precisely because she was so invested, Jiang Yu couldn't help asking a few more questions.

"How long has he been single? What made him want to marry again now?" Jiang Yu inquired.

Yu Lan explained, "He’s been single for almost ten years. Before meeting me, he never thought about remarrying, but I guess it was meant to be."

Jiang Yu didn’t rain on her parade—maybe it really was fate, just as Yu Lan said.

"Is he the only one in his family?"

Yu Lan shook her head. "He has an old mother, and I heard she’s not in good health."

"Not in good health? Do you know what illness she has?"

Yu Lan naturally knew. "She had a stroke before and is bedridden after a stroke."

Jiang Yu put two and two together. "So she needs daily care? He must’ve had it rough these years."

Yu Lan smiled. "He was doing alright at first. His mother only fell ill in the last couple of years, so things got harder lately."

Casually, Jiang Yu asked, "The steel mill is a ways from the Second State Cotton Mill. After you get married, you probably won’t be seeing each other daily."

Yu Lan had thought about this too.

"I’ll go back on my days off and crash at the factory dorm the rest of the time. At our age, we’re not kids who can’t keep their hands off each other every day."

Meeting once a week might actually help keep the spark alive.

Seeing her so idealistic, Jiang Yu couldn’t bring herself to burst her bubble.

She only said, "Have you discussed this with him? You’re tying the knot—that means sharing a life, so it’s better to communicate beforehand to avoid disagreements."

Yu Lan paused. "I haven’t talked to him yet, but he’ll probably agree."

"Whether he agrees or not is his business, but you should bring it up. Honesty and communication are crucial between spouses," Jiang Yu gently reminded her.

Yu Lan saw the sense in this. "I’ll talk to him when I get back."