Chapter 162 Mengmeng: So What If I’m Taking the Opportunity to Threaten You?

“Dongdong, come here,” Cheng Xiaolin called out to her nephew.

The little guy glanced at his parents, then at Cheng Xiaolin. With a closeness that ran in his blood, he took a few steps forward.

But before he reached Cheng Xiaolin, he spun around and dashed back to his mother, Liu Yingying.

Liu Yingying felt a bit embarrassed. “Sis, these past few days since we came back, I’ve been teaching him every day. He’s much braver than before.”

Cheng Xiaolin didn’t disagree. She nodded. “It’s alright, just let him take his time.”

She could clearly see the progress her nephew had made.

Last year, during their visits, he would always hide behind Grandmother, too afraid to face her.

Back then, he only showed some boldness when playing with Mengmeng, who was the same age as him.

“Yingying, don’t worry. Dongdong is doing really well now,” Cheng Xiaolin encouraged her younger sister-in-law.

Cao Shujie, Cheng Xiaolin, and their little family of three were heading back in the afternoon, so no one drank at lunch.

Six adults and two children gathered around a square table, talking about all the changes in the past year.

From work to daily life, the couple whose lives had changed the most were undoubtedly Cao Shujie and Cheng Xiaolin.

It took a lot of courage to give up the stable work that guaranteed a harvest regardless of drought or flood and move back home to start anew. Their mother-in-law Li Xiaojuan had never worked outside the home, so she might not fully understand, but their father-in-law Cheng Rengui and brother-in-law Cheng Yunping both got it.

Cheng Yunping said with a trace of envy, “Sis, Brother-in-law, you two look even younger these days.”

“Nonsense. I’m already weathered from the sun,” Cheng Xiaolin said, touching her face. For a second, she was surprised—her skin really did feel smooth.

Liu Yingying agreed, “Sis, you really look a lot younger. Just look at your skin, it’s so much better than before. I can’t quite describe it, it’s like…”

She searched for a word, then turned her head to see her niece Mengmeng and her son competing to see who could eat more meat. An idea struck, and she pointed at Mengmeng: “Sis, your skin looks just like Mengmeng’s right now. Really, take a good look and see if it’s true.”

The more she spoke, the less sense it made. Cheng Xiaolin retorted, “You’re just talking nonsense. I’m almost thirty. If my skin was as smooth as an egg white, I’d be some kind of monster. Eat your food.”

Despite what she said, joy blossomed inside her. Touching her face just now, she really had felt how soft and smooth it was. “Could it be that nine months of a regular lifestyle has made such a big difference?”

Liu Yingying could only feel envious now, and she asked curiously, “Sis, what skincare products are you using?”

“Skincare products?” Cheng Xiaolin shook her head. “Just regular toner and cream. Nothing special.”

“I guess staying at home without the stress of rushing to work every day, living regularly, even my mood is different from before.” Cheng Xiaolin reflected on herself.

Cheng Yunping raised his glass, “Sis, that’s all thanks to my brother-in-law. You’ve got it good, just following along and enjoying the blessings. Otherwise, where else would you get such luck?”

He finished, then toasted Cao Shujie. “Brother-in-law, here’s to you! Thanks for taking the trouble and raising my sister to be so carefree.”

Smack! Cheng Xiaolin slapped her younger brother’s back. “Yunping, what do you mean I’m carefree? Keep spewing nonsense and I’ll carve your hide with a knife.”

Cao Shujie laughed along.

After his father-in-law finalized plans to raise cattle next year, Cao Shujie asked, “Dad, have you found the right calves? If not, I can talk to my supplier and have them deliver five calves to you after the new year.”

Now that Cheng Rengui had decided to raise cattle, he didn’t hesitate. “How much would five calves cost?”

Cao Shujie wasn’t sure, either. He knew last year’s calf prices were out of date. “Dad, the price of beef has been going up all year, and so have calf prices. Let me make a call to check and get back to you.”

“Alright,” Cheng Rengui nodded, not pushing for the answer.

Cao Shujie pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Cui Jingguo directly.

While waiting for the connection, Cao Shujie heard a lot of people talking in the background on the other end. He even vaguely made out someone asking, “Boss Cui, how much are calves now?”

He thought to himself, “Are people coming over to buy calves right now?”

After a while, he heard Cui Jingguo shout, “Boss Cao, what’s got you busy?”

“What else? The new year’s almost here, so I’m visiting my father-in-law,” Cao Shujie said, chatting with him while overhearing people loudly asking Cui Jingguo the price of calves by the catty.

“Boss Cui, sounds busy over there.” Cao Shujie laughed. “Wishing you great prosperity!”

“Haha, I’ll take your blessing. Thank you, Boss Cao.” Cui Jingguo’s laughter was even heartier. “I’ve been raising cattle for over twenty years. Who would have guessed this year’s price hike would be so ridiculous?”

Cao Shujie understood, and with the growing demand for beef, he knew the price of cattle would only keep rising.

That’s how market demand opens the door.

“Boss Cui, how much is a calf going for now?” Cao Shujie asked.

Cui Jingguo sounded surprised, “Boss Cao, you want them now? Wasn’t it supposed to be after the new year?”

“My one hundred can wait until after the new year. My father-in-law wants to raise cattle too,” Cao Shujie said.

“I see,” Cui Jingguo responded readily. “Boss Cao, we’ve worked together a long time, so I won’t lie to you. Calves under three hundred jin, one flat price: 1700 yuan each. How’s that?”

As he quoted the price, Cao Shujie could tell that Cui Jingguo was speaking more quietly, like he was covering his mouth so others wouldn’t hear.

“Boss Cui, can’t you go a bit lower? I might buy even more after the new year—not just a hundred!” Cao Shujie pushed.

Cui Jingguo was quick to respond, confidently. “Boss Cao, we’ve known each other a long time. You’re my old customer, and I guarantee you get the lowest market price, especially for large orders. Even if prices go up after the new year, yours won’t change—a promise. We’ll stick to this price.”

He continued, “Right now, the average selling price for calves on the market is over 9 yuan per catty.”

“Boss Cui, let’s go with your price. When the strawberries in my orchard are ripe in a few months, bring your wife and your niece and nephew to pick strawberries,” Cao Shujie said with a laugh.

Lasting relationships rely on give and take.

Hearing this, Cui Jingguo was candid. “Alright, Brother Cao. I’ll be honest. Ever since my wife and my niece and nephew tasted your kiwi fruit last year, they bought some from someone else, but it just wasn’t the same. They keep telling me to bring more home when yours is ripe, so they can keep eating it slowly.”

“Haha, Brother Cui, when the kiwi fruit is ready, I’ll call you—and it’ll be free!” Cao Shujie promised with a hearty laugh.

He added, “Wait another year, and when the yellow-fleshed kiwi fruit and red-fleshed kiwi fruit in my orchard start producing, those will taste even better.”

Cui Jingguo genuinely admired Cao Shujie. He could only say that everyone had their own specialty, and it was true.

At such a young age, Cao Shujie already had deep expertise in cultivation. Otherwise, he couldn’t have grown such delicious fruit.

Suddenly, Cui Jingguo remembered something. He asked, “Boss Cao, where does your father-in-law live?”

“Aiyo, look at me, I forgot to tell you. He’s at Cheng Family Slope, Dayao Town, Anwu County,” Cao Shujie replied.

“Dayao Town in Anwu County is a bit far. Usually, we deliver for free within Pingyuan County, but there’s a delivery fee for orders outside the county. Still, since we’ve worked together so long, I’ll waive the fee,” Cui Jingguo said.

Cui Jingguo’s words were quickly reciprocated. They both understood each other perfectly.

After chatting a bit longer, Cao Shujie hung up and told his father-in-law, “Dad, calf prices have gone up a lot lately—1700 yuan each. Five will cost 8500 yuan, and delivery is free.”

If it had been last year, this price would have bought several more calves.

There was no helping it. Prices move with the market, and increases are inevitable. He even had a hunch that prices would climb even higher in the near future.

Cao Shujie started making plans in his mind. To cut costs, he’d need to prepare for breeding and raising calves from within, buying more cows to build up his own stock. That was the key to long-term growth through self-sufficiency.

He kept this thought to himself, not saying it out loud.

Cheng Rengui was also surprised. For now, that price really wasn’t high.

Since deciding to raise cattle, he’d asked around about prices, and for a calf weighing around three hundred jin, he’d found nothing below two thousand yuan.

His son-in-law’s price was at least three hundred yuan cheaper. For five calves, he’d save enough to almost buy one more. That wasn’t a small sum to him.

“Shujie, that price is good—it’s really not costly. Just let him send me five, and I’ll get used to it and take it slow,” Cheng Rengui said straightforwardly.

Cheng Yunping was still by the side, raising his glass to toast his brother-in-law.

This kid’s way of speaking is stiff and repetitive, it’s the same few phrases over and over. It’s obvious he lacks social experience.

But when it comes to things like this, if he doesn’t open up on his own, no one can help him. So, Cao Shujie just told him that after finishing work, he should take Yingying out more, walk around and see the world together.

He kept his advice short and to the point.

Before leaving, Cao Shujie also left 2,000 yuan with his mother-in-law so they could buy some extra things for the New Year themselves.

No matter what Li Xiaojuan and Cheng Rengui said, they clearly didn’t want to accept the money, but Cao Shujie insisted and left it anyway.

Thinking about the scene where her husband forcefully left the money behind, Cheng Xiaolin couldn’t deny that she was deeply moved.

“Honey, why are you so good to me?” On the way back to Cao Family Village, Cheng Xiaolin asked Cao Shujie, who was driving in front.

Cao Shujie chuckled and said, “What kind of question is that? Are you silly or what?”

“You still haven’t answered me.” Cheng Xiaolin pressed on, not letting him avoid it.

Cao Shujie said, “If I don’t treat you well, am I supposed to treat someone else well? Go find another woman? That’s just nonsense!”

“When you were giving birth to Mengmeng, you had to get seven cuts. It’s not like I’ve forgotten that.” Cao Shujie kept his eyes on the road, driving seriously.

He said, “Silly woman, don’t ever ask questions like that again, alright?”

“Mm!” Cheng Xiaolin took a deep breath. She felt she’d truly chosen the right person.

Mengmeng listened to her parents talking and felt a bit confused. She didn’t understand what they meant, so she asked her mother, “Mom, what are you talking about?”

“It’s nothing. Daddy and Mommy are talking about how you came into this world.” Cheng Xiaolin explained to her.

Mengmeng immediately grew curious when she heard that. “Mom, how did I come into this world?”

“You, you crawled out from Mommy’s belly. Back then, the doctor had to make seven cuts on Mommy’s tummy, it hurt a lot.” Cheng Xiaolin pointed with her finger on her stomach, showing her where.

When Mengmeng heard that, she threw her arms around Cheng Xiaolin’s waist and, almost crying, said, “Mom, I don’t want you to cut yourself. I don’t want Mommy to go ow ow!”

Cheng Xiaolin, watching her daughter tear up so quickly, hadn’t expected her to cry so easily.

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she still tried to comfort her: “It’s alright. See, Mommy is all better now.”

“Really?” Mengmeng was still suspicious and tried to lift her mother’s clothes to take a look. Cheng Xiaolin definitely couldn’t let her make a scene.

She held her daughter’s hands with both of hers and hugged her with the other arm. “Mengmeng, Daddy’s driving right now, don’t move around.”

After saying that, she turned to Cao Shujie: “Honey, next time we go out, you need to put Mengmeng in that portable child seat with shoulder straps—otherwise, she gets too restless and it’s not safe.”

“Alright,” Cao Shujie remembered it.

Halfway home, they spotted a supermarket. Cao Shujie parked by the roadside, got out, and bought two cases of milk, a case of Eight-Treasure Porridge, and a case of walnut powder.

Cheng Xiaolin was a bit baffled and asked, “Are you planning to visit more relatives?”

“What relatives? These are for Mengmeng’s Grandma. It’s the New Year, so we just want everyone to be happy.” Cao Shujie said casually.

For a brief moment, Cheng Xiaolin felt like even if the sky were falling, nothing could faze her.

But deep down, she had to admit, her mom really fell short compared to her mother-in-law when it came to small details like these.

Cao Shujie kept driving and reminded Mengmeng, “Mengmeng, remember, those things were bought by your Grandma. If anyone asks, they were all from her.”

“Okay!” Mengmeng nodded.

Then she spread her arms wide, opened her eyes as wide as she could, and exaggeratedly said, “Daddy, buy me a toy, won’t you? I want a big dinosaur—a really big dinosaur!”

Cao Shujie glanced at his daughter in the rearview mirror. He couldn’t shake the feeling that his little girl understood more than she let on, and she was using the chance to squeeze something out of him.

“What if I don’t buy it?” Cao Shujie asked.

Mengmeng immediately answered, “If you won’t buy it, then you won’t. I’ll just tell Grandma…”

“Alright, Daddy will buy you two dinosaurs. How about that?” Cao Shujie was dying to call her out for her little schemes.

Just as he finished, Mengmeng said, “…and ask Grandma to buy them for me.”

Cao Shujie: “…”

He looked back at his wife. “Honey, look at your clever girl already playing these little tricks.”

Cheng Xiaolin thought her husband was overthinking. Mengmeng was still so little—what could she possibly understand?

But it was clear that when it came to getting along with people, Mengmeng really did know quite a bit.

She scooted closer to Cheng Xiaolin, whispering mysteriously, “Mommy, Daddy’s silly. He buys stuff for Grandma, but in the end, I get to eat it all.”

Cheng Xiaolin suddenly didn’t want to make excuses for her daughter anymore.

Was this really an adorable little angel? She felt like she’d given birth to a little imp!

When they got home, the three of them had just gotten out of the car and hadn’t even stepped inside when Mengmeng shouted, “Grandma, my parents bought you snacks!”

Cao Shujie: “…”

Cheng Xiaolin: “(speechless)”

Husband and wife exchanged glances. Cheng Xiaolin said, “Honey, maybe we should stuff her back and try again.”

Seems like Mengmeng’s growing up a bit crooked.

Cao Shujie teased her, “You’re saying all the things you shouldn’t. Better not let her pick up more nonsense.”

(End of this chapter)

— Translator’s Notes —

• guaranteed a harvest regardless of drought or flood: This phrase is a translation of the Chinese idiom 旱涝保收 (hànlào bǎoshōu). It literally means ‘to guarantee a harvest regardless of drought or flood’ and is used metaphorically to describe a very stable, secure job with a guaranteed income, often associated with government or state-owned enterprise positions, also known as an ‘iron rice bowl’ (铁饭碗).

• seven cuts: This likely refers to a Cesarean section (C-section). The number ‘seven’ is a common folk belief in China describing the seven layers of tissue a surgeon must cut through to deliver the baby, used here to emphasize the severity and pain of the procedure.