Volume One, Chapter Four: Paternity Test

“Mom, Dad, I’m back.” Shen Ruzhi strode inside.

Shen Zhongguo lowered his newspaper and immediately looked at Li Yong behind her.

Li Yong gave a slight nod.

Only then did Shen Zhongguo pick up his newspaper again, shaking out the creases. “Did you get everything? In three days, you’ll be heading to the countryside!”

Shen Ruzhi walked to his side. “Dad, I did buy everything, but I’ll be living in the countryside for several months. I can’t possibly get by with just a dozen yuan, can I?”

Shen Zhongguo frowned and adjusted his glasses. “You’re out of money already?”

A thousand yuan, gone in a single trip?

Hadn’t she always been thrifty, never wasteful?

“Dad, I spent it all on things I needed. I bought a radio to keep me company when I’m bored, a few watches, clothes—girls need to look pretty, don’t they? I want to change outfits every day.

Dad, you haven’t even given me my living expenses yet. When I go to the countryside, they’ll surely make me work. But Mom promised me herself that I wouldn’t have to work, that it would just be like a holiday.

So I’ll need to hire someone to do the chores for me. That’s at least four or five yuan per day! And I’ll need someone to keep me company, to cook and boil water. If I don’t pay them, why would they help me? Isn’t that right?”

She looked over at Wang Yaoyao and Wang Cuilian, who were sitting on the sofa. Wang Yaoyao still wore her pitiful, delicate look, while Wang Cuilian was peeling an orange for her.

When her gaze landed on Wang Yaoyao, the latter sat as if on pins and needles, forced to look up and echo, “Cousin is right.”

Shen Ruzhi clapped her hands and declared loudly, “That’s why I need money. I’ve calculated everything—for these next few months, just daily living and entertainment will cost at least three thousand yuan!”

“What!” Wang Cuilian was the first to exclaim.

She jumped to her feet, forgetting she was still clutching the orange. Agitated, she squeezed too hard, and yellow juice squirted all over Wang Yaoyao.

Realizing her blunder, she hurried to wipe Wang Yaoyao’s face with a tissue, scolding, “Shen Ruzhi, you wasteful girl! Three thousand yuan—what are you thinking? Where would we find that kind of money?”

Three thousand yuan—such outrageous demands.

Even Wang Yaoyao was shocked. Did Shen Ruzhi really ask for three thousand yuan? In the countryside, an entire year’s income didn’t even reach fifty yuan.

With a slap, Shen Ruzhi brought her palm down on the table, sitting indignantly in a nearby chair.

“I see how it is. Mom, Dad, you never meant to send me to the countryside. I’m your beloved daughter—you can’t bear to see me suffer. But now you won’t even give me money. You must still be planning to send Cousin instead.”

Wang Cuilian was speechless for a moment. When had this girl become so stubborn?

Shen Zhongguo pinched the bridge of his nose. “Three thousand really is too much. We don’t have that kind of money, Zhi Zhi. Stop making a fuss. I’ll give you three hundred yuan when you go, and if you need more, you can contact us.”

“That’s right. We’ll send more if you need it. Why worry? Besides, a girl carrying that much money is bound to attract trouble—it’s dangerous. We’re only thinking of your safety. When you leave, I’ll give you another twenty yuan.”

Shen Ruzhi felt cold inside, but kept her disdain and mockery hidden. The moment she left the family home, they would pack up and head out to sea with their luggage. They really did have it all planned out.

“At least fifteen hundred, Mom, Dad. If you’re not giving me that, I’m not going. Let Cousin go instead.”

She looked over at Wang Yaoyao.

Wang Yaoyao’s expression wavered, but she managed a smile.

She stood and approached Shen Ruzhi, trying to persuade her. “Cousin, there are a lot of bad people in the countryside. Carrying so much money really is dangerous. What if they rob you…”

Before she could finish, Shen Ruzhi excitedly grabbed her hand. “Cousin, you really know what you’re talking about. Growing up in the countryside, you understand how things are. If it’s that dangerous, I’ll need to hire more people to protect me. That all takes money, doesn’t it?”

Wang Yaoyao’s face stiffened—she couldn’t even force a laugh.

Shen Ruzhi continued, “Cousin, I knew you cared about me. You’re even thinking ahead about hiring people to protect me in the countryside. Mom, Dad, if you won’t believe me, you have to believe Cousin! She grew up there, she says it’s dangerous, there are people who’ll steal your money—surely you’ll listen to her?”

Wang Yaoyao stood frozen, her hand still clutched by Shen Ruzhi. When had she ever said anything about hiring guards?

“Fine, fine. When you leave, I’ll give you a thousand. That’s all we have.” Shen Zhongguo spoke impatiently, rising to his feet and heading upstairs.

They couldn’t touch anything in the basement, and they were short on cash. The most important thing was to get this girl out of the house—otherwise, their own departure would attract too much attention.

“Dad, I want it tomorrow morning! Haven’t you always said money only counts once you have it in your hand?” Shen Ruzhi called after him.

Shen Zhongguo felt his breath catch in his chest. He stomped heavily on the floor. “Tomorrow, then.”

If you won’t give me what I want, I’ll leave you nothing. I’ll take everything for myself.

Shen Ruzhi flashed a sweet smile. “I knew you were the best, Dad.”

Hearing this, Wang Yaoyao couldn’t help but clench her fists, jealousy and resentment flickering in her gaze.

In front of Wang Yaoyao, Shen Ruzhi warmly linked arms with Wang Cuilian, her smile radiant as she acted spoiled.

“Mom, I want your braised pork. Will you make it for me? In a few days, I’ll be going to the countryside for Cousin, and then I won’t get to eat your cooking anymore.”

Wang Cuilian gritted her teeth. “All right, all right, I’ll make it for you.”

“Come on then! Hurry, Mom, I’ll help you so it goes faster—I’m starving.”

Shen Ruzhi pulled Wang Cuilian toward the kitchen.

Wang Yaoyao remained rooted to the spot, clenching her empty fists. Shen Ruzhi turned back and said, “Yaoyao, has Auntie made you dinner? Her red-braised fish is delicious—she must cook for her precious daughter every day, right? After all, you used to go hungry and cold. But that’s all in the past now.

Cousin, when I come back from the countryside, I’ll take you to the city for a visit. I bet you’ve never been.”

Every word struck Wang Yaoyao like a needle. In the end, unable to bear it, she muttered something about being busy and hurried out.

Wang Cuilian wanted to chase after her, but felt a sharp pain on her scalp. “Ow!”

She was about to scold, but Shen Ruzhi held up her hand. “Mom, look, you have a gray hair—such a long one. Let me pluck it for you.”

Wang Cuilian rubbed her head, the pain making it feel as if her scalp had been torn off.

That wretched child—she’d pulled out several at once.

“Shen Ruzhi, you—!” Yet she couldn’t utter a word of reproach.

Wang Cuilian just waved her away. “Go on, go, I’ll make your dinner.”

Shen Ruzhi lowered her hand, still holding the strands of hair, and glanced again at Wang Cuilian’s head. “Mom, I see more here. Let me pluck them for you.”

“No need,” Wang Cuilian said coldly, shooing her away.

Carrying the hair, Shen Ruzhi went to her room and quickly put the strands needed for the paternity test into a bag.

She still needed some from Shen Zhongguo.

She brewed a cup of tea and walked into his study. “Dad, Dad, I’m coming in.”

She knocked on the door but entered directly.

She moved so fast that Shen Zhongguo didn’t have time to react before she was inside.

He hurriedly tucked his things into a book.