Wang Hunv finished the longevity noodles Tan You had made in just a few bites, her eyes already scanning the other dishes. The spread was mostly the same as lunch, but were there a few more cold dishes? ’Is that the pig’s head Tan You put away the day before yesterday?’

Tan You didn’t keep her in suspense. "Weren’t you just saying the other day that you were craving tongue and pig ears? I saved some. Oh, and I made a plate of potstickers. The wrappers are made from the leftover flour from the hand-pulled noodles."

The potstickers were fried to a golden brown on the bottom, and oil sizzled out with every bite. That was exactly what Wang Hunv loved. Of the final plate of potstickers, Tan You and Tan Deming ate a combined total of three. Wang Hunv polished off the rest.

As for the various other dishes on the table, there was hardly anything left. Tan You glanced at her grandma’s tiny frame, then back at the empty plates. ’Is her grandma’s stomach a bottomless pit?’ she wondered.

Granted, the portion for each dish wasn’t huge, but there was an incredible variety.

Wang Hunv rubbed her belly in satisfaction. "This is the most satisfying meal I’ve had in years."

Tan You looked at her curiously. "Are you... full? Does your stomach hurt?"

Wang Hunv smiled. "Of course I’m full. And it doesn’t hurt at all."

Tan You asked, "Did you not eat enough before? Our family might be poor, but it’s not that bad, is it?"

Tan Deming chuckled. "Your grandma just has a big appetite. She usually eats her fill, it’s just that she ate even more today."

Tan You couldn’t help but think of her dad, Tan Lin. He could eat a lot, too. And come to think of it, she used to have a big appetite as well. But she had started controlling her portions after she began trying to lose weight. ’Is it possible that of all things, I didn’t inherit anything but my grandma’s huge appetite?’

After dinner, perhaps knowing Tan You must be exhausted from working all day, Wang Hunv uncharacteristically helped her clear the table. While putting away the leftovers, however, she couldn’t resist taking a few more bites.

Tan You didn’t say anything. They were at home, after all; there was no need for such formalities. Besides, with an appetite like her grandma’s, fattening up this old woman who was as skinny as a rail would be no easy feat.

As they were cleaning up, the phone suddenly rang. Wang Hunv was in high spirits. "That must be your dad calling back. I’ll get it."

Tan You’s hands paused. ’Grandma’s in for a disappointment,’ she thought. ’You can’t expect to hear a single nice word out of my dad’s mouth.’ Sure enough, Wang Hunv’s voice gradually faded.

Tan You put down the rag and dishes. "Grandma, why don’t you go wash the dishes? I’ll take the call."

Wang Hunv sat to the side with a long face, clearly in a bad mood.

Tan You pulled out a stool for her, then took the receiver. "Hello?"

Tan Lin’s voice came through. "It’s not even a major birthday. Was it necessary to make so many dishes? It’s not easy for us to earn money out here. We have to pinch every penny..."

Tan You cut him off. "Celebrating Grandma’s birthday today cost a total of fifty yuan. The vegetables were all from the garden. All we did was buy a little meat."

"Her birthday only comes once a year. Do you have to be such a killjoy? Do you think it isn’t hard for her to farm all year round? Doesn’t she even have the right to eat something nice?"

"And let’s be real, Grandma earns several thousand yuan a year from farming. Can’t she spend her own money? Does she need to get your permission?"

Tan Lin hadn’t expected Tan You to talk back to him so bluntly. His expression immediately soured. "What’s that tone?"

"This is how I talk," Tan You said. Why would she be angry? She just gave a sarcastic laugh. "You’re the one who hurt her feelings first. She was perfectly happy, and you just had to come and rain on her parade. Am I not allowed to say a few words about it?"

"Fine. Just fine! Siding with them now, are you?" Tan Lin’s chest heaved with anger. "You... You’ve gotten completely out of hand! If you’re so tough, then keep being stubborn. Let’s see who’s going to pay for your high school tuition and living expenses! You expect them to..."

Tan You wasn’t surprised at all that Tan Lin would say that. She just lowered her gaze and smiled faintly. "Do whatever you want. I’m hanging up."

Tan Deming had walked into the room by now and had heard what Tan Lin said. He patted Tan You’s shoulder helplessly and gave a bitter smile. "Why do you argue with him?"

Tan You smiled. "I just realized... I can’t stand being pushed around. If someone wants to give me a hard time, they’re not getting off easy either."

Tan Deming was worried. "Your tuition isn’t cheap... Your grandma and I haven’t saved much money..."

’The grand plan to make money needs to be moved up,’ Tan You thought. ’I can’t let myself be controlled by Tan Lin dangling tuition and living expenses over my head.’

"Don’t worry about the money. I’ll figure something out." Tan You realized she had been thinking about it all wrong and had underestimated Tan Lin. Every time she thought she had grasped the extent of his cruelty, he managed to set a new low.

Honestly, being controlled by Tan Lin like this felt humiliating. She was sick of him constantly using her tuition and living expenses to hold over her. She was terrified that one day, her entire life might be derailed by a whim of his.

That’s why she had to make money. Only when she had her own money would other people lose their hold on her.

Looking at the still-smiling Tan You, and then at Wang Hunv’s stiff expression, Tan Deming sighed and finally went to the kitchen to clear the dishes. Tan You patted Wang Hunv’s shoulder. "What’s there to be angry about? I already said I’d support Grandpa in the future. If you’re willing, you can come with me too..."

"I’m willing. I’ll depend on you from now on." Wang Hunv immediately looked up, and only then did Tan You see that her eyes were brimming with tears.

Tan You couldn’t help but sigh. Her grandma might be a real piece of work, but does that mean she doesn’t have a heart? The ones who could hurt her the most were always her own children. Like her father, for example, or her aunt, Tan Zhen.

It was the old woman’s birthday, yet Tan Zhen hadn’t returned, nor had she even called. In fact, her grandma had gone out to the road to look several times today but hadn’t seen anyone, and was already a bit disappointed.

And then her dad, Tan Lin, had to pull a stunt like that. Anyone would have been upset.

Tan You just patted Wang Hunv’s shoulder again. "I’m going out to help Grandpa clean the kitchen. I’ve already heated up water for you, so go wash up."

Squatting by the well, Tan You washed the dishes in silence. Tan Deming glanced at her. "How are you planning to make money? By writing?"

’Grandpa really does know me best,’ Tan You thought. She didn’t deny it. "Yeah. I submitted a full-length novel a while ago. I should hear back in the next few days. If it gets accepted, I won’t have to worry about high school, at least."

Tan Deming was still worried. He started mentally calculating his private savings. "Your grandma keeps a tight grip on the finances, so I’ve only managed to save a few thousand yuan..."

A pang of sorrow hit Tan You, but she still managed a smile. "Don’t you worry, I’ll figure something out myself."

"Figure something out? What can you possibly do?" Tan Deming grew anxious. "You’re still just a kid..."

The tip of Tan You’s nose tingled, and she lowered her head to hide the stinging in her eyes. "There’s always a way. I can’t let them have this hold on me. What would I do in the future otherwise? I can’t live like this."