’That’s true.’ Cheng Wenhui had supported the family for years, and with a temper like Tan Lin’s, she must have been filled with resentment. So, Tan You really had to think carefully about how to win her mother over to her side.

An opportunity came soon enough. She got a response about the full-length novel she had sent in. The publisher politely asked if she could sign the contract tomorrow and suggested they set a time.

After Tan You agreed, she hung up the phone and began to ponder.

Tan Deming said, "Are you going to have to involve your dad? With his personality, if he knew about this much money, he’d definitely get his hands on it. Look at the lucky money I gave you before—he ended up taking it all."

Tan You replied, "That’s why we need to come up with a plan... How about this... We buy tickets to go see Mom right now... and have her handle it..."

Tan Deming hesitated. "Your mom... Can she do anything?"

Tan You said, "Of course. They’ve been married for so many years, you think she can’t handle Tan Lin? Once we explain the pros and cons, she’ll understand. She’s a smart woman and will know the best course of action."

Tan You understood Cheng Wenhui. Her mother valued education above all else. But the only reason she prized it so highly was so Tan You could get a good degree, find a good job after graduating, and not have to toil away in all kinds of weather as she did.

Many people only earned two or three thousand a month even after graduating. But if Tan You could now make what it took others a year, or even several years, to earn, Cheng Wenhui would surely not object.

At the end of the day, wasn’t it all because the family was poor? Cheng Wenhui had always lived by the belief that studying was the best path in life. But now, Tan You had to make her understand that while education was a way for many to change their lives, it wasn’t the *only* way.

Of course, Tan You wasn’t advocating for others to follow her example. The only reason she’d come this far was that she had gone out and broadened her horizons. In the end, studying was still very important.

Tan Deming was a decisive person, and so was Tan You. Once they had a plan, the grandfather and granddaughter took their household register and ID cards and boarded a bus to C-City.

They left at noon and arrived at C-City’s main bus terminal by two-thirty in the afternoon. Since they had come without notice, Cheng Wenhui and Tan Lin had no idea.

Tan You knew this place well, as she had come here every summer vacation since starting middle school. She was intimately familiar with which bus to take from the station and which stop to get off at. She led Tan Deming through a series of twists and turns until they found Cheng Wenhui’s rented apartment.

As luck would have it, it was pouring rain that day, so Cheng Wenhui and Tan Lin couldn’t go to the construction site. So, there they were, a family of three, making dumplings in their rented room. Meanwhile, Tan Yue was sitting at the doorway, her chin in her hands, bored as she watched raindrops fall from the eaves and create little splashes.

She was the first to see Tan Deming and Tan You. "Grandpa and Big Sister are here."

Cheng Wenhui froze. "Who?"

Tan Yue shrieked, "Big Sister is here!"

Cheng Wenhui put down the dumpling wrapper and walked over to the door in a few steps. She saw Tan You and Tan Deming standing at the entrance, each wearing a raincoat and carrying a large woven bag.

Cheng Wenhui couldn’t help but smile. "What are you two doing here? You didn’t even call ahead."

Despite all her previous dissatisfaction with Tan You’s exam scores, in all honesty, Cheng Wenhui was still very happy to see her.

Tan You said in a low voice, "There’s something I need to talk to you about. Can we go outside? I don’t want Dad to know."

Cheng Wenhui paused. "Alright, wait for me to grab a raincoat. Dad, why don’t you stay here? It’s pouring outside, and your health isn’t the best."

Of course, Tan Deming wasn’t going to stay behind. He was firmly on Tan You’s side. At that, he smiled and said, "I’ll come along too. This is very important."

Cheng Wenhui paused. "Alright, then let’s all go."

Just as they were about to leave, Tan Yue slipped right under Tan You’s raincoat. Tan You took her little sister’s hand with a sigh of resignation. "Then you can come too. I remember there’s a gazebo in the small park nearby. Let’s talk there."

Tan Lin heard them talking outside, but after a few sentences, they were all gone, leaving only the two woven bags by the door. He flung his hands down in a fit of pique and stopped making dumplings. Grabbing a nearby radio, he randomly tuned it to a channel and was soon listening with a broad smile.

Once they were all seated in the gazebo at the small park, Cheng Wenhui finally looked at Tan You. "What is it?"

Tan You said, "There’s something I need your help with. I need you to sign a contract for me. The full-length novel I submitted is going to be serialized."

"A novel?" The moment she heard the word, Cheng Wenhui’s brow furrowed. The whole reason Tan You had done so poorly on her exams was that she’d neglected her studies to read novels. ’And now she’s started writing them?’

"Weren’t you supposed to be studying at home? You have time to write novels?"

Tan You replied, "There are always spare moments. The payment is this much..."

She named a figure. Cheng Wenhui’s furrowed brow slowly relaxed. It was already more than her and Tan Lin’s savings combined.

’Tan You knew it.’ She gave a subtle smile. "This is what I was thinking... I don’t have much to do at home during summer vacation anyway... I didn’t expect it to actually get accepted..."

With money dangling before her, it was expected that Cheng Wenhui would relent. Especially when she heard that Tan Lin wasn’t to know, Cheng Wenhui showed no opposition at all.

’On the contrary, she was quite pleased. For such a major issue, her older daughter hadn’t told her own father but had come to her, her own mother, instead. Didn’t that prove that in her daughter’s heart, she was more reliable than her father?’

’Besides, if her older daughter could earn her own money, to be honest, the burden on her own shoulders would lighten considerably.’

Cheng Wenhui put on a stern face. "Just this once. You can’t let your studies fall behind."

"I know. You can just watch how I do," Tan You replied. ’As if I don’t know the importance of studying now. Do I really need Mom nagging me about it all the time?’

Thinking about the money that would soon be coming into the family, Cheng Wenhui’s mood gradually improved. "Where did you and the editor... agree to meet? And when?"

Tan You smiled and named a teahouse in downtown C-City. Cheng Wenhui wasn’t stupid; it only took her a moment to figure it out. "You had this all planned out? You were so sure I’d agree? If I didn’t agree, would you have been unable to sign the contract?"

Tan You feigned surprise. "Why wouldn’t I be able to sign it? Of course, I have other ways. Why else would I bring my grandpa? If you didn’t agree to sign the contract, I would have just told them my grandpa wrote the novel. His appearance is convincing enough."

"They might even be more likely to believe it."

Tan Deming laughed. "On the way here, she kept making me rehearse so that I wouldn’t blow my cover when the time came."

Cheng Wenhui sighed. "You’ve gotten far too cunning."

Tan You said, "I have to look out for myself. I can’t let you guys completely control me."

Cheng Wenhui replied, "I’ve never wanted to control you. Your dad... he just wants you to give in. If you don’t let him be a part of this, he’s going to tear the house apart when he finds out."