She had heard that the wood her son carved contained even more valuable pieces, suitable for making hairpins and combs, some trinkets for women.
She had also requested some scraps from the factory to take home.
It wasn’t that she wanted to carve the scraps herself; after all, she had a son at home who could do the carving, so the materials would certainly be put to use once taken back.
However, her son had said that even the smallest scraps, barely the size of a fingertip, could be turned into beads or hairpins. These pieces of wood belonged to the state enterprise—they were materials purchased by the big boss, and he, being just a junior boss, had no right to bring such valuable wood home.
Mrs. Lai had not been so easily appeased before; she pestered in the presence of her husband and son continuously, until finally, her son explained to her that if he took those items, they would be deducted from his salary because they belonged to the state enterprise.
This time, Hongji managed to take the items out smoothly, of course, for a legitimate reason. He told the person managing the warehouse that he was taking the materials to make gifts for Tang Shunyan, the young master of the Tang family.
Everyone in the factory knew how much the young master Tang Shunyan valued the Ye family, and there were even rumors that Young Master Tang personally delivered gifts to the junior boss’s daughter.
Perhaps this was the junior boss’s way of using these materials to reciprocate with gifts.
"Mother, these things aren’t snacks; they’re for Wuwa to take home," Hongji said.
Mrs. Lai’s plump face distorted with wide eyes, and she couldn’t help but scold:
"Son, you’ve forgotten your mother after having a child! When I asked you to bring back the wood, you said it couldn’t be done, yet you can bring back the wood for your child. What does a little girl need these pieces of wood for? To play with?"
Hongji already sensed that everyone else in the room had left and even the workers were watching as he was being scolded by his mother, but he still didn’t compromise, and said patiently:
"Mother, this is the property of the Tang family. Of course it should be returned to the Tang family’s possession. It’s not for Wuwa’s play; she is skilled in carving."
Mrs. Lai, so addressed, was not about to give up, and she aggressively retorted:
"Humph, skilled in carving, skilled in carving, you make it sound like she’s so capable. What can a little girl do that you boast so highly of? I don’t care, I must have these pieces of wood today."
"Mother, you can indeed have the wood," Hongji said.
Mrs. Lai brightened upon hearing her son’s words, thinking he had gone soft after a little pushback.
"That’s how you should’ve spoken from the start, so I wouldn’t have to waste so much breath!"
Mrs. Lai nearly exploded with rage at what Hongji said next:
"Mother, you can have the wood, but you’ll need to pay for it. If you give me the money, I will give you the wood and then forward the money to the lumber factory."
When Mrs. Lai heard that her son was asking her to pay, it was like demanding her life. After throwing a tantrum, she disregarded her clothes getting dirty.
Sitting on the ground, she kicked her plump legs wildly, venting her anger; her eyes did not shed tears, but instead, she slapped the ground with her hands, looking very angry!
"What? Pay for it? Have you gone mad? Oh, woe is me, such is my hard life! This is the son I’ve labored to raise, and now, with money, status, a wife, and children of his own, he disregards his mother. Why can’t I have just a bit of wood, do you no longer recognize me as your mother!"
As Hongji faced his mother’s tantrum, the middle-aged man watched helplessly as his wife and daughter, and his father came by his side.
Ye Shiqi took the bag from her father’s hands and then ran back to her room.
Hongji’s father held his bamboo pipe and sat on a stool by the door, smoking in silence, perhaps thinking in his heart that his son was right to bring back the scraps to make jewelry for his mother.
One must honor his parents before showing respect to others, and he indeed fancied combs and hairpins made of such wood.
In the past, they’d used ordinary wood or bought common trinkets from street vendors. Later, when the family had a bit of money, they gradually upgraded to silver and gold jewelry, and their hairpins were made of jade.
None of these were as valuable as jewelry made of precious wood, and the items they bought to save money were relatively cheap.
When Ye Shiqi ran off with her father’s bag, no one reacted at first. But when they did—
Mrs. Lai glared fiercely at the door that Ye Shiqi had shut, mumbling curses: "Hongji, how did you end up with such a money-losing burden, giving birth to something just to infuriate me."
Hongji didn’t want to argue with his mother, knowing it would make them the laughingstock of the village. Her words stung, and he was a bit angry!