Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife-Chapter 347: Disrespectful to Parents

"Big sister, this isn’t something to be angry about. It’s right for him to deduct your salary, but him taking multiple times your salary is just bullying."

"But the boss was just talking. He won’t really deduct it. Actually, he’s quite a nice person. Xiaxia, when I first spoke to the boss, I agreed to work for the whole month. Since I’ve said so, I have to continue."

Chuxia slightly frowned, "Big sister, is there something troubling you? Are the Zhang Family treating you badly, prompting you to come out and wash dishes?"

Those hands, no longer delicate, didn’t just turn rough from housework, but from washing dishes or doing other heavy tasks.

"No," Qin Juan smiled, "Why would you think that? Ningning has started school recently and there was nothing for me at home, so I thought about getting a job. I can’t do much else, so I took on washing dishes for others."

"Is it really just that?"

Qin Juan nodded again.

"Even if you want to find a job, you could go to our family’s Bun Shop. Why suffer here? We don’t have to work here. If need be, forget about the money, I’ll compensate you."

Chuxia was still worried about Qin Juan being there.

Qin Juan’s face beamed with reassurance, "I’m really not being treated poorly. The boss is actually quite generous, and this place is close to my home, which makes it convenient for taking Ningning to school. The Bun Shop is a bit too far."

"Really?" Chuxia was still somewhat doubtful.

Qin Juan patted her arm and winked at her, "How about I call the boss back and let him tell you personally?"

She gave another charming smile, "It’s really okay, I’ve just been continuously late these last few days, and that’s why the boss got angry. He’s usually easy to talk to."

"Big sister, we are your family. If you’re in trouble, you must tell us. Qin Yang and I are right here for you, we’ll back you up no matter what happens. In our hearts, you are the most important."

"I know," Qin Juan said and then changed the subject, "Where are you heading? Haven’t had food yet? Why not try the food at our restaurant? It’s my treat."

"No need, big sister, I have to get back. I’ve been out too long; Qin Yang will be worried."

"Then hurry back, I’m really fine."

Chuxia finally nodded and whispered, "If the boss is unreasonable again, just stand up to him. You can’t let yourself be taken advantage of. If needed, we’ll help you fight."

Qin Juan couldn’t help but laugh.

Watching Chuxia walk away, the smile slowly faded from Qin Juan’s face, and her eyes began to redden.

"Xiaxia, I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t appreciate what I have, but I can’t burden you."

Mom and Dad say we are the pride of the village; how can I smear my siblings’ reputations?

At dusk, Qin Juan finally finished a day’s work, her hands soaked to a pale white.

"Boss, I will definitely come early tomorrow. These past days there have truly been issues at home, I’m sorry."

Even though the boss’s face was stern, his attitude was not as harsh.

"Good that you know. I wasn’t eager to deduct your salary today. Just be careful in the future. You should head home now."

Qin Juan thanked him again and then trudged home, exhausted.

As soon as she reached the doorstep, she heard Ningning crying. Qin Juan’s face changed, and she rushed into the house.

She saw Ningning standing in front of the stove, crying miserably with her little hand scalded red, and the child’s grandmother, Zhang Wenbin’s mother, was still scolding beside.

Qin Juan didn’t utter another word; she hurriedly pulled Ningning to the tap and rinsed her with cold water.

"Mommy, it hurts so much!"

Seeing her mother, Ningning finally dared to cry out in pain.

Her pain made Qin Juan’s heart ache even more.

Her little hand was a patch of bright red, with several blisters forming.

"How did this happen?"

Before Ningning could answer, Mrs. Zhang had already given a response.

"Just a girl, always treated like a precious child; how old is she now, and she still can’t cook?"

"Crying for what? It’s because your mom doesn’t let you do this or that; now you’ve hurt yourself cooking. If you’re going to blame someone, blame your mom."

"A miss with a maid’s fate, not everyone can have the life of a miss—utterly useless. How did our family raise two such good-for-nothings? The elder one just eats without doing any work, and the younger is the same. Like mother, like daughter. What’s the point of going to school? You might as well just stay at home to wash and cook, might even prevent yourself from getting burned while cooking."

"Mom, how can you say that?"

Qin Juan couldn’t take it anymore and spoke out directly, "Ningning’s not even six years old, and you’re making her cook. How can you bear it? She is your own granddaughter."

"I’m doing this for her own good. She’s just a girl—how will anyone want her if she doesn’t learn to cook? Do you think our Zhang Family is so kind to feed you, an idle person?"

Mrs. Zhang sneered with disdain, her eyes in a squint.

"Mom, you always say I’m idle. May I ask you, who washed the clothes for all these years, who cooked the meals, who took care of everything inside and outside the house? I really didn’t know idle people could be so busy. It seems it’s those who play cards all day that are truly busy."

As soon as Mrs. Zhang heard the mention of playing cards, she became instantly agitated.

"What do you mean? What’s wrong with me playing cards every day? I have a son, and my son is willing to take good care of me; do I need your criticism? I haven’t even complained about you freeloading at home every day, yet you’re complaining about your elders. Is there any daughter-in-law as unfilial as you? We are truly blind to have married you, a daughter-in-law who is a disaster for our family, wanting to ruin me, an old lady, no less?"

"I didn’t mean that; I was simply speaking to the facts."

"Psh, speaking to the facts! You are unfilial..."

Mrs. Zhang roared, causing the men in the house to come out as well.

Old Master Zhang, annoyed at the disruption to his TV watching, frowned and said, "What’s all this shouting about? Can’t you let a person watch TV in peace?"

Zhang Wenbin also looked exasperated.

Mrs. Zhang, seeing her savior, pulled her son and pointed at Qin Juan while scolding.

"Look at your wonderful wife. I hardly said a thing, and she starts taking issue with me. I’ve worked for this family all my life, and now I’m getting criticized for playing cards. Have I ever complained about her eating our food for so many years? There’s no justice in the world! I’ve seen enough, and I don’t even need to wait until I’m old—I might as well jump into the river now, to prevent you all from resenting me later."

"Wenbin, I’ve wronged you by finding this kind of daughter-in-law, someone who can’t help you in the slightest and is a troublemaker to boot. If I had known the daughters of the Qin Family were like this, I would rather have you remain a bachelor than let you marry her..."

"Come here," Wenbin grabbed Qin Juan’s arm, pulling her into the house.

Qin Juan was still rinsing Ningning’s hand under cold water when she saw her mother being angrily dragged away by her father, frightening Ningning into crying loudly.

Mrs. Zhang slapped her, "Crying for what? Mourning? Without you, a harbinger of disaster, would the house be in this state?"

Trying to hold back her tears, Ningning sobbed spasmodically.