"What kind of talk is that? Am I doing all this for myself? I have no one else to talk to, and you're my only daughter, can't I just complain to you?"
Cheng Tao's face was grim. "I've got enough trouble of my own!"
Everyone was coming to congratulate her on her pregnancy. Wang Hongxia was overjoyed, as if she had come back to life.
Only Cheng Tao knew how guilty she felt.
But now she was in too deep to explain.
Seeing her unhappy expression, Song Yulian asked, "What's wrong? Has your mother-in-law upset you again?"
"She wouldn't dare."
Ever since the incident with Zhou Yunru, Wang Hongxia was terrified that the baby in her belly would also be in danger. She treated Cheng Tao like a precious heirloom, being extremely careful in everything she did.
"Then what are you worrying about?"
"Mom..."
Cheng Tao hesitated, then leaned closer to her ear and whispered a few words.
Song Yulian's expression changed. She gripped Cheng Tao's wrist fiercely, filled with anger and disappointment.
"How could you!"
Cheng Tao mumbled, "I wasn't thinking straight at the time. If I hadn't said that, Zhao Yunlin definitely wouldn't have agreed to help me, and I would have been torn to shreds by the Zhou family."
She still remembered how terrifying Zhou Laoniang's eyes had been back then.
Song Yulian slapped her, "Why did you have to provoke Zhou Yunru in the first place!"
Her uncle was the village captain of Taha Village. What good would it do to offend her?
Cheng Tao looked dejected. She regretted it now.
If she had known this would happen, she should have endured it longer.
Even if she wanted to get rid of the baby, there would have been other opportunities in the future.
Why did she have to use Wang Hongxia?
"It's no use saying that now, Mom, quickly think of a solution!"
Song Yulian snorted, "What solution can I have? If they find out about this, Zhao Yunlin will divorce you!"
But if her belly didn't grow larger over time, everyone would know she was faking her pregnancy.
Not only Cheng Tao, but Song Yulian was also anxious.
If Cheng Tianhua found out she was faking her pregnancy, he would skin her alive.
"You're going to get me killed!"
Cheng Tao felt wronged and scared. "I didn't want this either! But if Zhou Yunru gives birth to the Zhao family's eldest grandson first, Wang Hongxia might torment me even more."
Although Song Yulian was angry, she could understand.
After all, she was her daughter, and she had to protect her no matter how wrong she was.
"Since the pregnancy is fake, you should go out and earn work points. At least then you'll have some leverage."
Cheng Tao was doing nothing now, letting Zhao Yunlin support her. Even if they divorced, she would be the one to suffer, with no fallback.
If she could stand on her own two feet, Wang Hongxia wouldn't dare to control her so easily.
Especially now that Zhao Jianguo was gone, the old Zhao family had no one to earn work points.
Cheng Tao looked troubled, "What else can I do? Am I supposed to go to the fields with those people?"
She refused.
Farming was tiring, and the work points were few. She didn't want to do it.
She thought for a moment and then seemed to have an idea. "Mom, why don't I go help Uncle Li?"
Song Yulian chided, "Cheng You is there. If you go there too, it will attract gossip."
Cheng Tianhua would definitely not agree.
Cheng Tao smiled, "So, let's swap. I'll take over Cheng You's job."
Song Yulian thought she was being wishful thinking. How could Cheng You give up her work?
Eight work points a day, and she expected her to give it up.
"Mom, just tell Dad that if he lets me take over Cheng You's work, I'll have Yunlin introduce him to that deputy director."
Song Yulian found it unreliable, "You dare to threaten him? He's still angry about what happened last time."
She was reluctant, but after Cheng Tao's persuasion, she finally decided to give it a try.
If Cheng Tao could get such an easy job, perhaps the old Zhao family would be more satisfied with her.
However, as soon as she brought it up, Cheng Tianhua objected.
"I just told you, don't go bothering Cheng You again. You two never listen to me!"
Song Yulian's expression soured, "She's not a monster, why can't she be approached? Cheng Tao is pregnant now, you should indulge her a little. She told me that she's already mentioned your matter to Wang Hongxia."
Cheng Tianhua's ears perked up, and he quickly asked, "How did that go?"
"You know Wang Hongxia, she's not that easy. Cheng Tao wants to help Uncle Li not because she covets these few work points, but because she wants to help you save face."
The more important Cheng Tao was treated in the old Zhao family, the more likely Cheng Tianhua's matters would be taken to heart.
Cheng Tianhua nodded slightly, there was some logic to it.
But with Cheng You's personality, it was hard for him to influence her.
Song Yulian added, "It's just a little bit of work, who does it doesn't matter. Why should only Cheng You earn from it? Cheng Tao can do it just as well."
Cheng Tianhua finally compromised, "Then I..."
"I agree!" Cheng You said with a smile as she walked in from outside.
"Since Sister wants to help Uncle Li, then go ahead. As long as Uncle Li doesn't mind, I certainly won't either."
Cheng Tianhua and Song Yulian exchanged glances. Cheng You was not someone who was easily swayed.
"Are you really willing to give this job to your sister?"
Cheng You said with a smile, "We're all family, it doesn't matter who does it."
Cheng Tianhua nodded in satisfaction, "You're still sensible."
Song Yulian felt a little strange. Although she hadn't expected things to go so smoothly,
she didn't care too much as long as Cheng You was willing.
The next day, Cheng You stopped going to Uncle Li's. She sat at home with her feet up, humming a tune, quite at ease.
Song Yulian saw this and felt a hint of wariness.
Losing a job that earned eight work points, she didn't look unhappy at all.
"Cheng You, you come with us."
Cheng You squinted and ignored her.
Song Yulian called out again, "Cheng You!"
Cheng You finally chuckled, "Aunt Lian, it's best not to push your luck. Not everyone can tolerate your shamelessness. I'm not my father."
Song Yulian's face stiffened. Angered, she clenched her fists.
"Fine, if you don't want to go."
She took Cheng Tao there herself.
As long as Cheng Tao did better than Cheng You, she didn't believe Uncle Li would turn her away.
But she forgot who Uncle Li was. He didn't even give Cheng Tianhua face, let alone her.
Moreover, Cheng Tao had already offended him thoroughly before.
This time, when they visited, Uncle Li didn't even let them in.
"Cheng You herself said she wouldn't do it? Bring her here! If she tells me herself that she's quitting, then I won't need anyone's help from now on."
Song Yulian felt embarrassed and tried to persuade him, "Brother Li, the work here isn't that difficult. Why can Cheng You do it, but my daughter can't? You haven't even let Cheng Tao try, this is too biased."
Uncle Li snorted coldly, "I am biased, I'm biased towards my own disciple, so what?"