Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 61

“Yaya was born premature. We’ve always worried that the little one might be frail and prone to illness.”

“As mothers, we know how troublesome it is when a child falls sick. The exhaustion isn’t the worst part—it’s seeing the child suffer. Too young to speak, all she can do is cry, and it just breaks your heart.”

Wang Fengqin placed an amulet pouch into Li Yan’s palm and patted her hand. “Zhiqiu’s sister-in-law, just put this on Yaya, but make sure Zhiqiu doesn’t find out. She doesn’t believe in these things.”

“I actually gave one to Yaya right after she was born, but Zhiqiu got angry and threw it away.”

“If it were just me, fine—but this was also a gesture from her father.”

“We’re torn between not wanting to upset her and worrying about Yaya. It’s a difficult position.”

“How could Shen Zhiqiu be so unreasonable?” Li Yan curled her lip in disdain. “I’m a teacher, and even I believe in these things. She’s just a dancer, yet she acts all high and mighty, like some intellectual.”

Wang Fengqin sighed. “Maybe she’s worried about what her in-laws might think. I know my Zhiqiu has it hard.”

“Auntie, let me be honest—grandparents on the father’s side are never as close to the child as the maternal grandparents. They don’t really know what’s best for the baby.”

“What’s the point of throwing such a lavish full-month banquet? The child doesn’t understand—it’s just the adults showing off, using the baby as an excuse to flaunt their own status.”

Li Yan sneered, directing her sarcasm at Yue Guohuai and Wan Jiayin. “They’re always telling us younger ones what not to do, yet they don’t hold back themselves.”

“Zhiqiu’s sister-in-law, you’re a sharp one,” Wang Fengqin praised.

Li Yan tucked the amulet into her bag and assured her, “Don’t worry, Auntie. I’ll make sure Yaya gets this.”

“Zhiqiu’s sister-in-law, I really appreciate your help.”

Wang Fengqin then pulled out a jar of pickled eggs from her basket. “Take these. We don’t have much, but these are homemade.”

“Auntie, you really shouldn’t have.”

Li Yan accepted the gifts with a smile. After Wang Fengqin left, she calculated that she’d drop by Yue Mingde’s place on Saturday and have Yue Youxin and Yue Youhui deliver the amulet.

…

When Shen Zhiqiu returned to the compound, she received a call from Tian Man around four o’clock. Tian Man informed her that her article had been rejected by the editor-in-chief and wouldn’t be published.

“Sister-in-law, it’s alright. But did your team leader give you any trouble over this?” Shen Zhiqiu asked, concerned.

She wasn’t familiar with newspaper protocols, but Tian Man had bypassed her team leader to go straight to the editor-in-chief. That kind of move was bound to provoke resentment from her petty supervisor.

“It’s fine. At worst, he can transfer me to logistics,” Tian Man said, suddenly raising her voice—likely for someone else’s benefit.

“Tian Man, you still think you did nothing wrong, is that it?” A man’s voice cut in.

“I did do something wrong, but you—”

The rest was cut off, but it was clear Tian Man was arguing with her team leader.

After dinner, Shen Zhiqiu asked Meng Fang to watch Yaya for a while. She grabbed a few hair clips, ribbons, and a newly purchased book, then headed to Tian Man’s place.

“Sister-in-law.”

After exchanging a few words, Shen Zhiqiu left the gifts and book behind and quickly excused herself. Tan Jianping was home, and it wouldn’t be proper to linger.

Tian Man walked her downstairs. “Zhiqiu, I feel awful that you went out of your way to come over.”

“Sister-in-law, please don’t say that. If anything, I’m the one who feels guilty.”

“To be honest, after that big argument, I actually feel better—like I’ve finally let out all the frustration I’ve been holding in.”

“Just because I’ve had two kids, they won’t let me go out for interviews anymore. What kind of logic is that?”

Tian Man vented to Shen Zhiqiu: “If all I can do is answer phones, they might as well transfer me to logistics. At least it’d be less stressful.”

“Why is it so unfair? When men get married and have kids, they’re seen as more dependable and get promoted. But for us women, it’s like we’re expected to step back. What kind of sense does that make?”

Growing more indignant, she asked, “Zhiqiu, is it true that once you return to the dance troupe, you won’t be allowed on stage anymore?”

“I’ve heard your troupe is even stricter—once a woman has a child, she’s barred from performing.”

Shen Zhiqiu’s gaze was firm. “I’ll follow the troupe’s rules, but I refuse to accept fate! They can keep me off the stage, but they can’t stop me from training.”

“Sister-in-law, I agree—it’s unfair. Why is it that after having a child, women are treated like they’re incapable of anything? I don’t buy that.”

“I’m only 23. I’m still young, in the prime of my life. I won’t waste it. My future is in my own hands.”

“I love dancing, and I’ll keep dancing.”

Speaking of her passion, Shen Zhiqiu’s eyes sparkled like stars. “The other day at the bookstore, I read a biography about a foreign ballerina who kept dancing well into her sixties.”

“I want to learn from her perseverance—and from the spirit of our revolutionary forebears. No matter how tough things get, they’ll never be as hard as what they endured. If they could persist, why can’t I?”

“Zhiqiu, that was beautifully said.” Tian Man gripped her hand, invigorated. “You’ve given me a renewed sense of purpose.”

“Our paper is launching a new column soon. I wrote that article hoping the editor-in-chief would recognize my skills. I wanted to compete for the position, but having my draft rejected really discouraged me.”

“But you’re right—I can’t give up. I have to keep pushing.” Tian Man clenched her fist and struck her palm, determination lighting up her eyes.

Shen Zhiqiu cheered her on. “Sister-in-law, you’ve got this!”

“You too.” Tian Man squeezed her hand gently. “Zhiqiu, I hope one day I’ll see you center stage again.”

“You will, sister-in-law.”

Shen Zhiqiu believed that day would come.

On her way back, she ran into Yue Mingli, who had just gotten off work. Spotting her, he called out and rode his bicycle over, then dismounted to walk alongside her.

Yue Mingli first asked about the situation with her family’s courtyard. Shen Zhiqiu relayed what Cheng Gan had told her, then asked, “Second Brother, do you know anyone reliable who could help investigate my father’s bigamy case?”

Doing it herself wasn’t feasible—she didn’t have the time to leave Yaya and run around every day. Besides, while it might seem straightforward, digging into such matters was far from simple.

Yue Mingli agreed immediately. “Give me the details later, and I’ll find someone.”

“Zhiqiu, actually… there’s something I wanted to ask you too.” Hesitation flickered across his face.

“What is it, Second Brother?”

Yue Mingli rubbed the back of his neck, struggling to find the words.