Chapter 16: What’s Mine, Not Even the Dog Gets

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The knocking was urgent and forceful, carrying the unmistakable arrogance of a woman.

Zhou Susu was playing cat's cradle with An An when she heard the sound. She raised an eyebrow. No need to guess—she already knew who was outside. Besides Zhang Cuihua, the shrew, no one else in the entire courtyard would knock like that.

“Mom…” An An instinctively shrank into her arms.

“Don’t be afraid, baby,” Zhou Susu soothed, patting her little head. “Mom will see who’s being so rude.”

She stood up, walked to the door, and peeked through the crack. Sure enough, it was Zhang Cuihua. The woman stood with her hands on her hips, face full of accusation, and beside her was Wang Xiaohu, tears brimming in his eyes, looking utterly wronged.

Ah, so a tag-team confrontation? Zhou Susu sneered inwardly but immediately wore an innocent, sweet smile on her face.

With a gentle creak, she opened the door, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness.

“Oh, Sister Zhang, it’s so late! Is there something you need?”

Zhang Cuihua had been ready to launch into a fierce interrogation the moment the door opened, but seeing Zhou Susu’s radiant smile and soft tone, her prepared tirade was swallowed back.

You don’t hit a smiling face.

She couldn’t very well scold someone who was smiling warmly at her.

Clearing her throat, Zhang Cuihua tried to sound more assertive. “Well… Susu, I…”

Before she could finish, Wang Xiaohu, like a little firecracker, pointed at the can of malted milk powder on the table and shouted, “Mom! It’s that! It’s that one!”

Without Zhang Cuihua even saying a word, Zhou Susu instantly understood their intention.

“Ohhh—” Zhou Susu deliberately dragged out the sound, feigning sudden realization. “So that’s why you’re here.”

She stepped aside, inviting them in with a smile, “Sister Zhang, come in and talk. It’s cold outside.”

Thinking Zhou Susu had softened, Zhang Cuihua gained confidence. She grabbed Wang Xiaohu and swaggered inside, her eyes scanning the room. When she saw the brand-new furnishings and the corner cushioned with soft mats and piled with toys, envy darkened her gaze.

“Susu,” she plopped down on a small stool, assuming the posture of an elder and getting straight to the point, “I’m not trying to nag, but your family’s life is clearly getting better and better. But shouldn’t you at least let the neighbors know?”

“Let us know what?” Zhou Susu blinked in disbelief.

“That malted milk powder of yours!” Zhang Cuihua pointed at the tin, speaking with righteous indignation. “You make it smell so good, the aroma drifts all the way to our place. My Xiaohu smells it and gets so tempted he won’t eat dinner, crying and fussing to have some. Don’t you think you should take some responsibility?”

Zhou Susu almost laughed in disbelief at this twisted logic. Good heavens. That’s like a thief’s mother opening the door for her son—the audacity!

She has to be responsible because her son drooled over malted milk powder? What if she cooks braised pork someday—would she have to bury anyone who starved to death because of the smell?

“Oh? Is that so?” Zhou Susu kept her smile, mentally noting Zhang Cuihua’s ridiculous claim.

“Exactly!” Zhang Cuihua, seeing no objection, grew more enthusiastic. “Look at my Xiaohu, crying like that. Shouldn’t you give him a little to try?”

“Yes! I want some too!” Wang Xiaohu chimed in, pointing at An An, bossily declaring, “She’s drinking it, so I want some too!”

Watching this absurd mother and son duo, Zhou Susu’s smile finally faded. She straightened slowly and walked to the table, reaching out to cradle the malted milk powder tin in her arms.

Then she looked at Zhang Cuihua and spoke clearly:

“Sorry, Sister Zhang.”

“No.”

Two short, decisive words.

Zhang Cuihua’s face instantly changed color.

“What… what did you say?” she thought she must have misheard.

“I said no.”

Zhou Susu repeated firmly, her smile vanishing, replaced by chilly detachment.

Holding the can close, she said calmly:

“First, this malted milk powder was bought with my own money to nourish my daughter. Every spoonful is precious. Not to mention a whole spoon, not even half, or a single grain of powder can be given to outsiders.”

“Second, if your son wants to drink it, you should buy some for him yourself. If he doesn’t like it, that’s your problem, not mine. If you’re stingy and make it taste like dishwater, why should he come to mooch off mine?”

“Third—and most importantly,” Zhou Susu’s gaze swept coldly over Wang Xiaohu’s arrogant little face, “did you think I didn’t hear how your son insulted my daughter a few days ago?”

“He called her a ‘jinx’ and a ‘loser’.”

“And now he has the nerve to come to my home asking for food?”

Her voice was cold and heavy.

“Sister Zhang, let me make this crystal clear.”

“No matter if I feed it to dogs, throw it away, or pour it out, I will never let your ill-mannered brat touch a single bit of my things!”

Her words struck Zhang Cuihua like a series of loud slaps.

Her face flushed a deep purple-red.

She hadn’t expected Zhou Susu to shamelessly snub her like this today!

“You… you…” trembling with rage, she pointed at Zhou Susu’s nose, “Zhou Susu! How dare you be so shameless! It’s just a tin of malted milk powder, what’s the big deal? You won’t give it, huh? Fine! Fine then!”

She grabbed Wang Xiaohu and turned to leave.

“We’re leaving! We don’t want your crappy stuff!”

Outside in the courtyard, her pent-up fury finally exploded completely.

She began to act out, throwing a tantrum and rolling on the ground.

“Oh my! Everyone come see! Come judge this! The wife of Captain Lu is bullying people! She thinks she’s rich and looks down on us poor neighbors!”

Her cries quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.

Aunt Li and the others hurried over, looking eager for trouble.

Seeing more people, Zhang Cuihua’s performance intensified.

She sobbed, nose running, “All I wanted was to get a little malted milk powder for my kid who’s craving it, but Susu just scolded me out of the house!”

“She even said she wouldn’t give our Xiaohu anything, not even if it fed the dogs! Can you believe this? Xiaohu’s just a little kid! She’s abusing him!”