Feng Zhuyi also went along to help.
Wen Yifan wanted to sleep a little longer when a mechanical electronic voice suddenly sounded in her mind: “Congratulations, Host, on successfully activating the Supplies Exchange System. This system comes with its own storage space. You can earn money by collecting wild plants and animals to exchange. The money can be used to purchase items in the system mall or be used in the host’s real life. The system will automatically accumulate points and upgrade based on the rarity of the plants and animals collected. After upgrading, you can unlock a Spirit Spring and spiritual herbs.”
Before Wen Yifan could study the system, urging voices sounded from outside.
“Wanji, isn’t dinner ready yet? We’re starving! You stay at home all day, don’t work in the fields and don’t have a job, just spending money. Now you’re even dragging your feet cooking a meal—are you trying to starve your sister-in-law and me to death? I don’t even know why we gave birth to you!”
It was her eldest son, Song Huailin.
Wen Yifan’s face instantly turned cold.
In her previous life, the one she loved and favored most was Song Huailin. Back when they received demolition compensation, he took the largest share. He clearly owned four factories and was worth tens of millions, yet he refused to spend a single cent to save her!
Thinking of this, Wen Yifan got out of bed and walked outside, shouting at Song Huailin and her eldest daughter-in-law Shen Que, “What are you yelling for! Wanji is studying. Dinner was made by the second son’s wife. All this rushing—are you trying to rush someone to death?”
Song Huailin was stunned by her outburst and instinctively replied, “Mom, have you gone crazy? Why are you yelling at us? We worked hard all day outside and are exhausted. What’s wrong with wanting a hot meal when we get home?”
“That’s right, Mom. You never went to school, so you don’t know how tiring it is to work in a government office. It’s much more exhausting than working in the fields. Instead of feeling sorry for us, you’re yelling at us. In the whole village, who’s more successful than the two of us? Don’t forget who’s bringing you face out there!”
Shen Que chimed in with a sneer, her words full of disdain.
Wen Yifan let out a cold laugh. “Tired, are you? Want a hot meal?”
“Yes.”
Song Huailin nodded.
The next second, Wen Yifan grabbed the broom in the yard and lashed it hard at the two of them. “Come on, I’ll treat you both to bamboo shoots fried with meat! Eat as much as you like!”
Caught off guard, they were struck squarely by the broom and screamed in pain as they dodged. “Mom, are you crazy? Why are you hitting us?”
“Aren’t you hungry? Don’t you want to eat? I’m treating you to a meal!”
Wen Yifan chased them with the broom.
Being young was good. She was used to working in the fields—beating the two of them took hardly any effort at all!
Song Huailin and his wife howled in pain. It was only when Feng Zhuyi, who was busy in the kitchen, heard the commotion and came out to pull Wen Yifan away that it finally stopped.
The couple, hurt and furious, returned to their room.
Song Chenyi also came back at this time. As soon as he entered, he took money out of his pocket and handed it to Wen Yifan. “Mom, the textile factory paid our wages.”
Looking at the money being offered, Wen Yifan froze.
Among her three sons, Song Chenyi was the most taciturn and never her favorite. Yet he was the only one who handed over his entire salary every time he was paid.
He had always been the most filial. In her previous life, when he gave up saving her, he must have hated her to the core.
Wen Yifan’s heart tightened painfully, filled with guilt and regret.
Seeing that she didn’t take it, Song Chenyi simply placed the money on the table and turned to help in the kitchen.
As soon as Song Kuo entered, he spotted the money on the table and reached out to grab it. “Mom, how did you know I just happened to be short on cash? I was thinking of buying a couple packs of cigarettes.”
Before his hand could touch the money, Wen Yifan slapped it away hard.
The slap was solid. Song Kuo’s arm immediately turned red and swollen, and he cried out in pain. “Mom, what are you doing?”
“Touch my money again and see if I don’t beat you to death!”
Wen Yifan said viciously, putting away the money.
Song Kuo had inherited Song Yanchuan’s idleness—eating, drinking, gambling, and womanizing. He was good with sweet talk and had always flattered her. In her previous life, she had listened to too much of his honeyed words and gave him money whenever he asked. Only when something truly happened did she realize that nice words were empty!
He was just like Song Huailin—cold-blooded, an ungrateful wretch!
Seeing that Wen Yifan was truly angry, Song Kuo didn’t dare say another word.
Inside the room, Song Yanchuan slowly woke up. His lower body hurt terribly. Thinking about what had just happened, he felt a chill in his heart. He thought Wen Yifan had gone mad, but he didn’t dare confront her head-on again.
Dinner was ready. At the table, everyone harbored different thoughts.
Song Huailin glanced at Wen Yifan’s expression and hesitated before speaking. “Mom, we want to move out. The house is too far from our workplace. It would be more convenient if we lived closer.”
After being beaten earlier, he simply couldn’t swallow the humiliation and didn’t want to stay at home any longer.
“Fine.”
Wen Yifan agreed without surprise.
Song Huailin and Shen Que’s faces immediately lit up.
Wen Yifan continued, “You can move out and live on your own, but the food expenses, wages, and future support payments can’t be missing. Over the years, the two of you haven’t handed over a single cent for food or salary. I won’t overcharge you—bring out nine hundred yuan, and from now on give me fifty yuan every month for elderly support. Then I’ll let you live separately.”
The smiles on their faces froze instantly.
“Mom, have you gone crazy? Where would we get that much money?”
Song Huailin blurted out.
“That’s right, Mom. Are you trying to take our lives?”
Shen Que pouted, finding her utterly unreasonable.
“No money?”
Wen Yifan raised an eyebrow. “The third son has money, doesn’t he? You work in a government office—your salary is higher than his. He hands me thirty yuan every month. What about you? Have you ever given a single cent to the family? Song Huailin, don’t forget—you got that government job because you went to college. And you were able to go to college because this family scraped the pot and sold everything to support you! Now that you’ve made it, this is how you repay us? If that’s the case, raising you was worse than raising a dog! At least a dog knows how to guard the house and wag its tail!”
Song Huailin’s face turned pale. He had never imagined that his once doting mother would insult him like this.
“Mom, that’s too much! Huailin was the first college student in the whole village. How much honor did he bring to the Song family? How can he be compared to the third brother? Besides, if we give you all our money, what are we supposed to do? We work in government offices—the pressure is huge. We need money for training and promotions! How can you be so selfish and not think about us at all?”
Shen Que shouted.
Asking her to hand over that much money was practically killing her!
“No money for your husband’s family, but plenty to subsidize your parents’ family, is that it?”
Wen Yifan sneered. “Don’t think I don’t know how much money and grain you send to your family every month. Not to mention anything else—just last week, your brother got drunk and beat someone up, and you paid four hundred yuan to settle it! So you’re generous when supporting your parents’ family, but not a single cent when it comes to your husband’s family, is that it!”