But if she didn’t speak up, Lin Ruyuan would always be on guard around him.
Qin Jianchuan: “……” Great! Tonight’s going to be another sleepless night.
“Oh? Your second daughter is back!”
As soon as Lin Ruyuan stepped into the house, she heard an irritating voice from the next room.
It was none other than her sister’s mother-in-law, Hu Yue’e.
A traditional, sharp-tongued, impossible-to-please older woman.
Ever since her sister gave birth to her second daughter, Hu Yue’e had become utterly cruel.
First, she abandoned her daughter-in-law in the hospital, then tormented her during the postpartum period.
As a result, her sister didn’t live long after the confinement ended!
Lin Ruyuan clenched her fists, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. That malicious shrew!
In her previous life, the Fang family’s failure to tell her the truth had indirectly caused her sister’s death.
But Hu Yue’e was the real culprit!
Even though revenge was taken later, the dead cannot come back.
That event remained a lifelong pain for Lin Ruyuan.
“I’m back,” Zhao Guixiang said, looking at her daughter. “Your aunt happened to be passing by, so she came to visit.”
Hu Yue’e, having heard about Lin Ruyuan’s annulment with the Fang family, couldn’t resist patting Zhao Guixiang’s hand. “Little sister, I’m telling you, missing such a good match—you’ll regret it later!”
Zhao Guixiang shook her head. “Fang Shijun already has a son. Do you expect my daughter to marry into that family and act as a stepmother?”
“Being a stepmother doesn’t matter! The Fang family has money,” Hu Yue’e smiled. “If my daughter could find a match that good, I’d be happy all night!”
Zhao Guixiang: “……”
“Well, now that she’s annulled with the Fang family, you can marry your daughter off. Want me to help with the match?” Lin Ruyuan said, her smile cold and sharp.
Hu Yue’e, caught off guard by the cheeky reply, felt her pride wounded. “Guixiang, your second daughter’s temper is something else! It’s okay now that she’s unmarried, but once she’s married, her in-laws will definitely complain.”
Zhao Guixiang frowned. Hearing this from the in-laws was unpleasant, but she held her tongue, thinking of her daughter’s living situation.
“I do hope Ruyuan can stay with me for a few more years,” she said.
“I understand!” Hu Yue’e nodded repeatedly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “After all, you only have two daughters. Your eldest is already married. Once the second daughter marries, only the two of you will be left at home. What fun is that? I say sons are better—they marry in women and bring more children. You two should have had a son back then!”
Zhao Guixiang had spent half her life being criticized for not giving birth to a son.
And it wasn’t just Hu Yue’e—others would say it too.
Of course, she herself didn’t think that way.
A child’s gender was fate. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with either of her daughters.
“Aunt, what you’re saying is interesting. If you dislike women so much, then are you a man or a woman yourself?” Lin Ruyuan shot back, refusing to tolerate her.
This life, anyone who dared to bully her family would get no mercy!
Lin Ruyuan snorted coldly. “If there were no women in the world, humanity would have already gone extinct!”
“Our family doesn’t have a son, how does that affect you? I hear my brother-in-law is still working a factory job, barely supporting the whole family, even relying on you two to pitch in. They say sons are for old age support, but your son can’t even provide for us—he’s just a freeloader! What good is such a son?”
Hu Yue’e’s face darkened. “You’re way too sharp-tongued! I say one thing, and you can argue ten times over!”
“I have no other virtues; I just like speaking the truth. Don’t take it personally,” Lin Ruyuan said with a smile.
Zhao Guixiang stifled a laugh, glancing at her daughter. She loved hearing such honesty.
“Hmph! I don’t mean anything by it. If you think my words are harsh now, just wait—your in-laws will be even worse after you marry!” Hu Yue’e snapped. “Luckily your sister isn’t like you, or I couldn’t handle a daughter-in-law like you.”
“Aunt, I advise you to stop saying these things. They could affect my brother-in-law,” Lin Ruyuan said sternly.
“What era do you think it is? The old ‘boys over girls’ idea is long gone! If my brother-in-law gets investigated, he won’t even keep this job!”
Hu Yue’e pouted, but it was true.
“If I don’t say it, fine. Lucky your sister was carrying a boy, or she’d have suffered even more!”
Hu Yue’e said awkwardly.
Zhao Guixiang’s smile froze. Her daughter’s second child wasn’t about gender!
Of course, having both a son and a daughter was good, but the main point was to give the child a companion.
Whether it’s a boy or a girl, it doesn’t matter! A third child? Giving birth is already like passing through the gates of hell—no need for a third.
Zhao Guixiang wouldn’t let her daughter take that risk.
“What if my sister had a daughter? From their reaction, I’m not reassured,” Lin Ruyuan said, furrowing her brow. “We need to be prepared in advance.”
“So what if it’s a girl? Whether it’s a boy or girl isn’t up to us! If she doesn’t properly care for your sister during confinement, I’ll handle it. We can’t just watch your sister be bullied—rest assured!”