Su Yaqin glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before lowering her voice and saying, “On my way home the other day, I ran into some robbers.”
Lu Jingyi’s pupils instantly contracted, her heart feeling as if it had been seized by an invisible hand, and her face turned deathly pale. “What happened next?”
“Then they saw how pretty I was and tried to drag me into an alley. Luckily, Zhao Qiang arrived just in time. I’m fine, but I was so scared that I’ve been taking time off work to stay at home these past few days.”
Lu Jingyi immediately breathed a sigh of relief and tightly grasped Su Yaqin’s hand. “So it seems Zhao Qiang is quite reliable.”
[Reliable? He deliberately hired those people!]
What!
Lu Jingyi felt her hand being squeezed tightly by Su Yaqin.
She couldn’t believe it either.
Zhao Qiang actually hired people to harass his own wife?
What if something had gone wrong…
[Anyone else would probably find it hard to believe too. Go check if a hundred yuan is missing from the bankbook.]
[And how did he just happen to arrive so perfectly on time?]
Su Yaqin felt a buzzing in her head, as if countless bees were swarming inside.
Rage surged like a tidal wave in her chest. Her hands unconsciously clenched into fists, her nails digging deeply into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
She suddenly remembered how Zhao Qiang had deliberately kept her at home these past few days, not letting her go out.
Zhao Qiang wanted to control her!
Su Yaqin said, “Actually, Zhao Qiang didn’t want me to come today. And when I was about to leave, my godmother suddenly fell and insisted I take her to the Health Clinic. It was me who insisted on coming and made Zhao Qiang take her instead.”
If she hadn’t insisted on coming, she wouldn’t have learned the truth from Long Bao.
If she had remained in the dark, she would have been kept like a pig, raised and confined by Zhao Qiang.
Looking back now, she realized that everything Zhao Qiang did was calculated.
She had just been careless and never noticed his malicious intentions.
“Zhao Qiang is going too far!”
Su Yaqin said with red-rimmed eyes, “Jingyi, I don’t want to be with him anymore. It’s terrifying to lie next to someone like that every night.”
Lu Jingyi patted Su Yaqin’s back and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely help you. But first, you need to tell your brother about this.”
“But he’s so busy…”
“He’s your brother, not a stranger. If you don’t tell him about something this serious, do you want to make him furious?”
Su Yaqin shrank her neck.
She was just afraid of her brother.
Ever since their parents passed away, her brother had become increasingly silent. Even as a child, he was very stern.
She used to think her brother didn’t like her, until the time she took a knife for Zhao Qiang and her brother rushed over and punched Zhao Qiang several times. Only then did she realize that her brother just didn’t know how to express his feelings.
But even knowing that, she still didn’t know how to interact with him.
Lu Jingyi said, “If you don’t dare to tell him, I will.”
Long Bao clenched her little fists. [Protect Godmother!]
Lu Jingyi said, “Go back and check first. Come find me again after you’ve confirmed everything.”
Su Yaqin quickly nodded.
She leaned over and hugged Lu Jingyi’s arm like a child. “It feels so good to have someone looking out for me. Jingyi, thank you.”
“I’ll fetch some water for you. Wash your face and play with Long Bao in the room.”
“Okay.”
Su Yaqin held one of Long Bao’s hands and played with her.
Lu Jingyi took the basin and towel and went out.
Su Yaqin felt her finger being tightly grasped by Long Bao’s small hand.
Since she couldn’t have children herself, she decided to raise Long Bao as her own daughter.
Lu Jingyi walked toward the kitchen with a basin in hand.
Suddenly, she thought she heard Li Hong’s voice.
Glancing in the direction of the sound, she saw Li Hong sitting with several other wives.
She couldn’t tell what they were discussing, but Li Hong sat in the middle of the group wiping tears while the surrounding wives looked at her with pity. One even patted Li Hong’s shoulder comfortingly.
Lu Jingyi immediately recalled Long Bao mentioning that Li Hong had been secretly spreading rumors about her.
Using the houses as cover, she slowly approached the group of wives.
As she drew closer, she could hear their conversation.
“Li Hong, don’t blame Comrade Lu. Her family are Capitalist roaders – they have money to host a Full Moon Celebration Feast.”
“We all know you have it hard. Next time Comrade Lu bullies you, just go to your mother-in-law.”
Li Hong shook her head. “Going to my mother-in-law is useless. Jingyi’s mother is still at home – how could my mother-in-law possibly compete with Jingyi’s mother?”
“That’s true. I heard Jingyi’s mother is some kind of pianist, quite impressive.”
“From now on, just keep to yourself behind closed doors. Don’t give any more money to your mother-in-law, so Comrade Lu can’t use your money.”
Lu Jingyi: ???
When had she ever used Li Hong’s money?
Her own family had more money than they could spend.
“But your sister-in-law really goes too far. You’re both daughters-in-law, how can she make you wash the whole family’s clothes and cook all the meals? And then criticize you if the food doesn’t taste good?”
“If Capitalist roaders like her were around a few years ago, they’d be wearing wooden signs and facing public criticism.”
Hearing this, Lu Jingyi’s temper flared.
She charged forward with her basin, pointing at Li Hong’s nose. “Li Hong, you’d better explain clearly today – when have I ever bullied you?”
Li Hong jumped in fright at Lu Jingyi’s sudden appearance from nowhere.
The gossiping wives looked uncomfortable upon seeing Lu Jingyi.
Li Hong quickly lowered her head, pretending to wipe tears. “I was just chatting with everyone.”
“Some chat! You only talk about how much work you do at home. Why don’t you mention what I’ve given you? Isn’t that dress you’re wearing from me? And that gold ring on your finger? Yes, you cook and wash clothes, but why don’t you mention the forty yuan I give you every month?”
“Forty yuan? What forty yuan?” The wives looked at Lu Jingyi in disbelief.
“Since Sister-in-law hasn’t found work after joining the army camp, and I saw she was struggling with cooking and washing at home, I offered her forty yuan each month. And before Long Bao was born, I paid for all the household groceries too. Tell me, isn’t that true?” Lu Jingyi demanded.
“Forty every month? That’s like factory wages!”
“We stand in the factory all day for forty yuan, and you get the same for washing and cooking at home?”
Under everyone’s scrutiny, Li Hong stiffened her neck and said, “That’s what I deserve.”
But her voice was quiet, betraying her guilt.
After all, these wives not only worked factory jobs but still had to do household chores after work.
Yet Li Hong only did housework and received the same pay as them.
Lu Jingyi stepped forward and grabbed Li Hong’s hair. “You’ve been telling everyone I bully you. With so many witnesses here today, why don’t you explain exactly how I’ve looked down on you?”
Li Hong gasped in pain. “Let go of me!”
“Go on, tell them.”
The onlookers immediately stepped in to mediate when they saw the physical altercation.
But Lu Jingyi had already been simmering with pent-up anger.
Her intention today was precisely to escalate the situation and let everyone see Li Hong’s true colors.
Once Long Bao grew a bit older, she planned to return to work—how could she possibly have time to constantly engage in mind games with Li Hong?
“Why are you allowed to host a Full Moon Celebration Feast while I’m not?” Li Hong grimaced in pain, wanting to fight back but held back by the sister-in-law beside her. Being shorter than Lu Jingyi, she couldn’t even reach to grab her hair.
“Then go ask your mother-in-law. I paid for my own Full Moon Celebration Feast—if you have the ability, pay for your own too.”
“Bullshit! Mom said you used Zhijun’s money.”
Lu Jingyi gave another hard tug. “So what? Xu Zhijun is my husband—it’s only right that he pays.”
“I’ve let it slide before out of patience, but did you really think I’m an easy target?”
She yanked off the hair tie from Li Hong’s head—one that she had bought herself.
Before, she had even felt grateful for her sister-in-law’s help at home, often bringing her nice things whenever she came across them.
Who would have thought that so much kindness would nurture an ungrateful wolf?
She’d rather throw her money and belongings to the dogs than let this despicable pair benefit from them!