Yu Meijing gave her a suggestive look. “So that’s your type. Seems like your ex-husband was very obedient to you.”
“He never listened to me,” Lin Miaomiao muttered under her breath.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“I should head back. Sorry to trouble you with the delivery.”
Yu Meijing wanted to say more, but seeing her lack of interest, she simply nodded.
…
Over ten minutes later.
Lin Miaomiao returned home.
Her life was quite dramatic, really. Unlike the tragic deaths in novels, she had gained a new identity. Not long after she came to the city to work, her family called to tell her she wasn’t their biological child—her real parents were in the city.
Yes, the classic “switched at birth” plot had unfolded right before her eyes.
Lin Miaomiao thought she was about to rise from rags to riches.
But when she went to reunite with her family, she learned that her parents had already passed away, leaving behind three older brothers and a pile of debt.
Both the real and the fake heiress were broke…
Fortunately, her eldest brother and the others treated her quite well.
Since it was her eldest brother who found her, their parents’ house was given to him, and she lived there with him.
At first, it was fine. But after Sister-in-law gave birth, things became a bit inconvenient.
When she got home, her eldest brother was peeling a milk candy for his three-year-old son, Ningning.
Sister-in-law wasn’t around. Seeing her return, he asked with concern, “Miaomiao, why are you back so late? Was the factory busy?”
“It was okay, not too busy. Where’s A Bao?”
Lin Miaomiao walked over to play with her nephew.
“A Bao is sleeping in the room. Miaomiao, your sister-in-law isn’t trying to kick you out. She’s just under a lot of stress from the pregnancy and worried about not having enough space later.”
Lin Hai brought up yesterday’s incident, explaining on behalf of his wife.
Lin Miaomiao didn’t say anything, knowing full well that Sister-in-law did want her gone.
She could understand. She had been living here for over three years with a child, and her eldest brother had already gone above and beyond.
Her eldest brother worked at a steel mill, earning only forty yuan a month. Sister-in-law hadn’t worked since she was pregnant with Ningning, staying home to take care of the child, and now she was pregnant with their second.
The couple was under a lot of pressure.
When she first returned, the two weren’t married yet. Their parents’ dying wish was for the eldest brother to take care of his long-lost younger sister.
Sister-in-law had also promised to help look after her, which was why their parents agreed to give the house to the eldest brother and his wife.
But after just three years of living here, Sister-in-law was no longer happy about it.
Their once-a-month big arguments had turned into quarrels every few days, from arguing behind her back to now arguing right in front of her… and it had become even more frequent since the second pregnancy.
Lin Miaomiao lowered her gaze and said nothing.
She walked into the room and pulled the light cord. A dim yellow light flickered on. It was an eight-square-meter room with no windows, stuffy and hot. She looked at her drowsy son on the bed and couldn’t help but stroke his flushed little face.
“Mom, you’re back.”
“Why didn’t you turn on the fan?” She switched on the fan, and the old appliance creaked as it began to spin.
A Bao squinted contentedly, snuggling sleepily into his mother’s arms, his voice muffled. “Mom, I want milk candy.”
Lin Miaomiao agreed, helping him into his cool sandals and leading him off the bed. “What flavor do you want?”
“White Rabbit!” A Bao exclaimed loudly.
Lin Miaomiao rummaged through her wallet for money. Inside were a few scattered bills. Her parents had been sick for a long time before they passed away, leaving behind a lot of debt.
They never received their parents’ love, yet had to help repay the debts.
Even now, each household had to contribute ten yuan every month to settle the debts.
As a daughter, she was no exception.
With a monthly salary of thirty-five yuan, after deducting ten yuan, only twenty-five remained. She had to hand over five yuan to her elder brother and sister-in-law for accommodation, utilities, and meals.
A Bao, born prematurely, had poor health and required medication, along with frequent hospital visits, which added up to a significant expense.
After covering medical costs, the remaining money had to stretch for clothes and daily necessities for herself and her child. Even with frugality, she could only save ten yuan a month.
Back in the village, her parents were well-off. Her father was the village head, and her elder brother was the production team leader. She never lacked food or clothing growing up. While others wore the same clothes year-round, she got new outfits every month, always dressing beautifully and earning a reputation as the village’s most charming flower.
In those days, Lu Yanzhou would ride his bicycle to the village committee to pick her up every day.
Now, living in the city, life was harder than it had been in the countryside.
Still, thinking about her upcoming promotion to a regular employee with a monthly salary of fifty yuan, and with her parents’ debts nearly repaid, she could finally start saving properly and plan for her and her child’s future.
She never intended to live with her elder brother’s family indefinitely—it was inconvenient.
Lin Miaomiao took her son downstairs to the grocery store and bought a handful of White Rabbit candies. She unwrapped one and popped it into her son’s mouth.
Feeling celebratory about her promotion, she went to the department store and bought new clothes and a pair of sandals for herself and her son.
When she returned, she saw her sister-in-law was already home, accompanied by a man around 1.7 meters tall. He wore a white shirt, had his hair parted to the side, and carried a large bag of luggage.
“This is my cousin Liu Hang. He’s the most educated person in their village. He used to work as a teacher in the countryside and now wants to find a job in the city. He’ll need to stay with us for a while.”
“But we don’t have an empty room,” her elder brother said, looking troubled.
“It’s fine. My brother can endure hardship. He can just sleep on the floor in the living room.”
“But with Miaomiao here… won’t it be a bit inconvenient?” Lin Hai still hesitated.
Hearing this, Sister-in-law Liu Huihui immediately grew upset. “Lin Hai, what do you mean by that? Your sister has lived here for years, and I never said a word. Now my brother comes for a few days, and you’re making excuses. If you don’t want him here, just say so. She’s a divorced woman with a child—it’s not like my brother would try anything!”
Lin Hai looked somewhat embarrassed at her words.
“I already promised my mother I’d take good care of my brother. If you’re unwilling, let’s get a divorce, and you can go live with your sister!” Liu Huihui said, turning to leave.
“Huihui, I didn’t mean it like that. Don’t get upset,” Lin Hai hurriedly replied. “I agree, alright? Uh… Miaomiao, you’re back.”
Before he could finish, he noticed Lin Miaomiao and her son standing at the door.
“Miaomiao, you’re back just in time. This is my cousin Liu Hang. He’s the same age as you and used to be a primary school teacher. He’ll be staying with us for a while. You don’t mind, do you?”
Lin Miaomiao didn’t really care. She had already made up her mind to move out, so she said nothing.
But as soon as she set her things down, Liu Hang stared intently at the bags in her hands, his expression darkening.
“Lin Miaomiao, right? You’re really too wasteful. My brother-in-law already has a hard time supporting the whole family by himself, and you’re still spending money so recklessly? A girl should understand frugality and household management, otherwise how will you ever get married?”
“What’s the point of wasting money like this? As the eldest sister-in-law, I’m like a mother to you. It would be better to take it out and show filial respect to my sister and her family. Later on…”