The former Zhang Jianshe never questioned himself. After being scolded by his Mother-in-law, he started to change his thinking. That old hag was truly his nemesis.
Mom is right. This Mother-in-law of mine is no good; I need to guard against her.
“Third Brother also knows my family situation. I’ve been sickly since I was young. Parents spent so much raising me…”
Before she could finish speaking, Zhang Jianshe interrupted her.
“I know your situation. I don’t blame you. We just need to live our own lives well from now on.”
After saying this, Zhang Jianshe didn't look at her again and turned to go brush his teeth and wash his face.
Looking at Third Brother’s back, Zhao Meijuan clenched her fists tightly, staring at her Mother-in-law in the Kitchen. The resentment in her heart reached its peak. Why wasn't it her who died?
Breakfast was ready. Li Xiangqin habitually called people to eat. As soon as she opened her mouth to call out, Fifth Child and Lao Liu darted out of their rooms.
“Mom, I’ll help serve the porridge.”
Watching Fifth Child nimbly run to the Kitchen, and Lao Liu setting up a Chair, Li Xiangqin raised an eyebrow. People really are cheap; usually, when she calls them for food, they either drag their feet or complain about the noise.
Once she started speaking, everyone’s bad habits were cured.
Proof: You can’t spoil people too much.
“Mom is so nice, she even cooked Eggs for us.” Fifth Child picked up an Egg, tapped it, and complimented her with a smile.
Li Xiangqin flicked her eyelids. “One each. No greediness.”
Hearing there were Eggs, the slight anger Third Brother felt that morning instantly vanished. He picked up one, peeled it in a few bites, and stuffed it into his mouth. Only when he was stared at by a pair of resentful eyes did he offer a sheepish smile.
He reached for the last Egg in the basket, but before his fingers touched it, his hand was tapped by a pair of chopsticks.
“Thick-skinned thing! I just said one each. Are your ears deaf or stuffed with chicken feathers? You dare to reach out in front of me? Are you itching for a beating again?”
Third Brother covered his hand, stretched his neck, and swallowed the whole Egg, nearly rolling his eyes. He quickly picked up the white porridge to wash it down.
“…Mom, I’m not eating it myself, I’m peeling it for Meijuan.”
“Nonsense about your Mother-in-law! Is she disabled or does she have no hands? Does she need you to peel it for her?”
After Li Xiangqin sharply retorted, she glanced at the blushing Zhao Meijuan and suddenly understood.
She almost forgot. Ever since marrying this drama queen in, she had always acted like she wasn't competing for anything. Food and drink were handed to her by Third Brother before she would slowly savor it, under the guise of having class.
The more she acted this way, the more Third Brother, that blind fool, thought his Wife was too virtuous and always suffered losses.
Afterward, during every festival, whenever there was good food, Third Brother was responsible for putting dishes on his Wife’s plate, and Zhao Meijuan’s bowl was always piled high.
Only after she was full would Third Brother sweep up her leftovers into his stomach to completely clear the plate, ensuring nothing was wasted.
As a result, during later arguments, what she often brought up was how, since marrying into this family, she had worked tirelessly and never fought for anything…
Li Xiangqin looked at Zhao Meijuan, who was sipping her porridge with a slightly red complexion, appearing quiet and well-behaved, and truly wanted to spit in her face.
This sickly Daughter-in-law was a huge green tea girl.
“Why so much fuss over eating a meal? If you want to eat, take it. If you don’t take it, it’s considered automatic forfeiture. If you don’t even have the strength to move, just lie in bed and let Third Brother serve you shit and piss like a Housekeeper.”
Putting on a performance while eating? Trying to gain attention in front of her? She might as well not eat at all. Let’s see how many days you can last?
“Mom~, we’re still eating. Why do you start talking about shit and piss as soon as you open your mouth? It’s so disgusting?”
Xiao Liu was displeased. She put down her chopsticks and complained.
“Stop pretending! As if you don’t poop!” Fifth Child pouted and glared at her. Watching Third Sister-in-law get shut down repeatedly was truly satisfying.
Hmph, serves you right! Always relying on Third Brother’s care, taking and demanding everything without restraint.
Being sharply retorted by her Mother-in-law, Zhao Meijuan’s face tightened. She lowered her head and took two sips of soup, but she choked because she wasn't paying attention.
“Cough, cough…”
Now it was good; the performance turned real. She coughed until her face was bright red, tears streaming down, and two grains of rice even shot out of her nostrils…
Watching her cough until her face was red, Third Brother quickly patted her back.
“Mom, can’t you just let us eat peacefully? What’s the point of this?”
“If you want to eat, eat. If you don’t want to eat, get lost. Old Mother finds your performance nauseating.”
Li Xiangqin gave Zhao Meijuan a mocking look.
“When eating in your own home, be generous. If you want something, just reach for it. Old Mother doesn’t care if you’re a glutton. Stop putting on a dramatic show with your coy behavior; you’re making us extremely disgusted.”
With that, she picked up her bowl of thin porridge and gulped it down. Before leaving, she gave a direct order.
“The breakfast was made by me and Fourth Child. Third Brother’s Wife is responsible for washing the dishes. Of course, if Third Brother wants to substitute, that’s fine too—it’s work for you two as a couple anyway.”
Just as Zhang Jianshe finished patting his Wife’s back, he heard his Mom assigning chores, and he immediately became unhappy.
“Mom, Meijuan is in poor health…”
When he met Li Xiangqin’s icy gaze, he immediately fell silent.
Li Xiangqin looked at Zhao Meijuan, who was acting like a quail beside them, and sneered, “Later, I’ll have to go to the Cement Factory Family Courtyard and ask if your Zhao Family Daughter was raised being waited on hand and foot?”
She lived like a weed at her maternal home, but in their house, she suddenly became a delicate flower. If she were worth the trouble, fine, but she was clearly just causing trouble.
Zhao Meijuan was stimulated by the mockery in Li Xiangqin’s eyes, and tears streamed down.
“Waaah… It’s all my fault for having such a weak body. It’s understandable that Mom dislikes me. If I had known marrying in would be this hard, I shouldn’t have stubbornly thrown myself at you in the first place.
I wouldn’t have ended up being despised like this. Knowing this earlier, I might as well have stayed home as an old maid.”
Third Brother watched his Wife cry heartbrokenly. The veins on his forehead bulged, his shoulders were tense, and his gaze toward Li Xiangqin was filled with resentment.
“Mom, Meijuan is my Wife. I promised her that she can do nothing in this house. Whatever methods you use to torment your Daughter-in-law, just use them on your Son instead. From now on, I will do all the housework for her.”
Li Xiangqin stared at him blankly for a moment. She had to admit, Zhao Meijuan really knew how to handle a Man. A few simple sentences managed to stir up Third Brother’s spirit.
Actually, she was very curious: Do simple-minded, strong guys like Third Brother prefer delicate, clinging women? Do they get more excited the more trouble they cause?
Unfortunately, the person in front of her was her Son, and the one being questioned was her, the elder. That wasn't beautiful at all.
“Since you request it, I naturally won’t stop you from being a good husband. But eating and sleeping in this house requires clear division of labor. My family does not support young ladies who are freeloader.
You chose your Wife yourself. If she wants to be a freeloader, fine, but you must take on all her chores. Don't always think about taking advantage of others while you enjoy yourself.”
That idiot Third Brother, who never even stepped into the Kitchen at home, dared to make such a sweeping promise?