Although Mom was a bit much today, she is, after all, my biological mother. If my wife keeps criticizing her, I, as the man, won't be able to keep my face.
"Zhang Jianguo, how dare you blame me?"
Zhang Yanli was instantly displeased, sat up abruptly, and reached out to tug at Zhang Jianguo's pajamas.
The scent of perfumed oil rushed into Zhang Jianguo's nostrils, making him dazed for a moment as he reached out and grasped her arm.
"Stop making a fuss. I know you're unhappy. Dad's passing was a big blow to Mom; otherwise, she wouldn't be acting so unusually.
You know what Mom was like before. In the entire Machinery Factory Family Courtyard, who didn't say that our Parents worked themselves to the bone for their children?
I am the Eldest Child of the family after all. You, as the Eldest sister-in-law, must also show your attitude at this crucial moment so people don't think we children are unfeeling."
Seeing her husband's unhappy expression, Zhang Yanli immediately restrained herself. Men all care about Face, but she only cares about tangible benefits.
After a good night's sleep, Li Xiangqin opened her eyes, but the sky was only just beginning to lighten.
As usual, she would have gotten up immediately to start bustling around,
Looking at the gray mosquito net, she turned over, changed her position, and continued lying down.
She didn't get up to wash until there was movement in the living room.
"Mom, you're awake." The Fourth Child poked her head out from the Kitchen, an apron tied around her waist.
"Mm, are you the only one making breakfast?"
Li Xiangqin glanced at the tightly shut door of the Third Brother and his wife's room, her complexion immediately darkened, and she walked over to knock sharply.
"What time is it already? Aren't you getting up to make food? Do you really think you have the life of a grandmother?"
Scoundrels, one is brainless, the other is cunning.
Zhao Meijuan, relying on the Third Brother's protection, took her laziness for granted. Previously, she was so busy she didn't have time to argue, but it's different now; no one will be allowed to slack off and be a freeloader under her nose.
"...Mom, what are you doing so early? Today is my last day of Holiday; can't you let me sleep in peacefully?" The Third Brother yawned, rubbing his eyes, leaning against the doorway.
"Sleep my foot! Don't you look at the time? Just because you're not working doesn't mean you have nothing to do! You spend all day waiting for nightfall, expecting someone to wait on you. Get up and go cook."
Li Xiangqin looked at the Third Brother with disdain. This glutton, as soon as he sat at the table, wanted to clear the plates, eating the most while doing the least. Both husband and wife were the same sort.
"Mom~, can you be reasonable? Haven't you and the Fourth Child always made breakfast in this house?" The Third Brother rubbed his ears; shouting so early was annoying.
"You want this Old Mother to act as a housekeeper for you? You're going to push the diligent Fourth Child to do everything for you? Taking advantage of the honest one?
If you don't have the Emperor's destiny, don't dream of being an Emperor. From now on, everyone will take turns making meals; no one will try to be lazy. Our Zhang Family doesn't support freeloaders."
Li Xiangqin snorted. If they don't get a move on until someone says it to their faces, don't blame her for losing Face.
Zhao Meijuan, hiding in the room, heard her Mother-in-law's harsh scolding, turning pale with anger. She hastily threw on some clothes and walked out, her eyes red-rimmed.
"Mom, if you want me to get up and cook, just say so directly. You don't need to use veiled insults."
This damned old woman has a venomous tongue.
"Pah! I don't need veiled insults to scold you. Thank goodness it's the New Society, and you don't have to get up to serve your in-laws. But sleeping until the sun is high in the sky every day, you're practically asking to be spoon-fed.
What important person are you, or what contribution have you made to this family? It's one thing to be a freeloader without a Job, and it's another that the Third Brother likes your type—I, as your Mother-in-law, won't interfere, but a person must have self-awareness."
Zhao Meijuan choked, her face flushed red, looking ready to collapse. Zhao Jianshe, feeling heartache for her, quickly supported her arm.
"Mom, what are you doing so early in the morning? You know Meijuan's health isn't good; why do you always make things difficult for her?"
"I'll spit in your face! If you want the life of Lin Daiyu, you need the status of a Young Miss first. Ask her if she ever does chores at her Maternal home! Does this Old Mother not know the situation of the Zhao Family?
Your Mother-in-law, Liu Hehua, is notoriously known for preferring men over women, treating her son like her eyeball and her daughter like a broken straw nest. Ask her if she dares to be a freeloader at her Maternal home for even one day!
She was happy to work like a slave, doing laundry and cooking, serving the entire Big family at her Maternal home. What's the matter? Now that she's in our Old Zhang Family, she can't lift a finger?"
Li Xiangqin was merciless. No Job, no income, but plenty of schemes. She still expects to be served on a platter; where does she get that nerve?
Zhao Meijuan's complexion turned purplish-brown upon hearing her Mother-in-law's harsh tone,
"You don't have to humiliate people like that... I can't stay in this family anymore."
"If you don't want to stay, go back to your Maternal home. You're the type who helps count the money after your own family sells you off. Do you really think you're so clever? If your Mom truly cared for you, she wouldn't have pocketed all the Betrothal gifts.
It's a good thing the wedding outfit was delivered that day; otherwise, you would have married off naked. Don't complain that this Old Mother speaks harshly, but go ask around—which family marries off a Daughter like your Old Zhao Family, not even giving her a single piece of cloth as dowry?"
She had disagreed when the two were dating. It was one thing that Zhao Meijuan didn't have a Job, but she was also sickly all the time, looking like she couldn't survive.
But the Third Brother was obsessed with her type and pestered her constantly, forcing her to reluctantly agree through gritted teeth.
Even so, she hadn't treated Zhao Meijuan poorly. Following the Bride's side's demands, she gave three hundred and sixty yuan as Betrothal gifts, plus a Watch, a suitcase containing a woolen coat, four bolts of cloth, and four catties of Fruit Candy.
Who would have thought that Liu Hehua would take the Zhang Family's Betrothal gifts and use them to arrange a marriage for her own son, not even giving her daughter a single towel as dowry?
Zhao Meijuan was stunned, suddenly looking up, and subconsciously blurted out a question,
"How do you Know?"
She had kept this matter tightly hidden, fearing her in-laws would find out and mock them. Because the Betrothal gifts hadn't been brought back, she had specifically explained it to the Third Brother.
She said that she had been in poor health since childhood, and her Parents had spent a lot of effort raising her, so she decided to show filial piety to her Parents with the Betrothal gifts, as repayment for their nurturing grace.
Zhang Jianshe was moved by her filial piety and supported her decision. But if he knew the reason their Parents withheld the Betrothal gifts was to marry off his Elder brother, he surely wouldn't feel comfortable.
Li Xiangqin looked at her guilty eyes and sneered.
Her good sister at the Factory, Wang Ailian, lived in the area of Zhao Meijuan's Maternal home. Ever since she learned the Third Brother was dating the Zhao Family's Daughter, Wang Ailian had told her about the Zhao Family's situation.
She told her to go home and persuade the Third Brother to date a different girl.
Unfortunately, she had given birth to a stubborn mule who insisted on marrying her.
Two days after they got married, she went to the Factory to extend her Sick Leave and took the opportunity to greet her good sister.
As soon as Wang Ailian saw her, she Narrated it all about the Zhao Family arranging a marriage for their son, detailing every bit, even remembering exactly how many pieces of candy the Zhao Family used to treat guests.
Afterward, she patted her shoulder with an expression of sympathy and pity, which angered her so much she almost spat up blood.