She only calmed down after speeding all the way home. The daughter-in-law was married into the family now; no matter how much trouble she caused, she wouldn't leave. In the end, it would only lead to chaos in their own home, which wasn't worth it, so she gritted her teeth and endured it.
Now, she didn't even bother with her son, let alone the daughter-in-law.
Li Xiangqin snapped back to her senses, placed her hands on her hips, and directly confronted them:
“If you don't want people to know, don't do it. You treated Third Brother like an idiot, and you’re a fool yourself—you were sold out by your own family and still helped count the money. Your mother used the money from selling you to marry two wives into the Zhao Family. Your mother truly struck gold by giving birth to such a valuable daughter!”
“You’re talking nonsense, it wasn't like that.”
Zhao Meijuan stepped back two paces, her complexion turning pale.
Mom loves her; her maternal home will always be her backing—Mom told her this herself. It was this damned Old Woman who found fault with her at every turn, and the whole family looked down on her along with her.
“You’re clinging to a stubborn lie and refusing to admit it. Your Third Sister-in-law’s betrothal gifts were one hundred yuan in cash, a suitcase, plus a woolen coat. Those items were the betrothal gifts Old Mother gave you. If you aren't blind, you surely saw them.
The remaining money and items were taken by your mother, who said they were being saved for your younger brother to marry a wife. Calculating it this way, the two wives married into the Zhao Family were both married with money provided by our Old Zhang Family.
Just because Third Brother fancied you, our Old Zhang Family was forced to become the biggest sucker.”
Zhao Meijuan’s lips trembled, looking utterly devastated. She staggered back a step, shaking her head with reddened eyes, refusing to admit it.
Ever since she started dating Zhang Jianshe, she had always maintained the dignity of her maternal home and constantly projected an image of filial piety, fearing that others would look down on her.
She never expected her mother-in-law to rip away this fig leaf of respectability.
Along with feeling guilty, she felt immense humiliation.
Her father was an ordinary worker, and her mother didn't have a job. They barely managed to marry off Eldest Brother, which emptied their family savings.
Zhang Jianshe was indeed chosen by her mother largely because the Zhang Family was well-off; Father-in-law had good benefits at the Machinery Factory, and after Mother-in-law retired, she could even take over her job.
Her health wasn't good, and her mother had told her since childhood that raising her had cost a lot of effort and money. Growing up, it was her responsibility to be filial to her Parents.
The betrothal gifts were originally for her; it was right for her to use them to show filial piety to her Parents.
To be spoken of so shamefully by this damned Old Woman—wasn't it ultimately because she felt heartache over these few things?
“Third Brother~, I didn't hide the matter of the betrothal gifts from you. You supported me back then, didn't you? It’s my duty as a daughter to be filial to my Parents, right?”
Zhang Jianshe looked at his wife, completely bewildered, and nodded dumbly.
“Mom, I did know about giving the betrothal gifts to my Mother-in-law…” He thought it was to support his Mother-in-law in her old age, but he truly didn't know that his Mother-in-law and Father-in-law used the money to marry off his wife's brother. He was genuinely unaware of this.
Since the things went to his Mother-in-law, she naturally had the right to dispose of them… but after Mom said it, something felt off.
“So, I raised an ungrateful wretch who bites the hand that feeds her. Fine, very fine.”
Li Xiangqin nodded. To vent her anger, she raised her hand and slapped her,
“Damn bastard! What sin did Old Mother commit to give birth to you, you debt collector ghost? Since you two are so filial, why didn't you just become a son-in-law who lives with the wife's family? Why stick around Old Mother?”
A debt collector ghost married to a troublemaker, both disgusting her—Li Xiangqin wondered if she had dug up someone’s ancestral grave in her previous life to deserve such retribution.
Third Brother covered his face, feeling utterly wronged. It was one thing to be hit yesterday, but to be scolded and hit again first thing in the morning—who had he offended?
“Mom, that was so long ago, why are you still angry?”
He had been married for a year, and Mom was still furious. Wasn't her temper a bit too strong?
“To hell with the Mother-in-law’s legs! I was the one who spent the money, and I was the one who got hurt. The disgusting things the Zhao Family did will never pass in Old Mother’s eyes. Whenever Old Mother remembers, she will settle accounts with you.”
Li Xiangqin took a deep breath and turned back toward the Kitchen. Staying around an idiot for too long could shorten one's life.
“Mom, I made rice porridge and reheated the Steamed Buns.” Fourth Child quickly reported when she saw Mom enter the Kitchen. Mom’s anger this morning could blow the roof off; she was a bit scared too.
“Cook a few more Eggs, one for each person.”
She scrimped and saved every day, yet it didn't earn her the hearts of a few ungrateful wretches. She might as well eat well herself, maintain good health, and let everyone else fend for themselves.
“Huh? Mom, there are only a few Eggs left in the jar. If they’re all eaten, Lei Zi will throw a fit again.”
Fourth Child was a bit uncertain. Mom had always doted on her Eldest Grandson; almost all these Eggs went into the Eldest Nephew’s mouth. If Mom regretted this later, with her current fighting strength, wouldn't she beat her to death?
“Lei Zi has his mother to take care of him; he won't lack Food and drink. As for you, your face is sallow, you look malnourished. If you faint in class and they send you back, Old Mother won't give you another chance.”
Li Xiangqin looked at Fourth Child’s cautious demeanor and felt very guilty.
It was true that she had neglected Fourth Child. If she had devoted even a little more energy to her, she wouldn't have ended up in that state.
“You are the daughter Old Mother carried for ten months, not someone picked up off the street. If you need anything, just ask boldly. Mom isn't a tiger who attacks everyone she sees.
There are too many things going on in the family; Mom is busy like a grinding stone every day. You are the most worry-free among the children, and Mom has always been grateful to you.”
The child who cries gets the candy. Fourth Child was too quiet, so quiet that she could be overlooked.
In large families, the most sensible child is often the one who suffers the most losses.
Fourth Child looked up in surprise. When she met those eyes filled with loving kindness and heartache, her throat felt tight.
“Mom… I know.” So Mom did care about her; she was just too busy.
“Mom understands everything. Tomorrow morning, Mom will take you to report to the Machinery Factory.”
Li Xiangqin pinched Fourth Child’s bony cheek, turned around, and took four Eggs from the jar to wash and put in the pot. Thinking of Third Brother and his wife, whom she had just cursed out thoroughly, she added two more.
Hit them if they deserve it, scold them if they deserve it, and eat normally.
Zhang Jianshe came to his senses. He glanced at the two figures busy in the Kitchen, then turned to look at his teary-eyed wife, feeling a lump in his chest.
Zhao Meijuan looked ready to collapse and swayed slightly, yet Zhang Jianshe didn't reach out to support her?
“Third Brother~, are you angry with me? Do you think I shouldn't have left the betrothal gifts for my Parents?”
Zhang Jianshe looked at her tear-streaked face and couldn't help himself. He helped her sit down on the small stool.
“I agreed when you decided to leave the betrothal gifts for your maternal home, so naturally, I’m not angry with you. It’s just that I suddenly feel my Mom had it very tough… I remember when we were preparing the betrothal gifts, the family was short on money, and it was my Parents who borrowed from relatives to scrape it together.”
Hearing this, Zhao Meijuan’s face turned white, and she subconsciously clenched her fists.
In the end, it was still her maternal home’s greed for the betrothal gifts that made him uncomfortable.
Damn Old Woman, you want to make me uncomfortable? Then this whole family won't have an easy time either!