Zhao Xingchen held Niannian and played with her. Li Huifang asked Yang Liu: “Where did you two go today?”
Yang Liu told her about everything they had seen and heard, as well as the things they had bought.
Li Huifang said: “Why didn’t you buy any clothes for yourself?” From the first time she had met Yang Liu until now, she had already given her quite a lot of money!
Yang Liu said: “I have enough clothes to wear. The weather will be getting cold soon, so I’ll knit Niannian a set of woolen sweater and pants.” She had an important use for the money she was saving!
Just then, Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law returned with the children, making the living room even livelier. The two sisters-in-law acted as though they had not even seen Yang Liu and Niannian, enthusiastically gathering around Song Zhenzhen instead.
Zhao Xingchen put the newly bought beret on Niannian. The child immediately looked completely different, fashionable and adorable.
“Wow! So pretty!”
Niannian said: “Look at baby~”
Zhao Xingchen looked at Yang Liu. “What does she mean?”
Yang Liu said: “She wants to look in the mirror.”
Zhao Xingchen carried Niannian to the bathroom on the first floor to look in the mirror.
Li Huifang said: “With this hat on, she looks even more like Beichen and Xingchen did when they were little.”
Guo Hongxia and Wang Xiaoying exchanged glances and chimed in: “It feels like she looks more like her mother.”
Li Huifang said: “Since everyone’s back, let’s start preparing dinner!”
Although the Zhao Family was the foremost prominent family in the compound, the daughters-in-law could not simply sit back and enjoy everything without lifting a finger. With such a large family, how could a single household helper possibly be enough?
The daughters-in-law normally had to personally take care of the family’s everyday meals and household necessities.
What Li Huifang meant by those words was that Guo Hongxia and Wang Xiaoying should help prepare dinner.
Guo Hongxia looked at Yang Liu and said: “Yang Liu, you and I will help prepare dinner. Let Xiaoying keep Cousin Zhenzhen company.”
Li Huifang said: “Tonight, it’s only us women and the children eating dinner. You and Sister Wang are enough.”
Li Huifang was blatantly favoring Yang Liu. Guo Hongxia was absolutely furious inside!
Wang Xiaoying was even angrier, gritting her teeth. Song Zhenzhen said: “I should go home. I’ll come visit you again next time.”
Li Huifang politely tried to persuade her to stay. “Why don’t you leave after dinner?”
Wang Xiaoying also tried to persuade her to stay. After declining a few times, Song Zhenzhen eventually stayed. She pulled Wang Xiaoying along and said: “Sister, let’s go help in the kitchen! I’d feel so embarrassed just sitting around and eating food that’s already been prepared for me.”
Wang Xiaoying glanced at Yang Liu and said to Song Zhenzhen: “There’s no need. You’re not an outsider, so don’t be so formal.”
After dinner, Li Huifang did not beat around the bush. Right in front of Song Zhenzhen, she said to Guo Hongxia and Wang Xiaoying: “Starting tomorrow, the rules for how you two divide the housework will change. Each of you will take one week at a time. Besides helping in the kitchen, you’ll also have to clean the first floor. Sister Wang can’t handle everything by herself.”
Guo Hongxia deliberately asked: “Mother, do you mean that only the Zhao Family’s daughters-in-law are supposed to help in the kitchen and do the housework?”
Li Huifang directly met Guo Hongxia’s provocative gaze and said: “Yang Liu has only just returned home, and Niannian is still young and can’t do without her mother’s care. So Xiao Wang won’t be participating in the housework for the time being.”
Li Huifang had endured and yielded to these two daughters-in-law for enough years. Their intentions over the past few days had been far too obvious. If she did not teach them a lesson, they would only push their luck further.
Wang Xiaoying said: “I have no objection to Mother’s arrangements, but regarding Zhenzhen and Old Fifth, shouldn’t Zhenzhen be given an explanation no matter what?”
Li Huifang said coldly: “Their engagement ended four years ago. What explanation do you want?”
The atmosphere in the living room instantly became tense and confrontational. Holding Niannian, Yang Liu could only play dead off to the side. It was not that she did not want to help Li Huifang, this mother-in-law who seemed quite decent, but she had the label of a vicious supporting female character hanging over her head. She had drugged and framed Zhao Beichen, forced him to marry her, and forcibly broken apart a pair of childhood sweethearts. No matter what she said now, it would sound somewhat like the words of a scheming woman.
Song Zhenzhen glanced at Wang Xiaoying and reproached her: “Sister, stop talking.” Her eyes were extremely red as she looked at Li Huifang and said: “Auntie, I’ll go home first.”
Li Huifang was also in a difficult position, having to take every side into consideration. She took Song Zhenzhen’s hand and said: “Good child, although you and Beichen ended your engagement four years ago, I’ve always regarded you as my own daughter. You and Xingchen are classmates too, so come over and visit whenever you have time.
When you get home, give my regards to your parents!”