Li Chunhua was Lu Chaonan’s mother. She was now the head of the Lu family and was known throughout the village for having an exceptionally fortunate life.
When she was young, she had relied on her husband. Lu Chaonan’s father had doted on his wife and never allowed her to do any heavy or exhausting work. Not long after her husband passed away, her son took over. Lu Chaonan earned money on his own to support the entire family and helped raise his younger brothers and sisters.
She was not yet fifty this year, but she neither looked after children nor worked in the fields. She was already living a life of retirement, and the women in the village were all envious of her.
With such a mother-in-law, however, being a daughter-in-law was bound to be difficult.
For a moment, sympathetic gazes fell upon Lin Shuya.
Lin Shuya looked bewildered. “Brother Quande, is that true? I… My mother-in-law never told me about it. I thought…”
Lin Shuya trailed off, leaving Zhao Quande increasingly anxious.
Lu Chaonan was not home, and as his good brother, Zhao Quande naturally felt that he should speak up for him.
“Shuya, we all grew up together. Chaonan is quiet and not good with words, but he has a good heart, especially when it comes to you.
“Have you forgotten? Whenever someone dared to bully you when we were children, Chaonan would always stand up for you the next day. His line of work is special, and he cannot return home, so he has always felt guilty about it.
“If it were not for the fact that several of his younger brothers and sisters are still unmarried and the burden on his shoulders has not yet been lifted, he would definitely hand over every cent to you. Do not blame him over this. He has not had it easy either.
“Perhaps Auntie simply misunderstood. How about this? I will go home with you and explain everything to Auntie. We will get the money back.”
Lin Shuya sneered inwardly. A man who could divorce his wife for the sake of promotion and wealth, then marry his wife’s enemy, could hardly be a good person.
She and Lu Chaonan were never destined to last.
Everything Zhao Quande said in Lu Chaonan’s defense went in one ear and out the other. Lin Shuya did not remember a single word. She only focused on the last part.
Getting the money back.
“Brother Quande, would that really be all right? What if my mother-in-law refuses to give it to me?”
Zhao Quande patted his chest confidently. “It is fine. If there is a problem, I will handle it. I will make sure you get the money today.”
With that, Zhao Quande led Lin Shuya toward the Lu family home.
Lin Shuya was just leaving like that?
Lu Chaoxi and Ye Qing stood there in a daze for a moment before hurriedly following after them.
The two of them wished they could grow wings and fly home ahead of everyone else to warn the family.
There was never a shortage of people in the village who enjoyed watching a spectacle. After all, working in the fields every day was exhausting, and everyone needed something to entertain themselves.
With such a major spectacle unfolding at the Lu family home, no one wanted to miss it.
Behind Lu Chaoxi and Ye Qing, a group of villagers with nothing better to do also headed toward the Lu family home.
Tian Shufen was among them.
Since she had already decided to do a good deed, she might as well see it through. If Ye Qing and Li Chunhua joined forces to bully Lin Shuya later, Tian Shufen could at least speak up for her.
The Lu family home was not far away, and they arrived after only a short walk.
Li Chunhua was sitting beneath the eaves, sewing shoe soles. She held a needle in her hand and scratched lightly at her scalp with it.
Hearing voices, she looked toward the courtyard entrance.
Zhao Quande had a good attitude. Before he had even stepped through the gate, he was already greeting her with a cheerful smile.
“Auntie, keeping busy?”
One did not strike a smiling face, so Li Chunhua set aside her needle and thread.
“Quande, you are here.”
Li Chunhua held a grudge against Zhao Quande.
When Lin Dahai had just died, Zhao Quande had immediately made a phone call and summoned Lu Chaonan back.
Lu Chaonan had not even discussed it with his family before taking Lin Shuya directly to the county town to register their marriage.
Once he had a wife, he had forgotten his mother. After returning from registering the marriage, Lu Chaonan had even discussed reducing the amount of money he gave the family by half in the future.
If Li Chunhua had not been clever enough to fool Lu Chaonan, this large family would have been left struggling for half of every month.
Then she saw Lin Shuya following behind him.
The two people she disliked most had come together, and the sight alone irritated her.
Faced with this unfamiliar woman, Lin Shuya could not bring herself to call her “Mom.” Instead, she smiled and offered her congratulations.
“Third Sister-in-law got into university, so I came to deliver her admission notice.”
Lin Shuya had already prepared an excuse for herself. She took out the admission notice and waved it slightly.
Li Chunhua looked up, delighted, and reached out to take it, but Lin Shuya quickly pulled it away.
Feeling that she had been played, Li Chunhua’s expression darkened.
“What? I cannot even have a look?”
Lin Shuya put the admission notice back into the cloth bag she carried with her.
“There is no rush. Let us settle the important matter first, then we can talk about everything else.”
Li Chunhua narrowed her eyes, wondering what important matter Lin Shuya could possibly have.
“Third Sister-in-law getting into university is an honor for the family. Kyoto is not like our little village. Everything costs money there, whether it is food, clothing, or daily living. I was wondering how Third Sister-in-law plans to cover her tuition and living expenses.”
Li Chunhua had already asked about Ye Qing’s plans.
“Ye Qing said that the university provides subsidies, enough to cover her basic living expenses.”
Lin Shuya raised her brows.
“Is that so? I thought she was counting on Lu Chaonan’s allowance sent home to support her studies.”
Li Chunhua shot Ye Qing a sharp look. Ye Qing lowered her head and avoided her gaze.
“Ye Qing was admitted to university through her own ability. If she wants to continue her education, she and her husband can figure it out themselves. There is no reason for an elder brother to support his younger brother’s wife through university.”
Understanding immediately, Lin Shuya nodded.
“That is true. Whoever marries the wife should be responsible for supporting her.
“However, Chaonan and I have been married for two years. He never comes home, and he has never given me any money. For the past two years, I have been guarding an empty house. Having a husband feels no different from not having one at all.
“Everyone in the village says that the Lu family does not like me as their daughter-in-law. I have thought about it, and I believe divorcing Lu Chaonan is the right thing to do.”
Li Chunhua would have been more than happy to see that happen, but she could not bear the reputation of being a vicious mother-in-law who drove her daughter-in-law into divorce.
She laughed awkwardly.
“You silly child, what nonsense are you talking about? Chaonan cares about you. Do not let your imagination run wild.”
Lin Shuya glanced back.
Zhao Quande gave an awkward laugh.
“Auntie, Brother Chaonan has never neglected his wife. Because he is away from home all year, he has always felt sorry for Shuya. He sends ten yuan to her every month.”
Li Chunhua’s face turned livid. She had known these two had not come with good intentions.
At some point, so many people had gathered in the courtyard, and they had all heard Zhao Quande’s words.
If she did not explain the matter clearly today, she would never be able to hold her head high in the village again.
Li Chunhua lowered her eyes, concealing the dark look in them.
When she looked up again, her face had already taken on a kindly expression.
“I only thought that she was young and might not know how to manage so much money, so I kept it for her. If she needs anything, she can simply tell me, and I will give it to her when the time comes.”
Lin Shuya’s eyes widened.
“It has been two years, yet I have never heard you mention this before. I am twenty years old now, not a child. Ten yuan a month is not an amount I cannot manage. Since I do not live with the Lu family, it is much more convenient for me to keep the money myself. If something urgent happens, I should not have to travel all this way to find you and ask for my own money.”
Zhao Quande chimed in, “Auntie, Brother Chaonan made it clear before that this money was meant for Shuya. There is no need for anyone else to keep it for her.”
Without giving Li Chunhua a chance to argue, Lin Shuya calculated the amount for her.
“Lu Chaonan and I have been married for two years and two months. At ten yuan per month, that comes to two hundred and sixty yuan.”
Li Chunhua felt a headache coming on as she listened. Lu Chaonan did send home a considerable amount of money, but the family’s expenses were high. Taking out such a large sum all at once would practically empty their savings.