At this point, Li Zhaodi wisely kept her mouth shut and endured the scolding. Of everyone in the family, she was the one who least wanted the household to split.
“No.”
Lin Xiyun answered calmly.
“Is this my first day after marrying into the family?”
“Is Li Zhaodi only just now showing her habit of bullying the weak with that sharp tongue of hers?”
“Or is today the first day you’ve opened your eyes, Mom?”
Her innocent-looking eyes blinked as she effortlessly insulted both women in a single breath.
The others at the table were stunned.
Normally, Fourth Brother’s wife would have been left speechless by Zhao Jinlan.
When had she become so quick-witted…
And so bold?
Maybe hitting her head really had changed her.
Hearing those infuriating words, Zhao Jinlan’s pleasant mask vanished.
Her weathered face darkened ominously.
“Since when has there ever been a family that split up while both parents are still alive?”
“Forget it. Don’t even think about it!”
Lin Xiyun had already spent several days considering this.
Everyone in the Lu family shared one kitchen.
Zhang Lijuan earned a small wage as a temporary textile factory worker, while Lu Jiandong supplemented the family income with carpentry. Together they brought home over fifty yuan a month.
The second household relied solely on Lu Gongxi’s salary as a primary school teacher—about twenty yuan.
As for the old couple, both worked at the machinery factory, and Lu Aiguo was even a workshop supervisor. Together they earned eighty to ninety yuan monthly.
Zhao Jinlan was cunning.
Using every excuse imaginable, she kept control of her sons’ earnings.
She didn’t take Zhang Lijuan’s wages, leaving the eldest household with a little financial security.
But Li Zhaodi…
Not only did she keep almost none of her husband’s pay, she also had to handle all the household chores to make up for the fact that the second household contributed less income than the eldest.
After all…
Both families had the same number of mouths to feed.
No wonder everyone said Zhao Jinlan was crafty.
The eldest household only had Zhang Lijuan’s ten-yuan monthly wage. Zhao Jinlan simply regarded it as savings for her precious grandson’s future marriage.
The second household, meanwhile, had been stripped nearly clean.
As for the original Lin Xiyun…
She lived alone.
She constantly complained that the Lu family’s cooking tasted terrible and often hid in her room eating her own food.
Yet every month she still foolishly handed Zhao Jinlan ten yuan for household expenses.
Adding the money Lu Yanbei sent…
A household of only two people—one of whom wasn’t even home—contributed exactly the same amount as the second household with four people.
Now that Lin Xiyun had taken over…
She wasn’t going to keep being that fool.
More importantly…
Although she planned to divorce Lu Yanbei someday, military marriages weren’t easy to dissolve.
Who knew when that man would finally return?
She intended to find work or start earning money herself.
Was she supposed to keep handing over her income to Zhao Jinlan?
To have every meal and every purchase criticized?
Whoever enjoys living like that can have it.
She wanted to shut her own door and live peacefully.
Thinking this through, Lin Xiyun’s voice grew even firmer.
A faint smile rested in her clear eyes, though it never reached them.
She looked directly at Zhao Jinlan.
Everyone at the table listened intently.
“Mom, I’m informing you—not asking permission.”
“Yanbei isn’t home, and the fourth household consists of only me.”
“I’ll move out by myself.”
“Whether Yanbei officially separates when he returns is his decision.”
“Nothing else really changes.”
“We’ll still share the kitchen.”
“The room Yanbei had built will belong to me.”
“The only difference is that I won’t be paying household expenses anymore.”
Her words made both Zhao Jinlan and Lu Aiguo hesitate.
The old couple exchanged a meaningful glance.
The rest of the Lu family also began calculating quietly.
Truthfully…
None of them really cared whether Lin Xiyun lived separately.
What mattered…
Was Lu Yanbei.
And Lin Xiyun knew exactly how to use that.
“Dad. Mom.”
“This afternoon I’ll go to Director Han at the Security Office.”
“We can settle everything officially.”
At last, Lu Aiguo spoke.
His deep voice carried quiet authority.
“There’s no rush.”
Lu Jiandong had inherited nearly all of his father’s appearance.
At first glance, both looked like honest, dependable men.
But Lin Xiyun never underestimated her father-in-law.
In her eyes…
Lu Aiguo was the true head of the household.
He wasn’t highly educated, yet had become a workshop supervisor at the machinery factory.
Whenever unpleasant things needed doing…
Zhao Jinlan took the blame.
Meanwhile, he quietly protected his own interests.
Resting his elbows on his knees, Lu Aiguo looked at Lin Xiyun.
“If Director Han serves as a witness…”
“Then you and Fourth are one family.”
“It wouldn’t make sense for one spouse to stay with the Lu family while the other officially separates.”
“What would people say?”
“Besides…”
“You barely eat enough for one person anyway.”
“Starting this month, you won’t have to contribute household expenses.”
It was obvious what Lu Aiguo was thinking.
He assumed the younger woman was only making a fuss over money.
Give her a small concession…
The matter would disappear.
Zhao Jinlan hated losing those ten yuan every month.
But she also knew this was the best compromise available.
She could only swallow her dissatisfaction.
Lin Xiyun studied the expressions on the old couple’s faces.
Then her eyes drifted toward Zhang Lijuan, who had remained silent the entire time.
A faint smile curved her lips.
Her words carried another meaning entirely.
“Eldest Sister-in-law’s children are already growing up.”
“When a tree grows large, its branches naturally spread.”
“What’s so embarrassing about that?”
“It’s not as though my brothers and sisters-in-law would become beggars after leaving the family.”
“Otherwise one day you’ll have grandchildren…”
“Yet after living half your life, your pockets will still be emptier than your face.”
Zhang Lijuan’s expression shifted ever so slightly.
“Lin Xiyun!”
Unable to tolerate another word, Zhao Jinlan slammed her chopsticks onto the table.
Ignoring her husband’s attempt to stop her, she stood and pointed furiously at Lin Xiyun.
“I’ve been feeding you good food and taking care of you while you’ve been sick!”
“And this is how you repay me?”
“Go ask around!”
“Which daughter-in-law lives as comfortably as you do?”
“You’re not a daughter-in-law at all!”
“You’re practically an honored ancestor everyone has to worship!”
She glared viciously.
“You’re only acting this arrogant because you’ve got a pretty face and Fourth protects you!”
“Just because he’s away doesn’t mean you get to run this family!”
Zhao Jinlan was shaking with anger.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Yet after venting everything…
She felt wonderfully refreshed.
She’d spent days forcing herself to tolerate this girl.
Enough was enough.
If kindness didn’t work…
Then she’d use force.
Did this little pushover really think one illness had turned her into someone else?
Dream on.
She, Zhao Jinlan, was still the one in charge.
Watching her mother-in-law tear into Lin Xiyun, Li Zhaodi nearly grinned from ear to ear.
Hearing Zhao Jinlan unleash that legendary sharp tongue on someone else…
Especially someone she disliked…
Was deeply satisfying.
Lin Xiyun remained expressionless.
She quietly stood up and took two steps backward, making sure Zhao Jinlan’s flying spit couldn’t reach her face.
Then she spoke calmly.
“Mom…”
“Do you really want me to say it out loud?”
“W-What do you mean?”
For the first time, panic flashed across Zhao Jinlan’s face.
She suddenly had a bad feeling.
Lin Xiyun smiled faintly.
Her pale fingers slowly pointed across the table—
Toward Lu Yezhong.
The young man was busy stuffing food into his mouth, a ring of grease around his lips.
He looked utterly confused.
What does this have to do with me?
Lin Xiyun opened her mouth to speak.
“Fourth Daughter-in-law!”
Lu Aiguo suddenly interrupted sharply.
The moment Zhao Jinlan saw where Lin Xiyun was pointing…
All of her earlier arrogance disappeared.
Everyone else looked completely bewildered.
What was happening?
Why had the old couple—who ruled the family with absolute authority—suddenly changed their attitude?
Only Zhang Lijuan, who had suspected something for days, quietly understood.
So that’s it…
Her fingers tightened beneath the table, gripping her trousers.
She’d known the old couple’s strange behavior wasn’t without reason.
Everything…
Was for the sake of their precious youngest son.
Lu Aiguo tapped the tabletop lightly.
He gave Lin Xiyun a long, meaningful look.
He had underestimated this daughter-in-law.
“Fourth Daughter-in-law.”
“Come with us.”
After speaking, he and Zhao Jinlan stood and returned to their room first.
Lin Xiyun calmly followed.
Under the table, Zhang Lijuan suddenly kicked Lu Jiandong hard in the shin.
He was still happily eating.
She shot him a fierce glare.
Still stuffing your face?
Your parents don’t favor you at all!
Then she gently rubbed Lu Xiumin’s little head and forced a smile.
“Xiuxiu.”
“After you finish eating, take your brother outside to play.”
“Okay.”
Lu Xiumin nodded obediently.
Lu Jiandong jolted from the unexpected kick.
Completely confused, he had no idea what had happened.
But if his wife kicked him…
There had to be a reason.
He hurriedly shoveled the rest of his food into his mouth, grabbed a cornbread bun, and quickly followed his wife into the room.