Zhang Jiao couldn’t help but speak up for her man. “Mom, how is Guodong anything like the second son? He didn’t make you kneel and apologize to someone just to get a wife.”

Sure, Lin Jianshe was an ungrateful bastard, but her Guodong definitely wasn’t.

Li Shuping sneered.

True, Lin Guodong hadn’t asked her to kneel and apologize to anyone.

But deep down, he still looked down on his own mother.

He was extremely selfish, only ever cared about profit, and the moment someone had no value to offer him, they were worthless in his eyes.

She was good at making dumplings.

In her past life, Lin Guodong had her make dumplings often to gift his superiors.

The key point was—he made her do all the work but never gave her money to buy the meat.

She had to pay out of her own pocket.

Later, when she got older and couldn’t get the seasoning right, the dumplings turned out salty. His boss didn’t like them, so Lin Guodong came home and scolded her.

He told her she was useless, couldn’t even make a decent dumpling, and that she was just getting more worthless with age.

Back then, Lin Yongnian hadn’t died yet—he also joined in, saying she was useless, couldn’t help her son with such a small matter, and was holding him back.

“He may not have made me kneel and apologize, but in all the years he’s worked, has he ever given me a red envelope during the holidays? Bought me clothes or cooked me a meal for my birthday? Isn’t it always me, the mother, serving him? Serving all of you?”

“Dear in-law, you can’t say things like that,” Yang Meifeng tried to smooth things over.

“We mothers give birth to our children just hoping they’ll grow up safely, get married, have their own kids. We help take care of the grandchildren, look after their lives. Seeing them happy makes us happy too.” She continued to put on a noble act.

“We don’t have kids just so they’ll give us gifts during holidays, or cook for us, or provide anything in return.”

Lin Guodong looked at Yang Meifeng and thought she was a truly loving mother—caring only for her children and not expecting anything back.

Li Shuping dug at her ear with her pinky. “Then why did you demand such a high bride price and not prepare a single dowry item for your daughter? And why do you make her give you five yuan a month after marriage?”

That five-yuan-a-month “living expense” had been brought up by Yang Meifeng during the family discussion on the bride price.

“…” Yang Meifeng choked on her words.

“Heh. Quit the act,” Li Shuping mocked.

Liu Qin spoke up for her mother, “That was my choice! My mom didn’t demand it. She gave birth to me and raised me. It wasn’t easy. I want to give her the bride price and want to give her five yuan a month. I want to be filial to her and my dad. What’s it to you?”

In reality, she had wanted to keep part of it, but her mom disagreed—said the money had to be saved for Liu Yong’s future marriage.

Liu Qin resented that deep down. But right now, they had to be united against outsiders, so of course she’d speak up for her mom.

Lin Jianshe looked up. “Mom, you’re a mother too. Think about it—why is Qin Qin willing to be good to her mom?”

Lin Guodong also thought his mother should reflect.

He’d never done anything for her, sure—but that couldn’t be his fault.

It must be because she hadn’t done a good enough job as a mom.

That’s why he, as her son, hadn’t done anything for her.

Smack! Li Shuping slapped Lin Jianshe across the left cheek.

Lin Jianshe covered his face and shouted, “You hit me?!”

Expressionless, Li Shuping replied, “I reflected. I was too nice to you all before. Should’ve hit you more.”

Lin Yongnian pointed at her. “You’re being completely unreasonable!”

Li Shuping flicked some earwax off her finger in his direction.

Lin Yongnian: “…”

“Forget it,” Lin Jianshe shook his head. “I don’t expect you to ever recognize your faults. And I don’t expect you to treat me like my mother-in-law treats me.”

“Just go to the police station and drop the charges. I won’t press charges for you hitting me today either.”

“You think you can bargain with me?” Li Shuping sneered. “Dropping the charges? Not a chance. The police will decide this case. Liu Yong will do the time he deserves.”

“Dear in-law, I beg you, please have mercy on my Xiaoyong,” Yang Meifeng pleaded. “I’ll apologize to you, okay? I’ll kneel and apologize.” She started to kneel.

“Mom, don’t kneel!” Lin Jianshe rushed to pull her up.

“Don’t do this, please stand up,” Lin Yongnian urged.

Liu Qin helped pull her mom up, while glaring furiously at Li Shuping.

This damn old hag dared make her mom kneel—she better pray she never ends up in Liu Qin’s hands, or she’d pay back tenfold.

“Mom, we’re all family. Do you really have to be so harsh?” Lin Guodong frowned, trying to persuade her.

Li Shuping didn’t even look at him. “Don’t call me Mom. It disgusts me.”

Lin Guodong: “…”